Purpose of This Newsletter
This newsletter is for members of the ELCIC Retiree Health Plan.
As your Plan Sponsor, we like to stay in touch now and then and share some of the relevant or interesting news items that the working plan members have received throughout the past year.
We Have Moved!
The GSI office has a new mailing address:
A1-844 McLeod Ave.
Winnipeg, MB R2G 2T7
The phone and email addresses remain the same as before.
Has Your Contact Info Changed?
Please remember to send us any changes you may have to your contact information.
You can email your updated contact info to us at admin@elcicgsi.ca, or you can call us toll-free at 1-877-352-4247.
Time to Clean Your Medicine Cabinet
A recent article written by Manulife Pharmacist Alex Carducci expressed his fear that medicine cabinets may contain unused, expired, long-forgotten prescription or over-the-counter medications.
He warns there can be serious consequences if those medications fall into the wrong hands (e.g., children) or are taken improperly, either deliberately or by accident. In many cases, expired medications have lost their potency and will not be effective when you do need them.
How do all these little bottles accumulate? How is it possible that the expiry dates passed so long ago? This can happen for several reasons:
- The person the medicine was prescribed to started feeling better and didn’t finish the dose
- The medication didn’t seem to be working, so the person quit taking it early
- Over-the-counter drugs are kept “just in case” and then somehow it’s years later and we haven’t used them
- The medication was purchased for a child or guest, who has since left the home without using it up
Please take a minute and have a look at your own medicine cabinet. Are there expired medications that should be disposed of?
It is important to remember not to flush medications down the drain. As the Government of Canada notes, “Due to improper disposal of these drugs, there are traces of pharmaceuticals in the environment – in the soil and in the water.”
Instead, to get rid of old, unwanted medications (including natural health products), drop them off at your local pharmacy for proper handling and disposal.
Summary of Health Plan Benefits
Here’s just a quick reminder of the Health Plan Coverages. Please refer to the virtual booklet on the website for more details.
Prescription Drugs
- 100% of the lowest cost alternative
- dispensing fees are subject to a maximum of $25 pre prescription
- ingredient costs and pharmacy mark-up fees are subject to Manulife “Reasonable & Customary” limits, plus a 10% margin under the ELCIC Group Benefits agreement
Vision Care
- Eye exams: $170 per 12 months
- Prescription glasses or contact lenses: up to $250 during any 24 months
Professional Services
- Chiropractor, dietitian, physiotherapist etc.: up to $500 per calendar year*
- Counselling services: Up to $2,500 per calendar year for counselling services*
Medical Supplies & Services
- Private duty nursing: 100% to a maximum of $10,000 per calendar year
- Ambulance
- Medical equipment (e.g., insulin pumps, surgical stockings, hearing aids)*
*See the Virtual Booklet on the GSI website for complete information about what is covered
Note that the plan does not cover expenses related to hospital, dental or travel.
Keep Abreast of Changes and Updates
Your Manulife benefits apply only to things that aren’t covered under your provincial drug plan. These benefits vary from province to province, and they change over time.
We encourage plan members to keep up-to-date on changes that happen to the provincial drug program in your province or territory of residence.
It’s a good idea to check your provincial health website regularly for changes. You can also talk to your pharmacist!
Delisting of Service Providers
Manulife routinely reviews service providers in an effort to protect the benefits plan — as well as members — from benefits abuse.
Red flags are triggered for reviewers for several types of issues:
- problematic business practices
- the submission of improper claims
- potential abuse by a provider
- disciplinary action taken by a regulatory body against a provider
If the review detects concerns with a particular service provider, claims may no longer be processed or reimbursed for services from that provider. This is referred to as Delisting.
It is important that members consult this list before engaging the services of providers. The business may still be operating but no longer eligible for claims reimbursement with Manulife.
To find the current list, visit the Manulife Plan Member Site at manulife.ca. Sign in to your plan member secure site and then go to a section in the footer called Wellness Center. There you can view a list of providers not covered and find an approved health care provider.
Even without signing in, you can access the list of approved health care providers within 50km of your postal code.
Manulife has offered this fact sheet about the “Scoop on Delisting.”
Claims Adjudication Errors
Please check the payments of your claims and Explanation of Benefits carefully.
Due to a programming issue, some errors in paying claims occurred earlier this year. Manulife audited all claims to make corrections, but if you have any concerns about how a claim was adjudicated, please bring it to our attention, and the GSI office will ensure that the claim is reviewed and accurately paid.
Have a question for GSI?
Information and resources can also be found on the GSI website.