Benefits on Unpaid Medical Leave: Staff

Note: This information is for UBC employee groups Administrative Executive, BCGEU Okanagan, CUPE 2278, Executive Administrative, Farm Workers, IUOE 882, M&P, and Non-Union Techs and Research Assistants. There is other information available for BCGEU Childcare, CUPE 116 and CUPE 2950, as well as Faculty.

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

Keeping your benefits

While you are on an unpaid medical 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 Jan. 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 (last day of the month you turn age 65) and are on an unpaid medical 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).

After six months if you are approved for Disability Benefit Plan benefits: Your benefits (with the exception of the Pension Plan) will be maintained by UBC and the Disability Benefit Plan at no cost to you (optional group life may be waived for the duration of your claim by Sun Life Canada, the University’s life insurance carrier).  DBP deductions will stop for the duration of your claim.

Pension

If you were approved for DBP benefits prior to July 1, 2009:  you will continue to accrue pensionable service without being required to contribute to the Staff Pension Plan.

If you were approved for DBP benefits on or after July 1, 2009:  you will no longer accrue pensionable service unless you contribute both the employer and employee portion to the Staff Pension Plan.  Since this may or may not be to your advantage, contact the UBC Staff Pension Office at 604-822-1889 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-enroll 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.

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

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