On 1 April 2006, major changes were introduced to the provisions of the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) and the Pensioners' Dental Services Plan (PDSP). The amendments highlighted in bold below only pertain to the information published in the Survivor's Workbook. For more details on these changes, please refer to the bulletins issued in March 2006 by the PSHCP and the PDSP that can be found on FSNA's Web site at www.fsna.com.
(Page 47)
Public Service Health Care Plan
Highlights
Includes 40-day emergency medical out-of-province insurance Can $500,000 with no co-payment.
PSHCP premiums
The contribution rates listed below are in effect from 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2011.
PSHCP Supplementary Coverage for Pensioners Residing in Canada Monthly Contribution Rates (as of 1 April 2006)
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PSHCP Supplementary Coverage for Pensioners Residing in Canada
Monthly Contribution Rates (as of 1 April 2006)
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Level I
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Level II
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Level III
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Single
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$ 14.71
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$ 31.27
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$ 60.12
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Family
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$ 29.80
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$ 46.36
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$ 75.21
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Orphan
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$ 0.05
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$ 2.63
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$ 5.22
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Note: The only difference between levels I, II, and III is the daily maximum amount for hospital
coverage. These amounts are $60, $140, and $220 respectively. In some provinces they
do not cover the full cost for a private or semi-private room.
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The contribution rates for the comprehensive coverage remain the same.
For PSHCP members with comprehensive coverage, eligible expenses for hospital care and treatment will be reimbursed up to the level of coverage they have opted for ($60 for Level I, $140 for Level II, and $220 for Level III). As pensioners residing outside Canada are not covered by a provincial plan, this hospital coverage is generally insufficient and should be supplemented through private insurance.
(Page 49)
Pensioners' Dental Services Plan
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Pensioners' Dental Services Plan Coverage Categories Monthly Contribution Rates Effective 1 April 2006
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Eligible Pensioner Only
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$12.50
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Eligible Pensioner + One Eligible Family Member
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$25.50
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Eligible Pensioner + Two or More Eligible Family Members
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$36.20
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There is an annual deductible of $25 per person, or $50 per family. Reimbursement is limited to a maximum of $1,500 per calendar year per person, and there is a lifetime limit of $2,500 per person for reimbursement for orthodontic services. The amount reimbursed for dental expenses, excluding orthodontic services, shall not exceed $750 in a given calendar year if the surviving spouse becomes covered under the plan on or after 1 July of that given year.
A survivor who is eligible to receive an annual allowance may apply for membership under the plan at any time. Enrolment forms must be obtained through the applicable pension office. (Delete the remainder of this paragraph as the requirement to apply for membership within 60 days has been abolished, so has the requirement for deferment.)
Conditions
If a pensioner decides to enrol, he/she must remain in the plan for a minimum of three years. A plan member who opts out of the PDSP will not be allowed to join again.
PSHCP and PDSP questions
The pension offices are the ones to contact for questions pertaining to enrolment or change of coverage.
The administrator of these two plans, the Sun Life Insurance Company of Canada, is the one to contact for questions pertaining to claims.
(Page 56)
Delete reference to Merrill Lynch. This is no longer an FSNA program.
(Pages 60 and 62)
Under "The Army Benevolent Fund" remove "is administered …assistance." and replace by "no longer exists. Those who fall under this are suggested to call Veterans Affairs Canada or The Centre."
(Page 62)
Replace "The Canadian Forces Personnel Assistance Fund (CFPAF)" paragraph by the following paragraph:
Canadian Forces Personnel Assistance Fund (CFPAF)
CFPAF offers educational assistance loans to former members and their dependents. Widows/widowers and orphan children may also be eligible to apply. In situations of unforeseen distress or other qualifying circumstances, former members and their dependants may be eligible for distress grants and/or loans from CFPAF through Veterans Affairs Canada. For more information see contact information under SISIP Financial Services.
Remove from "Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP)" to "Change in Beneficiary" by the following:
SISIP Financial Services
SISIP Financial Services (SISIP FS) provides term life insurance and financial planning to former members of the Canadian Forces (CF) and their families.
Insurance for Released Members (IRM)
SISIP FS offers former CF members affordable term life insurance coverage, until age 75, with the IRM plan. This plan can be purchased in increments of $10,000 to a maximum of $400.000. At the time of death, the amount of life insurance in force is paid to the beneficiary (ies), tax-free. Surviving spouses can carry on their own coverage after the death of a member by contacting Manulife Financial.
IRM has the following features:
1 No exclusions for dangerous occupations, hobbies, volunteer activities or sports;
2 No war or terrorism clause;
3 Less stringent medical underwriting requirements;
4 Accidental dismemberment benefits for injuries for:
o Members and insured spouses; and
o Dependant children to a maximum of $10,000;
5 A free Dependant Life (DL) coverage of $10,000; and
6 A living benefit that provides, under specific circumstances, access to:
o An amount not to exceed 50% of the face value of the life insurance in force to a maximum of $50,000, provided that the insured has a terminal illness, and the prognosis by the physician, and confirmed by Manulife Financial's physician, is that death is expected within 12 months.
Financial Planning Services
SISIP FS also offers financial planning to former members. For a small monthly fee ($10/month plus applicable taxes), SISIP FS financial planners can help former members achieve their financial goals by providing advice on a variety of financial matters such as defining and establishing financial objectives, RRSPs or RESPs. Clients also have access to no-load mutual funds and other investments. At the time of death, financial planners can slso help former members beneficiaries in choosing the best financial options for their benefit entitlements, including life insurance proceeds. SISIP FS financial planners hold the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation (F.Pl. in Quebec) and are paid salaries and not commissions. For more information on SISIP FS's Financial Planning services contact SISIP FS.
(Page 63)
Under "For More Information", remove "Contact … offices" and replace by "Contact the Manulife Financial or one of SISIP FS' offices"
(Page 74)
All the information on the Canadian Forces Pension Office was changed. It is suggested that, once you have incorporated the changes listed on the reverse in your workbook, you cut out the box below and paste it on p. 74.)
Canadian Forces Pension Office
DAPPP/PS
National Defence Headquarters
Constitution Building
305 Rideau Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0K2
Pension cheques, source deductions, mailing addresses, bank accounts, death notices, etc.:
1 800 267-0350
Ottawa Region: 952-9933
Other questions about release and pension:
1 800 267-0325
Ottawa Region: 996-7980
Fax: 1 (613) 996-9984
PSHCP claim matters (Sun Life):
1-888-757-7427 (North America and overseas)
Ottawa region: 1-613-247-5100
E-mail: pensioninquiries@forces.gc.ca
Web site: www.admfincs.forces.gc.ca/pension/intro_e.asp
Rev. April 2006
(Page 74)
The Public Service Pension Office address is changed to P.O. Box 5010,
Shediac, NB E4P 9B4
(Page 75)
The RCMP Pension Office address is now:
RCMP Benefits Administration Centre
c/o Morneau Sobeco
1060 University Street, 9th Floor
Montréal, QC H3B 4V3
Delete the Ottawa region telephone number 941-8655 (no longer in service).
Add: Web Site: www.pbs-sra.ca
Under "For PSHCP questions":
The 1-888-757-7427 number in now the number for calls made in North America and from overseas. The Ottawa region number 993-9071 has been changed to 247-5100.
(Page 76)
Under Public Service Health Care Plan, third line: (519) 742-1342 is replaced by the number (613) 247-5100.
Add :
E-mail: Can_OttawaService@sunlife.com
Claim matters
For PS, CF, RCMP, and Judge pensioners, calls regarding claims must be made to Sun Life.
Under the Sun Life of Canada Health Claims Office, add: Toll free in North America and overseas: 1-888-757-7427
Enrolment matters
For all PS, CF, RCMP and Judge pensioners, calls regarding enrolment, coverage, and deductions must be made at the respective pension office.
(Page 77)
Under Pensioners' Dental Services Plan (PDSP), the heading: "PSHCP appeal process" is replaced by
"PDSP appeal process".
Under Service Income Security Insurance Plan, change The Maritime Life Assurance Company (MLAC) to
Manulife Financial.
The toll free number 1 800 565-0710 should read
1 800 565-0701; and
"Or contact MLAC in Halifax" is changed to
"Or contact Manulife Financial in Halifax".
Add Web site: www.sisip.com
(Page 78)
SISIP Regional Offices
All the information has been replaced with the following:
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Locations
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Insurance
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Fin. Counselling
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Bagotville, QC
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(418) 844-0111
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(418) 677-3333
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*Borden, ON
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(705) 424-2262
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same
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*Cold Lake, AB
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(780) 594-4562
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same
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Comox, BC
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(250) 360-0006
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(250) 339-5942
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*Edmonton, AB
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(780) 973-3130
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same
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*Esquimalt, BC
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(250) 360-0006
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same
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*Gagetown, NB
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(506) 357-3666
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same
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*Greenwood, NS
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(902) 765-6714
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same
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*Halifax, NS
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(902) 425-6926
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same
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*Kingston, ON
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(613) 547-1172
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same
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*Ottawa, ON
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(613) 233-2177
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same
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*Petawawa, ON
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(613) 687-0025
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same
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*Shilo, MB
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(204) 765-7120
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same
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*St. Jean, QC
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(613) 233-2177
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(450) 357-9595
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St. John's, NL
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(902) 425-6926
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(709) 570-8480
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Trenton, ON
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(705) 424-2262
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(613) 965-7033
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*Valcartier, QC
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(418) 844-0111
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same
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*Winnipeg, MB
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(204) 984-3222
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same
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*Financial Planning Service offered
If there is no SISIP office in your area, please call
1-800-267-6681.
Private Sector Plans & Services
The entry on Merrill Lynch is to be deleted,
as this is no longer an FSNA program.
Under Long-Term care Insurance Program,
the new telephone number is: 1 888 365-2646.
(Page 79)
The new address of the Canadian Forces Assistance Fund and Army Benevolent Fund is as follows:
234 Laurier Avenue West,
Ottawa, ON K1P 6K6
Tel: (613) 760-3447
1 888 753-9828
Fax: (613) 233-5907
E-mail: cfpaf@cfpsa.com
Web site: www.sisip.ca/en/Cfpaf_e/index.asp
(Page 80)
Veterans' Affairs Canada now has a network of people across the country fully trained to answer your calls. No matter where you are calling from, you now only need to call one toll-free number in Canada to get information on your services and benefits.
1-866-522-2122 (English)
Web site:
www.fsna.com).
Click on the Survivors Workbook link located on the home page and then click on Annex C.
