Benefits on General Leave: Faculty

Faculty members may have up to two years leave of absence without pay and benefits for personal reasons, upon written application (refer to Leave of Absence Without Pay or Benefits).

While on an unpaid general leave, you may elect to either keep or cancel your benefits.

Keeping your benefits

While you are on a leave, you have the option to maintain some or all your current benefits and pension, at your own cost.  This means that you will be responsible for both the employee and employer portions of the premiums.

If the start date of your unpaid medical leave is on or after January 1, 2009, the maximum length of time you may maintain your benefits and pension is 24 months.

If you are working past your Normal Retirement Date (June 30th or December 31st coincident with or following the date you turn age 65) and are on an unpaid general leave, please note the following:

• Under the Extended Health plan, the number of days you are covered for an unexpected medical emergency reduces to 60 days from the date you leave your home province.
• Under the Group Life plans (Basic and Optional), you may maintain coverage at your own cost for up to 24 months only (with the approval of the carrier).

Temporary Absence From British Columbia

You may be eligible to receive MSP coverage for up to 24 months during a temporary absence from British Columbia.  Approval must be obtained from MSP by calling 604-683-7151 and is limited to once in five years for absences that exceed six months in a calendar year.  For more information regarding temporary absences from BC and retaining your MSP coverage, please see the MSP website.

Pension

To maintain your pension, you will be responsible to pay both the employee and employer portions of your pension for each month (or portion) you are on leave. Since this may or may not be to your advantage, contact the UBC Faculty Pension Office at 604-822-8647 to discuss your options.

Benefits Premiums

Financial Services will send you an invoice – you can select what benefits you wish to maintain at this time. The Benefits Cost Calculator can tell you what it will cost you to maintain your benefits while on leave.

Canceling your benefits

You may also choose to cancel all of your benefits while on leave.  If you take this option, some of your benefits will be automatically reinstated, while you will have to re-apply for others.

Re-apply for benefits

Medical Services Plan (MSP): If you elect not to maintain your MSP coverage through UBC, you must pay MSP directly or ensure that you have coverage through a spouse or partner’s plan.  Upon your return to work from leave, should you wish to re-enrol in MSP through UBC, you must complete an enrolment form.

Optional Life Insurance, Optional Accidental Death & Dismemberment:
If you elect not to maintain any of these and then later wish to rejoin, you will need to re-apply for coverage, submitting a health questionnaire and a medical examination may be necessary at your own expense.

Automatically reinstated

Extended Health, Dental Care, Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP) and Basic Group Life Insurance:
If you elect not to maintain these benefits, they will be automatically reinstated the first day of the month on or after the date you return to work from leave.

Income Replacement Plan:
If you elect not to maintain this benefit, it will automatically be reinstated the date you return to work from leave.

Faculty Pension Plan: Upon return to work, your Pension will be reinstated automatically.