To: Benefit Administrators / Human Resource Personnel From ... · Information Form (attached) to...
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March 12, 2019 To: Benefit Administrators / Human Resource Personnel From: Jade Lea-Wilson Manager, Claims Services, Employee Benefit Plans Re: New Process for Group Life Waiver for non-3sHealth Long Term Disability (LTD) Plans and One- Time Cleanup Working with our partners, 3sHealth Administration has developed a new group life waiver application process to make it seamless to apply for a group life waiver when plan members are on an approved long-term disability claim (LTD) with a non-3sHealth disability plan. Plan members who are on an approved 3sHealth LTD claim are automatically approved for a group life waiver. This means the plan member continues to be insured at their pre-leave level of life insurance coverage while on an approved claim. The employer and the plan member are not required to pay group life premiums during the period of the approved LTD claim. In the past, when another insurer approved an LTD claim for a plan member who belonged to a non- 3sHealth disability plan, employees still had to make a separate and full medical application to 3sHealth for group life waiver. New Process: Effective March 1, 2019 3sHealth will automatically approve the group life waiver for a plan member when their non-3sHealth LTD claim is approved by the other insurer. The simplified process will be: The employer will send a copy of the non-3sHealth LTD approval letter and a completed Basic Information Form (attached) to [email protected] 3sHealth will approve the group life waiver, confirm the waiver is set up in iHRIS, and send confirmation to the plan member, employer and union that the waiver is in place. One-Time Cleanup: 3sHealth Administration’s goal is to ensure we have all eligible employees approved for group life waiver. We are performing a one-time clean-up of all plan members on a non-3sHealth approved LTD claim. To support this clean-up we ask: • Employers to send the non-3sHealth LTD approval letter and a completed Basic Information Form for all existing employees on an approved LTD claim with another carrier that do not have a 3sHealth group life waiver in place. • Email the documents to: [email protected]
Transcript of To: Benefit Administrators / Human Resource Personnel From ... · Information Form (attached) to...
March 12, 2019 To: Benefit Administrators / Human Resource Personnel From: Jade Lea-Wilson
Manager, Claims Services, Employee Benefit Plans
Re: New Process for Group Life Waiver for non-3sHealth Long Term Disability (LTD) Plans and One-
Time Cleanup
Working with our partners, 3sHealth Administration has developed a new group life waiver application process to make it seamless to apply for a group life waiver when plan members are on an approved long-term disability claim (LTD) with a non-3sHealth disability plan.
Plan members who are on an approved 3sHealth LTD claim are automatically approved for a group life waiver. This means the plan member continues to be insured at their pre-leave level of life insurance coverage while on an approved claim. The employer and the plan member are not required to pay group life premiums during the period of the approved LTD claim. In the past, when another insurer approved an LTD claim for a plan member who belonged to a non-3sHealth disability plan, employees still had to make a separate and full medical application to 3sHealth for group life waiver. New Process:
Effective March 1, 2019 3sHealth will automatically approve the group life waiver for a plan member when their non-3sHealth LTD claim is approved by the other insurer. The simplified process will be:
The employer will send a copy of the non-3sHealth LTD approval letter and a completed Basic Information Form (attached) to [email protected]
3sHealth will approve the group life waiver, confirm the waiver is set up in iHRIS, and send confirmation to the plan member, employer and union that the waiver is in place.
One-Time Cleanup:
3sHealth Administration’s goal is to ensure we have all eligible employees approved for group life waiver. We are performing a one-time clean-up of all plan members on a non-3sHealth approved LTD claim. To support this clean-up we ask:
• Employers to send the non-3sHealth LTD approval letter and a completed Basic Information Form for all existing employees on an approved LTD claim with another carrier that do not have a 3sHealth group life waiver in place.
• Email the documents to: [email protected]
• The clean-up window will end on May 31, 2019. Please send the required documentation by this deadline.
• The clean-up will only provide for the set-up a group life waiver. Employees and employers will not receive a retroactive refund for any premiums paid for employees who were not on an approved group life waiver.
• The clean-up is limited to group life insurance and will not apply to extended health care and dental benefits.
• It’s unlikely that SHEPP pensionable service was missed because employers have a separate process to notify SHEPP of non-3sHealth LTD approvals, however, once the cleanup is complete, 3sHealth Administration will send a list of all plan members with an approved group life waiver to SHEPP to do a reconciliation.
On-going Reconciliation
3sHealth Administration will run a quarterly query for employees on an approved non-3sHealth LTD claim with an active group life waiver in iHRIS. We will send the list to employers to confirm if the listed employees are still on an approved claim.
Communication with Plan Members
3sHeath Administration developed a question and answer hand-out on group life waiver called Group Life Waiver for Non-3sHealth LTD Claimants (attached) that employers can print and provide to employees. You can also direct plan members to the 3sHealth website for this information.
We are working on a separate communication on Applying for 3sHealth Disability While on an Approved WCB or SGI Claim. When complete, we will send it to you by benefits bulletin.
These documents are meant to support employee’s questions. We will work with stakeholders to create a new group life waiver brochure. For now, please destroy all existing supplies of the group life waiver brochures because the information contained in the brochure is no longer correct..
If you have questions about group life waiver please email [email protected]. You may also contact a 3sHealth Benefit Services Officer by telephone at 1-866-278-2301 or call Jade Lea-Wilson at 306-347-1723.
Q&A FOR EMPLOYEES - GROUP LIFE WAIVER OF PREMIUM BENEFIT FOR NON-3SHEALTH
LTD CLAIMANTS
What is a group life waiver of premium?
A group life waiver of premium means that during your approved long term disability (LTD) claim you continue to be
insured for group life insurance at your pre-leave level coverage. You will continue to be insured for all life insurance
coverage that you had on your date of disability for the duration of your approved LTD claim, to a maximum of age 65.
The group life waiver includes:
basic life insurance, basic accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), and dependent life insurance
optional life insurance that you were insured for on your date of disability
voluntary AD&D that you were insured for on your date of disability
Are there any additional benefits to having an approved group life waiver?
Yes! Here is a chart that provides an overview of the benefits an approved group life waiver gives you:
Benefit Plan If you apply and your disability claim
is approved
If you do not apply or if your disability
application is not approved
Saskatchewan
Healthcare
Employees
Pension Plan
(SHEPP)
You will continue to receive credited
service under the plan during the
period of approved disability.
Contributions are not required during
periods of approved disability.
You will receive no credited service for the
period after the employer sick leave or salary
continuance ends
Group Life
Insurance
Your coverage for basic life and
optional life insurance remains in
effect for the period of your approved
disability with no cost to you.
Your coverage for basic life insurance must
continue for 18 months and you are responsible
for paying the premiums. You can elect to
continue optional life insurance for up to 18
months and you are responsible for paying the
premiums. All life insurance will terminate at
the end of 18 months.
Extended
Health Care
and Dental
Insurance
Your coverage will remain in effect for
up to 2 years and 4 months from your
date of disability with no cost to you.
Your coverage will continue for up to 18 months
with no cost to you. All extended health care
and dental insurance will terminate at the end
of 18 months.
1. How do I qualify for a group life waiver?
Group life waiver of premium is only applicable to an approved long term disability (LTD) claim. If you have an
approved LTD claim with your insurer you will automatically qualify for a group life waiver with 3sHealth.
2. Do I have to pay premiums while on an approved LTD claim?
Once you are approved for a group life waiver, neither you nor your employer have to pay premiums for your
group life insurance for as long as you are on an approved LTD claim (to a maximum of age 65).
3. What if I am denied benefits with my non-3sHealth LTD carrier? Can I apply to 3sHealth directly for a group
life waiver?
No, you cannot apply for group life waiver if your LTD claim is denied because a group life waiver is exclusively
tied to an approved LTD claim. If you are not on an approved LTD claim then you are not eligible for a group life
waiver. You must continue to pay your premiums for group life insurance while you are on a leave of absence to
a maximum period of 18 months. If you are under age 65 and you have not returned to work after 18 months,
you will have 31 days to convert your life insurance to an individual policy with Great-West Life.
4. What does 3sHealth require for a group life waiver application?
You will not be required to send an application to 3sHealth. Your employer will send 3sHealth your approval
letter from your LTD insurer and a Basic Information Form. After the information is received, 3sHealth will
communicate the group life waiver to you, your employer and your union (if applicable).
5. Will I be required to submit medical information or updates to 3sHealth?
No, your employer will provide us with any status updates about your LTD claim status.
6. How long am I covered for a group life waiver?
The group life waiver will end on the date of your 65th birthday or when you are no longer on an approved non-
3sHealth LTD claim. If you lose coverage, you are able to convert your group life insurance to an individual plan
within 31 days of your claim ending or your 65th birthday.
7. What happens if I die while on an approved group life waiver?
Your employer or your beneficiary will notify 3sHealth of your death and we will ensure your life insurance
benefit is paid to your named beneficiary. You should ensure your beneficiary information is up-to date with
3sHealth Employee Benefits.
8. What is the deadline to apply for the group life waiver?
Your employer will need to send the completed Basic Information Form and a copy of the approval letter from
your insurer within 31 days of the LTD claim approval.
9. What if my claim is denied by the non-3sHealth LTD insurer?
3sHealth administration will follow our plan rules that when a claim is under an appeal we automatically
approve the group life waiver. Employers should contact 3sHealth to advise that you are appealing the decision.
10. What if my non-3sHealth LTD claim terminates but I do not return to work or I am not able to return to work?
You will no longer be eligible for a group life waiver, however, you can on a premium paying basis, continue your
group life coverage for an additional 12 months.
Health Shared Services Saskatchewan - 3sHealthEmployee Benefits
700-2002 Victoria AveRegina, SK S4P 0R7
T. 306-347-5519 F. 306-347-5910Toll Free: 1-866-278-2301
Group Life WaiverBasic Information Form for non-3sHealth LTD Plans
PART 1 – EMPLOYEE INFORMATION
Employee’s Name BID# Date of Birth (dd / mm / yy)
Address
Position #1 Title : q Full-time q Part-time q Casual
Date employee last worked (dd / mm / yy) Date employee last paid (dd / mm / yy)
Position #2 Title : q Full-time q Part-time q Casual
Date employee last worked (dd / mm / yy) Date employee last paid (dd / mm / yy)
Position #3 Title : q Full-time q Part-time q Casual
Date employee last worked (dd / mm / yy) Date employee last paid (dd / mm / yy)
Check the life insurance coverage the employee is enrolled:
q Basic Life q Option Life q Optional AD&D
Employee is a member of which pension plan: q SHEPP q PEPP q PSSP q CIVIC
PART 2 – EMPLOYER INFORMATION
Employer Organization Number
Contact Name Signature
• Please send this form and a copy of the non-3sHealth LTD approval letter to [email protected]• Group Life Waiver approvals will be completed in 7 business days• 3sHealth will send a confirmation of benefits letter to the employee, employer and the applicable union
Employers must notify 3sHealth immediately if the employee returns to work or their non-3sHealth LTD claim closes
3sHealth Employee Benefits is committed to protecting the privacy of your personal information. We collect and use your personal information to determine your eligibility for coverage and to administer the benefit plans. We limit access to your personal information to 3sHealth Employee Benefits staff, to any third party authorized by 3sHealth who requires it to administer your benefits, to persons to whom you have granted access, and to persons authorized by law.
