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Going on a leave?

June 11, 2019

If you are going on a leave, here are things you need to know and do to update your benefits.

Type of leave What it means to you
Statutory leaves
(e.g. maternity/paternal leave) 		Your benefits coverage will be funded in the same way as it was when you were working, in the time immediately before you started your leave.
Long term disability (LTD) If you are on an approved LTD claim, your current benefits coverage and funding will continue for a period of up to 24 months during your LTD leave.

When this coverage period is up (more than 24 months), you have the option to continue your coverage. You will pay 100% of your benefits costs.

Other leaves
(e.g. unpaid full/part-time leave,
deferred leave) 		You are required to pay a portion or all of your benefit premiums. You will receive a communication from OTIP to complete your benefit selections and provide your banking information for any benefits cost that you will be paying for.
Important notes:

  • Before you go on leave, consider changing your preferred email address to get the most up-to-date information about your benefits coverage and plan from your OSSTF Benefits ELHT, OTIP and the insurer.
  • Depending on when your leave/FTE reduction information is submitted to OTIP, it may take up to three weeks to process the changes.
  • You have the option to continue all or just some of your benefits. (E.g. You can continue Basic Life and AD&D only, or just health or dental benefits.) If you choose to continue all or some of your benefits, premium payments will be deducted from your chequing/savings account on the 10th of each month. Your first deduction may include retroactive premiums, depending on when your work status information was received and processed.
  • If you choose to stop your coverage during your leave, you will be able to reinstate it when you return to work.

Your benefit premium costs

If you are on a full-time leave and wish to continue benefits If you are on a part-time leave and wish to continue benefits
You pay 100% of your benefit costs during your leave.

Benefit costs include your health, dental, Basic Life*, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D)* and optional life coverage (if applicable).

*Basic Life and AD&D
Premiums will be based on your pre-leave salary/coverage. For example:

Your salary = $50,000
Coverage = 2X salary up to $400,000 maximum
Therefore, your Basic Life & AD&D premiums are based on $100,000.

You pay for:
Health and dental

  • If you are on a partial leave and working 0.667 FTE, you will pay 33% of the monthly premium plus 6%-member share.
  • If you are on a partial leave and working 0.333 FTE, you will pay 66.7% of the monthly premium plus 6%-member share.

Basic Life and AD&D
Basic Life and AD&D benefits will be based on your salary. (2X salary up to $400,000 maximum)

Optional life (Member, Spousal, Child)

  • 100%

Returning to work

  • When you return to work, you will get an email from OTIP to complete your Leave Return – FTE Increase-Coverage Update Option event. You will have 31 days to confirm your coverage without medical evidence.
  • Your first deduction may include retroactive premiums, depending on when your work status information was received and processed. You will see these deductions in your payroll.

Questions? You can contact OTIP Benefits Services at 1-866-783-6847 for assistance.

Related links:
Paying for your benefits: What you need to know
Life events and your benefits coverage
Avoid being a late entrant

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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