PRAIRIE ROSE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION

EFFECTIVE PERIOD: 2014/07/01 - 2018/06/30 (EXPIRED)

ARTICLE 18: BENEFIT PLANS

18.01: GROUP LIFE INSURANCE

A)  The Division shall administer the Manitoba Public School Employees’ Group Life Insurance Plan according to the terms and conditions of the Master Policy of the said plan, and subject to the limitations set out in Article (D).

B)  Unless otherwise excluded, the employees’ share of annual premiums shall be deducted in equal monthly amounts for all participants in the plan.

C)  All employees coming on staff after the effective date of the implementation of the Plan in the Division shall be required to participate in the plan, unless granted exclusion by the Trustees of the Manitoba Public School Employees’ Group Life Insurance Plan.

D) The Board’s responsibility with respect to the administration of this Plan shall be limited to the following:
      i.    deducting premiums from the employees;
      ii. enrolling newly hired employees in the Plan;
      iii. maintaining records of the employees who are and are not insured, including maintaining files of application cards, late applicants, employees whose coverage was rejected on late applications, beneficiary designations, and employees whose coverage has terminated on leaving the Division.
      iv. completing a premium statement to accompany premium remittances;
      v. providing claim forms to employees or beneficiaries on request;
     vi. completing and submitting the Employer Claim submission for claimants;
     vii. distributing Plan information to employees from time to time;
     viii. conducting periodic reopening from Accidental Death and Dismemberment applications.

E)  Save and except for the express responsibilities set out in (D) of this Article, the Association acknowledges and agrees that the Board has nor assumes any responsibility whatsoever with respect to any aspect of the Manitoba Public School Employees Group Life Insurance Plan.

F)  The Association shall indemnify and save harmless the Division from any and all losses, costs, liabilities or expenses suffered or sustained by the Division as a result of any claim or legal action arising from the deduction of premiums or exercise of other responsibilities with respect to the Group Life Insurance Plan.

18.02: DISABILITY INSURANCE PLAN

A)  The Board shall deduct from employees’ salaries the full premium costs prescribed by the Plan and shall forward such premiums on a monthly basis to the Plan.

B)  Any employee shall be enrolled in the Plan and shall participate in the Plan, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan.

C)  Any employee entering the Division’s employ shall be enrolled automatically in the Plan and shall have deducted monthly from his/her salary the amount of premiums specified by the Plan.

D) The Board’s responsibility with respect to the administration of this Plan shall be limited to the following:
      i. deducting premiums from the employees;
      ii. enrolling newly hired employees in the Plan;
      iii. maintaining records of the employees who are and are not insured, including maintaining files of application cards, late applicants, employees whose coverage was rejected on late application, beneficiary designations, and employees whose coverage was terminated on leaving the Division;
      iv. completing a premium statement to accompany premium remittances;
      v. distributing plan information to employees from time to time;
      vi. completing the Disability Notification Form and submitting it to the Plan after an employee has been absent ten (10) consecutive teaching days and where the sickness or disability may result in the filing of a claims for benefits;
     vii. reporting to the Plan salary changes for teachers in receipt of benefits.

E)  Save and except for the deduction and remittance of premiums, and the express responsibilities set out in (D) of this Article, the Association acknowledges and agrees that the Board neither has nor assumes any responsibility whatsoever with respect to any aspect of this Disability Benefits Plan administered by the Manitoba Teachers’ Society.

18.03: EXTENDED HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN

A)  The Board shall administer the Manitoba Teachers’ Society Extended Health Benefit Plan.

For purposes of this agreement, the word “administer” shall mean and be limited to:

i)  enrolling all newly hired eligible members,
ii)  deducting required monthly premiums from all enrolled members,
iii)  remitting premiums to the carrier on a monthly basis on the required form,
iv)  reporting all changes in family status to the carrier as reported by individual members to the Division,
v)  maintaining a supply of pamphlets, brochures and claim forms for distribution to members upon enrollment and/or upon request as is appropriate. All such materials are to be provided by the carrier.
vi)  Any other matters agreed to in writing between the parties from time to time.

B)  Except as noted below in C) and D), all members who are eligible under the terms of the plan shall be required to participate in the plan.

C)  Where a member provides evidence of coverage for Extended Health benefits through a spousal plan, such member shall be eligible to opt out of this plan subject to the terms of this plan.

D)  A member who works less than .30 FTE time shall not be required to join the plan.

E)  The Association agrees to indemnify and save the Division harmless of and from any and all claims which may be made against the Division arising out of the aforesaid administration of the Plan as noted in A) of this Article.

18.04: DENTAL INSURANCE

A) The Division will participate in the administration of the MSBA/MTS Dental Plan in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Agreement entered into by the Division and the Association attached hereto as Schedule A (the “Dental Plan Agreement”).

B) All employees covered by this Collective Agreement that are eligible under the terms of the MSBA/MTS Dental Plan shall be required to participate in the MSBA/MTS Dental Plan unless entitled to elect out of the Dental Plan as maybe permitted under the terms thereof.

C) The cost of the MSBA/MTS Dental Plan will be paid by the Division/District in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Dental Plan Agreement.

D) The Division agrees that the Division’s monthly contribution to the Dental Plan on behalf of each Employee will be the monthly rate for family coverage (that is, entitlement to coverage for an Employee, his/her spouse, and his/her dependent children, having regard to the definition of spouse and dependent children in the Dental Plan).  Provided that prior to the beginning of the plan year an Employee may elect in prescribed form for reduced coverage as permitted under the terms of the Dental Plan in which case the Division agrees to make monthly payments to the Employee as follows:

     i. An Employee with only one dependent (spouse or child) who is entitled to and does so duly elect to opt down from family coverage under the Dental Plan to coverage for Employee and one other family member only, shall receive an amount equal to the difference in the monthly rate between family coverage and coverage for an employee and one dependent only;
     ii. An employee with neither spouse nor dependent children who is entitled to and does so duly elect to opt down from family coverage under the Dental Plan to coverage for an Employee only, shall receive an amount equal to the difference in the monthly rate between family coverage and coverage for an Employee only;
     iii. An Employee who is entitled to and does so duly elect to opt out of all coverage on the basis that the Employee’s spouse has dental plan coverage, shall receive an amount equal to the monthly rate for family coverage.

18:05 SHORT TERM DISABILITY

A) The Board shall deduct from employees’ salaries the full premium costs prescribed by the Plan and shall forward such premiums on a monthly basis to the Plan.

B) Any employee shall be enrolled in the Plan and shall participate in the Plan, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan.

C) Any employee entering the Division’s employ shall be enrolled automatically in the Plan and shall have deducted monthly from his/her salary the amount of premiums specified by the Plan.

D) The Board’s responsibility with respect to the administration of this Plan shall be limited to the following:
      i. deducting premiums from the teachers;
      ii. enrolling newly hired eligible teachers in the Plan;
      iii. completing a premium statement to accompany premium remittances;
      iv. distributing plan information to teachers from time to time;
      v. completing a Short Term Disability Notification Form and submitting it to the Plan when a teacher has been absent and where the sickness or disability may result in the filing of a claims or benefits, as per the requirements of the plan

E) Save and except for the express responsibilities set out in (D) of this Article, the Association acknowledges and agrees that the Board neither has nor assumes any responsibility whatsoever with respect to any aspect of the Short Term Disability Benefits Plan.

F) The Association shall indemnify and save the Division from any and all losses, costs, liabilities or expenses suffered or sustained by the Division as a result of any claim or legal action arising from the deduction of premiums or exercise or responsibilities with respect to the Short Term Disability Plan.

G) The Association will receive 100% of any additional EI Premium Reduction as a result of the Short Term Disability Plan.