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Attention current permanent OSSTF Education Workers: If you held a permanent position at May 22, 2021 and at September 1, 2021 — you are eligible for the $1,000 OSSTF ELHT Health Spending Account credit. Funds must be claimed by August 31, 2022. For more information about the HSA click here – https://www.osstfbenefits.ca/osstf-hsa/

Our Governance

Our Mission Statement

The OSSTF ELHT promotes and supports the well-being of Plan members and their families by providing comprehensive and sustainable health and welfare benefits through excellence in governance and service.

OSSTF ELHT Board of Trustees

Who they are

Your OSSTF ELHT Board of Trustees consists of nine voting members, who are responsible for operating the OSSTF Benefits Plan and ensuring its financial sustainability. Five members of the Board of Trustees are appointed by OSSTF, two are appointed by the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) and two by the Crown. Each Trustee has a minimum three-year term, which can be renewed twice, subject to a maximum tenure of nine years. Meet the current Board of Trustees here.

Our Governance-Structure Diagram

OSSTF
Employee Life
and Health
Trust

OTIP
Plan Administrator/Consultant

Valued Partners
Insurer
School Boards (Employers)
Plan Administration System

What the OSSTF ELHT Trustees are responsible for

The OSSTF ELHT Trustees are responsible for the operations of the Trust including but not limited to:

Adoption of the initial benefit plan design, regular review of the plan and any amendments to the benefit plan;
Selection of auditors and actuaries and any other professionals required to allow the trustees to carry out their duties;
Validation of the plan design sustainability; and
Adhering to the Funding Policy including setting and revising Employee Contribution rates or premium requirements and deductibles with respect to the Investment Policy.

Trustees have fiduciary obligations which include duty of loyalty and of prudence. The duty of loyalty requires that the Trustee act solely and exclusively in the interest of the plan. At all times, the Trustee must act in good faith and not for their personal gain or profit. The Trustee has to act honestly and with the same degree of care, skill and prudence as a reasonable person would exercise in the management of the Trustee’s own affairs. The duty of prudence requires fiduciaries to make decisions on an informed basis, after conducting appropriate due diligence. While Trustees must apply the knowledge and skills that they possess, they may also retain specialized advice relevant to the decisions they must make. In order to comply with their fiduciary obligations, the Trustees must adopt policies, processes and procedures that outline how they will obtain and access relevant information and expertise that allows them to make reasoned and well-informed decisions for the Plan’s beneficiaries. At no time can Trustees delegate their responsibilities to third parties. Trustees are responsible for the choice of proper third parties and must adequately supervise them.

The OSSTF Employee Life and Health Trust Agreement (3MB PDF) outlines the roles and responsibilities related to the OSSTF ELHT.

The OSSTF ELHT Commitment to Privacy

OSSTF Benefits respects the privacy of its beneficiaries and continuously works to protect the confidentiality of its beneficiaries’ Personal Information.

Review our Privacy Policy here.

Questions and Complaints

If you have any questions or complaints regarding this Privacy Statement, about our collection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, or about accessing your Personal Information, please contact Donna Morrison, Executive Director by email at donna.morrison@osstfbenefits.ca

Protecting the OSSTF ELHT from fraud

The OSSTF ELHT Board of Trustees is committed to protecting the OSSTF Benefits Trust’s reputation, revenue and assets from any attempts of fraud, abuse, or other improper conduct, by employees, Board members, stakeholders, health service professionals, contractors or OSSTF Benefits Plan members. Review our Fraud Policy here (109kB PDF).

OSSTF ELHT Premium Delinquency Policy

Rationale

In accordance with subsection 11.4, the Board of Trustees may use all reasonable means to collect and receive all Contributions due to the Fund, and shall, promptly after receipt, deposit such Contributions in a Trust Fund account, established in a reputable bank, trust company, or other financial institution

It is the member’s obligation to pay member share premiums in the amounts prescribed, and in accordance with the collection method set out by the Trust. Payments are expected to remain current and delinquencies will be subject to the following delinquency policy.

Failure of members to pay member share premiums in a timely manner will result in suspension of member paid benefits. To reinstate eligibility will require repayment of all premiums owing.

Payroll Deduction Delinquency (By Member)

If an employer does not deduct premiums as expected, the employer will notify OTIP of non-collection of premiums on the premium remittance advice or payroll response file.
Reasons that employers may not deduct premiums as expected include (but not limited to) unprocessed data changes related to member status or coverage, or timing of updates that occurred outside the normal payroll cycle of an employer.
In addition, if a payroll deduction exceeds the high deduction threshold as prescribed by the Trust (currently more than 1 month retroactive and more than $200), the amount will not be processed as a payroll deduction and will instead be invoiced and collected directly from the member. See Section B.

Invoicing Active members who are paying current premiums on payroll:

OTIP will send the invoice directly to member requesting payment, with warning that failure to pay will result in suspension of current coverage.
In the event of non-payment, OTIP will send a Reminder letter after 30 days of 1^st invoice, with reminder of upcoming suspension.
In the event of non-payment, suspension of coverage will occur after 30 days of Reminder letter.
Reinstatement will be possible back to date of suspension with no gap in coverage and no evidence of insurability required. However, payment of delinquent amount and any additional premium amounts incurred will be required in full prior to reinstatement.
If no payment received, member’s coverage will be remain suspended

Direct Billing Delinquency (By Member)

One Delinquent Payment: Insufficient funds

It is recognized that there are many reasons one payment might be delinquent, and that a member’s benefits coverage should not be affected by one delinquent payment.

Result of one delinquent member payment (insufficient funds):

Member is notified of the delinquent payment and date and amount of next attempt to withdraw funds;
Warning that a subsequent failure to pay the total outstanding amount owing will result in suspension of benefits coverage.
Withdrawal of delinquent amount plus a $25 OTIP administration fee, and next month’s premium on next direct-bill date; and
Benefits coverage remains in place.

One Delinquent Payment: Incorrect PAD or closed bank account

Members may enter incorrect bank information by mistake, or to circumvent the enrolment process when direct billing is required. An incorrect or closed account number means that the Administrative Agent is unable to process a current or future deduction. It is critical for PAD information to be entered correctly and kept up to date.

Result of one delinquent member payment (incorrect PAD or closed bank account):

Member is notified of the delinquent payment and date and amount of next attempt;
Request for member to update correct PAD information prior to the next direct-bill date (within 10 days of next direct-bill date is recommended);

Warning that failure to correct PAD information and a subsequent failure to pay the total outstanding amount owing will result in suspension of benefits coverage.
Withdrawal of delinquent amount plus a $25 OTIP administration fee and next month’s premium on next direct bill date; and
Benefits coverage remains in place.

Two Consecutive Delinquent Payments

If the Administrative Agent is unsuccessful in attempting to withdraw a second consecutive direct billing payment from a member’s bank account, then the member’s coverage will be suspended.

Result of two consecutive delinquent member payments:

Benefits coverage is suspended.
Reinstatement will be possible back to date of suspension with no gap in coverage and no evidence of insurability required. However, payment of delinquent amount plus a $25 OTIP administration fee for each delinquent payment and any additional premium amounts incurred will be required in full prior to reinstatement.
If no payment received, member’s coverage will remain suspended.

Direct Billing of Retroactive Amount if Initial Payroll Deduction Exceeds High Deduction Threshold

If a payroll deduction exceeds the high deduction threshold as prescribed by the Trust (currently more than 1 month retroactive and more than $200), the amount will not be processed as a payroll deduction and will instead be invoiced and collected directly from the member.
- OTIP will send invoice directly to member requesting payment, with warning that failure to pay will result in suspension of current coverage.
- In the event of non-payment, OTIP will send a Reminder letter after 30 days of 1^st invoice, with reminder of upcoming suspension.
- In the event of non-payment, suspension of coverage will occur after 30 days of Reminder letter.
- When coverage is suspended, the Administrative Agent will update the systems so that payroll deductions cease from the suspension date go forward
- Reinstatement will be possible back to date of suspension with no gap in coverage and no evidence of insurability required. However, payment of delinquent amount and any additional premium amounts incurred will be required in full prior to reinstatement.
- If the delinquent amount is paid and benefits are reinstated the Administrative Agent will update the systems so that payroll deductions are recommenced
- If no payment received, member will be suspended