Home > Why OTIP > News > You called, we answered Share this:

News and Updates

You called, we answered

In 2018, OTIP received over 565,000 calls from members. The top three reasons that members call OTIP Benefits Services are inquiries about coverage, claims and enrolment.

Here are some of the most popular questions that members ask about:

I have moved to a new home. How do I change my address? How long will this change take?
You will need to contact your school board to update this information. You cannot update your new address in My Benefits or My Claims. This new information will be sent to OTIP from your school board. This change may take up to 10 business days before it is updated in My Benefits and My Claims.

Need to update your name or date of birth? You can also contact your school board to update this information.

My family status has changed. How do I change my coverage?
If your family status has changed due to a life event, you may be eligible to enrol or change your benefits coverage. Here are the guidelines for changing your coverage based on the following scenarios:

Your coverage today	You want to change to	Life events eligible for coverage changes	Coverage change deadline
Single	Family	Marriage Common-law spouses (can be added within 31 days of the one-year anniversary of co-habitation) Birth of a baby Adoption or legal custody of a child (Legal documents must be provided within 31 days of legal adoption before child has coverage) Spouse loses their benefits coverage	You have 31 days from the life event to make changes to your coverage. If you are adding a new family member: Within 31 days of the life event, the new family member is covered as of the life event date (e.g. wedding day, day child is born or adopted). After 31 days of the life event, the family member is considered a “Late entrant” and will need proof of good health (evidence of insurability). If coverage is approved, the new family member is covered as of the date coverage was approved (NOT the life event date).
Family	Family (no change)	Marriage Common-law spouses (can be added within 31 days of the one-year anniversary of co-habitation) Birth of a baby Adoption or legal custody of a child (Legal documents must be provided within 31 days of legal adoption before child has coverage)	Since you already have family coverage, proof of good health (evidence of insurability) is not required when you add a new family member (spouse/child) within 31 days of them being an eligible dependant. If you are making this change within 31 days, you can make a change to your benefits coverage by completing the steps below. If you are making this change after 31 days of the life event, please contact OTIP Benefits Services at 1‑866‑783‑6847.
Family	Single	Divorce Death of a spouse/child Spouse gains their benefits coverage	You are eligible make the change at any time. For life events such as a “Divorce” or “Spouse gains their benefit coverage,” you can make a change to your benefits coverage by completing the steps below. For a death of a spouse or child, please contact OTIP Benefits Services at 1‑866‑783‑6847.

Your coverage today

You want to change to

Life events eligible for coverage changes

Coverage change deadline

Single

Family

Marriage
Common-law spouses (can be added within 31 days of the one-year anniversary of co-habitation)
Birth of a baby
Adoption or legal custody of a child (Legal documents must be provided within 31 days of legal adoption before child has coverage)
Spouse loses their benefits coverage

You have 31 days from the life event to make changes to your coverage.

If you are adding a new family member:

Within 31 days of the life event, the new family member is covered as of the life event date (e.g. wedding day, day child is born or adopted).

After 31 days of the life event, the family member is considered a “Late entrant” and will need proof of good health (evidence of insurability). If coverage is approved, the new family member is covered as of the date coverage was approved (NOT the life event date).

Family

Family
(no change)

Marriage
Common-law spouses (can be added within 31 days of the one-year anniversary of co-habitation)
Birth of a baby
Adoption or legal custody of a child (Legal documents must be provided within 31 days of legal adoption before child has coverage)

Since you already have family coverage, proof of good health (evidence of insurability) is not required when you add a new family member (spouse/child) within 31 days of them being an eligible dependant.

If you are making this change within 31 days, you can make a change to your benefits coverage by completing the steps below.

If you are making this change after 31 days of the life event, please contact OTIP Benefits Services at 1‑866‑783‑6847.

Family

Single

Divorce
Death of a spouse/child
Spouse gains their benefits coverage

You are eligible make the change at any time.

For life events such as a “Divorce” or “Spouse gains their benefit coverage,” you can make a change to your benefits coverage by completing the steps below.

For a death of a spouse or child, please contact OTIP Benefits Services at 1‑866‑783‑6847.

Important notes:

If your full-time equivalent (FTE) status has changed, you have 31 days to change your coverage.
If you are on leave or going on a leave, please contact OTIP Benefits Services to find out if you are eligible for a coverage change and what you need to do.

Are breast pumps, hearing aids, glucometers, etc. covered under my plan? How do I check my coverage?

To see what products and/or services are covered by your benefits plan, check your benefits booklet online. Your benefits booklet includes benefits plan terms and coverage details, and is updated on a regular basis to reflect any changes or updates to your plan.

If you do not see it in the benefits booklet or need more information, you can contact OTIP Benefits Services at 1‑866‑783‑6847.

News and Updates

News and Updates

You called, we answered

News and Updates

Can you recognize benefits fraud?

5 ways to spend your March break 2019 in Ontario

You called, we answered