Life Changes and Your Benefits
When your life or family changes, it’s important to stay up-to-date on your benefits coverage. Here’s what you need to know about your CUPE EWBT benefits plan when your life changes or you take a leave of absence.
Updating Your Benefits When Your Life Changes
When you experience one of the following eligible life changes, you may need to add or remove dependents from your plan, or make changes to your coverage. Don’t delay on making these changes to ensure you have the coverage you and your family need.
Eligible Life Events
Legal (marriage) or common-law relationship begins
Marriage breakdown (separation/divorce)
Legal guardianship
Birth or adoption of a child
Loss of coverage through a spouse’s plan
Death of spouse or child
Spouse or child no longer qualifying for coverage (e.g., due to divorce or age limit)
Take Action Within 31 Days
You’ll have 31 days from the date of the event to update your coverage. Contact OTIP for help in making changes and adding or removing dependents.
Making changes within the 31-day window ensures you and your family have the coverage needed and avoids the status of a “late applicant.”
Late Applicant Status
- Late applicants must complete a medical questionnaire for approval by Canada Life.
- Canada Life may request additional information and reserves the right to decline health coverage.
- Approved coverage as a late applicant starts from Canada Life’s approval date. Dental coverage for late applicants is limited to a maximum of $200 for the first twelve (12) months of coverage.
Your Coverage During Leaves of Absence
For the following types of leaves, your benefits (life, AD&D, health, and dental) continue for the “Initial Period” shown, provided you keep paying your same member share (%) of the premiums as if you were still working.
In some types of leaves, you can continue coverage further for the “Extended Period” shown, by paying both your member share plus the CUPE EWBT’s share of the premiums.
Maternity, Parental, or Other Statutory Leaves
Personal Leaves
Note that if you start a Personal Leave after an Unpaid Medical Leave, the “Initial Period” and “Extended Period” shown below will be reduced by the duration of your prior leave.
Please contact OTIP to understand how benefits continuation and member premiums apply to your own situation.
Sickness & Injury Leaves
Paid Sick Leave and Short-Term Disability Leave
Long-Term Disability Leave
* See “Life Waiver” Approval below for more information.
WSIB Leave
* See “Life Waiver” Approval below for more information.
Unpaid Medical Leave
Not Approved for Life Waiver
Note that if you start an Unpaid Medical Leave after a Personal Leave, the “Initial Period” and “Extended Period” shown below will be reduced by the duration of your prior leave.
Please contact OTIP to understand how benefits continuation and member premiums apply to your own situation.
* See “Life Waiver” Approval below for more information.
Unpaid Medical Leave
With Life Waiver Approval*
Note that if you start an Unpaid Medical Leave after a Personal Leave, the “Initial Period” and “Extended Period” shown below will be reduced by the duration of your prior leave.
Please contact OTIP to understand how benefits continuation and member premiums apply to your own situation.
* See “Life Waiver” Approval below for more information.
Important Notes
Change your preferred email address to a personal email with OTIP to ensure you continue to receive information and updates about your benefits coverage. Otherwise, you may miss important emails from the CUPE EWBT or OTIP that are sent to your default school board email address, including critical actions you need to take.
If you choose not to pay the required premiums to continue your benefits during your layoff or leave, your coverage will end. It will not resume until you return to work, and any claims incurred while your coverage was suspended won’t be eligible for payment. Contact OTIP or the CUPE EWBT with questions, to ensure you make an informed decision.
Life Waiver Approval
If your LTD claim is approved, Canada Life and/or Chubb may also approve you for “Life Waiver” (also called “waiver of premium”, “life premium waiver”, or “disability waiver”). This means that your life and AD&D insurance (basic, supplemental, and optional) would continue with no further premiums required from you or the CUPE EWBT, for the duration of your LTD claim. The same happens when you’re on an approved WSIB claim.
If you’re on an unpaid medical leave and you don’t have (or aren’t eligible for) LTD benefits, it’s recommended that you apply for Life Waiver with Canada Life. If approved, your life and AD&D insurance would continue for the duration of your Life Waiver approval (up to age 65), with no further premiums required.
Life Waiver approval is an essential way to extend your life and AD&D coverage throughout your sickness or disability leave.
Contact OTIP to learn how to apply.
Continued Coverage for Your Dependents After Your Death
If you were to die while you and your dependents have health and dental benefits under the CUPE EWBT plan, your dependents’ coverage can continue at no cost to them for 12 months after your death.
Your dependents could then choose to extend coverage for an additional 12 months by paying the full premium cost. Continuation of benefits for your dependents is subject to plan eligibility rules.
Have Questions or Need Assistance?
We’re here to help. Check out our Contacts Guide to find the best resources to get the answers you need.