You spoke and we listened – changes are coming to MacEwan’s employee benefits plans!

In May 2022, benefit-eligible employees were invited to complete a benefits survey to share their thoughts on our benefits plan design and service providers.

The results showed some consistent feedback, including:

  • Concerns with benefit provider customer service
  • Limited flexibility with Health/Wellness Spending Accounts
  • Limited Psychology coverage
  • Requests for improved Vision, Prescription Drug and Paramedical coverage

Based on this feedback, we are making some changes, as outlined below. Most changes will come into effect on January 1, 2024.

Benefit Plan Design Changes

  • Increased annual Health Spending Account allocation to $1,000
  • Flexibility to allocate credits to Wellness Account
  • Increases to coinsurance levels for Paramedical and Prescription Drug Coverage
  • Increase to Basic Life insurance and Short-Term Disability coverage
  • Increases in annual maximums for specialized needs, such as fertility drugs and hearing aids
  • Psychology benefits now include coverage for Canadian Certified Counsellors and Registered Clinical Counsellors (effective January 1, 2023)

New Service Providers

  • GreenShield – Health, Dental, Health/Wellness Spending Accounts
  • Desjardins – Life & Disability Insurance

These service providers will not change:

  • Beneva (formerly SSQ) – Critical Illness, Accidental Death & Dismemberment
  • TELUS Health (formerly Lifeworks) – Employee Family & Assistance Program

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback through the benefit survey, to the Joint Benefits Committee (JBC) for their work on benefits plan design, to Executive Council for sponsoring these changes, and to the representatives from IT, Finance, HR and the JBC who participated in the request for proposal process for benefits service providers.

We look forward to these exciting changes for 2024! You can expect to see more updates in the fall to help you and your family prepare for this transition.

From Human Resources – Wellness and Benefits Team