Out-Of-Country Private Medical Insurance During MSP Waiting Period

Who should arrange for private coverage?
How do I arrange for private coverage?
What is the cost of coverage?
Am I eligible to receive reimbursement from UBC?
What is the process to receive reimbursement?
How do I complete the UBC Requisition For Payment form?
Where do I send the form?
When should I apply for MSP coverage?
Who do I contact for more information?

Who should arrange for private coverage?

If you are a new or returning resident coming to BC from outside Canada, you should arrange for private coverage during the period you are waiting for MSP to become effective. Normally, the waiting period consists of the balance of the month of your arrival, plus two months.

How do I arrange for private coverage?

David Cummings Insurance Services (DCIS) administers a private plan called the Global Campus Plan for UBC Faculty and Staff and their dependent(s). This plan provides for medical coverage while you and your dependent(s) are waiting for MSP to be effective.

The Global Campus Plan coverage is comparable to MSP, but not identical. It is important that you familiarize yourself with the details of the plan. For example, with the Global Campus Plan, there is an overall maximum of $2,000,000 per lifetime per person (no maximum with MSP) and no maternity benefits. Coverage for hospital benefits, physician’s fees, medical surgical and diagnostic services are comparable with MSP at 100% reimbursement, with no deductible. Please refer to the booklet for more information.

You should apply for private coverage as soon as you arrive in BC. To apply for coverage, complete the application form available from David Cummings Insurance Services and send the form and payment as per the instructions on the form.

Participation in the DCIS Global Campus Plan is optional and Faculty and Staff are also welcome to make arrangements with other private insurers (who may have different coverage and costs).

What is the cost of coverage under the DCIS Global Campus Plan?

As of July 1, 2011, the total cost of coverage for the MSP waiting period (up to three months) is $180 for a single person, $360 for couples coverage and $450 for a family of 3 or more.

Am I eligible to receive reimbursement for these costs from UBC?

Those who are eligible for UBC’s employer-sponsored health and welfare benefit programs may be eligible to receive full or partial reimbursement for these costs. To find out if you are eligible to receive reimbursement, please refer to your employment group in the table shown below. The amount of reimbursement you are eligible for is the same as the cost-sharing arrangement for MSP coverage at UBC for the applicable employment group.

Employment Group	Percentage of Reimbursement from UBC for Total Cost of Private Coverage
Academic Executive	N/A
Administrative Executive	N/A
BCGEU Childcare	100%
BCGEU Okanagan Employees	100%
CUPE 116	75%
CUPE 2278	25%
CUPE 2950	100%
Executive Administrative	100%
Faculty Members	N/A
Farm Workers	N/A
IUOE 882	100%
Management & Professional	25%
Non-Union Tech/Research Assistant	N/A

Should you decide to make alternative arrangements with another private insurer, the amount of reimbursement you are eligible for is based on the total cost of the DCIS Global Plan coverage and reimbursement level for your employment group shown above.

For example:A CUPE 2278 employee with private coverage for family during the MSP waiting period may receive 25% of the cost of the total cost of DCIS Global Plan coverage, or $90 (25% of $360).

What is the process to receive reimbursement?

If you are eligible for reimbursement, complete a UBC Requisition For Payment form and attach the original receipt. Forms may be requested from your Department Administrator or Manager.

The reimbursement you receive from UBC will be considered a non-taxable benefit to you. Human Resources verifies all applications and the Department of Financial Services will process a cheque for the amount you are eligible to receive.

How do I complete the UBC Requisition For Payment form?

1. Employees must complete the first section on the form with the following information:

• Payee (name of employee)
• Invoice date (date of invoice/receipt)
• Currency (select CAD)
• Employee ID Number (employee’s 7-digit UBC ID number, found on pay statement)
• Address, City, Province, Postal Code, Country
• Details of Payment (indicate reimbursement of private medical insurance premiums)
• Handling Code (indicate preferred reimbursement option)

Attach the original receipt to the form.

2. For Faculties/Departments that are either GPOF (General Purpose Operating Fund) or non-GPOF (non-General Purpose Operating Fund) or if you are paid from a research grant*, your Department Administrator or Manager should complete the Line Information and Charges section of the form and send to UBC Human Resources, Benefits Administration (350 GSAB, Mail Zone 1).

*If you are paid from a research grant, it is up to the Principal Investigator to determine if your private medical insurance premiums are eligible benefit expense costs under the research grant.

Department Administrators/Managers/Principal Investigators must complete the Line Information and Charges with the following information:

• Account Code: 598000
• Fund: to be provided by Department/Faculty
• Dept. ID: to be provided by Department/Faculty
• Project/Grant: to be provided by Department/Faculty
• From (Dept) & Direct Queries To: Phone number of Department Administrator/Manager’s name
• Phone Number / E-mail: Department Administrator/Manager’s contact information
• Authorization: Department Administrator/Manager to sign

3. Human Resources will verify all applications and the Department of Financial Services is responsible for debiting the appropriate account and issuing payment to you based on the handling code selected (mail, campus mail, in-person pick-up or direct deposit). Financial Services will contact you once the cheque is ready for pick up.

Where do I send the form?

Send forms to:

UBC Human Resources, Benefits Administration
350 – 2075 Wesbrook Mall
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1

Or by Campus Mail (from both the Vancouver and Okangan campuses):

UBC Human Resources, Benefits Administration
General Services Administration Building
Mail Zone 1

When should I apply for MSP coverage?

You should apply for MSP coverage as soon as you arrive in BC rather than at the end of the waiting period. It is very important that you apply as soon as your arrive in BC in order to allow time for your application to be processed.

If you are eligible for UBC group health and welfare benefits, you will be placed on the UBC group MSP plan the first of the month immediately following completion of your waiting period. Depending on your employment group, you may be responsible to pay some or all of the cost of MSP premiums. Please remember to complete a MSP enrollment form when you complete the online process to sign up for payroll, benefits and pension. This information will be detailed for you in your letter of offer from the University and all forms should be returned to UBC.

If you are not eligible for the UBC health and welfare benefit programs, you should complete an MSP application form and return it directly to MSP. MSP will set up an individual account and you will pay monthly premiums to MSP directly. You are responsible for 100% of cost of MSP premiums. This information will be detailed for you in your letter of offer from the University.

After your application has been processed by MSP, you will receive a health card called a CareCard with a unique lifetime identifier for health care called a Personal Health Number. If you are re-establishing residency in BC and previously received a CareCard, you will not receive a new one, as your former coverage will be reinstated.

Also, if you are submitting a new/renewed work permit and have enrolled in UBC’s group MSP coverage and have a dependent spouse or common-law partner enrolled as a dependent, you must remember to also submit a copy of the work permit for yourself and your spouse or common-law partner to the Benefits Administrator in Financial Services in order to ensure that MSP coverage continue uninterrupted.

Who do I contact for more information?

For information on MSP:

You can visit the MSP website at http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/.

For information on the DCIS Global Campus Plan:

David Cummings Insurance Ltd.
Telephone: 604.228.8816
Toll-free (within North America): 1.800.818.3188
Fax: 604.228.9807
E-mail: info@david-cummings.com

For information on reimbursement of private plan premiums:

UBC Human Resources, Benefits Administration
Telephone: 604.822.6823
E-mail: benefitsinfo@hr.ubc.ca