Out-of-Scope Benefits Information

As an out-of-scope employee for the Government of Saskatchewan you may be eligible for several benefits. To help you understand these benefits, information, guides and forms have been organized below.

For more information, please refer to the HR Manual as well as the Out-of-Scope Benefits Information Guide.

To view your current benefits, dependents and life insurance beneficiaries, please log onto PSC Client and open your Employee Profile.

Dental Benefits

The Public Employees Dental Plan is employer funded and covers preventative, basic and routine and denturist work for you and your eligible dependents based on the Maximum Reimbursement Schedule. Eligible dependents includes your spouse, unmarried children under age 21 who work less than 30 hours per week, or under age 26 if they are full-time students, and children who are incapable of supporting themselves because of physical or mental disorder.

To qualify for the dental plan, new employees must serve a six month waiting period. Once eligible, dental costs incurred in the first six months are eligible for reimbursement. If an employee works less than 37.5% of full –time hours, they are not eligible for benefits.

If you have transferred directly from a participating employer to Executive Government with no break in service, and were eligible for dental benefits, then your waiting period may be waived. Any questions regarding the waiver of your waiting period should be directed to the Benefit Services Team, HRSC.

To add or remove dependents you must complete the Plannera Benefit Plan Enrolment Form and send to the Human Resource Service Centre (HRSC). This form is used to designate your dependents for both the Dental Plan and the Extended Health Care Plan. Please note that if you are adding dependent(s), coverage is effective the first of the month following the date the form was received at the HRSC (exception for a new baby, where coverage is effective date of birth).

To submit a claim, (manually or through the dental office) you must complete the Dental Claim Form and the Canada Life Direct Deposit Authorization or submit your expenses on-line via GroupNet. You can obtain your group number and division number on PSC Client, Employee Profile.

For more detailed information and other forms, please refer to the Public Employees Dental Plan Booklet or visit the Plannera Dental page.

Health Benefits

The Public Employees Extended Health Care Plan is employer funded and provides protection for you and your eligible dependent health care needs such as prescription drugs, chiropractic and physiotherapy services. Eligible dependents includes your spouse, unmarried children under age 21 who work less than 30 hours per week, or under age 26 if they are full-time students, and children who are incapable of supporting themselves because of physical or mental disorder.

New permanent full-time employees qualify for health benefits immediately upon hire. Employee who work less than fulltime must serve a six month waiting period (less than full time employees must work a minimum of 37.5% of full-time hours to qualify).

If you have transferred directly from a participating employer to Executive Government with no break in service, and were eligible for extended health benefits, then your waiting period may be waived. Any questions regarding the waiver of your waiting period should be directed to the Benefit Services Team, Human Resource Service Centre.

If both spouses are out-of-scope, both spouses are insured. If your spouse does not work for Executive Government, but has their own plan, both spouses should submit their own claims to their own plan first. Please refer to the Coordination of Benefits FAQ for more information.

When submitting a claim, employees may consider direct deposit to have benefit cheques automatically deposited to your bank account. This can be done through Group Net for Plan Members or the Canada Life Banking Information Form. You may also complete the Plannera Extended Health Care Plan Employee Claim Form or submit your expenses on-line via GroupNet.

To add or remove a dependent from your health plan, you must complete the Plannera Benefit Plan Enrolment Form and send to the Human Resource Service Centre. This form is used to designate your dependents for both the Dental Plan and the Extended Health Care Plan. Please note that if you are adding dependent(s), coverage is effective the first of the month following the date the form was received at the HRSC (exception for a new baby, where coverage is effective date of birth).

For more detailed information and other forms, please refer to the Plannera Benefits Booklet or visit the Plannera Extended Health Care page. For more information about the Extended Health Care Plan, see the Exception Drug Status, Special Support Program, Seniors Drug Plan guides and Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) communication.

Pension

All employees must participate in the Public Employees' Pension Plan (PEPP).

Out-of-Scope members contribute 5 per cent of salary and the employer contributes 9 per cent. In correctional facilities the employer contributes 9 per cent.

Employees may complete the Voluntary Contributions to PEPP form to make additional or voluntary contributions to PEPP to a maximum of 18% of your gross salary to help build your retirement income. However, these contributions are not matched by the employer.

For more information, please refer to the Voluntary Pension Contributions Guidelines.

For more detailed information and other forms, please refer to the PEPP Member Booklet or visit the Pepp (Plannera) website.

Group Life Insurance

The Group Life insurance plan provides life insurance coverage to employees, their spouses and dependent children. Once eligible, participation in the plan is mandatory.

Basic life insurance coverage is equal to two times your annual salary (rounded up to the next $500). Premiums for the first $25,000 of coverage is paid by the employer and is a taxable benefit. The remaining premiums are paid by the employee via payroll deduction. Employees also have the option to increase their insurance coverage up to a maximum of $500,000 (basic plus optional). If an employee wants to apply for higher coverage, then an Evidence of Insurability – Applicant Form must be completed and submitted to the HRSC for review by the insurance carrier.

• The Group Life Enrolment Form is completed when an employee starts or to apply for a change to your current level of coverage.
• The Group Life Designation of Beneficiary Form is completed when an employee starts to identify your life insurance beneficiaries or to add or remove beneficiaries.
• The Plannera Retirement Death Benefit Certificate is a Group Life Insurance benefit that is provided to all employees on retirement at no cost. Upon notification of retirement, the Plannera Death Benefit Certificate Form is provided to employee for completion.

For more detailed information and other forms, please refer to the Public Employees Group Life Insurance Booklet or visit the Plannera Group Life page.

Employee or Dependent Death

In the event of an employee or dependent death, please contact the Benefit Services Team at the Human Resource Service Centre.

Disability

The Disability Income Plan provides partial income replacement if the employee is disabled from performing their duties due to a prolonged illness or disability.

The Plan also provides supportive rehabilitation services to assist employees in their return to work.

Employees must complete the Public Employees Disability Income Plan Enrollment Form to be eligible for the program.

To apply for disability benefits an employees must complete the Disability Income Plan – Employee’s Statement within 13 weeks of the date of disability.

For more detailed information and other forms, please refer to the Public Employees Disability Income Plan Guide.

Flexible Benefit Program

Out-of-Scope employees are eligible for reimbursement to offset the costs associated with activities that promote physical fitness, strength, mobility and/or balance (fees and/or equipment, including fitness counseling), financial advice or payment of student loans.

Employees must complete the Flexible Benefit Enrolment Form to be eligible for the program. A Benefit Claim Form is completed and submitted for reimbursement of eligible expenses under the program.

For more information on program eligibility or amounts, please refer to the Flexible Benefit FAQ or the HR Manual.

Amount of Benefit

Out-of-scope employees are eligible for a flexible benefit in the following amount, per full-time employee, per fiscal year:

The flexible benefit amount is adjusted annually by the general wage increase on a non-retroactive basis.