October 24, 2024
Learn more about the OSSTF ELHT benefits plans and how plan decisions are made in this interview between OTIP and your plan representatives.
How much do you know about what goes on behind the scenes of the benefits you receive? OTIP met with Lori Foote, OSSTF ELHT Chair until September 30, 2024, Jim Spray, OSSTF ELHT Chair commencing October 1, 2024, and Donna Morrison, OSSTF ELHT Executive Director, to learn more about the OSSTF ELHT benefits plans and how plan decisions are made.
What is the role of the Trust?
The OSSTF ELHT (Employee Life and Health Trust) was established in 2016, with a primary focus on providing long term sustainable Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, and Health and Dental benefit coverage for eligible OSSTF members. Two OSSTF plans were established; one for eligible OSSTF Teachers and the other for eligible OSSTF Education Workers.
OSSTF Benefits plans are designed, implemented and maintained by the OSSTF ELHT Board of Trustees for eligible OSSTF Members.
The mission statement of the OSSTF ELHT is to promote and support the well-being of plan members and their families by providing comprehensive and sustainable health and welfare benefits through excellence in governance and service.
How are the OSSTF ELHT Plans Governed?
The OSSTF ELHT Plans are governed by the OSSTF ELHT Board of Trustees, which consists of nine voting members, who are responsible for operating and ensuring the financial sustainability of the OSSTF ELHT plans. Five members of the Board of Trustees are appointed by OSSTF, and the other four by OPSBA and the Crown. Meet the current Board of Trustees.
How are the OSSTF ELHT Plans different from other employee benefits plans?
The OSSTF Benefit Plans are designed to meet the needs of OSSTF Teachers and OSSTF Education Workers.
The plans were developed by an OSSTF Advisory Work Group comprised of OSSTF local leaders from across the province, who brought their recommendations to the OSSTF Provincial Executive and Provincial Council for review and approval. The plan design was then implemented for eligible OSSTF members commencing in the 2016/2017 school year and has continued ever since.
OSSTF ELHT now works regularly with the OSSTF Advisory Work Group where plan design, eligibility, and the long-term sustainability of the plan are reviewed and the Group provides recommendations to the Board of Trustees.
How are the Plans funded?
OSSTF Benefits Plans are funded by negotiated full-time equivalent (FTE) funding levels from the Government as well as plan member contributions.
The negotiated FTE funding is the major source for funding of the plans and is as outlined in the OSSTF Central Agreements. The OSSTF Central Agreements for both Teachers and Education Workers for the period of September 1, 2022, to August 31, 2026, went to arbitration and have just recently been finalized. These central agreements outline the required FTE funding to be paid by boards/school authorities for the period of September 1, 2022, to August 31, 2026.
There are also required member premium contributions for participation in some types of coverage under the plans. Members pay 100% of the premium for member, spousal and child optional life benefits that they elect to participate in. Plan member contributions toward the health and dental benefits are 6% of the budgeted premium rates for full time active plan members (1.0 FTE) and are pro-rated for less than full time active plan members. As plan member contributions have not changed since inception, for the September 1, 2024 renewal, the member contributions represent an actual cost share of 4.3% for Teachers and 4.9% for Education Workers
An illustration of the member contributions towards health and dental benefits is posted on the OSSTF Benefits website at OSSTF ELHT Member Premium Contributions.
How does the Trust consider the health and well-being needs of its members when making plan decisions?
The Trustees strive to ensure that the benefits coverage of the OSSTF ELHT Plans for eligible Teachers and Education Workers remain as consistent and comprehensive as possible. This means the Trustees continually look for ways to protect the Plans to ensure that the best value is obtained for all services without sacrificing the core services that members rely upon. Member support and understanding was appreciated as the Board made recent changes such as dispensing specialty and other drugs through a not-for-profit pharmacy and shifting to direct pay for member premium contributions, in order to keep moving forward in the Trust’s efforts to protect the OSSTF ELHT Plans. The aim is to keep the uncertainty regarding OSSTF benefits coverage to a minimum, which allows members and their families to focus on the other important aspects of daily life.
The OSSTF ELHT pledges to continue to keep members informed about any developments related to OSSTF Benefits. Please rest assured that the Trust is working to maintain the stability and effectiveness of the OSSTF Benefits Plans, always with members’ best interests in mind.
What benefits does the plan offer? Are its members’ loved ones covered?
Your OSSTF Benefits Plan was designed through learning which benefits mattered the most to OSSTF members and incorporating those priorities into the plan design.
Here’s a snapshot of the benefits you receive as an eligible OSSTF member. For a full breakdown of benefits, go to OTIP’s secure member website.
Mental health is critically important to a person’s overall health and well-being. How does the Trust support the mental health of plan members?
We understand that mental health is a journey unique to each person. As such, we work to provide benefits coverage that is meaningful when and wherever you need it most, while ensuring the sustainability of the plan. The OSSTF ELHT Health Care Benefit includes coverage for the services of a Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Registered Family Therapist, Registered Social Worker, Registered Clinical Therapist, Registered Psychoanalyst, and a Psychologist Associate under supervision of a Registered Psychologist. Reasonable and customary expenses for these licensed practitioners are eligible up to $2,000 per benefit year per each covered member and each eligible dependant.
Health and Dental care services can be very expensive. Do you have any advice for plan members to help keep health and dental care more affordable under the plan?
OSSTF ELHT encourages members to “USE IT WELL” to protect your plan for when you need it, your family needs it and your OSSTF colleagues need it.
Here’s how you can help:
Any last advice or tips for plan members?
Get to know your OSSTF ELHT benefits plan. Go through the OSSTF Benefits Website and/or log in to the member portal through otip.com to get information. It’s your plan, and together we have the shared responsibility to maintain the long-term sustainability of the plan.
OSSTF ELHT Chair of the Board
On a final note, we would like to provide an update on the OSSTF ELHT Chair role. Lori will be leaving her role as Trustee and Chair of the Board in the early fall, and Jim Spray will be taking over as OSSTF ELHT Chair.
Lori has stated: “Serving as a Trustee and Chair of this Board for 8 years has been both an honour and a privilege. I am incredibly proud of the work the Board has accomplished in transforming a basic structure outlined in an agreement to a strong organization that oversees benefits for over 50,000 OSSTF members. I am confident that under the capable leadership of Jim Spray, the new Chair of the Board, the Board will continue to thrive, innovate, and lead with integrity and purpose.”
The OSSTF ELHT thanks Lori for all of her work, dedication, and knowledge. We wish Lori all the best into the future.
Jim Spray, CPA, CA, is an OSSTF-appointed Trustee and the Chief Financial Officer of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation. Jim’s roles have provided a depth of experience in strategy development, M&A, investment management, pensions and benefits, project management, stakeholder engagement and risk management. Jim has been appointed as OSSTF ELHT Chair commencing October 1, 2024.
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