GSU Health and Dental Insurance Newsletter

DATE: 09/28/2022 (Published), 10/12/2022 (Last Updated)

SUBJECT: REFERENDUM TO DECIDE NEW HEALTH CARE PLAN OPEN OCT08-15/2022

FROM: GSU EXECUTIVES AND GSU-GM

Dear Graduate Students,

We recognize that students would like more clarity regarding Health and Dental plan rates and/or plan design changes. Facilitated through the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), the Graduate Student’s Union (GSU) collaborates with Green Shield Canada (GSC) to provide health and dental insurance to MUNL’s graduate students. The CFS recommends and has a partnership with GSC as they are Canada’s only national not-for-profit insurance provider. While GSC offers individual plans for different student unions, they use a CFS’s collective student group size of over 100,000 to provide us with the lowest rates. The GSU enrolls approximately 2,000 students on the plan every year, and CFS negotiates with GSC to keep our rates as low as possible given their combined student body of more than 100,000. While every other students’ union utilizing GSC Health and Dental plans have a copay system, CFS has been helping us ensure that MUNL’s GSU plans do not have copays.

In 2021, the previous ED Finance and GM updated the Health & Dental price based on the survey that was circulated by the GSU to determine if students wanted to: A) keep the cost of the plan the same with reduced benefits or B) increase the costs of the plan and keep the benefits. While the GSU was being charged the increase in plan costs this past year, it was not reflected in student fees as the previous GSU administrators did not properly register such changes through the appropriate university channels. In 2022, the GSU was informed by CFS that the University has been charging a low rate as compared to the updated agreement. As per CFS, if the university’s website is correct that students were only charged $690.12 per single student (instead of agreed C$704.16) for both Health & Dental, then yes, the GSU has not collected the appropriate amount from students as GSC has been charging $704.16 for the academic plan year 2021-2022. This issue is still under investigation by the current GM and Health and Dental committee.

In July 2022, the GSC offered an increased premium as the amount of claims made by members were higher than the amount of fees collected from students as a whole for the past academic year. At the June BoD meeting, it was decided not to increase the premium. In August, 2022, another meeting between GSU and CFS was held to discuss this issue and identify other options where the premiums could be kept the same. In response, the GSC and CFS came up with a proposal to introduce the co-pay while maintaining the previous premium. Their exact recommendations were as follows: “The plan that fits the most for students’ needs is a plan that has a 10% or 20% copay. Students are able to access their respective services and benefits at an available cost while sharing a small % of the overall cost. This ensures that the rates remain reasonable for students that are mandatorily included in the plan and prevents significant premium changes. A copay option also introduces stability to the plan in terms of claims.”

Another option was to change the insurance vendor. However, changing the vendor will take over a year, and based on our initial research, their rates appeared to be significantly higher. Hence, the Health and Dental committee decided it won’t be feasible to change the vendor at this point. To resolve this, and decide which plan is best for MUNL graduate students, we are holding a referendum from Oct.08^th-12th, 2022. For students to vote on the plan. In the event, the decision of referendum turns out to be plan A with increased premium, the difference in terms of residual fee will be applied to student accounts retroactively (please check the plan cost below). Students who want to opt-out of the changed plan and have coverage from a third-party Canadian Insurance Provider will be allowed. To opt-out of the plan, they must showcase an alternative plan that is equivalent to the changed plan.

 Referendum process:

The online referendum window will be open from 8^th October 2022, until October 15^th, 2022 (12:00 PM), for students to provide their preferences. The entire process for the referendum will be soon shared with all the members.

Timeline for the change, upon referendum process:

1. Process: If the new plan is selected

• Process: If the existing plan is selected

Proposed insurance plan changes for the Referendum:

1. Plan A (0% Co-pay) –
   • Dental copay 0% (basic)
   • Dental recall 1/6 months
   • Drug copay 0%
   • Drug maximum $10,000
   • Extended health services (EHS) copay 0%
   • Addition of Inkblot Therapy student assistance program
   • Add all mental health practitioners

Note: All other benefits remain the same. The costs for the couple and family plan below include the students’ individual coverage. 

• Plan B (10% Co-pay) –
  • Dental copay 10%
  • Dental recall 1/6 months
  • Drug copay 10%
  • Drug maximum $5,000
  • Extended health services (EHS) copay 10% (excluding vision and travel)
  • Addition of Inkblot Therapy student assistance program
  • Add all mental health practitioners

Note: All other benefits remain the same. The costs for the couple and family plan below include the students’ individual coverage. 

• Plan C (Current Plan: 20% Co-pay)
  • Dental copay 20%
  • Dental recall 1/12 months
  • Drug copay 20%
  • Drug maximum $5,000
  • Extended health services (EHS) copay 20% (excluding vision and travel)
  • Addition of Inkblot Therapy student assistance program
  • Add all mental health practitioners

Note: All other benefits remain the same. The costs for the couple and family plan below include the students’ individual coverage. 

Question Hours

Any questions or doubts related to the above information will be addressed between the 28th and 5th at midnight. Please share your concerns to help us do better by sending an email to health@gsumun.ca. Chair of HD Committee: finance@gsumun.ca. Tel: 709-864-4395.

Important Notification:

• Referendum Date: From 8^th October 2022 to 15^th October (12:00 PM) 2022
• Only full-time graduate students can participate in the referendum.
• The GSC OPT-IN and OPT-OUT Deadline is 21^st October 2022 because of the upcoming referendum process. GSU has asked for the Opt-in/Opt-out Extention to 21^st October 2022. We will update you soon on the extension approval by GSC.
• There will be an open house session for any Inquiry on the 11th of October from 9 am to 3 pm. If you have any questions, please let us know. There will also be an online information session from 12 pm to 1 pm on the same day. 
   
  Meeting link: 

  https://mun.webex.com/mun/j.php?MTID=m9b3fe0a1c3c7afaa2904cea319ebdd3f

  Meeting number: 2634 090 2460

  Password: rpWffYa8p58

   
• After the referendum, if students choose to opt for either Plan A or B and students with dependents feel that the future plan is too high for them to pay. They can request a refund and be allowed to opt out of the plan by the end of this month. Refunds can take around 4 weeks to issue.