Many of our Retiree’s and Active members have contacted the Union Hall and myself, with regards to the announced changes to the Ontario Health Insurance program (OHIP). They want to know whether or not it will affect our Green Shield Out of Province insurance coverage?
As you may have heard, the Ontario government is ending OHIP’s limited coverage of emergency out-of-country medical costs effective January 1, 2020.
Currently OHIP covers out-of-country inpatient services to a maximum of $400 per day for a higher level of care, such as intensive care, and up to $50 per day for emergency outpatient care and physician services.
While this coverage will cease, OHIP will continue to reimburse eligible emergency out-of-country claims incurred up to and including December 31, 2019. The time frame to submit eligible claims is still 12 months from the date of service; therefore, eligible claims can be submitted up to December 31, 2020.
IMPORTANT- GOOD NEWS
This change to OHIP will not impact our GSC Out of Province Emergency Medical travel Insurance coverage
After the announcement of these changes to O.H.I.P, an internal review was conducted of our Green Shield Out of Province coverage. The review has been concluded and it was determined that employee/retiree coverage under the Unifor/Ford benefit plan will not be impacted by the announced change to the OHIP.
Therefore I am happy to report that our Green Shield (Allianz) Out-of-Province plan remains unchanged and unaffected, so plan members and families will not see any change or loss to their coverage, no matter where they travel throughout the world.
In Solidarity,
Paul Ivey
Union Benefit Representative,
Unifor Local 707
