Public Service Health Care Plan - Change to Effective Date of Coverage for Common-Law Spouses

DATE: February 16, 2000

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

SUBJECT: Public Service Health Care Plan -
Change to Effective Date of Coverage for Common-Law Spouses

The purpose of this notice is to inform Personnel Officers of a change to the effective date of coverage for common-law spouses under the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP).

Currently a member of the PSHCP who wishes to cover their common-law spouse must be in a relationship for one year and then undergo a three-month waiting period.

Effective January 1, 2000, the three-month waiting period will not be required if the member applies for family coverage to cover their common-law spouse within 60 days of satisfying the definition of common-law spouse.

For example, if a common-law spouse satisfies the one-year period on April 10^th, then if the member's application for family coverage is received in Personnel/Pension office on or before June 9^th, coverage for the common-law spouse is effective from April 10^th. A contribution for family coverage will be required in the month of April.

To facilitate this change, please ensure that Box 11 of the PSHCP application form is completed to reflect the date the member satisfies the common-law period. Also, please write in the 'Reason' field 'common-law requirement satisfied'.

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