620Home

 RETIREE STAFF BENEFITS
  INSURANCE  PLANS  AND  OTHER BENEFITS
 

Introduction

These pages have been developed to provide you with a quick summary of the benefit program for eligible retired staff. There are insurance plans and access to certain University of Manitoba facilities and/or services. The benefits are, with the exception of optional life insurance, provided at no premium cost to the retired members.

The University of Manitoba’s Staff Benefits Committee periodically deals with matters of interest to retired staff.  Retired staff are currently represented on the Staff Benefits Committee by John Mundie.

This section will be updated periodically to inform you of any developments in the benefit plans.
 

  •     Insurance Plans


    • Eligibility is determined using an age and service criteria. The documents supplied to you at retirement identify the plans for which you became eligible and have coverage.

    Things to remember:

           1. Ideally not only yourself but also your spouse or some other family member will  be familiar with the coverage you have. The benefits are summarised in a booklet   issued at the beginning of 1999. The Staff Benefits Office is available to answer   your questions. Their telephone number, etc., is listed at the end of this section.
           2. Submit claims promptly.
           3. Personal circumstances change – review and update dependent information and   your beneficiary designation as appropriate.  The review and updating is equally   important for the beneficiary under the Pension Plan.
     

    The following description of benefits is for eligible members who had full time appointments at retirement.  Part-time staff are also eligible for certain plans with slightly different levels of benefits, which are not included in these web pages.
     
     

    Basic Extended Life

    One unit of life insurance is maintained for life for eligible individuals who retired on or after April 1, 1983.  The value of the unit is adjusted or indexed each April 1 by applying the cost-of-living percentage adjustment to the Canada Pension Plan at the immediately preceding January 1.

    The value at April 1, 1983 was $5,000. The current value (value as of April 1, 2005) is $10,800..

    Optional Extended Life

    Eligible staff who retired on and after April 1, 1983 can, by payment of the required premium, continue, up to the first day of the month prior to age 71, all or some portion of the life insurance in effect at their date of retirement.  This is done in units, which do not index.

    The premium is age related. The rate table is identical to the one for active staff members.

    Paid-Up Life Insurance

    This insurance plan preceded the Basic and Optional Extended Life.  Members who have this benefit retired between September 1, 1974 and March 31, 1983. There was a minimum age and service requirement. The minimum benefit for those eligible is $1,000.  The benefit may be higher depending on age and service at retirement.

    Supplementary Health (Great-West Life Contract 44870)

    The four categories of covered expenses are  -:
     

  •        Hospital
  •        Ambulance
  •        Medically necessary healthcare expenses
  •        Prescription Drugs


    • Coverage under the University of Manitoba plan for the member, their spouse and any eligible dependent children terminates when the retired staff member reaches age 75.

    There is no coverage for expenses incurred outside of Canada. Retired staff travelling outside of Canada should obtain Travel Health Coverage through a personal plan. Travelling without this coverage could be very costly.  Review plans carefully to be certain that you have the coverage you need.  Read the small print.

    Hospital. Semi-private ward care. 100% paid.

    Ambulance . Medically necessary. 100% paid.

    Healthcare. Examples of covered expenses (included but not limited to):

     Private nurses when prescribed by a physician
     Physiotherapist, podiatrist and chiropractors
     Rental of wheelchair
     Insulin and insulin syringes

    Your booklet provides greater detail.  The booklet, however, is also a summary with full  details provided in the master contract.  An example of a covered expense not included in the booklet summary is the first pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses prescribed immediately following cataract surgery.  Not certain whether an expense is covered? Ask!!

    Some expenses have specific maximums.  For example private nurses, there is an annual  cap  of $5,000. In other respects, the plan will reimburse you for 80% of the first $500 of covered expenses and 100% of expenses in excess of $500.

    Prescription Drugs

    Eligible drugs and medicines are those which require a written prescription, are dispensed by a licensed pharmacist or physician, and are covered by the Prescription Drug Cost Assistance Act of Manitoba when the amount can be consumed within a 90 day period..

    There is an annual deductible of $100.  The plan then pays 60% up to $1,000 and 100% thereafter up to the lesser of the member’s Pharmacare deductible or $1,500 family limit.
     

    Dental Benefits (Blue Cross Contract 67050)

    The member’s spouse and any eligible dependent children are also covered under this plan.

    Services are divided into three categories

  •   .     Basic.  80% paid. Examples of some of the services are a) oral examination b)   clinical  examination c) x-rays and d) endodontics.
  •         Major. 60% paid.  Major services include dentures and crowns
  •         Orthodontics. 50% paid. This coverage is only provided for eligible dependent  children up to age 19 and the work must have commenced prior to age 18. There  is a lifetime maximum of $1,200.


    • Reimbursement (this is based on the Manitoba Dental Fee Guide) for all services is subject to an annual calendar year maximum of $1,000 for each covered individual.  If a treatment is expected to exceed $500.  you should arrange for pre-authorization from Blue Cross before the treatment is started.

    Questions – Need a Claim Form – Making a Claim

    The Staff Benefits Office is located in Room 180 Continuing Education Complex.  Their office can be contacted by telephone 474-7428,  or direct your e-mail inquiry to ZETTLERA@MS.UMANITOBA.CA (Receptionist in the Office). The Fax No. is  474-7640.

    The members, of the Retiree Benefits Committee, are also available to assist you.  To e-mail an inquiry, go back to Links on the face page, click on Ian Rollo.  The question will be directed to one of the committee members for a response.

    If you should find it necessary to contact either Great-West Life or Blue Cross, your employee number will be required.

        University of Manitoba Facilities and Services “Other Benefits”

    Generally speaking, a retired member who is eligible for the insurance benefits would have access to the “Other Benefits”.

             Athletic Facilities

             Libraries Services

             A Computer Account for Internet access and e-mail service. Call Shirley Hares at   474-9788  for further information on getting started.

              The University of Manitoba Bulletin. To arrange to have the Bulletin mailed to your home address call 474-8346 or send an e-mail to angela_heck@umanitoba.ca

               Tuition Reimbursement. Remission of tuition fees is made on the successful  completion  of undergraduate course(s) and applies to registration following date of   retirement.   Contact Staff Development of Human Resources. Telephone 474-9124   or send an e-mail to barb_cameron@umanitoba.ca

               Employee Assistance Program (EAP) This service is available to retired staff members   for two years following their actual retirement date. Call Warren Shepell Consultants  for further information at 1-800-387-4765.

    A photo identification card is required. The card is available by contacting the ID Centre of the Student Records Office.  Telephone 474-9428.

    March 23, 2002.