Annual Member Update

Principals/Vice-Principals (P/VP)

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Annual Member Update

Since the ONE-T Benefits Plan was established over seven years ago, we’ve built a Plan that currently serves more than 8,400 P/VP Members and covers 19,228 dependents.

ONE-T is managed by a Board of Trustees appointed by:
• The Crown (government)
• CAEAS-ECAB and Principals/Vice-Principals
• Trustee Associations

There are two staff – an Executive Director and Administrator – who manage the day-to-day operations of the Plan.

This Update has been prepared for ONE-T P/VP Members so you can learn about the key highlights from 2024 and what’s coming up for the Plan in 2025.

Jump to a section

Plan Funding
Plan Financials
Introducing Member Premium Contributions
Member Service
Communication
2024 Milestones
Contacts

Plan Funding

Being transparent with Members about Plan funding and management is essential. During our 2024 fall webinars, we explained how ONE-T is funded – so you can better understand where the money for your coverage is coming from and how much is available each year. Here’s a snapshot:

ONE-T Trustees do not have control over how much funding is provided by the Ministry of Education.

However, the Trustees use several measures to ensure the Plan remains in sound financial shape – one of which is to review Plan costs and the available funding from the government each year to determine if changes or enhancements can be made. The goal is always to balance Member benefits and Plan sustainability so that the ONE-T Plan can continue to support current and future Members.

Plan Financials

It can be challenging to manage the Plan’s financials since it depends on the funding that ONE-T receives for P/VP Members. Recent funding increases have been negotiated by the P/VP Associations and the Crown; however, Plan costs continue to increase year after year and have been outpacing the funding increases.

The pandemic is now a couple of years behind us, and we are starting to see its lasting impacts. In 2024, health and dental costs continued to rise at a pace even higher than in 2023. On top of that, inflation and rising prices mean that many health and dental products and services cost more than before.

Overview of claim costs in 2024

One of the ways we review the Plan’s financials each year is through actuarial valuations, which measure the Plan’s projected revenues against its projected costs over a short horizon. When the projections show the financial position of the Trust falling below a mandated minimum threshold, the Trustees must work diligently to make changes to manage the Plan costs so it remains sustainable within the funding provided.

Introducing Member Premium Contributions

The number of Member claims and their cost continues to rise faster than government funding, so the Trustees had to make the difficult but necessary decision to share a portion of Benefits Plan premiums with P/VP Members starting March 1, 2025.

We have seen other plans in the education sector use premium sharing for some time, and believe it is a necessary measure to ensure the Plan can remain both affordable and sustainable for the years ahead.

Beginning on March 1, 2025, a deduction will be taken from each pay to cover 6% of the Health and Dental premiums. You can visit the Learning Centre to see what your monthly payroll deduction will look like.

Member Service

In 2023 and early 2024, some Members experienced challenges with submitting claims and receiving prompt payment from Canada Life. We worked with Canada Life to resolve these challenges and bring service levels back to where they should be, and we’re happy to report that those efforts are paying off.

We use several metrics to track Member service levels, which Canada Life is currently meeting or exceeding in all areas.

Here are some highlights from 2024:

• Calls were consistently answered within 60 seconds.
• Claims were processed within 7 days: Canada Life has generally surpassed its
target and, at the end of 2024, was very close to reaching 100%.

We’re pleased with the progress and will continue working with Canada Life to ensure you receive efficient and reliable services.

If you feel a concern hasn’t been adequately addressed by Canada Life, you can email us at info@one-t.ca, and we’ll look into it for you.

Communication

Connecting with Members will always be one of our top priorities. In 2024, we focused on bolstering information and resources that can help you make the most of your Benefits Plan.

2024 Milestones

· Trustees have implemented changes to the Plan to maintain sustainability and affordability as health and dental costs continue to rise and outpace funding increases

► Learn more

· Spotlight on your emergency travel medical

· Could it be… fraud?

· Plan updates Q&A

► Visit the Learning Centre

· Video series on how to submit a claim under different scenarios

· Scenarios include: the one-claim approach, the HCSA-only approach, and the Special Expenses approach

► Learn more

· Conducted three sessions with P/VP Members

· Talked about how ONE-T works; presentation from Canada Life; recent Plan changes

· Live Q&A session

► Watch a recording

· Cyber security review

· Reviewed our risk monitoring

· Contract renewals of several of our Service Providers

· Investments in short-term GICs and institutional bond fund

Contacts

There are several service partners who work together with ONE-T to provide the overall experience for Plan Members. Here’s a helpful list of who to contact, depending on the nature of your question or request:

Service provider	When to contact
Cowan (our Plan administrator) 1-888-330-4010 one-t@cowangroup.ca	• Questions on enrolment, eligibility, and benefits costs • To enroll in the Plan or make changes after a life event • To update personal information • To request tax slips • To access AD&D forms and information (see Chubb below) • Anything related to your personal information, tax slips, or Plan rules
Canada Life (our service provider for health, dental, and life insurance coverage) 1-866-800-8086 My Canada Life at Work	• Questions about whether your expense is eligible to claim through the Plan • Questions about your claim – process to submit one or the status of one you’ve already submitted • Anything related to your health, dental, and life insurance benefits, along with your Health Care Spending Account (HCSA)
Cubic Health (FACET program for prior authorization) 1-844-492-9105 www.facetprogram.ca	• Questions about drug claims that involve prior authorization (specialty drugs) • Issues related to the prior authorization process
Chubb (our Accidental Death & Disability insurer)	• Members do not need to contact Chubb directly; you can access forms and information through Cowan
ONE-T (your employee life and health trust) info@one-t.ca For questions on ONE-T operations, contact Moe Renaud – Executive Director: moe.renaud@one-t.ca	• Questions about the ONE-T Benefits Plan • To file an appeal • Questions related to operations and Service Provider service issues

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