Benefits on General Leave: Postdoctoral Fellows (Employees and Award Recipients)

While on general leave, you may elect to either keep or cancel your benefits (Medical Services Plan*, Extended Health, Dental Care and Employee and Family Assistance Program).

*The Medical Services Plan is available to Postdoctoral Fellows (Employees and Award Recipients) with funding administered by UBC. Postdoctal Award Recipients receiving funding directly from a source external to UBC (not through UBC payroll) must enrol by applying to MSP directly.

Keeping your benefits

While on leave, you have the option to maintain some or all your benefits, 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.

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 some or 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) for Postdoctoral Fellows (Employees and Award Recipients) with funding administered by UBC: 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.

Automatically reinstated

• Extended Health, Dental Care, Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP)

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.