The government, as employer, contributes towards employees' provincial health
insurance premium costs.
The provincial health insurance authorities establish eligibility criteria
for coverage under their plans. As employer, the federal government has agreed
to comply with those criteria in respect of its employees. Therefore, if the
provincial criteria require an employer to enrol an employee in the employer
group and make premium payments on behalf of that employee, departments may
authorize a deduction from that employee's salary of the appropriate share of
the required premium, (regardless of the length of term and the assigned work
week), as well as payment of the appropriate employer share.
For example, if an employee is hired for four months and is required to enrol
in the employer group for Alberta Health Care Plan coverage, the department may
authorize a deduction of the required premium taking effect from the date
stipulated by the provincial rules. However, in no case should premium payments
be authorized for any period during which the individual was not an employee of
the government.
In provinces where premiums are payable by residents, the government
contributes towards combined provincial hospital and medical care insurance
premiums payable by its employees. The applicable employee and employer
contribution rates for employees with and without dependants are contained in
Appendix A to this chapter.
In provinces that levy health insurance premiums, deductions of employee
contributions are made from salary and sent to the provincial authorities along
with government contributions.
The government contributions in Appendix A are not payable in respect of any
full calendar month of leave without pay. Employees must arrange to pay the
required premiums directly to the provincial authorities, where applicable.
The provincial health insurance plans of British Columbia and Alberta provide
for premiums to be paid at reduced rates by residents whose income is below
certain levels. For detailed information regarding eligibility, the provincial
authorities should be consulted.
Present provincial practice and salary deduction limitations require
employees eligible for these subsidized rates to pay the reduced premiums
directly to the provincial health plans. At the end of the year, employees apply
for the appropriate employer contribution towards the subsidized premiums.
Personnel offices must have proof (normally receipts) that employees, while
employed, have paid subsidized health insurance premiums directly to their
provincial health insurance plan during a year, prior to processing employee
requests for the government's contribution towards those premiums. Employees in
that circumstance must apply for the government's share of the contribution
before July 1 of the year following the calendar year for which they are making
an application. Departments should retain on the employee's personnel file all
pertinent information related to these payments.
Enquiries from personnel offices concerning contributions to subsidized
premiums should be directed to the Superannuation Branch of Supply and Services
Canada.
In cases of alleged misinterpretation or misapplication of this directive by
the employer, the grievance procedure for all represented employees, within the
meaning of the Public Service Staff Relations Act, will be in accordance
with section 7.0 of the National Joint Council By-Laws. For unrepresented
employees, the departmental grievance procedure applies.
Financial Administration Act
-Deductions from pay section 2.4.4
Chapter 6, 2.4.4.
The Compensation Services Branch, Supply and Services Canada, is responsible
for premium deductions (where authorized), accounting procedures, and forwarding
of premiums to the provincial authorities. From time to time, Services Pay
directives are issued in respect of such matters. Enquiries should be directed
to the appropriate pay office.
Monthly Rates of Contributions to Provincial Health
Insurance Premiums
Province
|
Employee
$
|
Employer
$
|
Total Premium
$
|
ALBERTA
|
|
|
|
-July1, 1995 |
Single employee
|
17.00
|
17.00
|
34.00
|
Family
|
34.00
|
34.00
|
68.00
|
-April 1, 2002 |
Single employee
|
22.00
|
22.00
|
44.00
|
Family
|
44.00
|
44.00
|
88.00
|
BRITISH COLUMBIA
|
|
|
|
-October1, 1993
(September1, 1993 deduction) |
Single employee
|
18.00
|
18.00
|
36.00
|
Employee and one dependant
|
32.00
|
32.00
|
64.00
|
Employee and more than one dependant
|
36.00
|
36.00
|
72.00
|
-2002 (April 1, 2002
deduction) |
Single employee
|
27.00
|
27.00
|
54.00
|
Employee and one dependant
|
48.00
|
48.00
|
96.00
|
Employee and more than one dependant
|
54.00
|
54.00
|
108.00
|
|