Health Insurance

If an APUO member retires prior to the normal retirement date set out in the University of Ottawa Pension Plan (age 65), the member may, until they attain the normal retirement age of 65, participate in the supplementary health and dental insurance benefits provided to active APUO members. Eligible members who opt to continue their supplementary health benefits must pay the employer’s contribution for that benefit plan. If a member applies after 60 days of leaving the University Plan, they will required to complete a medical questionnaire. See section 38.2.5.2 of the APUO Collective Agreement.

At age 65, a retiree may wish to join a group benefits medical plan to replace the extended health and travel benefits enjoyed while an employee of the University. There are a number of choices, and retirees are advised to study what is being offered by each plan, as the terms differ significantly from plan to plan, and each retiree’s individual situation (state of health, family situation, spouse, dependents, etc.) is different. Currently some of the possibilities open to retirees include (1) the Entente Education Canada (formerly RTOERO), a registered charity; (2) the Municipal Retirees’ Organization of Ontario (MROO) Extended Health Care & Dental Care; (3) the plan sponsored by the Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan (OTIP); and (4) the “Plan Direct” coverage offered by Canada Life. Please note that the conditions offered in the context of this Canada Life plan are not the same as those offered by Canada Life to non-retired personnel.

Members who retired on or after 1 May 2001 now have access to a Health Care Spending Account ($1350). The programme, administered by Canada Life, will reimburse eligible members for expenses normally associated with health and dental benefits plans as stipulated in the Collective Agreement, section 40.9. Please see next section.

If you have questions regarding the University of Ottawa regular employee health insurance benefits, please contact Canada Life (for questions relating to claims) or Human Resources:

Canada Life : Dedicated number for uOttawa : 1 833 794-0225;
Human Resources Team : hrbenefits@uottawa.ca OR 613 562-5000.