Work/Life Events That Can Affect Your Coverage - CUPE Hospitality Services

Keep Us Informed of Changes

To ensure that coverage for you and your eligible dependents is up to date, it is vital that you advise us of any family changes in writing within 31 days. If the change is a result of a life event (such as birth or adoption of a child, getting married or divorced), the coverage will become effective on the date of the change without providing proof of good health, provided:

  • Written application for the change is submitted within 31 days of the life event, and
  • Additional requests for coverage have not been previously declined (life insurance)

After the 31-day window has closed, coverage may be subject to a medical questionnaire and approval from our benefit provider.

Necessary forms to make changes such as increasing/decreasing life insurance coverage, adding/removing dependents, updating beneficiaries can be found on the Human Resource Benefits website. Call Human Resources for assistance with making changes to your benefits and completion of forms.

Death Before Retirement - Survivor Benefit

If you die while you are an active employee and participating in the Health Care, Emergency Travel Assistance plan and Dental Care benefits, Western continues coverage for your surviving covered dependents until the earliest of the following occurs:

  • 36 consecutive months from the date of your death
  • The date your spouse remarries
  • The date the person no longer qualifies as a dependent
  • The date the dependent becomes eligible for similar coverage under another group contract

Working Beyond Your Normal Retirement Date

Life Insurance

Your life insurance (Basic, Optional, Dependent Life and the Voluntary Personal Accident Insurance) plans end at your Normal Retirement Date (NRD). An employer-paid life insurance of $15,000 continues while working beyond your Normal Retirement Date.

  • At your Normal Retirement Date, you may convert your present life insurance coverage or the coverage of your spouse, up to a maximum of $200,000, to a private policy without providing evidence of good health provided you make application within 31 days of your Normal Retirement Date.
  • You may convert the Voluntary Personal Accident Insurance benefit (if applicable) to a private policy (maximum of $100,000) within 60 days of your Normal Retirement Date.

Long Term Disability

Long Term Disability benefits and coverage end at your Normal Retirement Date.

Health Care and Dental

Health Care and Dental benefits continue.

Dependent Tuition Scholarship Plan

The Dependent Tuition Scholarship benefit continues.

Pension Contributions

Pension contributions to the Administrative Staff Pension plan (yours and the University’s contribution) continue as long as you remain actively employed and until the earlier of your retirement date, the end of the year in which you attain age 69 OR until the sum of your age plus pension service is equal to 95. Pension assets may be withdrawn at this point (in accordance with legislation) or may remain invested in the plan, as you direct. In accordance with Income Tax Act (Canada) regulations, a retirement income must be established with the invested pension funds by the end of the year in which you attain age 71.

Leaving Western Before Retirement

This information will help those who leave Western before retirement to understand what happens to benefits. Included is information about converting some benefits to a plan that you would pay for privately.
Life insurance benefits terminate the end of the month that employment with Western terminates. Life insurance coverage or the coverage of your spouse, up to a maximum of $200,000, may be converted to a private policy without providing evidence of good health provided application is made within 31 days of the date that group life insurance terminates. Premiums are based on private policy rates.

Voluntary Personal Accident Insurance

Benefits terminate the end of the month that employment terminates. Coverage, up to a maximum of $100,000, may be converted to a private policy within 60 days of the date that coverage terminates. Premiums are based on private policy rates.

Salary Continuance and Long Term Disability

Benefits terminate the date employment ends.

Extended Health and Dental

These benefits terminate the end of the month that employment terminates for any services received prior to the termination date. The insurance provider offers individual and family health and dental plans specifically designed for people that no longer have group health and dental coverage. Application must be made within 60 days of termination of benefits from the group plans.

Read more at Converting/continuing your benefits after leaving Western.

Any outstanding eligible medical and dental expenses must be submitted to the benefit carrier within 90 days after coverage ends.

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