Temporary Extension of Coverage for Eligible Long-Term Occasional Teachers and Overage Dependants of Eligible Members

To: All OSSTF Members Eligible for Participation in the OSSTF Benefits Plan

From: Donna Morrison, Executive Director

June 30, 2020

As previously communicated, OSSTF Benefits has approved that members whose coverage has ended:

• due to a retirement,
• due to an LTO (long-term occasional) contract ending,
• and/or who have an overage dependant who is covered under their plan but will no longer be eligible (i.e. turning 21 and not in school or turning 25),

will be granted exceptions to complete procedures that could not be finished due to the withdrawal of services by various health-care practitioners as a result of COVID-19, between March 13 and June 1, and submit them for reimbursement (e.g. previously booked dental procedures).

All rescheduled appointments must be completed by August 31, 2020 to be considered eligible for reimbursement. If this applies to you, please contact OTIP Benefits Services at 1-866-783-6847 to provide appropriate documentation from the provider that indicates the cancelled and rescheduled appointment dates including the patient name, original appointment date and service that was originally booked. OTIP will provide a reference number that will be needed when the claim is submitted for reimbursement.

LTOs and Overage Dependants of Active Members and LTOs

OSSTF Benefits is providing a one-time only temporary extension for health and dental expenses (excluding prescription drugs) up to and including August 31, 2020. This temporary extension of coverage is for LTOs whose contract ended on or after June 1, 2020 and overage dependants of LTOs or other eligible members (excluding retirees) who, on or after June 1, 2020, turned 21 and are not a student or turned 25 and are a full-time student at an accredited college or university.

This temporary extension of coverage will apply to cancelled and rescheduled appointments and also to new appointments and new eligible claims for services that could not be accessed during the COVID-19 closure.  Prescription drug coverage is not being extended as accessibility to this benefit was not paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

LTOs and overage dependants’ claims for eligible expenses up to and including August 31, 2020 can be submitted for reimbursement from providers directly, through online claims submission through My Claims, or through submission of a completed claim form with receipts via Canada Post. Information and required forms can be obtained through www.otip.com/forms or by contacting OTIP Benefits Services at 1‑866‑783‑6847.

We recommend that claims be submitted for reimbursement as quickly as possible as there is a deadline of 90 calendar days from the end of this coverage extension for claims to be considered eligible.

Members now Retired

For members who retired at the end of the school year, this temporary extension of coverage cannot be offered due to the terms of the Trust agreement; however, as previously communicated, claims for previously booked appointments that had to be rescheduled due to the closure of providers can be submitted for assessment. As previously stated, if this applies to you, please contact OTIP Benefits Services at 1‑866‑783‑6847 to provide appropriate documentation from the provider that indicates the cancelled and rescheduled appointment dates including the patient name, original appointment date and service that was originally booked. OTIP will provide a reference number that will be needed with the claim is submitted for reimbursement.

If you have any questions, please contact Donna Morrison, Executive Director at OSSTF Benefits, at donna.morrison@osstfbenefits.ca.

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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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