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These insurance plans help protect you and your loved ones from the financial
burden of a loss.
Group Life Insurance coverage is extended 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for
eligible employees and includes:
Note: there is no cash surrender value for group life insurance.
Coverage for all eligible employees of participating employers*
(Except as noted below) is equal to 3 times annual salary or the employer paid
minimum coverage whichever is greater. Coverage is rounded up to the nearest
$1,000. The employer paid minimum coverage is $80,000.
For the purpose of this plan, "annual salary" is defined as 12 times your
current monthly base rate of pay for your current classification calculated as
bi-weekly salary x 26.0893.
Coverage for the following employee group is equal to 2 times annual salary
rounded to the nearest $1,000. The employer-paid minimum is $40,000.
- Nurses presently covered by group life who were hired before May 1, 1990;
employees in this group may opt for the current $80,000 coverage noted above at
any time, however, once this choice is made you cannot switch back.
Coverage for insured bargaining unit employees of the BC Ferry Corporation is 3
times annual salary rounded to the nearest $1,000.00 The employer paid
minimum is $65,000.
- Coverage for insured bargaining unit BC Ferries employees who are employed on a
continuous part-time basis is the employer paid minimum of $65,000.
If your employer is not listed, please contact your payroll or personnel
department to confirm your benefit level.
* participating employers are covered under the Group Life Insurance Plan
(contract 6878GL(4) carried by the Great West Life Assurance Company)
administered by the BC Public Service Agency.
To be eligible to continue Group Life Insurance as a retired member until you
reach age 65, you must, while you are still an employee, be covered under the
Group Life Insurance Plan (contract 6878GL(4) carried by the Great West Life
Assurance Company) administered by the BC Public Service Agency.
To be eligible you must begin receiving pension the month following
termination of your employment PLUS elect to continue Group Life Coverage on
your Pension Application form. Retired Members under 65 will be provided with this
option in their pension package.
If you elect to continue coverage, the amount of coverage will
continue the same as prior to your retirement and continue until age 65. Group
Life will automatically end when you reach age 65.
Required premiums will be deducted from your pension payments.
You should also complete a
Retired
Member Group Life Beneficiary Designation Form to ensure all your information
is up to date. This beneficiary designation is for Group Life Insurance purposes
only. This beneficiary designation is for group life insurance purposes only and
must be filed with the Benefits Service Centre.
You are not eligible for coverage if there has been a break in service from
termination of employment to the commencement of your pension payment.
You are not eligible for coverage if you are not employed by a participating
employer *.
You are not eligible for coverage if you are age 65 or over. Please see
Converting to an Individual Policy.
The designation of a beneficiary must be filed with the Benefits Service
Centre.
Employee’s form
Retired members form
If you do not designate a beneficiary and complete a beneficiary designation
form, the benefit will be paid to your estate. If there are any changes to your
designation (for example, change of beneficiary, address, surname), complete a
new form and forward it to the Benefits Service Centre. If an error is made when
filling out the form, cross out and initial the change or complete a new form.
Do not use whiteout to make corrections.
The group life benefit payment is non-taxable when paid to a named
beneficiary. A benefit payment made to an estate becomes part of the proceeds of
the estate for tax purposes.
This optional feature provides spousal coverage of $10,000 and dependent
coverage of $5,000 for each dependent child.(See dependent criteria to determine if your spouse/dependent is
eligible under the plan). The beneficiary of this coverage is the employee. The
current premium is $2 per month, regardless of the number of dependents. This
rate is subject to change. You must apply for coverage within 90 days of the
earlier of:
- becoming a regular employee; or
- completing 1827 hours in 33 bi-weekly pay period months as an auxiliary;
or
- completing 1200 hours in the last 26 bi-weekly pay periods where you
have worked 3 consecutive years as an auxiliary without loss of seniority;
or
- acquiring your first spouse or dependent.
This coverage also applies to common-law and same sex relationships;
however, a statutory declaration will be required in the event of a
claim. An Optional Spouse and Dependent Group Life Insurance Election
form is accessible from the
BC Public Service Agency Forms Page.
Return the completed application to your payroll office for certification and
processing.
Coverage begins:
- the day you are eligible, if application is made before you are
eligible; or
- the day the application is signed, if signed during the 90-day
enrollment period; or
- the date the application is approved by Great West Life, if applied for
after the 90-day enrollment period. (Evidence of insurability and health
will be required.)
To initiate a claim, complete a Certification of Death of Spouse or Dependent
form which can be obtained from your Human Resources office or payroll office.
This form is completed by the payroll or HR consultant, and forwarded for
processing.
- The spousal portion of the spouse and dependent coverage may also be
converted to a private policy. Please see the section
Converting to an
Individual Policy regarding the process for conversion.
This policy includes an accidental dismemberment clause that provides for the
principal sum (SEE Life Insurance Coverage
in this Guide) for:
- loss of both hands or feet; or
- loss of sight of both eyes; or
- loss of one hand and one foot; or
- loss of one hand or one foot and sight of one eye.
The policy also provides for one-half the principal sum for:
- loss of one hand or one foot; or
- loss of sight of one eye;
If benefits are paid to you because of an accidental dismemberment or loss of
sight benefit claim, and you die as a result of that injury, the payment to your
beneficiary will be reduced by the benefit payment you had received before your
death.
A claim for accidental dismemberment or loss of sight should be made in
writing to Benefits Service Centre. Forms and instructions will be forwarded for
you and your physician to complete.
An advance payment of up to $50,000 or 50 percent of the group life
insurance, whichever is less, is available to eligible employees. This payment
is non-taxable.
To be eligible for the advance payment, you must be suffering from a terminal
illness with a life expectancy of 24 months or less .
Advance payment claim forms are available from Benefits Service Centre. Your
request for application should include:
- your full name
- social insurance number
- current address
- telephone number
- last day worked
- work status
Return the completed documents to Benefits Service Centre for processing.
Once approved, the payment will be forwarded to you through Benefits Service
Centre.
The remaining portion of the group life insurance will be paid to your
designated beneficiary upon your death. Interest payments will be charged
against the advance payment.
An advance of $8,000 may be expedited to the named beneficiary in the event
of an employee's death. This does not apply if the estate or a minor beneficiary
has been named. The balance of the group life insurance benefit is payable by
following claim procedures.
To apply for this advance, the beneficiary should contact Benefits Service
Centre and provide the following information:
- name of deceased person
- date of birth of deceased person
- date of death of deceased person
- full name, address and phone number of beneficiary
After confirming the advance is payable, Benefits Service Centre will contact
the carrier (currently the Great-West Life Assurance Company) and a cheque will
be mailed directly to the beneficiary, usually within a few days of the request.
This optional feature provides spousal coverage of $10,000 and dependent
coverage of $5,000 for each dependent child.(See dependent criteria to determine if your spouse/dependent is
eligible under the plan). The beneficiary of this coverage is the employee. The
current premium is $2 per month, regardless of the number of dependents. This
rate is subject to change. You must apply for coverage within 90 days of the
earlier of:
- becoming a regular employee; or
- completing 1827 hours in 33 bi-weekly pay period months as an auxiliary;
or
- completing 1200 hours in the last 26 bi-weekly pay periods where you
have worked 3 consecutive years as an auxiliary without loss of seniority;
or
- acquiring your first spouse or dependent.
This coverage also applies to common-law and same sex relationships;
however, a statutory declaration will be required in the event of a
claim. An Optional Spouse and Dependent Group Life Insurance Election
form is accessible from the
BC Public Service Agency Forms Page.
Return the completed application to your payroll office for certification and
processing.
Coverage begins:
- the day you are eligible, if application is made before you are
eligible; or
- the day the application is signed, if signed during the 90-day
enrollment period; or
- the date the application is approved by Great West Life, if applied for
after the 90-day enrollment period. (Evidence of insurability and health
will be required.)
To initiate a claim, complete a Certification of Death of Spouse or Dependent
form which can be obtained from your Human Resources office or payroll office.
This form is completed by the payroll or HR consultant, and forwarded for
processing.
- The spousal portion of the spouse and dependent coverage may also be
converted to a private policy. Please see the section
Converting to an
Individual Policy regarding the process for conversion.
Claims include:
- Life Insurance
- Accidental Dismemberment and Loss of Sight Benefit
- Terminal Illness Advance Payment
- Funeral Advance
- Optional Spouse and Dependent Insurance
To initiate a claim or for assistance, please contact:
Benefits Service Centre
Block E, 2261 Keating Cross Road
Saanichton BC V8M 2A5
Email:
BenefitsServiceCentre@telus.com
Phone: 1-877-277-0772 (toll free)
Fax: 250-652-4882
Callers from outside BC please call:
Enquiry BC at 604-688-2421 and ask to be transferred to Telus Sourcing
Solutions (Benefits Service Centre) at 1-877-277-0772
Coverage is cancelled at the end of the month in which any of the following
events occur:
- when your employment ends; or
- when you cease to satisfy the actively at work requirement; or
- when you turn 65; or
- when you retire under the provisions of the Pension (Public Service)
Act, except if you elect to continue coverage to age 65 (details are
provided at the date of retirement); or
- in which a premium is not paid by you, or by your employer on your
behalf.
If your employment terminates or you reach age 65, you may apply for
conversion to an individual policy with the Great West Life Assurance Company.
Note: all optional spouse and dependent coverage also ends.
A conversion policy may benefit you if you do not qualify for other insurance
due to an existing medical condition. Of course you may apply for insurance with
any other insurance carrier you choose at any time.
If you decide to convert to an individual policy with Great West Life your
application must be completed within 60 days of the end of the month in which
group coverage ends. You will be covered under the group policy for the 60 day
conversion period.
This conversion cannot be made retroactive if you do not apply within the 60
day period after your group coverage ends.
How much insurance can I purchase?
The amount of the conversion policy may be up to the amount of coverage at
the time your group coverage ends, (maximum $200,000.). You decide what
amount of coverage you want to purchase under an individual policy.
How much will it cost?
The premium for the individual policy will be greater than the premium you
pay for the group plan. Your application will be based on several factors
including age, gender, smoker/non-smoker status, and the amount of insurance
selected. Upon application, Great West Life will advise you of the options
available and the applicable cost.
Can my spouse obtain insurance too?
If you currently have Optional Spouse and Dependent Group Life Insurance
coverage under the group policy, your spouse will be eligible to convert up to
the amount covered under the group plan. Your spouse is eligible to convert
to an individual life insurance policy ONLY up to the age of 65.
What do I need to do?
To apply, contact:
Benefits Service Centre
TSS Sourcing Solutions BC
Phone: 1-877-277-0772 or E-mail:
BenefitsServiceCentre@gov.bc.ca
Callers from outside BC please call:
Enquiry BC at 604-688-2421 and ask to be transferred to Telus Sourcing Solutions
(Benefits Service Centre) at 1-877-277-0772
They will require your name, phone number, current address, name of employer
(unless retired), date of birth, and the date you are terminating employment or
reaching age 65.
The Benefits Service Centre will forward a Group Life Conversion Privilege
Notification form to your current address within 5 business days of your
request.
Once you have received the form you may contact the Great West Life Assurance
Company office and deal directly with their advisor.
Please contact the Benefits Service Centre at your earliest convenience in
order to complete the conversion process within 60 days of terminating
employment or turning age 65.
NOTE: The Benefits Service Centre, the Public Service Pension Plan at BC
Pension Corporation, or your Employer are not responsible for the lapse of the
60 day conversion period if you do not apply in a timely manner (i.e.: we
suggest contact within 30 days of terminating employment or turning age 65).
The Group Aviation Accident Insurance plan is designed to cover all employees while
traveling by aircraft on government business. This insurance is provided in addition to group life
coverage where applicable.
Who is Eligible
The plan covers all employees of the Government of British Columbia and participating employers,
and is available to all active employees, regardless of age.
There are three groups of coverage:
Group 1 (a) — Premier, Cabinet Ministers, Attorney-General, Speaker of the House
and the Premier's Executive Assistant.
Group1 (b) — all employees whose maximum salary is equivalent to a position
evaluated at level 9 or more under the management job evaluation plan. Includes deputy ministers,
assistant deputy ministers and equivalents, Officers of the Legislature, Provincial Court Judges
and Parliamentary Secretaries.
Group 2 — all employees whose maximum salary is equivalent to a position
evaluated between level 5 and level 9 under the management job evaluation plan. Includes Supernumery
Provincial Court Judges and Members of the Legislative Assembly.
Group 3 — any employee not already included in either Group 1 or 2. This group
also includes named individuals and groups such as volunteer forest fire fighters.
How to Enroll
No enrollment is necessary; you are automatically covered from your first day of employment.
Premiums
The employer pays the full premium for this benefit for all eligible employees.
Benefits of the Plan
The insurance provides protection for an employee while travelling by air on
the employer's business, including limited ground travel to and from the airport.
Coverage is provided for employees according to the schedule below.
The combined limit for all employees as a result of a single accident is
$10,000,000. For example, if a single accident involving several insured individuals occurred, the
amount payable to each beneficiary would be pro-rated between the number of employees and the group
to which each employee belonged.
Beneficiary
Any benefit payable under the policy will be paid to the beneficiary designated
on file at the time of death, under the Group Life Insurance Plan.
If you are not covered by Group Life Insurance, or no designation has been made,
the benefit will be paid to your estate.
Exceptions
The policy does not cover employees piloting an aircraft.
Ending Your Coverage
Coverage under the plan will end when your employment ends.
Amount of Coverage
|
Group 1 |
Group 2 |
Group 3 |
Loss of Life |
$200,000 |
$125,000 |
$75,000 |
Dismemberment or Loss of Sight |
$200,000 |
$125,000 |
$75,000 |
Permanent or Totally Disability |
$200,000 |
$125,000 |
$75,000 |
Blanket Medical |
$2,500 |
$2,500 |
$2,500 |
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