Answers to questions about benefits from Unit 1 members (TAs, Course Instructors, Invigilators, etc.).
What is a Health Care Spending Account?
The HCSA is an additional pool of money that you can use for medical and/or dental expenses, beyond your GSU health insurance. You can use it to pay for (among other things) prescription medicines, eye glasses, and/or additional dental expenses. Enrolment in the HCSA is automatic, if you are employed for a minimum of 50 hours. The first claim you make for a spouse or child(ren) will act as their enrolment.
What’s the difference between my student health/dental coverage and my CUPE benefits?
As a student, you automatically pay a premium to the Graduate Student’s Union (GSU) to receive health and dental insurance (although you can choose to opt out of the GSU dental plan). As a member of Unit 1 you are eligible for an $800 Health Care Spending Account if you work more than 50 hours. The HCSA is administered by Prosure Group.
How much is my family eligible to claim?
Your family members are entitled to the same benefits as you are: your spouse is eligible for $800 in HCSA (for eligible medical expenses) as is each dependent child.
What expenses are eligible to be claimed?
For a list of eligible expenses, please refer to this list. If you are uncertain whether something is going to be eligible, please contact Prosure Group at 416.609.0989 x32 and they will be able to confirm the information for you.
How do I make a claim?
The claim form is available here. Complete the form, attach your receipts and mail everything to the address at the bottom of the form. You can have the cheque mailed to you at the address you indicate, to the union office and pick it up from us, or if your medical practitioner allows this, to them directly. Your claim should be processed within about 48 hours of receipt by Prosure.
The HCSA claim form asks me for my employee number, is that the same as my student number?
No. Your employee number is different from your student number. It is a unique identifier that the University uses to designate you as an employee, rather than a student. You can find your employee number (also known as your personnel number) on your paystubs beside person or call the union office and ask us to look it up for you. The University of Toronto now keeps your payroll information on-line rather than mailing you paper statements. If you need to look up your payroll records or to find your personnel number you can do that by logging in to the University of Toronto Casual Employees System. You need to login using your UTOR ID and password. For security purposes you will need to fill in the last 4 digits of your SIN card.
I already have coverage through another insurance provider. Can I get reimbursed for the HCSA?
No. You do not pay a premium for the HCSA. It is available to you as a benefit of being an employee at the University covered by the CUPE 3902 Unit 1 Collective Agreement. You can choose not to use the HCSA, but you are not entitled to a cash equivalent if you choose not to take advantage of this benefit.
If I don’t have many health-related expenses, what can I use the HCSA for?
The HCSA can also be used to reimburse you for your GSU health and/or dental insurance premium. It is not possible to opt-out of the GSU health insurance as it is for the dental, so you end up paying a premium on it with your student fees. On your ROSI statement you will find the expenses for your GSU premium. This statement can be submitted to the Prosure Group as your invoice for this expense. For complete directions on how to do this please see the pamphlet here. The HCSA is also more flexible than insurance plans in that things you may not expect to be covered are, such as: massage therapy (done by registered practitioner), chiropractic care (done by registered practitioner), orthopaedic footwear (with prescription), and prescription sunglasses. If you have any questions about coverage please contact Prosure at 416-609-0989 x32.
Can I combine my GSU medical or dental insurance with my HSCA?
Yes. It is a good idea to do so as it maximizes your benefits. The GSU Greenshield plan will cover a percentage of many medical and dental expenses. Visit their website to find out more. When you have visited your medical practitioner, pay up front and then submit your original receipts (make a photocopy for your own records) to the GSU Insurer. You will receive a cheque in the mail from the insurance provider for the eligible expenses. At that time, submit the receipt from the insurance provider (the explanation of benefits) that came with your cheque along with a photocopy of the original receipts and the completed claim form to Prosure Group as outlined on the form.
How do I add on my spouse or my children to my HCSA?
The first time you make a claim on behalf of your spouse or child(ren), the claim will serve as your enrolment of them. Prosure Group will add them to your record and their HCSA amount will be allocated to their record.
Can I carry over unused dental and HCSA amounts to next year?
No. You have to have the work done in the claim period of September 1 to August 31 of each academic year and you can submit receipts up to 60 days after the end of the claim period. If you do not use your HCSA you cannot carry it forward.
What health/dental benefits am I entitled to if I start work in January?
You can claim any expenses incurred from 1 September to 31 August. Your entitlement is not different if you start in January. Simply hang onto your receipts and they will be accepted after you start your appointment that triggers the 50 hour threshold.
Does the HCSA allow me to opt out of my student health plan?
No. The HCSA is not an insurance plan, so it cannot take the place of one (students are required by law to be part of a health plan). Instead, you can use the HCSA to pay for your student health plan by claiming the premium: print out your ROSI statement that shows you’ve paid the premium (follow the directions on this pamphlet). The HCSA does however qualify as an eligible plan for you to opt out of your GSU dental plan.
If I have more expenses than my HCSA allows, can I use some of the allocation that my spouse or child has for my expenses?
No. Your expenses can only be applied to your own HCSA and may not be transferred to one of your family members.
I have a green and white card from Greenshield – can I still use this?
No. Your Health Care Spending Account used to be administered by Greenshield but they are no longer the administrators.
What happened to the Dental Rebate?
During the 2008/09 round of bargaining the health and dental benefits were rolled into one Health Care Spending Account and the Dental Rebate ceased to exist as of 1 September, 2009.
Can I opt out of the HCSA?
It is not possible to opt out of your HCSA since it is not insurance and you do not pay a premium for it. If you do not use this account, it poses no monetary loss to you since you do not pay for it. Remember that to receive reimbursements from this account, you have to incur out-of-pocket eligible medical expenses within the specified timeframe, and/or claim your GSU premium provided you have worked 50 hours during the plan year.