Submitting your claim 101
Submitting your claim can be as easy as this: send in your claim and get your money back. Done.
Depending on the level of complexity, some claims need a little more time and/or information to process correctly. In some cases, even before you spend the money, we recommend that you get an estimate or pre-determination. That way, you know upfront whether your claim will be approved and/or how much will be reimbursed to you.
READ MORE
Submitting your claim can be as easy as this: send in your claim and get your money back. Done.
Depending on the level of complexity, some claims need a little more time and/or information to process correctly. In some cases, even before you spend the money, we recommend that you get an estimate or pre-determination. That way, you know upfront whether your claim will be approved and/or how much will be reimbursed to you.
READ MORE
Something to Think About...
Help Protect Your Benefits
As we approach the end of the year, please be mindful of some service providers’ marketing campaigns to ‘use it or lose it’ regarding your group benefits. These campaigns are designed to serve the providers who promote them, however using benefits that are not medically necessary does not serve to protect the overall health of your plan.
Benefits like massage therapy and orthotics have balances that reset every benefit year to ensure proper care as necessary for plan members and their families. However, if it is not medically necessary, maximizing all of your benefits will negatively impact the long-term sustainability of the benefits plan, and may affect everyone’s ability to access necessary benefits in the future. Therefore, your responsible use of the plan is in the best interests of yourself, your family and fellow plan members.
Help Protect Your Benefits
As we approach the end of the year, please be mindful of some service providers’ marketing campaigns to ‘use it or lose it’ regarding your group benefits. These campaigns are designed to serve the providers who promote them, however using benefits that are not medically necessary does not serve to protect the overall health of your plan.
Benefits like massage therapy and orthotics have balances that reset every benefit year to ensure proper care as necessary for plan members and their families. However, if it is not medically necessary, maximizing all of your benefits will negatively impact the long-term sustainability of the benefits plan, and may affect everyone’s ability to access necessary benefits in the future. Therefore, your responsible use of the plan is in the best interests of yourself, your family and fellow plan members.
FYI...
It's in the mail...
T4A Tax Slips
The OSSTF Benefits plan provides Basic Life Insurance and AD&D (Accidental Death and Dismemberment) benefits based on 2 times annual earnings. The funding for these benefits is from the negotiated FTE funding for active members and there is no required member contribution. Therefore, the Life & AD&D premium is a taxable benefit and members will be receiving T4A tax slips from OTIP for these taxable benefits by the end of February. These taxable benefit amounts are calculated based on the cost of Life and AD&D premiums paid
Prior to transition into the OSSTF ELHT, these amounts would have been reported to members on their T4 from their employer.
The OSSTF Benefits plan provides Basic Life Insurance and AD&D (Accidental Death and Dismemberment) benefits based on 2 times annual earnings. The funding for these benefits is from the negotiated FTE funding for active members and there is no required member contribution. Therefore, the Life & AD&D premium is a taxable benefit and members will be receiving T4A tax slips from OTIP for these taxable benefits by the end of February. These taxable benefit amounts are calculated based on the cost of Life and AD&D premiums paid
Prior to transition into the OSSTF ELHT, these amounts would have been reported to members on their T4 from their employer.
Travelling?
Are you travelling out of Canada in the near future (maybe over Christmas or March Break?)? If you participate in the Extended Health Care plan, then travel insurance is included. Please take time to download and read the Manulife Travel Bulletin attached. You may also want to print this bulletin and put in your luggage--it would be a helpful resource to have should you or a family member require medical attention while travelling.
OTIP Travel Info
Debbie Olesen, ESP Benefits Officer
Debbie.osstfd7@gmail.com
Benefits for EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROFESSIONAls
Dear Members,
I was at a meeting yesterday regarding the ELHT (provincial benefits plan) and asked for confirmation that the date in which a doctor referral note for massage therapy being waived was until June 1, 2018. In fact the date is NOT June 1, 2018 but September 1, 2017. Therefore you now need to have a doctor or nurse practitioner referral/note for massage therapy. If you have been denied a claim due to this issue, please let me know.
Other information regarding massage therapy:
· The doctor or nurse practioner referral/note is valid for 12 months from the date of the note.
· If you submit a claim online for this service, you may not be asked to provide the note, however if you are ever audited you would need to produce it.
Debbie Olesen
Debbie.osstfd7@gmail.com
OSSTF District 7 members who are covered by an OTIP LTD plan can access CAREpath, a Cancer Assistance Program.
OSSTF District 7 members who are covered by an OTIP LTD plan can access FeelingBetterNow a web-based, mental health care program.
All OSSTF District 7 members can access Shepell FGI's Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
If you have questions regarding Benefits please contact
Debbie Olesen
Debbie.osstfd7@gmail.com