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  4. What happens if I reached a dead-end with the Trusted Source and Pay Centre and am unable to secure enrolment under the requisite benefit plans?

What happens if I reached a dead-end with the Trusted Source and Pay Centre and am unable to secure enrolment under the requisite benefit plans?

Recent pay processes and system issues have impacted group insurance benefit plan administration. These issues are affecting the ability of new employees to access their benefits and existing employees to change their levels of coverage.

In collaboration with Public Services and Procurement Canada and the Plan administrators, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat has developed temporary measures to address some of the issues with your benefits.

Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP)

Plan registration for new employees

If you are a new employee of the public service, you may not be aware that the PSHCP is a voluntary plan and requires an application within 60 days of being employed to have coverage start the first of the following month, otherwise, a three month waiting period applies. For example, if you started as a new employee of the public service on February 1, 2016, and immediately completed an application form, your coverage would have been effective March 1, 2016.

If you have not yet applied for coverage, please note that the waiting periods associated with late submission of an application have been temporarily waived.

This means that if you are eligible for PHSCP you are to:
 

  1. Complete and submit an electronic application form using the Public Service Health Care Plan online application through the Phoenix self-service tool.
  2. If unsuccessful, email a completed and scanned copy of the paper Employee application form to TPSGC.RSSFP-PSHCP.PWGSC@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca
  3. Complete Positive Enrolment with Sun Life once your application is approved and you are in receipt of your certificate number.

Changes in PSHCP coverage for current members

If you are currently a member of the PSHCP and want to make changes to your coverage levels (single/family or hospital levels), the waiting period associated with late submission of an application has been temporarily waived.

To make changes to your coverage levels, you are to:

  1. Use the Public Service Health Care Plan online application through the Phoenix self-service tool.
  2. If unsuccessful, email a completed and scanned copy of the paper Employee application form to TPSGC.RSSFP-PSHCP.PWGSC@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca

Retroactivity

 All changes to PSHCP coverage will start the first of the month following the Pay Centre's receipt of a request, unless a retroactive date is requested. Requests for retroactive coverage must be made in writing to the Pay Centre, but will only be effective the first of the month following the date you were originally eligible for the coverage change. For example, a member who married on March 28, 2016, but who had a waiting period applied to change coverage from single to family can request a retroactive coverage effective date of April 1, 2016. A retroactive request must be for the first of the month following the date you became eligible for the change and cannot be for a date earlier than September 1, 2015. You may wish to choose this option if you incurred a claim that is not eligible because your coverage was not established on time.
 
If you have gone on Leave without Pay (LWOP) and did not elect to make a change in coverage prior to your departure but would like to now, you may do so without returning to work. You can make the change by contacting the Pay Centre and supplying them with the necessary Employee application form. Any required contributions that result from the change in coverage will be collected or refunded upon your return to work.
NOTE: Changes in coverage are regularly transmitted to Sun Life. If you are requesting retroactive coverage, it may take a few weeks following the Pay Centre's processing of your application before the Sun Life systems are updated.

Public Service Dental Care Plan (PSDCP)

Plan registration for new employees

If you are a new employee of the public service and eligible for the dental care plan, you will automatically be placed into the Plan after a three month waiting period. If you are unsure of your coverage start date or require your certificate number, contact the Pay Centre.

Changes in PSDCP coverage for current members

If you are on Leave without Pay (LWOP) and are required to remit contributions in order to retain coverage but have lost coverage on or after September 1, 2015, because contributions were not remitted you may contact the Pay Centre and request reinstatement without returning to work. You will be required to remit all missed contributions in a lump sum as well as your normal quarterly installments along with your request.

Public Service Management Insurance Plan (PSMIP)

Plan registration for new employees

If you are a new LP since September 1, 2015, and are eligible for life insurance coverage under the PSMIP, you may wish to complete a PSMIP application form and send it to the Pay Centre. New employees who have not already applied and been denied life insurance coverage may request Basic and Dependant coverage without completing a Declaration of Health Form. For information on how to apply, please contact the Pay Centre.

For additional information please visit New to the Public Service.