Volume 5 - wlv inc. | Group Benefits Analysts

Your Health & Wellness
VOLUME 5 2014
TRAVELLING DOWN YOUR ROAD TO RETIREMENT
YOUR OPP ASSOCIATION
BENEFITS TEAM
By Lisa Hillstrom, Marilyn Thomson and Debi Cosworth
W
e would like to introduce Debi Cosworth, a new member of the Pension and
Benefits Team. Debi joined our team when Karen Kimber assumed a new role
at the Association. We would like to thank Karen for the excellent service she
provided the membership during her time with the Benefits Team.
The theme for this edition is Retirement. We anticipate that this version will be a valuable
resource for members who may be thinking about retirement, or starting to prepare for
retirement down the road. Ontario Shared Services (OSS) has provided information
outlining their process once a member has notified the employer of their intent to retire;
the Ontario Pension Board (OPB) article highlights their role in your retirement process
and provides members with information on e-services that are available to members.
Target Benefit Administrators (Target) has provided information on the transfer of a
member’s drug card information and insurances at retirement. Bill Tibbo of Bill Tibbo
& Associates has provided an article outlining what uniform and civilian members may
experience personally during the retirement transition.
Lisa Hillstrom
We truly feel that this edition will prove to be a beneficial component in planning your
retirement by offering information on estimating your pension income, the process to
notify your employer of your intent to retire, the steps to commence this process and
your emotional well-being in retirement.
We encourage members to provide comments regarding the content of this edition and
recommendations for future articles at benefits@oppa.ca
Marilyn Thomson
Please watch for the next issue of Your Health and Wellness magazine which will be an
e-version only and will be available on the OPP Association website in the fall of 2014.
DID YOU KNOW?
Effective January 1, 2014, your benefits plan includes a number of enhancements to
the existing plan structure. The changes include an increase to the Drug Dispensing
Fee, Vision Care Spending Account and Hearing Aid Deductible. Best Doctors has
been added to the Benefit Plan, offering members no cost expert assistance regarding
your personal medical questions and concerns. Further information is available in this
edition and on the members only side of the OPP Association website at www.oppa.ca
under “Benefits.”
Debi Cosworth
Your Health
and Wellness
Benefits Team
Lisa Hillstrom
Marilyn Thomson
Debi Cosworth
Karen Kimber
2
www.oppa.ca
Published by:
mediaedgepublishing.com
33 South
Station Street
North York, Ontario
M9N 2B2
Toll Free:
(866) 480-4717
531 Marion Street
Winnipeg, MB
Canada R2J 0J9
Toll Free:
(866) 201-3096
Branch Manager
Nancie Privé
Editor
Ali Mintenko
President
Kevin Brown
Senior VicePresident
Robert Thompson
Senior Design
Specialist
James T. Mitchell
Published April 2014
Please return all
undeliverable
publications to
119 Ferris Lane,
Barrie, ON
L4M 2Y1
All rights reserved.
The contents of this
publication may not
be reproduced by any
means, in whole or in
part, without the prior
written consent of the
OPP Association.
T B A
Target Benefit Administrators
PROCESS AT RETIREMENT FOR DRUG
CARDS AND INSURANCES
DRUG CARD INFORMATION
Target Benefit Administrators (Target) will automatically transfer
the drug card information from an active member file to set up
the retiree file; when they receive confirmation from the Ontario
Pension Board (OPB) that the member’s pension has commenced.
Please be aware there is a possibility of a delay from the date of
retirement to the commencement of pension benefits. Should the
use of the group health or dental benefits be required prior to set
up in the Great West Life (GWL) system, a paper claim may be
submitted to GWL once the retiree file has been set up. For this
reason; it is recommended that ongoing prescriptions be filled
the month prior to the retirement date for the member and their
eligible spouse/dependent child(ren). New Drug Cards are issued
from GWL and should be received by the member within 2-4
weeks of their file being transferred to retired status. Members
and their spouses will automatically receive their new drug cards;
however, drug cards for children/students must be requested.
Temporary wallet cards may be printed from the secure side of
the GWL website at www.greatwestlife.com
GROUP HEALTH & DENTAL INSURANCE
All health and dental coverage will remain the same in retirement
for eligible retirees* and their families. The new policy number
for benefits through GWL is 6772. Each member’s personal
identification number will change from their WIN number to
their Ontario Pension Board (OPB) Client identification number.
The effective date of the new policy will be the first day of the
month following retirement. GWL claims history will follow the
member’s file into retirement. Any member who had used the
GWL website prior to retirement will continue to have access to
their profile that will include their active file history.
*Eligibility Criteria for health and dental benefits upon retirement:
Civilian members must be in receipt of a pension based on at least
10 years of pensionable credit, or at least 10 years of continuous
employment and have some credit for at least some part of each of
those 10 years. Uniform members must be in receipt of a pension.
NOTE: Jim Christie, President, OPP Association wrote an article
titled “Salaries, Benefits and Pension Update” on page 14 of the
Spring 2014 issue of Beyond the Badge. This article includes
information regarding the changes to the above criteria that the
Ontario Government intends to implement in 2017.
All health care providers will need to be informed of the new
policy & ID numbers
INSURANCE AT RETIREMENT
OPP/OPPA – Insurance policies that are in force at the time of
retirement will continue into retirement. Approximately 4 weeks
after the member retires they will receive confirmation (via mail
or e-mail) of the insurances they have maintained along with the
premium amounts for the insurance during retirement. A chart
will be provided that outlines changes that will occur to insurance
policies with age.
The OPP Supplementary Life Insurance policy of 1, 2 or 3
times annual salary will automatically transfer into retirement.
The premium will continue to be $0.19 per thousand and the
insurance will be based on a member’s salary (this insurance
may not be increased after retirement but may be reduced or
cancelled). This insurance can be carried until the member
reaches age 65.
Members can cancel insurances at any time by contacting Target
directly at 416-740-1335, 1-888-660-6055 or info@wlvinc.com
A cancellation letter will be prepared and sent to the member, it
must be acknowledged, signed and returned to the OPPA. The
OPPA will notify the Ontario Pension Board to stop the applicable deductions from the member’s pension payment.
HAVE YOU REVIEWED YOUR INSURANCES LATELY? ARE YOUR BENEFICIARIES UP TO DATE?
Members (active and retired)
who require confirmation of their
insurances and named beneficiaries
have the following options:
• Select the “Insurance Confirmation”
button on the “Member Benefit
Services” area of the members’ only
side of the OPPA website at
www.oppa.ca
• Send an e-mail to info@wlvinc.com
Members without internet access may
contact Target Benefit Administrators
directly at 416-740-1335 or 1-888-660-6055.
www.oppa.ca
3
I’M READY
TO RETIRE…
WHERE
DO I START?
Article provided by Ontario Shared Services
- North Bay Benefit Services
How early should I initiate my retirement process?
Four (4) to six (6) months prior to your desired retirement date.
Who would I contact if I wanted to consult with someone before
I do my letter of intent to retire?
Please contact the OSS contact centre at 1-866-979-9300 and ask
to speak to your benefits advisor to discuss your retirement.
What information should I include in my Retirement Letter?
• Your Letter of Intent should be addressed to your Detachment/
Unit Commander or Manager.
• Indicate your desired date of retirement and if applicable, the
dates you will be using stat or vacation credits, or taking leave
with pay in lieu of their eligible severance payment. (Note: If
you have opted to take a leave with pay in lieu of your eligible
severance payment, it is recommended to submit your Retirement Letter two (2) months prior to the commencement of the
leave with pay).
• I nclude your name, Badge# and WIN ID# and current work
location in your correspondence. Please include your earliest
possible retirement date.
What happens once my letter of intent has been received at
OSS Benefit Unit in North Bay?
• A Benefit Assistant will contact you via email/phone to confirm
receipt of your letter of intent to retire. At this time, you will be
advised when you can expect to receive your retirement package
from OSS.
• Your retirement package, which will include paperwork for
how you wish to receive any termination payments and the
Retirement Notice or Termination of Membership Notice form
(OPB1012), will either be emailed or mailed directly to you.
• Ensure that the completed Retirement Notice or Termination
of Membership Notice form (OPB1012) is returned to OSS,
Benefits Unit in North Bay, in a timely manner. This will ensure
that OPB is notified, which will initiate your retirement process
through OPB.
• Once you have submitted your Letter of Intent to OSS, you
have the option to contact the Ontario Pension Board to further
discuss your retirement process with the Ontario Pension Board
at www.opb.ca by logging into e-services and selecting “Initiate
Retirement”. For more information on this process, please refer to
the Ontario Pension Board article in this magazine on page 8.
Who needs to receive a copy of my letter of intent to retire?
WHO?
Ontario Shared Services (OSS)
WHERE?
HOW?
WHEN?
Benefit Unit – North Bay
Fax – 705-494-3141
Payroll – Orillia
Fax – 705-329-6698
Four (4) to six (6) months
prior to retirement date
This will initiate the retirement process and your package will be sent to you from OSS Benefits Unit – North Bay. OSS will then
notify the Ontario Pension Board (OPB) about your impending retirement. In order to allow for adequate processing time, please
note that the Ontario Pension Board (OPB) requires your completed Retirement Notice or Termination of Membership Notice form
(OPB1012) three (3) months in advance of your retirement date.
OPP Association
4
www.oppa.ca
Head Office – Barrie
Fax – 705-721-4867
Four (4) to six (6) months
prior to retirement date
What if I have questions about my retirement package received
from OSS Benefit Unit in North Bay?
Where do I send my completed retirement package received
from OSS Benefit Unit in North Bay?
• Once you have received your retirement package, you are
advised to contact OSS Benefit Unit – North Bay directly at
1-866-979-9300 to review, discuss and address any questions
that you may have. At this time, you can address questions
pertaining to your termination payment options.
• Once your questions have been answered and your retirement
package has been completed, you should return your package
to OSS, Benefits Unit in North Bay.
You will be notified via email from the OSS Benefit Unit in
North Bay that your completed retirement package has been
received and reviewed. If there are any issues, you will be
contacted by a Benefit Assistant from OSS.
If there are no issues, you will be advised by email that your
documents have been distributed to the Ontario Pension Board
(OPB) and the Payroll Unit in Orillia for processing.
From this point forward, any further questions regarding your
pension should be directed to the OPB Client Services at 1-416364-5035 or toll-free in Canada and the U.S.A.
at 1-800-668-6203.
Questions regarding your final payout options should be
directed to the OSS Contact Centre at 1-866-979-9300 or
askoss@ontario.ca
The prescription drug coverage offered
under your group benefits plan includes
Enhanced Generic Substitution.
Enhanced Generic Substitution means
the reimbursement amount of your
prescriptions is limited to the cost of the
lowest-priced generic alternative.
Many drugs are available in both generic
and brand name forms. Both drugs have
the same active chemical ingredient,
same dosage strength, and same
dosage form. By asking your doctor to
prescribe the generic equivalent of a
brand name drug, you can do your part
to help keep your drug plan affordable
for the long term.
www.oppa.ca
5
Great-West Life
Innovative Prescription Drug Management from Great-West Life
Prescription drug claim process changes: what they mean to you
Prescription drug costs are a rapidly growing segment of total Canadian healthcare costs, funded
largely through benefits plans or directly out of patients’ pockets. While Great-West Life is making
changes to claims processes to help curb this cost growth, we are committed to maintaining coverage
for appropriate and effective healthcare treatment and recovery.
This document outlines important changes to Great-West’s claims practices for prescription drugs, and
what they mean to you. Please keep this information with your benefits plan documents.
Enhanced Generic Substitution*
Many brand name drugs have generic equivalents, which are often available at a substantially lower
cost. Health Canada regulates all generic drugs sold in the country to ensure they contain the identical
medicinal ingredients as their brand name counterparts and work the same way in the body. However,
many patients continue to choose brand name drugs over generic drugs.
Enhanced Generic Substitution means when a claim for a brand name drug is submitted, coverage
will be based on the cost of the generic drug (if that cost is lower).
With Great-West’s Enhanced Generic Substitution, coverage will be based on the cost of the lowerpriced interchangeable drug with the same medicinal ingredients, unless a plan member provides
medical evidence that a prescribed drug cannot be substituted. A Request for Brand Name Drug
Coverage form, signed by your doctor and outlining the health reason the brand name drug is
necessary, will be required in these cases. The form can be found at www.greatwestlife.com under
Client Services – Group Benefits Plan Members – Forms.
*only applicable to groups with Great-West’s pay-direct or deferred drug card
Health Case Management
New drug treatments and breakthroughs are helping Canadians with conditions once thought to be
untreatable. But with the cost of specialty medications ranging between $30,000 and over $600,000 per year,
many Canadians are unable to afford them without the help of a group benefits plan.
Great-West is working hard to ensure that your benefits plan is sustainable while also providing coverage
for effective treatment. Monitoring and managing treatment plans can help achieve better health outcomes
without incurring unnecessary costs.
Health Case Management is a program that allows Great-West to work with patients who require a
complex treatment plan and their doctors to better understand the treatment plan and identify opportunities
for support, education and assistance. Here’s how Health Case Management can make a difference:
•
Assessing treatment plan effectiveness
Ensuring that treatment plans are well understood and working effectively can help improve a patient’s
health outcome. A health case manager will work with patients and their doctors to understand and
assess the effectiveness of a treatment plan (applies to new claims only).
•
Providing support services
Not all benefits plans offer the same coverage. A health case manager can help patients access and
understand any benefits or programs available under their plans.
•
Ensuring medication is taken as directed
Taking medication properly is important to ensuring the effectiveness of a treatment plan that can help
prevent a disability or assist a return to work. Health case managers can help keep patients on track.
•
Monitoring medications for a trial period
Clinical trials show some medications may only work for 25 per cent of patients who take them.
Through Health Case Management, a drug may be approved for a trial period to determine its
effectiveness.
Providing consistency of treatment through designated providers
Managing specialty medication usage is important due to its impact on benefits plans. Great-West Life
has engaged HealthForward Inc., an industry leader with extensive specialty medication experience and
a broad specialty pharmacy and treatment clinic network, to provide a high level of expertise in patientcentred specialty drug management and distribution. The experts from HealthForward will not only assess
treatment plans and assist patients, but also arrange for the dispensing of certain drugs that require special
handling to help ensure consistency in treatment and improve patient experiences. In some cases, claimants
will simply be contacted to co-ordinate the dispensing and delivery of the covered medication. In other
instances, a claimant may have ongoing contact with a health case manager to monitor progress and
closely follow the required treatment.
Health Case Management and related specialty drug management services are initiated when appropriate
through Great-West’s prior authorization process. Forms can be found at www.greatwestlife.com under Client
Services – Group Benefits Plan Members – Forms.
Your health comes first
Prescription drug benefits play a significant role in your health and well-being. We are committed to
ensuring your health needs are looked after and you have access to your benefits coverage when you need
it most.
Our drug claim process changes are just one example of how Great-West is working with plan sponsors to
help manage prescription drug plan costs, while ensuring your coverage is sustainable and accessible, now
and into the future.
Great-West Life and the key design are trademarks of The Great-West Life Assurance Company.
M7110-2/13
©The Great-West Life Assurance Company, all rights reserved. Any modification of this document without the
express written consent of Great-West Life is strictly prohibited.
RETIREMENT
AND YOUR PENSION
Article provided by Ontario Pension Board (OPB)
Thinking of retiring?
What you need to know about your PSPP pension
If you’re starting to think about retirement, now is a good time to
make sure you understand your PSPP pension benefits and how
the retirement process works for your PSPP pension. This article
will walk you through what you need to consider leading up to
retirement, how to initiate your pension with the PSPP and what
to expect during the pension setup process.
How we calculate your pension
The normal retirement date is your 65th birthday. When you
retire, you’ll receive a pension that is payable for life. The pension
you earn is based on a preset formula. We start by determining
your annual base pension.
2% of your average
x
annual salary*
Your pension
credit
=
Your base
pension
If you retire before you’re 65, your PSPP pension also includes
an early retirement bridge benefit, which is payable until you
turn 65 when you are eligible to start collecting an unreduced
CPP pension from the Canada Pension Plan. Take a look at the
formula below to see how we calculate your bridge benefit.
CPP
=
Integration
8
0.7% of the Average YMPE Your pension credit
or your average annual x (up to a maximum
salary*, whichever is less
of 35 years)
www.oppa.ca
Then, at age 65 when you’re eligible to start collecting your
unreduced CPP pension, the bridge benefit portion of your PSPP
pension ends. This is what we call CPP integration. So, after CPP
integration, your lifetime PSPP pension is calculated as follows:
CPP Integration
Your PSPP pension
(early bridge
Your annual PSPP
before age 65
=
retirement bridge
lifetime pension
(including early retirement bridge benefit)
benefit ends at 65)
Your early retirement bridge benefit is payable even if you decide
to collect a reduced CPP pension before age 65. However, keep
in mind that if you collect both your PSPP and CPP pensions
before age 65, you are going to notice a drop in your total pension
income at age 65 when the early retirement bridge benefit from
the PSPP ends.
*The average annual salary calculation differs for OPP Officers
versus Civilians. For OPP Officers (including the Commissioner
and Deputy Commissioners) it’s best 36-months of pensionable
salary. For OPP Civilians it’s the average of your best 48-consecutive months of pensionable salary. The number of months used to
determine your average annual salary is based on your position
when you terminate your membership in the PSPP.
When you can retire
The normal retirement age in the PSPP is 65. That means that
once you’re 65 years old you can retire at any time with an
unreduced pension. However, the PSPP also offers several early
retirement provisions that may allow you to retire before age 65
with an unreduced pension.
If you meet any of the below requirements, you can retire with an
unreduced pension:
OPP 50/30 – To retire under this provision you must retire as an
OPP Officer, be at least 50 years old and have at least 30 years of
pension credit.
60/20 – To retire under this provision you must be at least 60
years old and have at least 20 years of credit.
Factor 90 – To retire under this provision your age plus pension
credit must equal 90 points.
Not sure when your earliest unreduced retirement date (EURD)
is? You can find out by:
• Checking your Annual Pension Statement (which mails out in April)
• Using our online pension estimator (visit www.opb.ca,
“e-services”)
Retiring with a reduced pension
While the ideal scenario is to retire with an unreduced pension,
we recognize that life circumstances can arise and you may want
to retire before you’ve reached an EURD in the Plan. The PSPP
does allow you to retire with a reduced pension, as long as you’re
at least 55 years old. However, your pension will be reduced five
per cent for every full year that your retirement date falls before
your 65th birthday plus a pro-rated percentage for any partial
year. This reduction reflects the fact that you are starting your
pension earlier and are, therefore, likely to collect it longer.
The decision to take a reduced pension is a significant one, so if
this is something you’re considering, please contact OPB so we
can discuss your options and the impact with you.
Working past 65
While the normal retirement date is your 65th birthday, this
doesn’t mean that you’re required to retire at age 65. You can – if
you want – work past your normal retirement date. If you do, you
can continue to contribute to the Plan and build pension credit so that you get a bigger pension when you do retire.
If you do decide to continue working and contributing to the
pension plan, keep in mind that the Income Tax Act requires you
to start collecting your pension by the end of the calendar year
in which you turn 71 – even if you are still working. If you end up
in this scenario, keep in mind that you would become subject to the Plan’s
re-employment rules and it could impact the amount of pension you receive.
Planning for retirement
Whether you’re just starting to think about retirement planning
or looking to retire shortly, OPB’s e-services offers some helpful
tools to assist you in your planning process.
Pension estimator
You can use the Pension Estimator to forecast what your Public
Service Pension Plan pension may be at retirement. You can also
save estimates and compare to see the impact of choosing different
retirement dates.
Retirement Planner
The Retirement Planner gives you a comprehensive snapshot of
your overall retirement picture. It helps you project your retirement expenses with the retirement expense worksheet, as well as
retirement income from all sources, including the PSPP, government benefits (e.g., CPP and OAS) and other income sources
(e.g., other pension income, spouse’s income, RRSPs).
The Planner can also help you with your retirement tax planning
by allowing you to see your retirement income before and after
taxes. And, if you have a spouse, there’s also an income splitting
calculator that allows you to determine whether or not incomesplitting will help you and if so what the optimal split would be.
To use the Retirement Planner, you need to be registered for
secure online e-services. We recommend that you first run a
pension estimate based on your chosen retirement date and then
launch the Retirement Planner and follow the steps.
If you haven’t already registered for e-services
Go to our website at www.opb.ca and click “Login” at the topright corner of your screen, then click the link to register and
complete your information on the Client registration page. You
will need your OPB client number.
Members — You can find your OPB client number on your
Annual Pension Statement
Pensioners — You can find your OPB client number on your
annual cost-of-living adjustment letter mailed to you each year
If you have any difficulties registering, please call OPB Client
Services at 416-364-5035 or toll-free in Canada and the U.S.A. at
1-800-668-6203
Picking a retirement date
Did you know that when you retire within the month can impact
how long you have to wait for your first pension payment?
Your PSPP pension starts the month after your last date worked
and is paid out on the 22nd day of the month. Here’s an example
of how your last day of employment (or your termination date)
relates to your first pension payment.
Date
last worked
First Pension
Payment Date
# of days until
payment
April 4
May 22
47
April 15
May 22
37
April 30
May 22
22
So, when you’re deciding your retirement date, you may
want to take this into consideration for your initial cash flow
purposes as you transition from your employer’s payroll to your
pension payment.
Considering spending your retirement abroad?
If you’re planning to retire abroad, this may impact how we pay
out your pension. Currently, we can process foreign direct deposit
www.oppa.ca
9
payments for a number of foreign countries. If we aren’t able to
set up a foreign direct deposit for you, there are other options
available – we can deposit your pension into your Canadian
bank account (if you are keeping one) or mail a pension cheque
in Canadian currency to your foreign address. Keep in mind that
the last option – mailing a cheque – can end up costing you more
with exchange and banking fees.
So, if you are considering retiring abroad, make sure to check in
with us so we can discuss your options with you. How do I start the retirement process with OPB?
Generally speaking we recommend that you initiate the retirement
process three to six months out from your desired retirement date.
If you’re within six months of your retirement date, you can get
the process started by logging into e-services and selecting “initiate
retirement.” When you initiate retirement online, we show you
estimates for your pension amounts, to help you decide which
retirement date is best for you.
You’ll then be prompted to select your retirement date, and
complete the member information section. The next step is taking
your Retirement Notice or Termination of Membership Notice
form (OPB 1012) to your employer. Once they complete the
employer section, they’ll submit the form to OPB. This is what
officially launches the retirement process.
explain what’s in the package, what you need to do and what
supporting documents we still require to process your pension (if
there are any).
Your customized Retirement Information Package will provide
you with information about your benefits, including your
projected pension, Insured Benefits Eligibility, current Beneficiary
Designations, estimated Tax deduction information, et cetera.
We’ll also include your Retirement Election Package which allows
you to review your personal information, such as your marital
status, and address and make any necessary updates. It also details
any necessary elections you need to make prior to starting your
pension, such as your declaration of spousal status, which needs to
be confirmed at retirement, and your joint & survivor pension.
If you have an eligible spouse at retirement, your personalized
package also details the corresponding deduction amounts for the
various joint & survivor pension levels (zero, 50, 60, or 65-75 per
cent) so that you and your spouse can make an informed decision
when selecting the right joint & survivor pension option for you.
Finally, you’ll be asked to send in a void cheque with your
completed Retirement Election Package to enable direct deposit of
pension payments. OPB will then mail out a Confirmation Statement confirming your elections, benefit entitlement, Quarterly
Re-employment earnings limit, and personal information.
You don’t have to initiate the retirement process online, you can
also just have your employer complete the form and they’ll submit
it to OPB. In either case, the retirement process officially launches
once we receive the form from your employer.
Marital Breakdown
Retirement Process: What to expect and documentation required
If you’re eligible for insured benefits at retirement, please note that
they will be administered by Target Benefits. Should
you have any questions, please contact Target Benefits for
more information.
Within a couple of weeks of receiving your Retirement Notice
(OPB 1012) from your employer, your Retirement Liaison
from OPB will contact you to confirm that we’ve received your
retirement application. Your Liaison will be the one helping you
through the retirement process from that first call to your first
pension payment. They are there to explain the process and
answer any questions you may have.
Within a few weeks of OPB receiving your retirement application, you will receive a personalized Retirement Information
and Elections Package from your Liaison. The cover letter will
If you’ve had a marital breakdown during your Plan membership,
please contact OPB to discuss the impacts to your pension.
Insured Benefits in Retirement
How re-employment in the OPS can impact your pension
If you are engaged or re-employed by an employer who contributes to the PSPP after starting your pension, you will be subject
to the Plan’s re-employment rules. Contact OPB for more information if this applies to you. We’ll be covering more about this
topic in the fall edition. If you have any questions about a specific
scenario, please contact OPB directly.
OPP ASSOCIATION RETIREES’ BBQ
MONDAY JUNE 2, 2014 – 11:30 AM TO 2:00 PM (RAIN OR SHINE)
In recognition of Veterans’ week all OPP retirees and their spouse/partner are welcome to attend:
119 & 123 Ferris Lane, Barrie, Ontario 705-728-6161 or 800-461-4282
Please complete the survey at www.oppa.ca in the members’ only area under the
“Events” tab to confirm your attendance.
Hosted by the OPP Association and OPPA Credit Union
10
www.oppa.ca
OPP ASSOCIATION
PRE-RETIREMENT
SEMINARS
The OPP Association in co-operation with OPP Management
sponsor the seminars. These seminars will provide information regarding your emotional well-being during the retirement transition, pension entitlements, insured benefits, insurance options and financial information related to retirement.
Eligibility:
Members are eligible to attend the seminar when they are
within three years of their earliest unreduced retirement date
(EURD), i.e. 50/30, Factor 90, 60/20 or age 65. Members
are encouraged to register early as members are prioritized
for a seminar by their EURD.
Seminar/Accommodation:
The OPP Association covers the cost of the one day seminar.
Members and their spouse/partner (if applicable) will travel
on the day before the seminar and will be provided with hotel
accommodation by the OPP Association. Members travelling
more than 6 hours must be pre-approved by the OPP Association for a second nights’ accommodation.
Time/Travel:
Travel arrangements and on duty time should be preapproved through your Detachment/Unit Commander/
Manager.
Registration:
Online registration is available on the OPPA members only
website at www.oppa.ca located under ‘Education’.
NOTE: All 2014 seminars are currently full however,
members can register for the ‘Waiting list’ on the OPP Association members’ only website at www.oppa.ca under ‘Education’.
Members without internet access may contact the Benefit
Unit of the OPP Association at 705-728-6161 or 1-800-4614282 to request a registration form.
If you have any questions regarding the above, please contact
Marilyn Thomson or Debi Cosworth at 1-800-461-4282, 705-728-6161
or at benefits@oppa.ca
REMINDER – NEW MAILING ADDRESS
GREAT WEST LIFE HEALTH AND DENTAL CLAIMS
Great West Life’s new mailing address for Active, Retired and Surviving OPP Association
members to submit health and dental claims is:
Great West Life
London Benefit Payments
255 Dufferin Avenue
London ON N6A 4K1
Health and dental claim forms are available on the secure side of Great West Life’s website at
www.greatwestlife.com or in the “Benefits” area of the OPP Association website at www.oppa.ca
Members without Internet access may contact Target Benefit Administrators
at 416-740-1335 or 1-888-660-6055 to request a form.
www.oppa.ca
11
RETIREMENT
PLANNING
By Bill Tibbo
IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE MONEY
A
bout six years ago a dear friend of mine retired. He
was so excited about his final day and felt it could
not come fast enough. He had had two full careers
in his more-than-35 years of working. It was about a year
before his retirement that we started engaging in several
conversations about retirement, either while out walking the
dogs or during dinner with our wives or simply sitting in
the backyard having a beer. I have to be truthful because he
had done a spectacular job preparing financially for this new
life stage, so naturally I began to question whether I was
doing as well for my family.
12
www.oppa.ca
Within the first month following my colleague’s final day on the
job, he approached his employer and asked about the possibility
of becoming a consultant to the very department he retired from.
Within eight weeks we shared a very frank discussion where he
revealed that he had not calculated well for his retirement. What he
had not calculated for was the way he would feel emotionally. He
talked about the feeling that he had lost his identity. At some level
I had anticipated that I would hear this declaration from him. I had
never heard him talk about the things that he was looking forward
to doing, how he would spend his time or how he would replace all
of those things that work had contributed to his life.
In my private practice I have worked with professional athletes
and very senior executives for years, and in particular with
issues surrounding their retirement. I typically become involved
in their lives about two years prior to their final day in the office,
on the ice or on the field. Please appreciate that the majority
of those who walk into my office with this agenda do not have
financial limitations. Their careers had contributed significantly
to who they had become as professionals and how they felt
about themselves in their personal lives. Soon that career and
that identity would change. In one day their response to the
question “What do you do for a living?” would go from “I am”
to “I use to be.”
As a police officer or civilian within the police service, when
retirement becomes a consideration for you, you need to look
at it from a full 360-degree angle. The expertise you have
developed, the significance of your role in the community, the
bonds you have fostered with your fellow members and the
identity you have crafted are no less unique than the identity of
the first baseman on an MLB winning team. It is and has been a
major part of who you are and how you view yourself. Looking
forward to your retirement days is more than simply filling the
40-50 hour work weeks that you have been putting in for the
past 30 years. It is about truly looking at who you are and
knowing what brings you enjoyment and a feeling of pride.
A simple example would be the retirement of a detective who
has spent a number of years investigating, problem solving
and using their skills and training to unearth the truth. Once
retired, do those interests and skills simply fade away from daily
life or do we need to consider how to adjust our plan to keep
these interests close to heart and daily routine. Additionally, the
relationships that you have developed on the job will change,
if for no other reason but the fact that you will no longer be
working side by side on a daily basis and the fact that you are
retiring. Your peers may not be ready for retirement at this time.
They will be at work and you will not be sharing in that daily
routine, the kibitzing or the case discussions, and yet those are
important elements of your day to day. A strong connection with
retiree groups for instance, becomes just one of those things that
can help to meet those needs.
Another consideration that separates the professional life of a
police officer or police civilian from any other civilian in the outside
world who is facing retirement is that you have undoubtedly
encountered traumatic events face to face or on an auditory basis at
various times throughout your career. We obviously encourage that
you deal with these issues at the time of the occurrence with the
assistance of your peer team. In retirement it is equally as important
to pay attention to any signs of the trauma remaining and have a
connection to assistance even in retirement.
So when considering the smooth completion of your career,
remember retirement is about the money but it is also about so
much more.
Bill Tibbo has been an International Crisis Management Specialist since
1984 and currently serves as the Primary Mental Health Consultant to
the OPP. For information or appointments call 905-895-9788 or
email bill@billtibbo.com
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
LEAVE WITH PAY IN LIEU OF SEVERANCE PAYMENT
(SALARY CONTINUANCE) UPON RETIREMENT
The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for members who
are considering taking a leave with pay in lieu of Severance
Payment have been updated. You will find the updated version
on the members only side of the OPP Association website at
www.oppa.ca
www.oppa.ca
13
MEDICAL
INFORMATION
AND OPINIONS
Because Nothing Matters
More Than Your Health
WHEN SHOULD YOU CALL
BEST DOCTORS?
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to Best Doctors and a Member Advocate, a Registered
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With Best Doctors, you can get an expert second opinion
about surgery or a serious medical diagnosis, find a
specialist, or get help understanding your condition and
navigating the healthcare system. Because when it comes to
your health, nothing is more important than getting it right.
Best doctors provides you with access
to over 53,000 of the best medical
specialists in the world.
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A second opinion related to anything from
a straightforward surgical procedure to a chronic
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Help understAnding a diagnosis, treatment
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A leAding medical specialist in Canada.
informAtion about medical specialists or
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Written AnsWers to your personal medical
questions from an expert physician.
Help nAvigAting the healthcare system.
If you’re facing medical uncertainty call
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1-877-419-2378
bestdoctorscanada.com
tHE RIgHT iNfOrMAtiON
tHE RIgHT DiAgNOSiS
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confidence.
InterConsultationTM
More than just a second opinion, Best Doctors experts will conduct an
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Best Doctors will conduct a customized physician search and
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When expert physicians or leading care facilities are required outside
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Call Best Doctors for medical information and resources, one-on-one
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MAkE SUrE YOUr NExt MEDiCAL DECiSiON IS THE RIgHT ONE
Since our founding by Harvard Medical School physicians in 1989, we have been focused on helping people facing
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Supporting the Canadian healthcare system, our services help ensure our members have the right diagnosis and
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contact Best doctors at:
1-877-419-2378
customer.ca@bestdoctors.com
All expenses associated with medical treatment, travel and lodging are the responsibility of the member.
Best Doctors, The Reinvention of Right, InterConsultation, FindBestDoc, FindBestCare, Best Doctors 360° and the Star-In-Cross logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Best Doctors, Inc.
Ambulance service – when is it covered?
Provided by The Great-West Life Assurance Company
When medical emergencies happen, sometimes an ambulance is the best option.
Ambulance coverage under your Great-West Life plan is designed to provide benefits when
you have a medical condition that requires emergency transportation by ambulance.
Determining if it’s an emergency
But who decides when transportation by ambulance is warranted? Medical staff at the
hospital treating you will make this decision. If they determine that you could have made your
way to the hospital by other means, such as a taxi or other transportation service, this will be
considered a non-emergency and your claim will not be eligible.
Ambulance service can be costly – charges generally start at several hundred dollars and
escalate with increased travel time. And in most situations, provincial healthcare plans do not
provide coverage.
If you truly need an ambulance, don’t hesitate to call one. But be aware that if you use an
ambulance in a non-emergency situation, you may not be covered.
More information
If you have questions about claims for ambulance
coverage, please contact:
Target Benefit Administrators
Tel. 1-888-660-6055
Email: info@wlvinc.com