Summer is now just around the corner!
Here are some important reminders to help you with your benefits coverage during the summer months:
Updating coverage for you and your family
Add your spouse or child:* You have 31 days from the date of a life event (e.g. marriage, divorce, birth/adoption of your child, spouse loses coverage) to add your spouse or child to your plan. Adding your family member before the deadline will ensure they have the coverage they need and avoid being a late entrant/applicant.
Add Child Optional Life:* You must do this within 31 days of your child(ren) being eligible (i.e. when you become eligible for coverage upon hiring or the birth/adoption of your child). This benefit cannot be added after the 31 days, even with proof of good health (evidence of insurability).
Confirm coverage for your over-age student:* If you have an over-age student covered under your plan, you must let us know every year that they need coverage and will be attending school in the fall. You will receive reminders starting in June to complete this confirmation.
Update your beneficiary designation: We strongly encourage that you review your beneficiary designation for your life insurance at least once a year or whenever you experience a life event (see above) to ensure your beneficiaries are protected.
*Check your benefits booklet to confirm if your natural child, adopted child, stepchild or foster child is eligible for coverage. You can also check your benefits booklet to confirm the maximum age for student coverage eligibility and review what products and/or services are covered by your benefits plan.
Employment ending or retiring
If your employment status is changing soon, here are some important reminders about the impact on your benefits coverage.
Long-Term Occasional (LTO)
If your eligible LTO contract/position is ending AND you had coverage under an Employee Life and Health Trust (ELHT):
- You will receive a communication from OTIP to notify you of the date your coverage ended or will end on the last day of your assignment. Claims incurred after that date will not be eligible for reimbursement.
- You will have 90 calendar days from the date your coverage ends to access OTIP’s secure member site and submit any claims incurred up to and including your last day of coverage. Any eligible claims received after this 90-day period will be declined.
Congratulations on your retirement!
- You will receive a communication from OTIP to notify you of the date your coverage ended or will end. Claims incurred after that date will not be eligible for reimbursement.
- You will have 90 calendar days from the date your coverage ends to access OTIP’s secure member site and submit any claims incurred up to and including your last day of coverage. Any eligible claims received after this 90-day period will be declined.
- Looking for retiree health insurance options? Check out OTIP’s health, dental and travel insurance options for retirees at otip.com/for-retirees, or call OTIP at 1‑800‑267‑6847.
If you are retiring or your eligible LTO contract/position is ending: You may be eligible to convert your group life insurance (if applicable) to an individual policy without having to provide evidence of good health or undergo a medical exam, provided you do so within 31 calendar days of your coverage ending.
To learn more about converting any group life insurance to an individual policy, you can review the description for the Group Benefits Life Conversion Option form (found under Life Insurance forms).
Getting an estimate
Minimize surprises with estimates: It’s disappointing to pay for a product or service only to discover it wasn’t covered by your plan. Just like any other big-ticket item you purchase, you should ‘shop around’ for the best available option and get an estimate on any potential claims. This way, you can determine how much your plan covers and how much you still need to pay.
Ready to submit an estimate? Learn how.
Staying connected
Update your preferred email address: Your board email address may be your default email address for OTIP notifications. Consider updating your preferred email address to your personal email. This way, you won’t miss any important information concerning your benefits over the summer.
Update your home address: To update your home address after you move, please advise your Board. Please note that it may take a few weeks for the update to be reflected in our system.
We wish you a safe and happy summer vacation!