Paying for your benefits: What you need to know

April 4, 2019

Whether you’re full-time or part-time, permanent or temporary, at work or on a leave, you may be required to pay for some or even all of your benefit premiums through payroll deduction or pre-authorized debit (PAD).

First, let’s review the parties that have a role in the cost of your benefits plan and the administration of your benefit premiums.

Who	Role and responsibilities	Role regarding your benefit costs
Your plan sponsor: ETFO Employee Life and Health Trust (ELHT) Board of Trustees	Manages and governs the ETFO ELHT Benefits Plan.The trustees manage the ETFO ELHT Benefits Plan in the best interests of members, and make plan design, funding, administrative and investment decisions on their behalf.	Administers the funding for the benefits plan and determines the portion of the benefit costs that are paid by the ETFO ELHT and/or you. For active 1.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) permanent members and eligible LTO teachers, benefits are 100% paid by the ETFO ELHT. The benefit costs are pro-rated for members who work part-time, less than a 1.0 FTE. For example, if you work 0.7 FTE, your ELHT will pay 70% of the cost of your benefits and you will pay for 30% of the cost. Basic Life and AD&D are 100% paid by your ELHT while you are actively at work. Optional benefits like Member, Spousal and Child Optional Life Insurance are 100% paid by you if you choose them.
Your plan administrator: OTIP	Administers your benefits plan. OTIP assists members with questions about enrolment, eligibility, benefits, costs/premiums, and claims for health and dental care. OTIP also manages and processes life and/or Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance claims, and waiver of life insurance premiums.	Works with your employer to administer and collect your benefit premiums on behalf of your ELHT. OTIP also issues applicable tax slips to members for their taxable benefits.
Your employer: School board	Manages members’ employment status and personal information. Your employer is responsible for keeping your employment record and your personal information up to date and providing it to OTIP (i.e. your name, date of birth, mailing address, FTE/hours worked, work status, etc.).	Provides members’ employment information to OTIP to determine eligibility, enrolment, and benefit costs.
Claim payer/insurer: Manulife	Underwrites and issues insurance policies, and pays health and dental claims on behalf of the ELHT. NOTE: The insurer of the Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefit is Teachers Life.

Who

Role and responsibilities

Role regarding your benefit costs

Your plan sponsor:

ETFO Employee Life and Health Trust (ELHT) Board of Trustees

Manages and governs the ETFO ELHT Benefits Plan.The trustees manage the ETFO ELHT Benefits Plan in the best interests of members, and make plan design, funding, administrative and investment decisions on their behalf.

Administers the funding for the benefits plan and determines the portion of the benefit costs that are paid by the ETFO ELHT and/or you.

For active 1.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) permanent members and eligible LTO teachers, benefits are 100% paid by the ETFO ELHT.
The benefit costs are pro-rated for members who work part-time, less than a 1.0 FTE. For example, if you work 0.7 FTE, your ELHT will pay 70% of the cost of your benefits and you will pay for 30% of the cost.
Basic Life and AD&D are 100% paid by your ELHT while you are actively at work.
Optional benefits like Member, Spousal and Child Optional Life Insurance are 100% paid by you if you choose them.

Your plan administrator:

OTIP

Administers your benefits plan.

OTIP assists members with questions about enrolment, eligibility, benefits, costs/premiums, and claims for health and dental care.

OTIP also manages and processes life and/or Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance claims, and waiver of life insurance premiums.

Works with your employer to administer and collect your benefit premiums on behalf of your ELHT.

OTIP also issues applicable tax slips to members for their taxable benefits.

Your employer:

School board

Manages members’ employment status and personal information.

Your employer is responsible for keeping your employment record and your personal information up to date and providing it to OTIP (i.e. your name, date of birth, mailing address, FTE/hours worked, work status, etc.).

Provides members’ employment information to OTIP to determine eligibility, enrolment, and benefit costs.

Claim payer/insurer:

Manulife

Underwrites and issues insurance policies, and pays health and dental claims on behalf of the ELHT.

NOTE: The insurer of the Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefit is Teachers Life.

Reviewing your benefits coverage and costs

You can review your benefits information and monthly benefit costs/premiums online:

Go to www.otip.com and click on Log in.
Select Health and Dental from the drop-down menu.
After you have logged in, click My Benefits.
On My Benefits home page, click My Coverage in the My Personal Info box.
Click on Your Coverage tab to see your monthly Member Cost.

Paying by pre-authorized debit

All members on a leave or who work 0.3 FTE or less are required to pay for their benefits via pre-authorized debit, administered by OTIP.
Pre-authorized debits occur on the 10 th of every month.

Reasons your benefit costs may have changed

Your benefit costs are subject to change due to factors like your employment status, salary changes, plan renewals and amendments. If a change occurs in your benefits, your monthly premiums will be updated.

New to enrolling in your benefits plan?

Members enrolling in their benefits plan and who are responsible for benefit costs will see a deduction on their next month’s pay or bank account that consists of:

The premium for the current month AND
Any outstanding monthly premiums (backdated to your eligibility date)

E.g. Jean-Pierre started an eligible permanent position on September 4. His monthly premium is $50. Therefore, his total premium deduction in October will be $100.

OTIP Benefits Services is here to help

If you have any questions regarding your monthly benefit costs and/or premiums, please contact OTIP Benefits Services at 1-866-783-6847.

Paying for your benefits: What you need to know

April 4, 2019

Questions?

Latest News

ETFO Employee Life and Health Trust

Useful Links

Contact OTIP

Hours

Contact ETFO ELHT