December 6, 2023
OSSTF Benefits Transition to Direct Billing – Banking Information Required Event
Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan (OTIP) has communicated to OSSTF Benefits plan members via their preferred email that the OSSTF ELHT is moving to pre-authorized debits (PAD) to collect member paid benefit premiums (see Attach 1).https://mcusercontent.com/fd92d8e08ce1d6b287b53b308/files/3a944b94-24db-f508-7163-5bc122d5b1ae/072_Attach_1_OTIP_Communication_to_Members_on_Direct_Billing_Banking_Information_Required_Event.pdf
This change will impact all OSSTF/FEESO Members who are participating in OSSTF Employee Life and Health Trust (ELHT) Extended Health Care, Dental Care, and/or Optional Life Benefits. Effective February 2024, OSSTF Benefits will be moving all remaining plan members from payroll deductions to direct billing using pre-authorized debits (PAD) to collect member paid benefit premiums. This means that your school board will no longer be making payroll deductions to cover the cost of your member-paid benefit premiums.
OTIP administers the OSSTF Benefits plan and are responsible for collecting member premiums shares. All plan members will receive an email in early January with steps to securely provide your banking information through the Banking Information Required event. Even if you have previously submitted your banking information to OTIP for claims reimbursement, you must still complete this Banking Information Required event.
The instructions will be sent to a plan member’s Board assigned email address, unless they have indicated a personal email address as their preferred email. Plan members will be responsible for providing banking information to facilitate PAD collection of OSSTF Benefits Plan member share premium contributions. Plan members will have an opportunity to review their member share premium contributions during the enrolment process.
Once plan members have provided their banking information through the Banking Information Required event in their OTIP secure member site, the required premiums will be deducted from their bank account on the 10th of every month, or the next scheduled workday after the 10th. If banking information is not provided in time, the March 2024 pre-authorized debit deduction may include a double deduction of premiums from your bank account for retroactive premiums, depending on when you add your banking information.
If your banking information is not provided by March 1, 2024, your coverage will be suspended and you will not have access to your health and/or dental, and/or optional life benefits. Members will be responsible for pay back of any claims incurred after February 1, 2024. Once coverage is suspended, members will need to apply for reinstatement and will be responsible for payment of any member contributions owed to February 1, 2024. Members whose benefit coverage is suspended may be subject to late entrant provisions and/or required to re-apply for extended health care or optional life insurance coverage by providing proof of good health (evidence of insurability) should they wish to rejoin the plan at a later date.
If you have any questions, please contact John Wells at john.wells@osstf.ca.