Benefit Carrier Changes

Your union has been advised that your employer will be switching benefit carriers as of April 1, 2022 from Pacific Blue Cross (PBC) to SunLife.

As you know, your collective agreement provides you with the same benefit plan that salaried non-union employees receive. According to the employer, the changes are as follows:

• Rather than $500 per paramedical coverage (chiropractor, acupuncture, massage therapy, speech therapy, naturopath, and podiatry) there will be a pooled amount of $1,200 to be used per year. The choice of using all $1,200 on a single option or a combination of a few treatment providers is yours.
• Increase in psychology coverage from $500 to $1,000.
• Physiotherapy coverage was unlimited and will remain unchanged.
• Rather than paying for your prescriptions and submitting them for reimbursement, you will get a drug card which will bill your plan directly.
• Eye exam coverage has increased from $50 to $200 every 24 months.

The union has not been made aware of any other benefit changes but we have requested copies of each of the plans for comparison.

Please be aware that SunLife maintains a delisted service providers list. If you happen to submit a receipt for one of the providers that has been delisted by SunLife, your claim will likely be denied. The providers who have been delisted may have been involved in fraudulent claims in the past or for a variety of other reasons. In order to protect yourself:

• Sign in as a member and follow the steps described in Service Provider Delisting Update/Workplace Benefits and Retirement Services at sunlife.ca and check the delisted service providers list.
• Consider using the Lumino Provider Search on sunlife.ca or on the app.
• Confirm with your treatment provider that their office is in good standing with SunLife before receiving services.

If you have outstanding receipts, you can submit those normally to Pacific Blue Cross by March 31, 2022. Any expenses incurred after April 1, 2022 should be submitted to SunLife. Your employer will provide you with the relevant information on the plan and how to submit receipts.

If you have any questions or concerns after the implementation of the SunLife plan, please let me know.

In solidarity,

Yudon Garie, Union Representative