Covenant Health Collective Agreement 2020-2024

Article 25: Employee Benefit Plans

1. The Employer shall continue the following group plans for all eligible Employees where such plans are currently in effect or shall implement the following group plans where enrollment and other requirements of the Insurer for group participation have been met:

   1. Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan, as amended or replaced.

   2. The Covenant Health HSAA Benefit Plan or equivalent providing for:

      1. Group Life Insurance [one times (1X) basic annual earnings rounded up to the next higher one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) with an option for additional life insurance to at least twice annual earnings rounded to the next highest one thousand dollars ($1,000.00)];
         
         Note: Clause 25.01(b)(ii) amended for EMS in Local Conditions (Page 170)

      2. Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance (amount equal to group life insurance);

      3. Short-Term Disability (STD) [income replacement for a period of up to one hundred and twenty (120) working days during a qualifying disability equal to sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of basic weekly earnings to the established maximum following a seven (7) day elimination period where applicable]. The STD shall become effective on the first (1st) working day following the expiry of sick leave credits in the case of absence due to injury or hospitalization. In the particular case of Employees who have insufficient sick leave credits to satisfy the seven (7) calendar day elimination period, the STD shall commence on the eight (8th) day following the commencement of non-hospitalized sickness.

      4. Long-Term Disability (LTD) [income replacement during a qualifying disability equal to sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of basic monthly earnings to the established maximum following a one hundred and twenty (120) working day elimination period];

      5. Alberta Blue Cross Dental Plan, which plan provides eighty percent (80%) reimbursement of basic eligible dental expenses, fifty percent (50%) of extensive eligible dental expenses and fifty percent (50%) of orthodontic eligible dental expenses in accordance with the current Alberta Blue Cross Usual and Customary Dental Fee Schedule and within the limits of the Plan. A maximum annual reimbursement of three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) per insured person per benefit year shall apply to extensive services. Orthodontic services shall be subject to a lifetime maximum reimbursement of three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) per insured person. 

      6. Alberta Blue Cross Supplementary Health Benefits Plan, or equivalent, which includes eighty percent (80%) direct payment for all physician or dentist prescription medication that is eligible under the plan and prescribed in accordance with the plan.

   3. At the Employer's option, an “EI SUB Plan” to supplement an eligible Employees Employment Insurance to meet the Employer's obligation to provide benefit payments during the valid health-related period for being absent from work due to pregnancy for which the Employee has provided satisfactory medical substantiation. The Employer shall provide information regarding the “EI SUB Plan” to all Employees when they request Maternity Leave as per Article 33.06.

2. Where the benefits specified in Article 25.01 are provided through insurance obtained by the Employer, the administration of such plans shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions of the applicable benefits policies or contracts.

3.  

   1. The premiums will be cost-shared seventy-five percent (75%) by the Employer and twenty-five percent (25%) by the Employee.

   2. The Employer will provide information to retiring Employees on the Alberta Blue Cross plan for Retired Employees (between 50 and 75 years of age).  Retirees have 60 days to apply for the Alberta Blue Cross Retiree Plan to ensure they receive preferred pricing. The Retiring Employees will pay the full cost of the premiums.  

4. During the first twenty-four (24) months an Employee is on LTD, they may continue participation in the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan by paying the full premium costs to the Employer. The employment of an Employee may be terminated when the Employee has been on LTD for twenty-four (24) months subject to the requirements of Article 6.

5. An Employee shall cease to earn sick leave credits and vacation credits while on STD and LTD.

6. The Employer shall distribute to all Employees brochures and other relevant information concerning the above plans upon hiring, and when there are changes to the plan.

7.  

   1. Such coverage shall be provided to:

      1. a Regular Full-time Employee; and

      2. a Regular Part-time Employee whose hours of work are equal to or greater than fifteen (15) hours per week averaged over one (1) complete cycle of the shift schedule; and

      3. a Temporary Employee who is hired to work for a position of six (6) months duration or longer and whose hours of work are equal to or greater than fifteen (15) hours per week averaged over one (1) complete cycle of the shift schedule.

   2. Regular and Temporary Part-time Employee whose hours of work average less than fifteen (15) hours per week over one (1) complete cycle of the shift schedule, Temporary Employees hired for a position of less than six (6) months duration, and Casual Employees, are not eligible to participate in the Employee Benefits Plan. However, such individuals covered by the Collective Agreement who were enrolled for such benefits on the day prior to the commencement date of this Collective Agreement shall not have benefits discontinued solely due to the application of this provision.

8.  

   1. The Employer will provide one (1) copy of each of the plans and contracts of insurance to the Health Sciences Association of Alberta. Where the Covenant Health HSAA Benefit Plan is not in force in any given Site, that Employer will provide a copy of its plan to the Union.

   2. The Employer, as applicable, shall advise the Union of all premium rate changes pursuant to Article 25.01(b).

9. No substantive changes will be made to any of the benefit plans without mutual written agreement between the parties. Any dispute arising from the amendment of the benefit plans will be subject to review from the Joint Committee.