Notice to Members of the Public Service Health Care Plan Who are Seniors Residing in Nova Scotia

DATE:  July 28, 1999

TO:  Compensation Managers
        Directors of Personnel
        Heads of Personnel of Participating Separate Employers Heads of Bargaining Agents

SUBJECT:  Notice to Members of the Public Service Health Care Plan Who are Seniors Residing in  Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia officials have advised the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat of a change to the Nova Scotia Seniors' Pharmacare Program that will take effect on October 1, 1999.

These changes may affect members of the Public Service Health Care Plan who are seniors, age 65 or over, residing in the province of Nova Scotia.

The attached notice provides the details of this change. This notice should therefore be provided to residents of Nova Scotia who are or will soon be age 65 or over.

We would ask that you distribute this notice to all affected employees of your department or agency as quickly as possible, including those who are absent on leave without pay, on off-season status, or who have been laid-off.

Compensation Managers may call Kathie Jordan at (613) 952-3264 if there are any questions about this notice.

Enquiries:
Human Resources Branch
Treasury Board Secretariat
info@tbs-sct.gc.ca

Public Service Health Care Plan Members Age 65 or over Residing in Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Seniors' Pharmacare Program

July 1999

Provincial officials have advised the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat of the following changes to the Nova Scotia Seniors' Pharmacare Program that will take effect on October 1, 1999. These changes will affect employees and persons in receipt of a recognized pension, age 65 or over, residing in Nova Scotia.

If you are in receipt of the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)

If you are a member of the PSHCP in receipt of the GIS, you will remain covered under the Nova Scotia Seniors' Pharmacare Program. After the Pharmacare Program processes your eligible prescription drug claims, PSHCP participants may submit the balance remaining (i.e. the Pharmacare co-payment amount) to the PSHCP. The PSHCP will reimburse 80% of the amount, which is eligible under the Plan, after you satisfy the annual deductible amount ($60 for "single" coverage and $100 for "family" coverage).

If you are not in receipt of the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)

If you are a member of the PSHCP who is not in receipt of the GIS, as of October 1, 1999 your eligible prescription drug expenses will no longer be accepted under the Nova Scotia Seniors' Pharmacare Program. Therefore, any eligible prescribed drug expenses purchased on or after October 1, 1999, must be:

1. Claimed on the Public Service Health Care Plan Claim Form, and
2. Submitted directly to the administrator of the PSHCP.

The PSHCP will reimburse you for 80% of eligible expenses, after you satisfy the annual deductible amount ($60 for "single" coverage and $100 for "family" coverage).

• Nova Scotia Seniors' Pharmacare Program Premium Refunds

Seniors no longer eligible for coverage under the Nova Scotia Seniors' Pharmacare Program may apply to the Pharmacare Program for full premium refunds for the period April 1, 1999 to March 31, 2000, if applicable.

• PSHCP members with high drug costs

Officials of the Nova Scotia Seniors' Pharmacare Program have indicated that they intend to provide assistance to seniors whose out-of-pocket eligible prescription drug costs are more than the maximum cost they would have paid under the Pharmacare Program ($415 out-of-pocket expenses in the period April 1999 to March 2000). Contact the Nova Scotia Seniors' Pharmacare Program directly for information on this assistance.