The COVID-19 Crisis Relief Plan has concluded and the rate reductions listed below are no longer in effect.
As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves and many sectors of the economy slowly re-open we remain committed to reducing the financial burden facing our members through the COVID-19 Crisis Relief Plan.
The COVID-19 Crisis Relief Plan is a temporary measure to help you maintain benefits for you, your employees, and their families through premium/contribution relief and plan administration relief. The plan was introduced on April 1st in anticipation of decreased access to health and wellness services. Last month, some of these services were permitted to open under the guidelines of the provincial health authority. With that, we modified our Crisis Relief Plan to reflect the anticipated accessibility of services.
Premium/Contribution Relief
Rate Reductions
Effective April 1st, you will have noticed reductions to both the Extended Health and Dental rates. On your June statement, the reductions to your Extended Health and Dental rates (as communicated in your January 1, 2020 renewal) were revised as shown below. In an effort to continue to support our members during this time of limited access to services, we are extending these rate reductions for the month of August:
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Extended Health Care rates: 20% reduction
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Dental rates: 35% reduction
Hour Bank Plans
For groups participating in our Hour Bank plans, the number of hours required to “pay for benefits” will continue at 75 hours per month (down from 150 hours).
During this crisis, business priorities have had to change in order to manage costs, sustain operations, and keep employees working. Fortunately, the construction industry was deemed an essential service, but that does not mean it has been business as usual. If you need to explore options beyond these rate reductions, please reach out to us.
We hope these measures continue to support you and your team through these trying times. As always, we continue to monitor the changing BC provincial health authority’s recommendations and will keep you informed as things change with respect to your plan.
If you have any questions regarding these options, please contact your client services team at hr@bccabenefits.ca. We have also prepared a COVID-19 FAQ to help answer any questions regarding the administration of your plan including claims, layoffs, and resources available to your employees.
