By nature, human beings are social creatures. We've grown tribes into entire cultures and civilization over time. So the power of the collective can be very important and that "power" can direct people to do good or bad things. Consider your workplace... there's a routine, everyone gets together to "get the job done" and there's an entire culture surrounding it.
Here's the harsh reality... you'll never make it to your personal goals of the joy of health, or loving the weight loss (or anything else for that matter) unless you surround yourself with like-minded people.
How many times in the past have you declared outright that you're changing your life for the better; starting NOW you're going to take the reins and get on track to a healthy way of living. But the naysayers and negative Nellies start to chip away at your foundation.
So the tip for the month is surround yourself with positive people that will help you with all your goals including health, career or personal.
"Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much"
- Helen Keller.
If you have any comments or concerns, do not hesitate to
email
me.
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UBCM Group Benefits Newsletter
February 2019
UBCM is Here To Provide You with Service..
I would like to reach out with an invitation to you to call me if you have any concerns, issues, if you are going into bargaining or plan to make any changes in the coming year to your group benefits plan.
UBCM, with assistance from our new actuarial consultant, will strive to provide any plan information you may need, assistance during bargaining, recommendations on plan changes and options available to save you money.
If you are thinking of going to market or hiring outside consulting/broker services, remember that UBCM can provide many of the these services to you, free of charge. Let us be your "first stop".
Prescription for savings: Breaking down the cost of prescription drugs
When filling your prescription at the pharmacy, have you ever wondered what makes up the price of your drugs, and if there are any ways to help reduce the cost? Learn more about what makes up the price of prescriptions and a few easy ways to keep more dollars in your pocket and in your benefits plan.
Get the full story.
Introducing the latest addition to PBC's Preferred Pharmacy Network
Introducing PocketPills, a full-service online pharmacy recently added to PBC's Preferred Pharmacy Network. PocketPills sorts medication by dose into easy-to-open packages, and they offer free delivery anywhere in BC, no pharmacy mark-up, and a low $7 dispensing fee, making medication more affordable.
Through the Preferred Pharmacy Network, Pacific Blue Cross has partnered with leading pharmacy retailers to offer guaranteed low prices and dispensing fees to our Plan Members in British Columbia.
Learn more.
Take a stand! Active workplaces are productive workplaces.
Did you know that your employees spend up to 10 hours a day sitting? Their productivity, happiness and physical and mental health are at stake. But what if there was something you could do? UPnGO with ParticipACTION is a workplace wellness program that helps desk-bound workplaces integrate fun, rewarding, and healthy behaviour change programming into the workday to help employees be at their best.
Find out why physical activity is the single best thing you can do for maximizing engagement, productivity and well-being at work by contacting
Elena Backhaus or visit
UPnGO.ca. PLUS, get a taste of UPnGO by joining our free
Take a Stand Challenge today!
2019 Provincial Budget Highlights on Health
On February 19, 2019, British Columbia's Finance Minister Carole James presented the 2019 budget. Below highlights a number of items that may be of interest to plan administrators, employers, and employees.
- Health - The provincial government is investing $1.3 billion over three years to enhance services for families, women, and children, the BC Cancer Agency, and coverage for additional drugs under PharmaCare.
- Fair PharmaCare - Additional drugs will be available under the PharmaCare program. These changes are expected to cost $14 million in 2019/20.
- Mental Health Services for Children, Youth, and Young Adults - A total of $74 million over three years is provided to enhance mental health and addiction services for children, youth, and young adults. The new funding will allow for the implementation of a coordinated mental health and addictions system for children and youth linking schools, community services, and team-based primary care.
- Cancer Research - $23 million to research facilities for specialized equipment for drug discovery and clinical translation leading to personalized treatments for prostate, bladder, and kidney cancers.
- Extra supports for parents whose children have special needs - For the next three years, $6 million per year will be used to increase respite benefits and services for parents who care for children with special needs. The increase will be 10 percent.
- Health care providers training - The government is investing $5 million over three years in expanding access to health training programs.
Establishment of a Expert Panel on Federal Labour Standards
On February 20, 2019, the Canadian government announced that it has established an independent Expert Panel on Modern Federal Labour Standards to study the more complex workplace issues facing Canadian employers and workers.
The Expert Panel will study, consult and bring forward recommendations on:
- federal minimum wage
- labour standards protections for non-standard workers
- the "right to disconnect" outside of work hours
- collective voice for non-unionized workers; and
- access and portability of benefits
The Expert Panel is expected to report back to the Canadian government by June 30, 2019.
CPP - Enhancement
Starting in January 2019, the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) will kick off a 7-year enhancement process, bringing major changes for employers and employees alike.
Eligibility guidelines
for CPP will stay the same under the new plan. However, the amount employees and employers contribute will increase, and these higher contributions will result in higher benefits. This expansion will be gradually implemented in two phases over the next seven years.
Phase 1 - Increasing Employee and Employer Contributions
Currently, employees and employers both pay 4.95% of their annual salary to CPP, up to a maximum of $2,593.80 per year. Starting January 2019 and extending over the next five years, employee and employer contributions to CPP will slowly rise. By the end of Phase 1, individual contributions will have increased from 4.95% to 5.95% annually, and total contributions from 9.9% to 11.9%.
However, it's important to know that these changes won't apply to all income. The rates apply only to earnings between $3,500 and the maximum pensionable earnings per year. In 2018 the maximum pensionable earnings is $55,900. The maximum is increased each year to reflect inflation and other factors.
Phase 2 - Adding Extra Contributions for Those With Higher Salaries
A second tier of the expansion program will be introduced over a 2-year period starting in 2024. This next phase will introduce an additional contribution rate, which is expected to be 4% for both the employer and the employee.
This second rate will only apply to people whose salary is higher than the expected pensionable earnings. It will also be subject to an upper earnings limit, which is anticipated to be $82,700 in 2025.
This means that, under the revised CPP, the total contribution rate will be 11.9% on earnings up to the original earnings limit and 8% for earnings within the additional earnings range.
10 Ways You Can Save Money On Health Care Expenses
Health care costs are continuing to rise while employers and plan member, face real challenges in continuing to fund escalating costs. Here are 10 things that we can all do as health care consumers to help ensure the sustainability of our benefit plans regardless if they are funded publicly or privately.
- Always ask if generic alternatives are available to brand name drugs. If you are currently taking or will be prescribed a brand-name medication, inquire with your doctor about a generic alternative.
- Shop around for the lowest mark-up and dispensing fee on prescription drugs. This saves your plan money and lowers the amount you pay if your plan doesn't cover 100% of the costs.
- Register for Fair PharmaCare. The government drug plan will pay 100% of your drug expenses once you reach your family maximum. You can access public funding for drugs by registering for PharmaCare online or by phone at 604-683-7151 (toll-free 1-800-663-7100) Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information see How BC Fair PharmaCare Works.
- Apply for funding through PharmaCare's Special Authority Program. While many drugs are eligible for funding from PharmaCare, there are some drugs that require "Special Authority" from PharmaCare. Apply for funding through PharmaCare's Special Authority Program when prompted by your pharmacist or by a note on your claims statement. For more information see How BC Fair PharmaCare Works.
- Always provide current details of a spousal plan on your claim form so costs can be coordinated between each benefit plan.
- Always purchase health coverage when travelling out of country. Most health plans have lifetime limits on certain benefits. Our travel plans pay out-of-country claims first and protect your health plan's lifetime limit.
- Always submit health and dental claims by the plan deadline. Visit CARESnet or refer to your plan booklet to find out the specific claiming deadline for your plan.
- Don't pay more than what is reasonable and ensure your paramedical services provider is registered. All benefit providers apply a reasonable and customary limit for services provided by massage therapists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, etc. after assessing the reasonable cost for these services in a geographic region. Shop around to ensure you don't have to pay extra. Also, because we only pay for claims with a registered paramedical provider, ensure any practitioner you visit is registered with the college or association of their respective profession in BC.
- Ask your dental provider if he/she charges in accordance with the Pacific Blue Cross Dental Fee Schedule. Like the reasonable and customary limits above, rates for dental services are based on an assessment of reasonable costs for these services. If your dentist charges more than this for a service, you will be out-of-pocket for the extra.
- Take advantage of the savings offered through your Blue Cross membership. The Blue Advantage program provides savings at point of sale on the total cost of products and services from participating providers across Canada, regardless if the item is covered under your benefit plan.
Anna-Maria Wijesinghe
Nathan Roeters
Manager, Member & Association Services
Account Executive
Union of BC Municipalities
Pacific Blue Cross
Phone: 604.270.8226 (ext. 111) Phone: 604.419.2412
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