Happy New Year! I know it's already the end of January, where has the time gone? If you haven't made your New Year's resolutions yet, don't stress if you haven't, making positive changes in your life and sticking to them isn't confined to the first month of the year.
My resolutions for 2019 include to focus on my personal health and wellness and to strengthen relationships and communications. To that end, I would like to reach out with an invitation to you to call me if you have any concerns, issues or plan to make any changes in the coming year to your group benefits plan.
UBCM, with assistance from our new actuarial consultant, George & Bell, 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 shop".
"Well done is better than well said."
- Benjamin Franklin
If you have any comments or concerns, do not hesitate to
email
me.
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UBCM Group Benefits Newsletter
January 2019
ICBC Legislative Changes - What they mean for PBC Members
New legislation has changed the way ICBC participates in the payment of claims with healthcare benefit and insurance companies. As of November 9th, 2018, ICBC will not pay for similar benefits if a person also has access to benefits (including the advancement of funds) through another source. The same legislation also makes ICBC first payer for eligible accident benefits (except wage loss) as of April 1, 2019. More information
Have You Made Your Healthy Resolution Yet?
Simply sign up and pledge to Eat Right, Exercise or Quit Smoking and then share your resolution with family, friends and co-workers for votes of support. And, this year, the Health Challenge is better than ever - with more Health Cash prizes to be won, an extended contest period and a series of emails with resources and tools to help make your resolution stick.
In addition, signing up for the challenge will enter you into a random weekly prize draw until February 28. Each week, one Pacific Blue Cross Member will win $100 in Health Cash to spend on a new pair of running shoes, a tennis racket, fitness classes or anything else that helps you stay healthy.
UPnGO with ParticipACTION - The Workplace Wellness Scoop
Did you know that we spend over 1/3 of our lives at work? That's more time than we spend sleeping, or with our loved ones. A workplace should be engaging, with an inspiring culture that encourages us to live healthy lives and be the best that we can be. The single best thing you can do for your employees each day, is to encourage them to sit less, and move more.
UPnGO with ParticipACTION is a workplace wellness program that empowers employees with practical tools and tips to help them make habit changing healthy tweaks to their workday. Watch this
short video
to learn more and be sure to leave a comment below the video to be entered into a draw to win an Amazon or Starbucks gift card! The draw closes at midnight on February 28th! For more information, please contact
Elena Backhaus
.
EI Parental Sharing Benefit effective March 17, 2019
Bill C-86, which received Royal Assent on December 13, 2018, includes amendments to implement the new Employment Insurance (EI) Parental Sharing Benefit. This new EI benefit will provide an additional period of EI Parental Benefits but only if both parents agree to take a leave of absence from employment and claim EI Parental Benefits. The government has announced that this new benefit will be effective on March 17, 2019.
Bell's Let's Talk Campaign - January 30
Break the silence. Mental illness touches us all in some way directly or through a friend, family member or colleague. Most people with mental health issues can and do recover, just by talking about it.
Let's take part in the world's biggest conversation about mental health. To learn more about the, please visit Bell.
Get The Toolkit - Start the Conversation
Start a conversation in your community. Get all the information you need to lead a conversation about mental health. To help you be part of the conversation, the Bell Let's Talk Conversation Guide was created. It provides information and resources on how you can facilitate a conversation in your community, as well as guidelines on how to have conversations with people you care about and may be concerned about.
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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