Benefits Update: Upcoming Plan Changes Aug. 1, 2024

As per our recent Benefits Update, the Mardocs Board of Trustees made some administration changes that take effect Aug. 1, 2024.

New policy cards and numbers issued for health/dental benefits:
With the changes to the administrative handling of the plan, there will be a new policy number for health and dental benefits (Canada Life will provide this to you). The Insured number will remain the same for basic life and long-term disability etc.

You will need to ensure you notify any providers of your new plan # to avoid claims being declined.
Claim history will transfer through to the new policy # to ensure coverage balances are maintained.

During the transition to the new policy number, there will be some limitations in services available to plan members from July 30 - Aug. 3. This is necessary to complete this conversion: All services and online features should be fully restored by Aug. 3.

These include:

The online claim function will be unavailable from July 30 until Aug 3 at the latest.
There will be a delay on when members will be able to access the site from Aug. 1 until Aug. 3
Given there is a new policy number, new eCard numbers will be issued online via our member site and mobile app. The new cards will be available on the My Canada Life at Work (MCLAW) site on Aug. 3.
Access to online claims history under the new policy will be unavailable until Aug. 3.
Balances for dental, paramedical and vision services will be impacted until the transition is complete Aug. 3.
Next available dates for dental and vision services will be impacted until the transition is complete Aug. 3.
Pharmacy drug claims will not be impacted as long as members use the new policy number for claims after Aug. 1.
For all other provider types (paramedical, dentist, etc.), direct billing will still work.
However, providers may receive messaging “accepted for further processing” and there would be a delay in payment until Aug. 3.

While the go-live date indicated above is generally Aug. 3 there is a possibility this may all be concluded by Aug. 2 but we want to be conservative with this timeframe in the meantime.

Plan changes starting this academic year – July 1

10% co-pay on paramedical service:
When you visit a provider, Canada Life will cover the cost of the treatment up to 90% of the reasonable and customary charges set by Canada Life. Please remember, our paramedical coverage is limited to $1,000/practitioner up to a combined max of $1,500 per academic year. Providers include: chiropractor, osteopath, occupational therapist, podiatrist / chiropodist, massage therapist, naturopath, speech therapist, physiotherapist, acupuncturist, audiologist, dietician.

New bi-weekly deduction rates on pay:
As usage rates increase, we need to keep pace with the increase in our premiums and our current cost-share model does not provide enough funds to pay our annual premiums. The new cost-share rates effective July 1 are:

$12/pay for waived
$35/pay for individual coverage
$75/pay for family coverage

These funds are deducted directly from your bi-weekly salary.

Making changes to your plan:
If you need to make changes regarding your group benefits plan, CLICK HERE to visit our website.

Questions regarding coverage:
Contact Canada Life at 1-866-318-2727 or visit: https://my.canadalife.com/sign-in