Member Enrollment

Eligibility

An employee is eligible for health insurance coverage if he or she is a resident of Canada under age 70, working as a permanent and full-time employee for at least 20 hours per week (15 hours per week in Saskatchewan) and receiving a salary from a Canadian employer. Employees are eligible on their first day of employment unless otherwise specified in the employer’s employment policy (ie. Having a three month waiting period).

Note that it is mandatory that all employees who meet eligibility requirements be offered the plan. If an employer fails to offer insurance to an eligible employee, the employer will be guilty of anti-selection and face possible legal ramifications.

If an employer wishes to specify eligibility requirements by increasing the minimum number of hours worked per week that defines a full-time employee, they may do so. In this case, the employer must have a written policy in place that relates to the offering of insurance and states the defined criteria for eligibility as a full-time employee.

 

Enrollment

All Eligible employees in a participating church must be enrolled within 30 days of their full-time start date. It is mandatory that all employees that meet the criteria for being ‘full-time’ are enrolled in the plan. Extended healthcare or dental care may be waived provided the insured is covered under his or her spouse. An employee wishing to enroll in the plan will need to fill out the Employee Application Form for Insurance.

On the application, please note:

  • The division number should be filled out with the church’s location number. (If you don’t know your location number, contact the BGC Office).

  • The ID# can be left blank, as this will be assigned to the employee as soon as they are enrolled.

  • The effective date of benefits depends on whether the church has a waiting period of three months for new employees enrolling in the plan.

  • If the church does not offer dental as part of their plan, then dental coverage section can be left blank.

  • Note that coverage can only be refused if the employee receives coverage through his or her spouse.

Once the form is completed, it should be mailed to the BGCC Office. A record will be made in the office, and the application will be forwarded to CanBenefits for approval. The applicant should receive a confirmation package in the mail within a few weeks.