Today@Dal

The Dalhousie University Employee Benefits Committee (EBC) recently reviewed the annual renewal recommendations for the insured benefits program. Through this process the claims experience of each of the benefit plans were examined and the Committee agreed that the following premium rates are required, effective April 1, 2014.

A)     Group Life Benefits (Manulife)

During the past fiscal year, the claims experience of the plan has resulted in a decrease of 19 percent in the contract rate. The university pays 100% of this premium and thus employees will see no change to their contributions.

B)      Survivor Income Benefits (Manulife)

No Change. This benefit is cost shared 50/50 between the employee and the university.

C)     Long Term Disability (Manulife)

The LTD claims experience has increased this past year. Therefore, the Committee agreed to increase the premium by 12 percent to 1.248% of payroll.

For example, employees with an annual salary of:
    $30,000 will see an increase of $3.35 per month
    $60,000 will see an increase of $6.70 per month
    $90,000 will see an increase of $10.05 per month  

D)      Major Medical Insurance (Medavie Blue Cross)

The Dalhousie Health plan is operated on an Administrative Services Only (ASO) basis. This means that the premium collected is used to pay the member's claims plus a fee for claims administration. This year there will be a decrease of 2.0 percent in the contributions for this plan. This benefit is cost shared 40/60 between the employee and the University and thus the following employee contribution rates will begin April 1, 2014.
 
                Current Rates per Month    Effective April 1, 2014
Single        20.13                               19.10
Family        57.39                               54.98

E)      Health Travel Coverage (SSQ Financial Group)

The premium that members pay for travel coverage in the past has been included in the health rate. Effective April 1, 2014 this rate will now be broken out as a single deduction. This benefit is based on an insured plan provided by SSQ Financial Group. The Committee has accepted the rate increase requested by the insurer and proposed by the consultant which in this case is an increase of 25 percent. This means that the current single rate of $1.62 will increase to $2.03 of which 40% is paid by the employee.

F)      Dental Plan (Medavie Blue Cross)

The Dalhousie Dental Plan is also administered on an Administrative Services Only (ASO) basis. This past year the experience has resulted in a decrease of 2.3 percent that was approved by the Committee. Therefore, effective April 1st 2014, the following employee contribution rates will be in place. 

                        Current Rates per Month    Effective April 1, 2014 Monthly Rate
Orthodontics  

Single                23.95                               23.40
Family                60.91                               59.51

Non Orthodontics    

Single                22.54                              22.02
Family                53.07                             51.85

G)     There were no changes to the following insurance premiums;

•    Accidental Death & Dismemberment

•    Optional Life Insurance

•    Voluntary Personal Accident Insurance

Employees will not see a change in these contribution amounts.

Note: Employees governed by the Civil Service Agreement at the Agricultural Campus are not impacted by the benefit renewals outlined above.

If you have any questions regarding your benefits, please call the Pensions and Employee Benefits office at 494-1122, or email benefits@dal.ca.