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After my initial opportunity to enrol into an OSSTF Benefits Plan, when may I be eligible to make changes to my coverage?

May 1, 2024

A Life/Work Event refers to a change in your personal situation and/or in your coverage status. If you experience a Life/Work event, you may be able to enrol in the health and dental benefits or make changes to your coverage without evidence of medical insurability.

Changes to coverage can be made for the following life events:

  • Marriage/common law qualification
  • Divorce/legal separation
  • Birth/adoption of a child
  • Death of dependent
  • Spouse loses coverage
  • Spouse gains coverage (can only decrease coverage, add COB, move or update
    dependents)

If you experience an eligible life event and want to make changes to your coverage status, you will need to login to the member portal through OTIP.com or contact OTIP Benefit Services at 1-866-783-6847. The application process must be completed within 31 days of the date of the life event.

Changes to coverage can also be made if you experience a work event such as an FTE change (increase/decrease). 
If you have not elected health and or dental coverage and experience an increase in FTE, you will receive a change in FTE email from OTIP which will allow you to enrol in health and or dental coverage without late applicant restrictions (i.e. evidence of medical insurability). In this case enrolment must be completed within 31 days of receiving the email from OTIP.
Members on part time FTE annual contracts with contract work schedules differing by semester should also be aware that with semester FTE reporting there are circumstances where a member experiences an increase in contract FTE but may not receive the change in FTE email from OTIP to enrol in health and or dental benefits within the 31-day deadline.

In these cases, members are advised to send an inquiry to comments@osstfbenefits.ca with details of their recent work assignments which can be investigated prior to the member applying for benefits as a late applicant.

If you have elected health and or dental benefits and experience a decrease in FTE you will receive a change in FTE email from OTIP which will allow you continue with your current coverage by paying the associated increase in member required premiums or suspend your health and or dental coverage.

In this case your coverage is suspended until your elections are completed which must be made within 31 days of receiving the email from OTIP. A decrease in FTE does not open a new enrolment opportunity.

Note: Eligibility requirements are based on the member being actively at work or while on a qualifying statutory leave. Emails from OTIP will be sent to a member’s Board email address unless the member has previously indicated an alternate preferred email address on the OTIP Administration System.

Newsletter – Life events and your benefits coverage


The information in this document is provided by OSSTF Benefits for general information only. OSSTF Benefits endeavours to have all information current and accurate. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, or suitability of the information included. All information is subject to change without notice.


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The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by OSSTF Benefits and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. All information on this website is subject to change without notice.