Total Advantage Available Coverage
Please click on any of the titles below for more details.
Please note that this is for general information only. Group benefit contract will prevail over any definition below.
Basic Life Insurance
Coverage is typically a flat amount or a multiple of salary. Upon death the beneficiary will receive a lump sum payment. If the employee terminates employment, Basic Life insurance can be converted to an individual policy without having to provide medical evidence of insurability. If converting to an individual plan, the application must be submitted within 31 days of the group coverage terminating.
Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)
Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance helps to ensure that employees and their families are protected in the event of an accident that results in death or serious injury. The coverage for this benefit generally mirrors Basic Life coverage. The insurance pays the employee or the beneficiary the sum specified in your employee benefits booklet.
Optional Life Insurance
Optional Life insurance enables employees to increase their group insurance above their Basic Life amount. This provides employees with higher insurance coverage to reflect their financial situation/need for insurance protection. Through a group plan, employees will realize generally lower rates for this Life insurance as well as the convenience of payments through payroll deduction. If the employee terminates employment, Optional Life insurance can be converted to an individual policy without having to provide medical evidence of insurability. If converting to an individual plan, the application must be submitted within 31 days of termination of the Optional Life group coverage.
Dependent Life Insurance
Dependent Life insurance provides a basic amount of Life insurance coverage for an employee's spouse and/or dependent children.
Short Term Disability (STD)/Weekly Indemnity (WI)
If an employee became disabled, their personal savings, loans or spousal income may not provide sufficient resources for maintaining the basic necessities of life. Short Term Disability pays a percentage of their salary providing them with weekly income should they become temporarily disabled. Temporarily disabled means you are not able to work for a short period of time due to illness or accidental injury. Employees must satisfy the insurer’s definition of disability.
Long Term Disability (LTD)
If an employee is still disabled after the Short Term Disability benefit period ends, their income would then continue to be paid by the Long Term Disability coverage. Employees must satisfy the insurance carrier’s definition of disability in order to receive their monthly benefit. Long Term Disability is based on a percentage of the employee's salary and can be set up so that benefit payments are not taxable when received.
Extended Health Care
Health Care benefit programs provide comprehensive coverage to supplement provincial medical plans. Each benefit is reimbursed at a specified percentage up to the predetermined annual maximum. Coverage is available in the following areas:
- Hospitalization
- Private duty nursing services
- Prescription drugs
- Paramedical services; e.g. chiropractor, physiotherapist, speech therapist
- Ambulance services
- Medical supplies and equipment; e.g. hearing aids, wheel chair, orthopaedic shoes
- Vision care; eye glasses and contact lenses, eye exams
- Emergency medical expenses while travelling outside the province/outside Canada
Dental Care
Dental coverage is available at three levels of coverage: Basic, Major and Orthodontics. Each level is reimbursed at a specified percentage up to the predetermined annual maximum. Coverage may include:
- Basic – cleanings, preventative scaling, oral exams, X-rays, fluoride, sealant, fillings, extractions, endodontics, periodontics, oral surgery, injections & anaesthesia.
- Major - crowns, dentures, & bridgework.
- Orthodontics – braces/orthodontics for dependant children (adult coverage is available).
Health Spending Account (HSA)
The Health Spending Account is an account established by the employer for participating employees. It can be extended to the entire group or to specified classes, e.g. partners or managers. The employer determines the funding levels. Plan members draw on their Health Spending Account for reimbursement of medical or dental expenses not covered by the group plan, e.g. vaccines, laser eye surgery. A Health Spending Account is a tax effective way to provide additional compensation to key individuals in your organization.
Critical Illness
Critical Illness insurance provides a lump sum benefit when an insured person is diagnosed with a covered illness. Depending on the plan design, some or all of the following illness may be covered:
- Heart Attack
- Life-threatening Cancer
- Stroke
- Coronary Artery Bypass
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Kidney Failure
- Coma
- Motor Neuron Disease, including ALS (Lou Gehrig ’s disease)
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Benign Brain Tumour
- Paralysis
- Blindness
- Deafness
- Loss of Speech
- Major Organ Failure Requiring Transplant
- Major Organ Transplant
Best Doctors®
The Best Doctors program offers members facing acute serious illness consultation services confirming they have the the proper diagnosis and are receiving the right medical care. Once the Best Doctors team has been contacted, the team of specialized doctors in the particular required field will perform an exhaustive analysis of the member's medical information. Upon confirmation of the accurate diagnosis, the member is offered guidance and support from a world-class clinical team. Best Doctors works with the members treating physician to ensure recommendations are implemented and complications are reduced. Best Doctors has resulted in modified treatment for members 61% of the time and changing diagnosis 22% of the time. The program is supported by doctors world wide and offers members access to information that would not be available under their normal treatment process.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
An Employee Assistance Program is a confidential, short term, counselling service for employees with personal problems that affect their work performance. Its purpose is to help companies maintain a stable workforce by helping employees deal with personal problems that can affect their employment.
Voluntary Benefits
STRATA Select is a voluntary benefits program in non-traditional areas that provide value to employees.
The following are some of the benefits that can be included:
- Long distance savings program
- Cellular phone savings
- Mortgage broker and consulting service
- Security alarms system
- Car and truck rental
- Pet insurance
- Retiree Benefits including health, dental and travel coverage