Frequently asked questions

The Teachers’ Pension Board of Trustees reviews the plan’s retirement health coverage periodically to ensure the coverage and premiums provide the best value for members, meet the needs of members and are sustainable over the long term. Retirement health coverage is optional and funded by members.

If the board chooses to make changes to retirement health coverage, they would be implemented in January 2025.

The board will review the results of the survey as well as other factors like plan usage, cost, sustainability and market trends to decide whether changes to retirement health coverage are needed.

Information about the results of the survey will be shared with members in early 2024.

The board will consider member feedback, along with other factors, in its decision making. Phase one of the engagement was launched in fall 2022. Retired members who are enrolled in retirement health coverage were invited to participate in focus groups to provide feedback on the current plan, including what is working well and what might be improved.

Phase two of the engagement will seek wider member input through an online survey.

In phase two of the engagement process, all retired members and active members within five years of retirement will be invited to provide their input through an online survey.

The survey will launch September 18, 2023, and will close October 10, 2023.

• Learn more about what is currently covered under the plan by reading the GreenShield My Benefit Plan booklet.
• Watch a recorded webinar about the current extended health coverage and this engagement project.
• Watch a short animated video about current extended health coverage.

A premium is the monthly amount a member pays for their coverage. Premium rates are based on the level of coverage and member use of the plan. A plan with more coverage and higher overall member usage requires a higher premium to cover expenses.

Premium rates are reviewed and negotiated annually with GreenShield.

Learn more about current premiums members pay for the extended health plan and the dental plan by reading Retirement health coverage premiums. Premium rates are subject to change February 1 of each year.

A deductible is the amount that must be paid by or on behalf of you and your dependant each calendar year before an eligible expense will be reimbursed.

The current annual deductible is $200. The deductible does not apply to hearing care, vision care and emergency in-province expenses.

Co-insurance is the percentage of the eligible cost of an extended health or dental expense that is paid by the plan after the annual deductible has been paid.

The current co-insurance is 80 per cent for extended health coverage until $1,000 of paid claims has been reached per person per calendar year. After that, it increases to 100 per cent for the remainder of the year.

Note that hearing care, vision care and emergency in-province expenses are covered at 100 per cent. Also, the co-insurance is 90 per cent for prescription drugs filled at Costco.

If you are currently retired, you can learn how to enrol in the program by reading Apply for or cancel coverage on the plan website.

If you are nearing retirement, you can learn more about retirement health coverage and how to enrol by reading Retirement health coverage and you on the plan website.