OSSTF Benefits Memorandum: OSSTF Benefits Health Spending Account – Funds must be claimed for expenses incurred on or before August 31, 2022

To: Eligible OSSTF Education Workers

From: Donna Morrison, Executive Director

June 7, 2022

As has been communicated, a Health Spending Account (HSA) was implemented by OSSTF Benefits for eligible members due to the provision in the OSSTF Education Worker Central Agreement stating that a plan enhancement shall be implemented into the OSSTF/FEESO-EW benefit plan for the term of the agreement. The Agreement and the HSA eligibility expire on August 31, 2022.  Claims for eligible expenses incurred on or before August 31, 2022 must be submitted to Blendable within 90 calendar days of August 31, 2022.

 

Who is eligible?

The OSSTF Benefits HSA is available for all permanent OSSTF Education Workers. Eligibility is based on being a permanent OSSTF Education Worker (1) when the OSSTF Central Agreement for Education Workers was ratified, May 22, 2020, and (2) at the implementation of the HSA benefit, September 1, 2020.

 

Eligible OSSTF Education Workers who have not enrolled in the standard OSSTF Benefits health and/or dental benefits are eligible to make claims through the HSA.

What is a Health Spending Account (HSA)? 

An HSA is an extra benefit that provides reimbursement for qualified healthcare expenses that are not otherwise covered by your OSSTF Benefits Plan. A one-time $1,000 contribution has been made to an HSA for all eligible OSSTF Benefits Education Workers. You can use those funds to claim eligible medical expenses for reimbursement for you and /or any dependants. The HSA is provided through Blendable. More information about your HSA is available on the Blendable OSSTF Benefits HSA Plan Help Centre.

 

What can be claimed under the HSA?

The best feature of your HSA is flexibility. It covers any expense that is allowed under Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) guidelines with no plan limits on services or providers up to the $1,000 HSA limit per eligible member.

Your colleagues are already using their HSA to cover things they’d otherwise pay out of pocket for. Expenses like:

• The member paid cost of health and dental benefit premiums;
• Extra paramedical (massage, physio, etc.) visits or costs;
• Dental work from specialists or costs that aren’t already covered;

What action do I need to take?

If you have not yet enrolled in the Health Spending Account you must contact Blendable at osstf.blendable.ca and click on the support link or call 1 888 896 9564.

 

How do I submit a claim?

Once your enrolment is finalized, you will have online access through osstf.blendable.ca to make claims to utilize your one time $1,000 OSSTF Benefits HSA credit.  The credit must be used for reimbursement of eligible expenses incurred on or after September 1, 2020 and on or before August 31, 2022, or on or before your date of retirement or termination of your employment in the eligible OSSTF position if you retire or your employment is terminated prior to August 31, 2022.

 

What is the Deadline for Claims Submission?

Due to the OSSTF Education Worker Central Agreement and the provisions of the OSSTF Benefits HSA, the one time $1,000 OSSTF Benefits HSA funds cannot be used for expenses incurred after August 31, 2022. Claims for expenses incurred on or before August 31, 2022 must be submitted to Blendable within 90 calendar days of this date.

 

Where do I get more information about the HSA?

Full details of the OSSTF Benefits HSA can be found on the OSSTF Benefits website, www.osstfbenefits.ca/osstf-hsa/

 

Who Should I Contact if I have Questions?

You can contact:

• Blendable at blendable.caand click on the support link or call 1 888 896 9564, or
• Donna Morrison, Executive Director, OSSTF Benefits at morrison@osstfbenefits.ca, or call 519 501 6418.

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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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