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Public Service Pension Plan
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Group Insurance Benefit Plans
You may be eligible to continue coverage under certain benefit plans:
- Quick Guide
- Acronyms
- Public Service Health Care Plan
- Pensioners' Dental Services Plan
- British Columbia Medical Services Plan
- Medavie Blue Cross (Atlantic or Quebec residents)
Quick Guide
What pension option should you choose? There are many things to consider in your decision including what group insurance benefits can continue. Eligibility to continue benefits is dependant on what pension option you choose. Below is a reference guide which contains a more detailed explanation of all insurance benefits.
Acronyms
- IA
- Immediate Annuity
- AA
- Annual Allowance
- DA
- Deferred Annuity
- TV
- Transfer Value
- ROC
- Return of Contributions
X – indicates that benefits can continue
| Benefits | IA | AA | DA | TV | ROC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supplementary Death Benefit at regular rate | X | X | |||
| Supplementary Death Benefit at commercial rate | X | X | X* | ||
| Public Service Health Care Plan | X | X | X** | ||
| Pensioners' Dental Services Plan | X | X | X** | ||
| British Columbia Medical Services Plan | X | X | X** | ||
| Medavie Blue Cross (Atlantic or Quebec residents) | X | X | X** | ||
| Canada Savings Bonds | X*** | X*** | |||
| Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign | X | X | X** |
- * In certain situations only. Please contact the Pension Centre for details.
- ** You may be entitled to apply for coverage/deductions only once your Deferred Annuity becomes payable.
- *** You can only continue the Canada Savings Bonds deductions from your pension if you had an existing Canada Savings Bonds deduction from your salary prior to retiring.
Public Service Health Care Plan
If you opt for a benefit payable immediately (immediate annuity or immediate annual allowance) you may continue your coverage by having contributions deducted from your monthly pension. To change your current level of coverage, you must submit a signed application form Public Service Health Care Plan – Pensioner Application (TBS-SCT 006492) (PDF, 91.4 KB, Help for PDF file).
If you opt for a pension benefit payable in the future (deferred annual allowance or deferred annuity) you or your survivors may be eligible to re-join the Public Service Health Care Plan at that time.
If you were not covered under this plan as an employee, you may still be eligible to join this plan once pension payments begin. We encourage you to contact the Pension Centre for confirmation of your eligibility. If you are eligible and your completed application is received within 60 days of the date you terminate your employment, coverage will take effect on the 1st day of the month following receipt of your form. If your completed application is received more than 60 days after the date you become eligible, coverage will only take effect on the 1st day of the 4th month following receipt of your form.
Should you choose a lump sum benefit payment (i.e. Transfer Value, Return of Contributions) you will not be eligible to maintain coverage under the Public Service Health Care Plan.
For Quebec residents, the employer's portion of insurance contributions is considered a taxable benefit and is subject to Quebec income tax.
For Quebec and Ontario residents, the plan member's premiums are subject to the provincial sales tax.
Further information on the Public Service Health Care Plan, the different levels of coverage and the current rates for pensioners, can be obtained by referring to Health Care Plan at a Glance.
Note: Certain agencies and public service corporations do not participate in the pensioners' Public Service Health Care Plan. Former employees of those agencies or corporations cannot participate in this plan as pensioners. If you are unsure as to whether your employer participates in this plan, please contact the Pension Centre.
Pensioners' Dental Services Plan
If you opt for a benefit payable immediately, (immediate annuity or immediate annual allowance) you may be eligible to join the Pensioners' Dental Services Plan. If you were entitled to dental coverage as an employee, your dental coverage as a pensioner would be uninterrupted if the Pension Centre receives your Pensioners' Dental Services Plan Enrolment form within 60 days of your pension entitlement date. If you choose not to apply within the initial 60-day period, you still have the opportunity to join the Pensioners' Dental Services Plan at a later date.
If your Enrolment form is received later than 60 days from the effective date of your pension entitlement, your membership will begin on the first day of the second month following the date the Pension Centre receives your Enrolment Form. Coverage for all dental services begins on the same day as your membership begins.
If you opt for a benefit payable in the future (deferred annual allowance or deferred annuity), you or your survivors may be eligible to join the Pensioners' Dental Services Plan at that time.
Should you choose a lump sum benefit payment, you will not be eligible to join the Pensioners' Dental Services Plan.
Further information on the Pensioners' Dental Services Plan may be obtained from the Enrolment Information and Plan Summary booklet.
If you choose to apply for coverage, you can obtain the form "Pensioners' Dental Services Plan" (PWGSC-TPSGC 439-E) from the Pension Centre. Current contribution rates can be found on the Monthly Contribution Rates Web page.
For Quebec residents, the employer's portion of insurance contributions is considered a taxable benefit and is subject to Quebec income tax.
For Quebec and Ontario residents, the plan member's premiums are subject to provincial sales tax.
Note: Certain agencies and public service corporations do not participate in the Pensioners' Dental Services Plan. Former employees of those agencies or corporations cannot participate in this plan as pensioners. If you are unsure as to whether your employer participates in this plan, please contact the Pension Centre.
British Columbia Medical Services Plan
For residents of British Columbia, monthly premiums may be deducted from your pension if you opt for a benefit payable immediately (immediate annuity or immediate annual allowance).
Further information on the British Columbia Medical Services Plan may be obtained from the Health Insurance BC Web site or by contacting British Columbia Medical Services Plan directly at 604-683-7151 or 1-800-663-7100.
If you choose to have this monthly premium deducted from your pension, please complete and forward form Application for Group Enrolment with British Columbia Medical Services Plan (HLTH 167) to the Pension Centre.
The premiums paid by the employer on your behalf for this insurance in any one year will be considered a taxable benefit for income tax purposes.
Medavie Blue Cross (Atlantic or Quebec residents)
If you have coverage under this plan as an employee, monthly premiums for this plan may be deducted from your pension if you opt for a pension benefit payable immediately (immediate annuity or immediate annual allowance).
Before Medavie Blue Cross deductions can be taken from your pension, you must obtain a letter of authorization from Medavie Blue Cross. Atlantic residents may contact Medavie Blue Cross at 1-800-667-4511 and Quebec residents at 1-888-261-4033.
Deductions are taken one month in advance of the month in which coverage begins.
For Quebec residents, the employer's portion of insurance contributions is considered a taxable benefit and is subject to Quebec income tax. The plan member's premiums are subject to the provincial sales tax.