Re:  Benefits Coverage for CRA Employees

It has come to our attention that many newly hired CRA employees; especially determinate hires, are not provided with proper information regarding certain health care benefits and thus their coverage does not start in a timely fashion. This has resulted in a number of members having to pay for health care benefits out of their own pocket because of the false impression that they were covered by the health care plan.

This bulletin is designed to provide you with accurate information on when and how members become covered under:  1) Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP), 2) Dental Care Plan (DCP), and 3) The Supplementary Death Benefit (SDB).  We will also provide grievance wording for situation when a member is out of pocket because of the CRA making an error in not getting the member covered.

Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP)

Effective date of coverage:

If you apply within 60 days of becoming eligible (the date you are hired), coverage is effective the first of the month following the month your personnel or pension office receives your completed form.  If you do not apply for coverage within 60 days of becoming eligible, the requested coverage will take effect on the first day of the fourth month following the month your personnel or pension office receives your completed application.

Employees must fill out an application form in order to be covered.

Dental Care Plan (DCP)

Membership in the DCP is automatic if you have been appointed for more than 6 months and you are a full-time employee or a part-time employee working more than one-third the normal work week. Benefits can be paid after a waiting period of three months of coverage.

Members can apply to cover their eligible dependents. Dependent coverage is effective immediately.

Supplementary Death Benefit (SDB)

Enrolment is automatic, but members must complete a beneficiary form naming their beneficiary or the benefit would be payable to their estate.

If you have a member who was not covered under the PSHCP due to an administrative error on the CRA’s part and the member had to pay for benefits which they would have been normally covered by the plan, we suggest the following grievance wording.

Details of Grievance

I grieve, due to an error on the CRA’s part, that I failed to become eligible for coverage under the Public Service Heath Care (PSHCP) and was forced to pay for benefits on my own which would have been payable under the PSCHCP had I been eligible.

Corrective Action

That the CRA reimburse me for the amount I should have been reimbursed by the PSHCP had I been eligible for coverage.

Should you have any questions or require any further clarification, please feel free to contact the National Office of the Union of Taxation Employees at (613) 235-6704.

In Solidarity,

Shane O’Brien
Senior Labour Relations Officer