Life Events: Public service group insurance benefit plans

The following group insurance benefit plans may be available to you:

• Public Service Health Care Plan
• Public Service Dental Care Plan
• Disability Insurance Plan Benefits
• Public Service Management Insurance Plan Long-Term Disability
• Public Service Management Insurance Plan Life Insurance

The Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) is an optional health care plan for federal public service employees and their dependants. It is designed to supplement provincial health insurance plans. The PSHCP provides:

1. Supplementary Coverage intended for members who are covered under a provincial/territorial health insurance plan. It provides participants with health coverage to ’supplement’ the coverage provided under the provincial/territorial plan in the member’s province/territory of residence.
   • The PSHCP covers expenses for a range of health care services and supplies such as, prescription drugs, vision care and the services of various medical practitioners under its Extended Health Provision.
   • The PSHCP also includes three levels of hospital benefits under the Hospital Provision that provide reimbursement up to a specific dollar amount in excess of standard ward charges.
2. Comprehensive Coverage intended for members and their eligible dependants who are residing outside of Canada and who are not covered under a provincial/territorial health or hospital insurance plan.

For more information on the PSHCP, refer to the PSHCP Directive.

For your Extended Health Care Provision (for both Supplementary and Comprehensive coverage), the Plan generally pays 80% of eligible expense(s) or of stated maximums, if any. For example, prescription drugs are reimbursed at 80% with no annual or lifetime maximum. However, psychological services are reimbursed to a maximum of 80% of $2000 per calendar year. Note: some services and medical supplies require a physician’s referral/ prescription.

Refer to the Summary of Maximum Eligible Expenses for a list of eligible expenses.

For your Hospital Provision (for both Supplementary and Comprehensive coverage), the PSHCP includes three levels of hospital benefits that provide reimbursement for the cost of semi-private or private rooms in excess of standard ward charges. Level I pays a maximum of $90 per day, Level II a maximum of $170 per day and Level III a maximum of $250 per day.

The Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) monthly contribution rates are comprised of two components, the cost associated with the Extended Health Provision and the cost for the Hospital Provision. These components have different cost sharing arrangements between you and your employer (Government of Canada).

• As an employee of the federal public service, the Government of Canada pays the full cost of the Extended Health Provision and Hospital Level I coverage (for both Supplementary and Comprehensive coverage). If you choose Level II or III hospital coverage, you are responsible for 100% of the additional expense for this coverage. See Employee Monthly Contribution Rates for more details.
• If you are a member of the Executive Group or other designated groups, you may be eligible for Full Employer-Paid Coverage. See Becoming an executive for details.
• If you take a leave of absence from the public service, you will need to make a decision about your group benefit plan contributions and premiums. See Taking a leave of absence for more details.
• As a retired member under the PSHCP you will have different contribution rates. See Preparing for retirement.

The Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) is a voluntary plan. Employees must apply. There are two steps in applying for coverage.

1. Registration with your departmental Compensation services or the Public Service Pay Centre:

   To register you must complete and submit either an electronic application form using the secure online Compensation Web Applications (CWA) or submit a paper application form (PDF, 95 KB). Once your application is approved, you will receive your plan and certificate number.

2. Complete positive enrolment with Canada Life:

   Positive enrolment must be completed either online through the Canada Life Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) Member Services website (you must create an account), or a paper form. You can obtain a paper form from the PSHCP Member Services website or by calling Canada Life.

   Note: By completing positive enrolment, you provide consent for Canada Life to use your personal information to process your claims.

   To receive your PSHCP benefit card and have your claims paid under the PSHCP for yourself or covered dependant(s), you must complete this process.

   Once enrolled with Canada Life, you can print your PSHCP Benefit Card through the Canada Life PSHCP Member Services website or , if you completed positive enrolment on paper, Canada Life will mail you your paper PSHCP benefit card.

Under Supplementary coverage, you and your eligible dependants are covered by the Emergency Travel Benefit. This benefit provides reimbursement for up to $1 Million (CAD) per covered person in eligible emergency medical expenses incurred while travelling. This amount is in excess of what is covered by your provincial/territorial health insurance. Coverage continues for up to 40 days after your departure from your province/territory of residence.

For more information and to obtain the emergency assistance contact information, refer to the Public Service Health Care Plan Travel and Emergency Assistance Benefits section.

The Public Service Dental Care Plan (PSDCP) is an employer-paid dental services plan for eligible employees of the federal public service and their dependants. It provides reimbursement for eligible dental services, up to certain limits, not covered under a provincial or territorial health or dental care plan.

Reimbursement is 90% for preventive and basic dental services and 50% for major dental services and orthodontics, after the annual deductible is satisfied. The annual deductible is $25 for one covered person, or $50 for more than one covered person.

Refer to Benefits for a list of eligible dental services.

The Government of Canada pays 100% of the cost of your dental care coverage except while an employee is on certain types of leave without pay.

No application is required for the Public Service Dental Care Plan (PSDCP), but employees must complete positive enrolment with the plan administrator before claims can be paid.

If you are new to the public service, you should receive a letter with your certificate number (needed to complete positive enrolment) and your coverage start date.

Coverage starts exactly three months from the date you become an eligible employee. This period is commonly known as the waiting period.

Your plan number is determined by your birth month:

• January to March: 72111
• April to June: 72112
• July to September: 72113
• October to December: 72114

Positive enrolment is the process where you provide Canada Life with information about you and your eligible dependants, including providing consent to use your personal information to process claims. Positive enrolment is mandatory and must be completed and maintained separately for all benefit plans.

Positive enrolment can be completed either online through the PSDCP Member Services website or by paper form. You can:

• download and print a paper version of the PSDCP positive enrolment form from the PSDCP Member Services website, or
• call Canada Life and ask that a paper PSDCP positive enrolment form be sent to you

Once positive enrolment is completed with Canada Life, you can print your PSDCP benefit card through your PSDCP Member Services account or, if you completed positive enrolment on paper, Canada Life will mail you your paper PSDCP benefit card.

Note: Your PSDCP certificate number can also be found in your pay system or from the Public Service Pay Centre or your departmental compensation office.

The Disability Insurance (DI) Plan is a mandatory plan that provides a 70% income replacement when you are unable to work for long periods due to a totally disabling illness or injury.

The Government of Canada pays 85% of the premium and you pay the remaining 15%. Refer to the Disability Insurance (DI) Premiums Rates section for more information.

The Disability Insurance (DI) Plan is a mandatory Plan, no application is required.

You will automatically be registered under the Plan if you are employed in the federal public service as a full-time or part-time employee appointed for more than 6 months (part-time employees must work more than 1/3 of the normal work week) or have completed 6 months of continuous employment.

The Public Service Management Insurance Plan (PSMIP) provides mandatory Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurance and optional Life insurance for federal public service employees who are excluded from collective bargaining and executives.

The PSMIP-LTD is a mandatory Plan that provides a 70% income replacement when you are unable to work for long periods due to a totally disabling illness or injury.

The PSMIP Life insurance is voluntary and includes: Basic Life Insurance, Supplementary Life Insurance, Dependants’ Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment.

Public Service Management Insurance Plan Long-Term Disability (PSMIP-LTD) insurance:

If you are an employee excluded from collective bargaining, the Government of Canada pays 85% of the premium and you pay the remaining 15%.

If you are an executive, the Government of Canada pays 100% of the premium.

There are provisions for leave without pay for both excluded employees and executives.

Refer to the Public Service Management Insurance Plan (PSMIP) Premium Rates section for more information.

Public Service Management Insurance Plan (PSMIP) Life Insurance:

If you are an employee excluded from collective bargaining, you pay 100% of the premiums for Basic, Supplementary, Accidental Death and Dismemberment and Dependants’ life insurance.

If you are an executive, the Government of Canada pays 100% of the premium for Basic, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, Dependants’ and Post-Retirement Life insurance and you pay 100% of the premiums for Supplementary Life Insurance.

There are provisions for leave without pay for both excluded employees and executives.

Refer to the PSMIP Premium Rates section for more information.

The Public Service Management Insurance Plan Long-Term Disability is mandatory, no application is required. You will automatically be enrolled once you become eligible for the Plan.

The Public Service Management Insurance Plan Life insurances are optional. To apply for coverage, contact your departmental Compensation services or the Public Service Pay Centre.

To designate or change a beneficiary under the Public Service Management Insurance Plan (PSMIP) Life, you must complete the PWGSC-TPSGC 2028-1 – Public Service Management Insurance Plan form.

The procedure for submitting claims varies by plan. Refer to Submitting a benefit claim for detailed information on the procedures and services available.

For information on the benefits available under each group insurance benefit plan, refer to the Contacts section.

Yes. Your new spouse or common-law partner may be covered under the following plans:

• The Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) for eligible health care expenses
• The Public Service Dental Care Plan (PSDCP) for eligible dental care expenses
• The Public Service Management Insurance Plan Dependants’ Life insurance

A spouse or common-law partner means the person to whom you are legally married or with whom you are cohabiting in a relationship for a period of at least one year.

Note: If you have both a legal spouse (separated) and a common-law partner, you can cover only one. The PSHCP and/or the PSDCP will only cover the person you include in your positive enrolment.

To apply for:

• The Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP):
1. You must apply for coverage for your new eligible spouse or common-law partner within 60 days following his/her eligibility date (the date you are legally married or you reach common-law status) for coverage to be effective as of that date; otherwise, there is a three month waiting period.
2. Complete and submit either an electronic application to amend your coverage type using the secure online Compensation Web Applications (CWA) or, you can complete and submit a paper application form to the Public Service Pay Centre or your departmental Compensation services.
   
   If your PSHCP coverage type is already Family because you have dependant children covered under the PSHCP, an amendment application is not required.
3. You must then update your positive enrolment information under your profile with Canada Life to include your spouse or common-law partner.
   
   Note: none of your new spouse or common-law partner’s claims can be paid until you have updated your positive enrolment information under your profile. Changes can be made by visiting the Canada Life PSHCP Member Service website. Alternatively, you can print a paper positive enrolment form from the Canada Life PSHCP Member Services website or request the form by contacting Canada Life and submit it by mail.
• The Public Service Management Insurance Plan (PSMIP) dependants’ life insurance:
  
  If you are member of the PSMIP, you can apply for dependants’ insurance (life and accidental death and dismemberment coverage) for the person to whom you are legally married or for the person with whom you have lived for a continuous period of at least one year and with whom you continue to live in a conjugal relationship. To do so, contact your departmental Compensation services or the Public Service Pay Centre.
  
  In the event of your death, your spouse or common-law partner may be entitled to receive basic life, supplementary life and accidental death and dismemberment insurances under the PSMIP if you designate them as your beneficiary. To designate a beneficiary under the PSMIP, complete and submit Form 2028-1 – PSMIP (Change of Name or of Beneficiaries) PWGSC PSMIP form.

To add your spouse or common-law partner, you must update your positive enrolment information by signing into your PSDCP Member Services account under Your profile to include your new spouse or common-law partner. Alternatively, you can:

• print a paper version of the positive enrolment form from the PSDCP Member Services website, or
• contact Canada Life to request that a PSDCP positive enrolment form be sent to you

Note: None of your spouse’s or common-law partner’s claims can be paid until you have updated your positive enrolment information.

If you and your dependant spouse or common-law partner are covered under more than one group health or dental care plan, you may coordinate benefits for up to 100% for actual eligible expenses.

Coordination of benefits between two Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) members and two Public Service Dental Care Plan (PSDCP) members is allowed.

For information on which plan you should claim from first, refer to Coordination of benefits in the PSHCP member booklet or the PSDCP member booklet.

The children of your new spouse or common-law partner may be eligible for coverage under the Public Service Health Care Plan or the Public Service Dental Care Plan if they qualify as eligible dependant children under the applicable plan. See Becoming a parent for more information.

Yes. Your children may be covered under the following plans:

• The Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) for eligible health care expenses
• The Public Service Dental Care Plan (PSDCP) for eligible dental care expenses
• The Public Service Management Insurance Plan (PSMIP) Dependants’ Life insurance

An eligible dependant child includes your or your spouse’s or common-law partner’s unmarried child, including :

• a natural child
• a stepchild
• an adopted child
• a child for whom you stand in place of a parent (custody or guardianship documents required)

To be dependant, the child must be:

• under 21 years of age
• between 21 and 25 years of age and attending an accredited school, college or university on a full-time basis
• over 21 or 25 years of age and incapable of engaging in self-sustaining employment by reason of mental or physical impairment and is primarily dependant upon the member, provided such impairment occurred by the ages indicated above

To apply for:

• The Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP):
  1. You must apply for coverage for your eligible child within 60 days following their eligibility date (the date your child is born, becomes a stepchild, an adopted child or a foster child) for coverage to be effective as of that date; otherwise, there is a three-month waiting period.
  2. Complete and submit either an electronic application to amend your coverage type using the secure online Compensation Web Applications (CWA) or, you can complete and submit a paper application form (PDF, 95 KB) to the Public Service Pay Centre or your departmental Compensation services. If your PSHCP coverage type is already Family because you have a dependant spouse/common-law partner or other children covered under the Plan, an amendment application is not required.
  3. You must then  log into your the PSHCP Member Services website and update your positive enrolment information under your profile with Canada Life to include your eligible child.
     
     Note: None of your child’s claims can be paid until you have updated your positive enrolment information under your profile. Changes can be made by visiting the Canada Life PSHCP Member Service website. Alternatively, you can print a paper positive enrolment form from the Canada Life PSHCP Member Services website or request the form by contacting Canada Life and submit it by mail.
• The Public Service Management Insurance Plan (PSMIP) Dependants’ Life Insurance:

  If you are member of the PSMIP, you can apply for Dependants’ Insurance (Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage) for your child or the child of your spouse or common-law partner. To do so, contact your departmental Compensation services or the Public Service Pay Centre.

  To be eligible as a dependant child under the PSMIP, the child must be over 14 days of age, unmarried, not employed on a regular, full-time basis and dependent on you for support. The child must also be either under the age of 21, or under the age of 25 and a full-time student enrolled in a school or university.

  If you apply to cover your dependant child within 60 days of the child becoming eligible, no statement of health will be required, and coverage will start on the date you acquire your eligible child. If you do not apply within 60 days, coverage starts the first of the month following the date your application form is received. Note: A statement of health is required for the new dependant in this instance, and coverage can be denied.

  In the event of your death, your spouse or common-law partner may be entitled to receive Basic Life, Supplementary Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurances under the PSMIP if you designate them as your beneficiary. To designate a beneficiary under the PSMIP, complete and submit Form 2028-1 – PSMIP (Change of Name or of Beneficiaries) PWGSC PSMIP form.

To add your eligible child, you must update your positive enrolment information by signing into your Public Service Dental Care Plan (PSDCP) Member Services account under Your profile to include your new child. Alternatively, you can:

• print a paper version of the positive enrolment form from the PSDCP Member Services website, or
• contact Canada Life to request that a form be sent to you

Note: None of your child’s claims can be paid until you have updated your positive enrolment information.

If you take a leave of absence without pay to care for a child, your coverage under the following group insurance benefit plans continues in most situations:

• Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP)
• Public Service Dental Care Plan (PSDCP)
• Disability Insurance (DI) Plan
• Public Service Management Insurance Plan (PSMIP)

Note: There are differences in the requirement for the payment of contributions or premiums for each plan.

For details on available premium or contribution payment options contact your departmental c ompensation services or the Public Service Pay Centre.

For more information, refer to your collective agreement.

Your spouse or common-law partner is no longer eligible for coverage under the following plans when they stop being your spouse (divorce) or common-law partner (no longer living together in a relationship). Benefits can continue for a legal spouse (separated ).

If you have both a legal spouse ( separated ) and a common-law partner, you may cover only one of them.

• Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP)
• Public Service Dental Care Plan (PSDCP)
• Public Service Management Insurance Plan Dependants’ Life

To avoid any overpayments, it is your responsibility to notify the plan administrator and your departmental compensation officer or the Government of Canada Pay Centre of any changes to your level of coverage requirements.

You should inform your departmental Compensation services or the Public Service Pay Centre and the plan administrations/insurers. They can advise you of the impacts on your group insurance benefits.

If there are no dependant children covered under your Public Service Health Care Plan and Public Service Dental Care Plan, you should change your coverage type from Family to Single. If you do not amend your coverage type from Family to Single and claims continue to be submitted by your ineligible former spouse or common-law partner, you may be responsible for the repayment of these claims.

To amend your coverage from Family to Single:

• Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP):
  1. Complete and submit either an electronic application to amend your coverage type using the secure online Compensation Web Applications (CWA) or, you can complete and submit a paper application form (PDF, 95 KB) to the Public Service Pay Centre or your departmental Compensation services.
  2. Once your coverage status has been updated, you must then log into the PSHCP Member Services website and update your positive enrolment information under your profile with Canada Life to remove your spouse or common-law partner. Changes can be made by visiting the Canada Life PSHCP Member Services website. Alternatively, you can print a paper positive enrolment form from the Canada Life PSHCP Member Services website or request the form by contacting Canada Life and submit it by mail.
• Public Service Dental Care Plan (PSDCP):

  Sign into your PSDCP Member Services account and update your positive enrolment information under Your profile to remove your spouse or common-law partner. Alternatively, you can:

  • print a paper version of the positive enrolment form from the PSDCP Member Services website, or
  • contact Canada Life to request that a form be sent to you

Under the Public Service Management Insurance Dependants’ Life Insurance, if your spouse or common-law partner stops being your spouse (divorce) or common-law partner (no longer living together), he/she cannot continue to be insured. In the event of their death, no benefit is payable. You should inform your departmental Compensation services or the Public Service Pay Centre to stop premium payments.

You may also wish to update your beneficiary under the Public Service Management Insurance Plan Basic Life, Supplementary Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurances. You can designate a new beneficiary by completing a new PWGSC-TPSGC 2028 – PSMIP form.

Note: If your beneficiary is irrevocable, contact your departmental Compensation services or the Public Service Pay Centre for instruction.

Yes. If you take a leave of absence, your coverage under the following group insurance benefit plans continues in most situations:

• Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP)
• Public Service Dental Care Plan (PSDCP)
• Disability Insurance (DI) Plan
• Public Service Management Insurance Plan (PSMIP)

Note: There are differences in the requirement for the payment of contributions or premiums for each plan.

For details on available premium or contribution payment options contact the Public Service Pay Centre or your departmental compensation office.

For more information, please refer to your collective agreement.

If you have any paid sick leave remaining, you must first use that leave. Once your paid sick leave is exhausted, you can take a period of sick leave without pay. You may then be eligible for benefits under the Disability Insurance (DI) Plan or the Public Service Management Insurance Plan (PSMIP) Long-Term Disability. Both plans provide a 70% income replacement when you are unable to work for long periods due to a totally disabling illness or injury.

For more information on these disability benefits, consult Disability Insurance Plan summary or PSMIP Long-Term Disability summary.

If you think your total disability will exceed 13 continuous weeks you should:

Disability Insurance Plan

Notify your direct supervisor or manager, who will take care of the next steps with the Public Service Pay Centre (Pay Centre) or departmental compensation services. If your direct supervisor or manager is not available, your senior manager can take care of the next steps on their behalf.

The forms that you, your employer and your doctor (attending physician) must complete and the Employee DI claim guide can be found on Sun Life DI webpage.

Sun Life is the insurer for the Disability Insurance (DI) Plan.

Public Service Management Insurance Plan Long-Term Disability

Notify your direct supervisor or manager, who will take care of the next steps with the Public Service Pay Centre (Pay Center) or departmental compensation services. If your direct supervisor or manager is not available, your senior manager can take care of the next steps on their behalf.

The forms that you, your employer and your doctor (attending physician) must complete can be found on the Industrial Alliance PSMIP – LTD website, along with a checklist to assist in the application process.

Industrial Alliance is the insurer for the Public Service Management Insurance Plan Long-Term Disability (PSMIP-LTD).

The completed claim forms and supporting documentation must be received by the insurer at least two months prior to the end of the 13-week elimination period and no later than 90 days after the end of the elimination period to avoid any delay in the payment of benefits to which you may be entitled.

The insurers of each Plan determine if you meet the definition of total disability (incapacity due to illness or injury) and are prevented from performing all duties of your regular occupation.

If you are a member of the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) and you become disabled, your coverage under the PSHCP will continue. You will only be required to pay your own contributions (such as contributions associated with Hospital Levels II and III).

If you retire on grounds of disability, you may be eligible for coverage under the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) and the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP) as a pensioner (retired member).

Yes. You may be entitled to Injury-on-Duty Leave with full normal pay for such reasonable period as is determined by your employer, where the disability is confirmed by a Provincial Workers’ Compensation Board pursuant to the Government Employees Compensation Act.

As an executive, if you meet the eligibility criteria under each plan, you are eligible for 100% employer-paid coverage (Government of Canada) under the following group insurance benefit plans:

1. Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) including Hospital Level III

   If you are not already a Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) member when you become an executive, your coverage will be effective the first day of the month following the date you become eligible. For enrolment information refer to New to the public service.

   If you are already a member of the PSHCP when you become an executive, your departmental Compensation services or the Public Service Pay Centre will stop your contributions, if any.

2. Public Service Dental Care Plan

   The Government of Canada pays 100% of the cost of your dental care coverage.

3. Public Service Management Insurance Plan (PSMIP) Long-Term Disability and Life (excluding Supplementary Life)

   The Public Service Management Insurance Plan (PSMIP) provides 100% employer-paid Long-Term Disability, Basic life, Accidental death and dismemberment and Dependants’ life insurance.

   Executives pay 100% of the premiums for Supplementary Life insurance.

   For details on the employer-paid PSMIP benefits that are available to executives, refer to the PSMIP Executive Plan Member Booklet.

   If you are not already a PSMIP member when you become an executive, your coverage will be effective the first day of the month following the date you become eligible. For enrolment information refer to New to the public service.

   If you are already a PSMIP member when you become an executive, your departmental Compensation services or Public Service Pay Centre will stop your contributions. 

Under the Public Service Health Care Plan and the Public Service Dental Care Plan, employer contributions are a taxable benefit to residents of Quebec.

Under the Public Service Management Insurance Plan, all employer-paid life and long-term disability premiums are a taxable benefit under the Income Tax Act. This means the employer-paid premiums are considered part of your income for federal income tax purposes. This is also the case for Quebec provincial income tax purposes, if applicable. 

Yes. You can refuse the employer-paid Public Service Health Care Plan by sending a written request to your departmental Compensation services or the Public Service Pay Centre.

The Public Service Dental Care Plan is a mandatory dental care plan for all employees. For more information, contact your departmental Compensation services or the Public Service Pay Centre.

Yes. You can decline employer-paid Public Service Management Insurance Plan (PSMIP) coverage by obtaining a waiver form from your departmental compensation services or the Public Service Pay Centre by completing, signing and submitting the form. It is important to note that there will be a five year waiting period should you later decide to cancel the waiver and have your PSMIP coverage reinstated.

If you are temporarily performing the duties of a position to which employer-paid coverage applies, you are not entitled to employer-paid coverage.

Under the Public Service Health Care Plan you can continue Hospital Level III coverage and pay the appropriate monthly contributions or amend your coverage.

Under the Public Service Management Insurance Plan:

1. Your employer-paid Basic life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment and Dependants’ Life insurance coverage stops immediately, and the employer premiums payable for these lines stop immediately.
2. Your employee-paid Basic life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment and Dependants’ Life insurances commence immediately. The employee premiums for these insurances will begin on the first of the month following the date of change.
3. You will begin to pay the employee share of premiums for PSMIP-LTD insurance effective the first of the month following the date of change.
4. If you had both employer-paid Basic Life of two-times salary and Supplementary Life equal to salary, you may, within 31 days of the date of change, convert the difference between employer-paid Basic Life and employee-paid Basic Life (one times salary) to a private policy with Industrial Alliance at commercial rates without proof of insurability.

Under the Public Service Health Care Plan employer-paid coverage stops when you retire but you can choose to continue the coverage without interruption when you complete your retirement documents. You will be responsible for your own contributions as a retired member. See Preparing for retirement for more information.

Under the Public Service Management Insurance Plan, Long-Term Disability and Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage stops when you retire.

Under the Public Service Management Insurance Plan, Basic life, Supplementary Life and Dependants’ Life coverage will continue for a 31 day extension period. During that period, you can convert your coverage to a private life insurance policy without being required to provide evidence of insurability (i.e. no medical requirements regardless of the state of your health). You must make your own arrangements directly with Industrial Alliance.

The Post-Retirement Life Insurance Plan under the Public Service Management Insurance Plan provides employer-paid life insurance coverage after retirement. It is available to executives who were entitled to employer-paid coverage on their last day of employment and who are entitled to receive an immediate ongoing public service pension.

During your first year of retirement, your life insurance will be equal to your adjusted final salary to the next highest multiple of $250. Coverage reduces 25% annually, to a final 25% of your insured salary thereafter for life.

The employer-paid premiums are a taxable benefit under the Income Tax Act. This means the employer-paid premiums are considered part of your income for federal income tax purposes. This is also the case for Quebec provincial income tax purposes, if applicable.

Yes. You can cancel your Post-Retirement Life Insurance coverage at any time by notifying the Government of Canada Pension Centre in writing. Your coverage stops on the first day of the month following the month in which your written request was received.

Note: If you cancel this insurance, you will never be able to reinstate it – cancellation is irrevocable.

If you become re-employed in the federal public service and become eligible as an active employee for insurance under the Public Service Management Insurance Plan and/or become again a contributor under the public service pension plan, your Post-Retirement Life Insurance will be suspended until you retire a second time. When your coverage resumes, it will do so at the level of benefits (100%, 75%, 50% or 25% of adjusted final salary) in effect when it was suspended, however, it will be based on the higher of your first and your second final salaries.

If you become a member of the Canadian Armed Forces or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, ask your new departmental Compensation services to explain to you how your re-employment will affect your life insurance.

There are no age restrictions on participation under either the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) or the Public Service Dental Care Plan (PSDCP). As long as you remain an eligible employee, you can retain your coverage.

Important note for residents of Quebec

If you are a Quebec resident, you are automatically covered by law under the prescription drug insurance plan of the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) once you reach the age of 65.

In July 2001, the Superior Court of Quebec determined that the province of Quebec cannot exclude federal employees from RAMQ and that federal employees could have coverage under both RAMQ and the PSHCP.

For further information on coverage under the RAMQ plan or to find out how to cancel your enrolment in that plan, please refer to the RAMQ site.

Eligible prescription drug expenses which are covered under a provincial/territorial drug plan (whether or not you participate in that provincial or territorial plan) are not eligible expenses under the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP).

Prescription drug expenses not covered by your provincial/ territorial drug plan may be eligible under the PSHCP.

No. The Disability Insurance Plan and the Public Service Management Insurance Plan Long-Term Disability coverage is not available once you have reached age 64 and 9 months and your premiums will stop.

If you are already in receipt of disability benefits prior to age 64 and 9 months, your benefits will continue to age 65.

Basic and Supplementary Life continue as long as you remain an active employee. However, coverage amounts for both Basic and Supplementary Life will be reduced at a rate of 10 per cent per year starting at age 66 to a minimum of no less than 10 per cent of your adjusted annual salary.

The age-related reduction at age 66 does not apply to executives under the Basic Life coverage.

The following group insurance benefit plans may be available to you:

• Public Service Health Care Plan
• Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan

Your Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) coverage can continue after you retire if you are entitled to receive an immediate public service pension based on a minimum of six years of cumulative pensionable service. The minimum six years of pensionable service requirement will not apply if:

• You are a retired member of the PSHCP before April 1, 2015
• You are entitled to a deferred pension benefit immediately before April 1, 2015
• You receive an ongoing pension benefit as a result of disability
• You are the survivor of a plan member or of an individual who was eligible to be a member of the PSHCP at the time of death, and you are in receipt of a survivor pension (even if the plan member did not have six years of service)
• You are eligible for an ongoing pension benefit but you are no longer employed by the federal public service as a result of Work Force Adjustment
• You are a member of the Veterans Affairs Canada Client Group, or a survivor of such a member
• You are eligible for a pension (as a pensioner or survivor) under the Judges Act, the Governor General’s Act or the Lieutenant Governors Superannuation Act

The Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) is a voluntary plan. Members must apply. There are two steps in applying for coverage.

1. Registration with the Government of Canada Pension Centre:
   • If you are currently a Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) member, when you retire you will be asked to sign a PWGSC-TPSGC 1422 – Deductions From Annuity or Annual Allowance form, to confirm whether you want to continue the same level of PSHCP coverage and to authorize deductions from your monthly pension payment. If you want to amend your level of PSHCP coverage, you will need to complete and submit a PSHCP Pensioner Application form (PDF, 91 KB) to the Government of Canada Pension Centre.

     Your PSHCP plan and certificate number will not change when you retire.

     There may be an administrative delay while your pension and PSHCP files are updated. This means that you may not be able to use your PSHCP benefit card temporarily and your claims may be rejected during this period. Keep your receipts and submit them to Canada Life once your PSHCP deductions are confirmed.

   • If you are not currently a retired PSHCP member, you can apply for PSHCP coverage at any time. If you meet the eligibility criteria, your coverage will start the first day of the fourth month following the date your PSHCP Pensioner Application form (PDF, 91 KB) is received by the Government of Canada Pension Centre.
2. Positive enrolment with Canada Life:
   • You will have to complete your positive enrolment with Canada Life if you hadn’t already done so as an active employee or need to update your positive enrolment information, under your profile.
   • To complete positive enrolment, you must complete and submit either an electronic positive enrolment form through the Canada Life PSHCP Member Service website  (you must create an account), or a paper form. You can obtain a paper form from the Canada Life PSHCP Member Services website or by calling Canada Life. You will be asked to provide information about yourself, your spouse/common-law partner and each eligible child and consent to the use of your personal information for the purpose of processing claims.

If you retire with an immediate public service pension with at least six or more years of pensionable service and you confirmed your ongoing participation and authorized deductions from your pension, your Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) coverage as a retired member will start on your retirement date.

If you retire with an option for a deferred annuity based on six or more years of pensionable service, you can apply for PSHCP coverage once your pension becomes payable. If you apply for coverage within 60 days of the date your pension becomes payable, and if you were a PSHCP member while employed, PSHCP coverage will start the first of the month following the date your PSHCP Pensioner Application form (PDF, 91 KB) is received by the Government of Canada Pension Centre. If you were not a member while employed, or if you apply for PSHCP coverage more than 60 days after your pension becomes payable, coverage will start the first of the fourth month following the date your application is received by the Government of Canada Pension Centre.

Yes. Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) contribution rates for retired members are different from those for active employees.

As a retired member of the federal public service, you and the Government of Canada share the cost of the Extended Health Provision and Hospital Level I coverage under the Hospital Provision for both Supplementary and Comprehensive coverage. If you choose Hospital Level II or III coverage, you are responsible for 100% of the additional expense for this coverage.

Information on contributions for retired members, the cost-sharing ratio with the employer, and the PSHCP Relief Provision can be found in Schedule V of the PSHCP Directive.

No. Your Public Service Dental Care Plan coverage stops on your last day of employment.

However, you may be eligible to apply for the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan if you will be entitled to receive an ongoing monthly pension from a public service pension plan (some exceptions apply).

To apply for the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan, you must complete the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan form. This form is provided to you by the Government of Canada Pension Centre in your retirement package. Alternatively, you can contact the Government of Canada Pension Centre to request that the form be sent to you.

If your completed form is received at the Government of Canada Pension Centre within 60 days of the date your ongoing monthly public service pension becomes payable, coverage will begin on the date of your retirement.

If your completed form is received later than 60 days from the date your pension becomes payable, coverage will begin on the first day of the second month following the date your form was received.

Positive enrolment will also need to be completed once you become a PDSP member.

For additional information, consult the PDSP member booklet.

You and the Government of Canada share the cost of Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP) coverage equally (50% paid by the employer and 50% paid by the member). The cost varies depending on the category of coverage you select. Refer to PDSP contribution rates for detailed information.

No. Your Disability Insurance (DI) Plan coverage stops on your last day of employment.

If you are in receipt of benefits under the DI plan when you retire, benefits will continue to age 65 as long as you remain totally disabled.

Note: It is important to report your public service pension income to Sun Life as soon as possible to avoid disability insurance benefit overpayments.

Under the Public Service Management Insurance Plan Basic life, Supplementary life and Dependants’ life, coverage will continue for a 31 day extension period. During that period, you will have the opportunity to convert your coverage to a private life insurance policy without being required to provide evidence of insurability (i.e. no medical requirements regardless of the state of your health). You must make your own arrangements directly with Industrial Alliance.

Accidental Death and Dismemberment and Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurance under the PSMIP cannot be converted to private policies, and coverage stops on your last day of employment.

If you are in receipt of benefits under the PSMIP-LTD when you retire, benefits will continue to age 65 as long as you remain totally disabled.

Note: It is important to report your public service pension income to Industrial Alliance as soon as possible to avoid disability insurance benefit overpayments.

If you are an executive, please see Becoming an executive for post-retirement life insurance information specific to you.

If you plan to terminate your employment with the federal public service, once you have chosen your termination date, you should notify the following:

1. Your immediate supervisor
2. Either your departmental Compensation services or the Public Service Pay Centre
3. The Government of Canada Pension Centre

This should be done three months in advance of your termination date, if possible.

Any insurance benefit premiums or contributions still owing for a period of leave without pay have to be paid when you leave the public service. Contact your departmental Compensation services or the Public Service Pay Centre for further information.

For information about the Work Force Adjustment (WFA) process and particular WFA situations visit the WFA – Policies and Guidelines page.

Your Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) and Public Service Dental Care Plan (PSDCP) will be affected as follows:

• If you are laid-off under a Work Force Adjustment (WFA) situation and have a lay-off priority status (unpaid), meaning you have not received a reasonable job offer and have come to the end of your 12-month paid surplus period
  • You will be eligible to maintain your PSHCP and PSDCP coverage for up to a one (1) year period by paying both the employee and employer share of the PSHCP contributions and the PSDCP contributions.
• If you resign and accept a Transitional Support Measure, a lump sum payment based on your years of service in the public service,
  • Your PSHCP and PSDCP benefit entitlements will stop on the day you stop being employed in the public service.
• If you accept a Transitional Support Measure, a lump sum payment based on your years of service in the public service, plus up to $11,000 for tuition and other related fees for up to two (2) years,
  • You are deemed to be on Leave without Pay and can continue your PSHCP and PSDCP coverage by paying both the employee and employer share of the PSHCP contributions and the PSDCP contributions. Following these 2 years, if you do not receive a reasonable job offer, you will be eligible to maintain your PSHCP and PSDCP coverage for up to one (1) year by paying both the employee and employer share of the PSHCP contributions and the PSDCP contributions.
• If you are eligible to receive an immediate public service pension benefit at retirement age,
  • You may apply to continue your coverage under the PSHCP as a retired member.
  • You may also apply for coverage under the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP) as a retired member when in receipt of your immediate public service pension benefit. Visit Preparing for retirement for more information.

Your Disability Insurance (DI) Plan and Public Service Management Insurance Plan (PSMIP) will be affected as follows:

• Coverage under the DI Plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) of the PSMIP will stop on the day you stop being employed in the public service or on the date you start a period of unpaid priority status.
• If you are in receipt of either DI or LTD benefits when laid-off under a WFA situation,
  • Your entitlement will not end as long as you continue to meet the definition of totally disabled under the Plans. Benefits will stop on the earlier of your recovery, reaching age 65 or death.
• If you are covered under PSMIP Life and choose to leave the public service or retire and are in receipt of an immediate public service pension benefit,
  • You may convert your life insurance and the life insurance of your dependants to an individual private life insurance policy. To do so you must make your own arrangements directly with Industrial Alliance within 31 days of retirement.
  • Your Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance and that of your dependants cannot be converted to private policies. Coverage stops upon termination of employment or on the date you start a period of unpaid priority status.

If you are in a Work Force Adjustment (WFA) situation, your department must assign a counsellor to work with you throughout the process. Please contact your employing department.

1. Your survivors should notify the Government of Canada Pension Centre and your departmental Compensation services or the Public Service Pay Centre immediately.
2. If your survivor is eligible to receive a survivor public service pension benefit recognized under the group insurance benefit plans, they will be counselled on the plans they may be eligible to continue and/or how to apply.
3. Your survivors should send your death certificate to the Government of Canada Pension Centre.
   • A death certificate is required to pay any survivor pension or death benefits. Your pension number should be clearly indicated on all correspondence and documents your survivors send to the Pension Centre.

Your dependants’ coverage under the Public Service Health Care Plan and Public Service Dental Care Plan ends on your date of death. However, your eligible surviving dependants (survivors) may be eligible to apply for coverage under the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) and the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP) as members in their own right. Refer to Survivor and Dependants: Becoming a survivor.

If the surviving dependant is eligible for coverage under the PSHCP and PDSP, they will have to complete positive enrolment for each benefit plan.

• No. In the event of your death, Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) coverage provided to your eligible family members ends. If your survivors are eligible for coverage under the PSHCP as a member in their own right, they will need to apply and register for the PSHCP and complete positive enrolment with Canada Life. A PSHCP benefit card can be either printed through the Canada Life PSHCP Member Services website, saved to a mobile wallet using Canada Life’s My Canada Life at Work^TM mobile app or mailed to the survivor’s address if positive enrolment was completed by paper form.

In Canada

• Once your survivor has their PSHCP benefit card, they can buy eligible prescription drugs and certain medical supplies at the pharmacy by presenting the card with their prescription. The PSHCP benefit card enables real time electronic processing of claims for eligible drugs and medical supplies.

  In addition, your survivor, as a member of the PSHCP, can present their benefit card to a registered health care provider (e.g. massage therapist, physiotherapist) for electronic claim submission on the member’s behalf. Health care providers can visit Telus Health for information on how to register.

• PSHCP members residing in Canada can submit their health claims, including non-emergency claims incurred outside of Canada or province/territory of residence, through the Canada Life PSHCP Member Services website, or by mail using a paper claim form.

Outside of Canada

• PSHCP members residing outside of Canada with Comprehensive coverage and members with Supplementary coverage who have eligible out-of-province Emergency Benefit claims can submit their claims to MSH International on the MSH PSHCP Member Portal or by mail to:

  MSH International - PSHCP 
  PO Box #4903 STN A 
  Toronto, ON, Canada 
  M5W 0B1 

  For more information on how to submit Comprehensive coverage claims and Supplementary coverage Emergency Benefit claims to MSH International, please visit www.pshcp-msh.ca.

Yes. Once your survivor is enrolled in either the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) or the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP) as a member in their own right, they can create an account for each plan by visiting:

• PSHCP: On the Canada Life PSHCP Member Services website, click on Not registered? Registerhere.
  
  To access My Canada Life at Work mobile app for the PSHCP, you must first have registered to the PSHCP Member Services website. Once registered:
  • Download the My Canada Life at Work mobile app for iPhone and Android devices from the App Store or from Google Play.
  • Sign into the app using your username and password for the PSHCP Member Services account.
  • You can choose to enable Face or Touch ID to sign into your account faster.
• PDSP: Positive enrolment must be completed to create your PDSP Member Services account.

  If you already have a Public Service Health Care Plan or a Public Service Dental Care Plan Member Services account with Canada Life, sign into your account using the same email address and password you are currently using or previously used to sign in. If you don’t have an account, you will need to create one through My Canada Life at Work.

  You can also download the My Canada Life at Work mobile app from the app store. Positive enrolment must be completed and your PDSP Member Services account must be created to sign into the mobile app. Use the same email address and password you created for the PDSP Member Services website.

Your survivors should notify the Government of Canada Pension Centre and your departmental Compensation services or the Public Service Pay Centre immediately for instruction.

If you meet a plan’s eligibility criteria, the following group insurance benefit plans may be available to you:

• Public Service Health Care Plan
• Public Service Dental Care Plan
• Disability Insurance Plan
• Public Service Management Insurance Plan Long-Term Disability
• Public Service Management Insurance Plan Life Insurance

Contribution rates for all members of the health and dental plans are the same, regardless of full or part-time employment status.

Premiums for members of the disability and life insurance plans are based on the annual salary of each employee.

The PSHCP is a voluntary plan. If you choose to apply, your eligibility is dependent on one of the following criteria:

• you are employed for a term of more than 6 months (you would join the PSHCP on the day you are employed in the federal public service); or
• you are employed for a term of 6 months or less and are later appointed:
  • to another term of 6 months or less (you would join the PSHCP the day following the day on which you complete 6 months of continuous employment);
  • to a term of more than 6 months (you would join the PSHCP on the date you are appointed to a term of more than 6 months).

Note: A term employment period that is less than 6 months can be used to meet the 6-month criteria if a second eligible term is extended without a break in service or if the break in service is 7 days or less.

Information on how to apply is available in the New to the public service section of Canada.ca/pension-benefits.

For  details about eligibility, limits, restrictions or exclusions, please refer to the PSHCP Directive or the PSHCP Administration Authority website; or contact your departmental Compensation services or the Public Service Pay Centre.

To be an eligible part-time employee, you must:

• be appointed for more than six months, or
• have completed six months of continuous employment and work more than one third of the normal work hours

Where your initial employment is for a term of six months or more, you will automatically become a member of the PSDCP after a three-month waiting period from the day you are employed. Where multiple term appointments are required to meet the six-month criteria, the three-month waiting period will not be applied until the day following the day on which you complete six months of continuous employment.

Note: A term that is less than six months can be used to meet the six-month criteria if a second eligible term is extended without a break in service or if the break in service is seven days or fewer.

For information about eligibility, limits, restrictions or exclusions:

• refer to New to the public service, PSDCP Rules and the PSDCP member booklet, or
• contact the Public Service Pay Centre or your departmental compensation office.

If you are a represented employee, you will automatically be registered under the DI Plan if you are employed in the federal public service as a part-time employee.

To be considered a part-time employee, you must:

• work more than 1/3 of the normally scheduled hours of a full-time employee in the same occupational group; and
• have completed 6 months or more of continuous employment in the federal public service.

For more information on the DI plan, please refer to New to the public service, the DI Plan document or DI Member booklet; or contact your departmental Compensation services or the Public Service Pay Centre.

Your eligibility for coverage under the PSMIP is dependent on one of the following criteria:

• you are excluded from collective bargaining; or
• you are an executive and you are appointed for an indeterminate period, or for a term longer than 6 months.

To be considered a part-time employee, you must:

• work more than 1/3 of the normally scheduled hours of a full-time employee in the same occupational group; and
• have completed 6 months or more of continuous employment in the federal public service.

Complete the application form and return it to your Compensation services or the Public Service Pay Centre for eligibility confirmation and premium processing.

For information about eligibility and other provisions of the plan, excluded employees should refer to New to the public service, and the PSMIP – Main plan booklet and executives should refer to the PSMIP – Executive plan booklet; or contact your departmental Compensation services or the Public Service Pay Centre.

Contact information for each group insurance benefit plan is in the Contacts section of the Canada.ca website.

The following group insurance benefit plans may be available to you:

• Public Service Health Care Plan
• Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan

You can choose to continue Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) coverage as a retired member. However, you must be entitled to receive an immediate public service pension based on a minimum of six years of cumulative pensionable service. Some exceptions apply, see Preparing for retirement for information.

The Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) is a voluntary plan. Members must apply. There are two steps in applying for coverage.

1. Registration with the Government of Canada Pension Centre:

   To register as a retired member, you must complete and submit a Public Service Health Care Plan – Pensioner Application Form, to the Government of Canada Pension Centre. Alternatively, you can request a paper copy of the Pensioner Application form from the Pension Centre.

   If you were a member of the PSHCP as an active employee, you will maintain the same plan and certificate number.

   There may be an administrative delay while your pension and PSHCP files are updated. This means that you may not be able to use your PSHCP benefit card and temporarily pay for expenses out-of-pocket during this period. Keep your receipts and submit them to Canada Life once your PSHCP deductions are confirmed.

   If you are not currently a retired PSHCP member, you can apply for PSHCP coverage at any time. If you meet the eligibility criteria, your coverage will start the first day of the fourth month following the date your PSHCP Pensioner Application form is received by the Government of Canada Pension Centre.

2. Positive enrolment with Canada Life:
   • You will have to complete your positive enrolment with Canada Life, if you hadn’t already done so, as an active employee or if you wish to update your positive enrolment information, under your profile.
   • To complete positive enrolment you must complete and submit either an electronic positive enrolment form through the Canada Life PSHCP Member Services website, (you must create an account), or a paper form. You can obtain a paper form on the PSHCP Member Services website or by calling Canada Life. You will be asked to provide information about yourself, your spouse/common-law partner and each eligible child as well as provide consent to the use of your personal information for the purpose of processing claims.

If you were a Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) member when you retired, coverage will start on your retirement date if you apply for coverage within 60 days of your retirement. If you apply after that 60 day period, or if you were not a member of the PSHCP before retirement, your PSHCP coverage will take effect the first day of the fourth month following the date your application is received by the Government of Canada Pension Centre.

Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) contribution rates for retired members are different from those for active employees.

The Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) monthly contribution rates are comprised of two components, the cost associated with the Extended Health Provision and the cost for the Hospital Provision. These components have different cost sharing arrangements between you and the Government of Canada.

You and your employer (the Government of Canada) share the cost of the Extended Health Provision and Hospital Level I coverage for both Supplementary and Comprehensive coverage. If you choose Hospital Level II or III coverage, you are responsible for 100% of the additional expense for this coverage. 

Information on contributions for retired members, the cost-sharing ratio with the employer, and the PSHCP Relief Provision can be found in Schedule V of the PSHCP Directive.

No. Your Public Service Dental Care Plan (PSDCP) coverage stops on your last day of employment.

However, you may be eligible to apply for the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP) if you are entitled to receive an ongoing recognized public service pension (some exceptions apply).

There are two steps to the application process. Both steps must be completed before claims can be paid.

You and the Government of Canada share the cost of PDSP coverage equally. The cost varies depending on the category of coverage you select. Refer to PDSP Contribution Rates for detailed information.

As a member of the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan, you can access your PDSP Member Services account online and through the My Canada Life at Work mobile app.

Positive enrolment must be completed to create a PDSP Member Services account.

Your PDSP Member Services account allows you to easily do the following and more:

• navigate your plan details
• update your positive enrolment
• submit claims
• set up direct deposit
• check your coverage balances
• access your benefit card

For more information, consult your PDSP member booklet.

Positive enrolment must be completed and your PDSP Member Services account must be created before you can access the My Canada Life at Work mobile app.

Your My Canada Life at Work mobile app allows you to do the following and more:

• save your benefit plan card directly to your mobile phone
• view your plan number and certificate number
• update positive enrolment information
• submit claims
• view claims history

For more information, consult your PDSP member booklet.

If you’re having trouble registering or signing in:

• call Canada Life within North America (toll-free) at 1-855-415-4414, Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm, your local time
• for international enquiries, call 1-431-489-4064 (collect), Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm Eastern Time

Your coverage under the Disability Insurance (DI) Plan stops on your last day of employment.

If you are in receipt of benefits under the DI plan when you retire, benefits will continue to age 65 as long as you remain totally disabled.

Note: It is important to report your public service pension income to Sun Life as soon as possible to avoid disability insurance benefit overpayments.

Under the Public Service Management Insurance Plan Basic life, Supplementary life and Dependants’ life coverage will continue for 31 day extension period.  During that period, you will have the opportunity to convert your coverage to a private life insurance policy without being required to provide evidence of insurability (i.e. no medical requirements regardless of the state of your health).  You must make your own arrangements directly with Industrial Alliance.

Accidental Death and Dismemberment and Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurances under the PSMIP cannot be converted to private policies, and stops on your last day of employment.

If you are in receipt of benefits under the PSMIP-LTD when you retire, benefits will continue to age 65 as long as you remain totally disabled. 

Note: It is important to report your public service pension income to Industrial Alliance as soon as possible to avoid disability insurance benefit overpayments.

If you were part of the Executive Group, please see Becoming an Executive for post-retirement life insurance information specific to you.

Government of Canada

Government of Canada/Programs and Services for Seniors
The ESDC website includes information on the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement and benefits for caregivers, as well as detailed information on health, safety, finances and other issues of interest to seniors.

Government of Canada/Seniors’ Health
The Health Canada/Public Health Agency of Canada website includes information and advice on seniors’ health issues including nutrition, fall prevention, disability, mental health, oral health, vision care and work-life balance.

External Organizations

Association of Public Service Alliance Retirees
ASPAR provides information and advocacy relating to public service pensions for retired Public Service Alliance Canada members and active members over 50.

Canadian Association of Professional Employees
Canada’s third-largest public service union has a focus on advocacy and provides benefits such as preferential insurance rates, discounts on several services such as airfare, hotels, mobile phone plans, and rental cars to active and retired (“associate”) members.

National Association of Federal Retirees
The National Association of Federal Retirees promotes retirees’ financial security, health and well-being as the largest national organization representing active and retired members of the federal public service, Canadian Armed Forces, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and retired federally appointed judges, as well as their partners and survivors.

RCMP Veterans’ Association
The RCMP Veterans’ Association promotes the physical, social and economic welfare of its members and their families and ensures that the entitlements earned during service are honoured.

If you become re-employed in the federal public service and continue to receive your ongoing monthly public service pension benefit from a public service pension plan, your group insurance benefit plan coverage will not be affected.

If you stop receiving your ongoing monthly pension benefit because you started contributing to the plan as an active employee again, the following plans will be affected:

• Public Service Health Care Plan
• Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan

When you again retire, you can apply for Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) coverage if you meet the eligibility requirements in effect on your most recent retirement date.

Prior to April 1, 2015 , if you were receiving an immediate public service pension benefit based on at least two years of pensionable service, you could apply for PSHCP coverage.

Effective April 1, 2015 , to be eligible for coverage under the PSHCP, you must be entitled to receive an immediate public service pension benefit based on a minimum of six years of cumulative pensionable service. This eligibility rule applies if you are re-employed. Some exceptions apply, see Preparing for retirement for details.

If you apply for coverage within 60 days of the date your pension becomes payable, your PSHCP coverage will start the first of the month following the date your PSHCP Pensioner Application form (PDF, 91 KB) is received by the Government of Canada Pension Centre. Otherwise there will be a three month waiting period.

Yes. You can reapply for the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan if you are in receipt of an ongoing monthly pension benefit from a public service pension plan (some exceptions apply). Refer to Newly retired.

When you again retire, your Post Retirement Life Insurance will resume at the level of benefits (100%, 75%, 50% or 25% of adjusted final salary) in effect when it was suspended but it will be based on the higher of your final salaries.

Should you enter service with the Canadian Armed Forces or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, ask your new departmental Compensation services to explain to you how your employment will affect your Life Insurance.

Yes. Your new spouse or common-law partner may be covered under the following plans:

• Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) for eligible health care expenses
• Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP) for eligible dental care expenses

A spouse or common-law partner means the person to whom you are legally married or with whom you are cohabiting in a relationship for a period of at least one year.

Note: If you have both a legal spouse (separated) and a common-law partner, you can cover only one. The PSHCP and the PDSP will only cover the person you include in your positive enrolment.

If you and your dependant spouse or common-law partner are covered under more than one group health or dental care plan, you may coordinate benefits for up to 100% of the actual eligible expenses. In situations where coordination of benefits is allowed, the combined reimbursement from all plans cannot exceed the expenses incurred.

Coordination of benefits between two Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) members is allowed.

Coordination of benefits between two Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP) members is not allowed.

For information on which plan you should claim from first, refer to:

• coordination of benefits information in the PSHCP member booklet
• coordination of benefits with other plans in the PDSP member booklet

The children of your new spouse or common-law partner may be eligible for coverage under the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) or the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP) if they qualify as eligible dependant children under the applicable plan.

Refer to Becoming a parent for more information.

To apply for the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP):

1. You must apply for coverage for your new eligible spouse or common-law partner within 60 days following their eligibility date (the date you are legally married or you reach common-law status) for coverage to be effective as of that date; otherwise, there is a three-month waiting period.
2. Complete a new PSHCP application form and submit it to the Government of Canada Pension Centre. If your PSHCP coverage type is already Family, you don’t need to amend your coverage type; however, you will need to update your positive enrolment information with Canada Life to include your spouse.

   Note: None of your new spouse’s or common-law partner’s claims can be paid until you log into the PSHCP Member Services website and update your positive enrolment information under your profile.

3. Changes can be made to your positive enrolment information, under your profile, by visiting the PSHCP Member Services website. Alternatively, you can:
   • print a paper version of the positive enrolment form from the PSHCP Member Services website, or
   • request the form by contacting Canada Life and submit it by mail

To apply for the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP):

1. You must apply for coverage for your new eligible spouse or common-law partner within 60 days of the date you are legally married or you reach common-law status for coverage to be effective as of that date; otherwise, coverage is effective the first of the second month following the date the form is received.
2. Complete and submit the PDSP form, available from the Government of Canada Pension Centre.

   Note: Your category of coverage and contribution rate will change.

3. You must then update your positive enrolment information by signing into your PDSP Member Services account under Your profile to include your new spouse or common-law partner. Alternatively, you can:
   • print a paper version of the positive enrolment form from the PDSP Member Services website, or
   • request the form by contacting Canada Life and submit it by mail

   Note: None of your new spouse or common-law partner’s claims can be paid until you have updated your positive enrolment information.

Your spouse or common-law partner is no longer eligible for coverage under the following plans when they stop being your spouse (divorce) or common-law partner (no longer living together in a relationship). Benefits can continue for a legal spouse (separated).

If you have both a legal spouse (separated) and a common-law partner (living together in a relationship), you may cover only one of them.

• Public Service Health Care Plan
• Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan
• Public Service Management Insurance Plan

You should inform the Government of Canada Pension Centre and the plan administrations/insurers. They can advise you of the impact to your group insurance benefits.

If there are no dependant children covered under your Public Service Health Care Plan, you should change your coverage type from Family to Single. For the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan, you should change your category of coverage depending on how many dependants are covered. Your contributions will be adjusted accordingly.

If you do not amend your coverage and claims continue to be submitted by an ineligible former spouse or common-law partner, you may be responsible for the repayment of these claims.

Contact the Government of Canada Pension Centre to change your category of coverage. You will also need to update your positive enrolment information with Canada Life, either online by signing into your Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan Member Services account or by submitting a paper version of the positive enrolment form to Canada Life. Contact Canada Life for more information.

The following instructions are to amend your coverage from Family to Single.

For the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP):

1. Obtain a new PSHCP application form, either online or by contacting the Government of Canada Pension Centre, and submit the completed form to the Pension Centre.
2. Once your coverage status has been updated, you must then update your positive enrolment information under your profile with Canada Life to remove your former spouse. Changes can be made by visiting the Canada Life PSHCP Member Services website. Alternatively, you can:
   • print a paper version of the positive enrolment form from the PSHCP Member Services website, or
   • request the form by contacting Canada Life and submit it by mail

For the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP):

1. Complete and submit a PDSP application form, available from the Government of Canada Pension Centre.
2. Once your amendment has been approved, you must then update your positive enrolment information by signing into your PDSP Member Services account under Your profile to include your new spouse or common-law partner. Alternatively, you can:
   • print a paper version of the positive enrolment form from the PDSP Member Services website, or
   • request the form by contacting Canada Life and submit it by mail

When you separate from your legal spouse, you may continue your spouse’s Public Service Health Care Plan and Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan coverage until the divorce is finalized.

Note: If you have both a legal spouse (separated) and a common-law partner (living together in a relationship), you can cover only one. The PSHCP and the PDSP will only cover the person you include in your positive enrolment.

Contact the Government of Canada Pension Centre without delay to:

• provide your new address;
• find out whether your move will impact your group insurance benefits plan coverage.

Yes. A retired member who lives outside of Canada and is not covered by a provincial or territorial health insurance plan is eligible for Comprehensive coverage under the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP).

To apply for Comprehensive coverage, complete a Pensioner application form to ensure coverage is continued at the desired level. Alternatively, you can contact the Government of Canada Pension Centre to obtain the required documentation.

Claims will be paid in the currency of the country where you reside. Claims must be submitted using the PSHCP Out-of-Country Claim Form.

Additional information on Comprehensive Coverage is in the PSHCP Directive . You can also contact MSH International.

Your Comprehensive Coverage will continue when you return to Canada, until you again become eligible for provincial/territorial health insurance.

If your application to transfer from Supplementary to Comprehensive coverage is received by the Government of Canada Pension Centre within 60 days of the date you are no longer covered by your provincial/territorial health insurance plan, coverage is effective the first of the month following the date of receipt. Otherwise, there is a three month waiting period.

No. There are differences in the level of Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) coverage available to Canadian residents and those living outside Canada.

The cost of coverage for those living abroad is higher than it is for Canadian residents. Additionally, retired members are not eligible for coverage for certain provisions under Comprehensive coverage. This includes the Out-of-Province Provision (available only under Supplementary coverage) and the Hospital Expense (outside Canada) Provision, which covers expenses normally paid by your provincial/territorial health care.

Retired members are still covered by the Hospital Provision, however, it is important to remember that this provision provides reimbursement only for hospital room and board expenses beyond standard ward charges (up to specified dollar amounts), and not for any services rendered in a hospital. It is recommended that retired members living abroad obtain coverage for emergency medical services from a third party provider.

Yes. Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP) coverage will continue as long as you continue to pay your contributions. Dental expenses reimbursed under the PDSP will be based on reasonable and customary charges in the area where the services were performed and paid in Canadian dollars. Claims for dental services incurred outside of Canada can be submitted online or by mail. Reimbursement is paid in Canadian dollars. Members residing in the United States can choose to receive reimbursement in US dollars by cheque. For more information on how to submit claims, refer to the PDSP member booklet.

If you live outside of Canada, eligible Public Service Health Care Plan and Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan expenses will be reimbursed by cheque. Payment can be made by direct deposit only into Canadian bank accounts.

An email address/Access ID and password are necessary to enter each of the websites. These can be obtained by registering online at:

• Public Service Health Care Plan Member Services website - click on “Register for or sign in to your PSHCP Member Services account”.

• MSH Public Service Health Care Plan Member portal - You will first need to complete positive enrolment through Canada Life and create an account on Canada Life's PSHCP Member Services website. Once completed you will be able to create your account using the same email address and date of birth that is on file with Canada Life. Click on "login" beside Comprehensive coverage, then click on "here" to create your account.

  Note that you may not be able to register for the MSH PSHCP Member Portal for 48 hours after completing positive enrolment.

• Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan Member Services website - Click on Need an Access ID? Register now. For security purposes, a password will be sent separately to you by mail.

1. Your survivors should notify the Government of Canada Pension Centre immediately.
2. If your survivor is eligible to receive a survivor public service pension benefit recognized under the group insurance benefit plans, they will be counselled on the plans they may be eligible to continue and/ or how to apply.
3. Your survivors should send your death certificate to the Government of Canada Pension Centre.
   • A death certificate is required to pay any survivor benefits or the Supplementary Death Benefit. Your pension number should be clearly indicated on all correspondence and documents your survivors send to the Pension Centre.

In the event of your death, the coverage provided to your dependants end. However, your surviving dependants (survivors) may be eligible to apply for coverage under the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) and the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP) in their own right as a member.

No. In the event of your death, Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) coverage provided to your eligible family members ends. If your survivors are eligible for coverage under the PSHCP as a member in their own right, they will need to apply and register for the PSHCP and complete positive enrolment with Canada Life. A PSHCP benefit card can be either printed through the Canada Life PSHCP Member Services website or mailed to the survivor’s address if positive enrolment was completed by paper form.

Once your survivor has their PSHCP benefit card, they can buy eligible prescription drugs and certain medical supplies at the pharmacy by presenting the card with their prescription. The PSHCP benefit card enables real time electronic processing of claims for eligible drugs and medical supplies.
In addition, your survivor, as a member of the PSHCP, can present their benefit card to a registered health care provider (e.g. massage therapist, physiotherapist) for electronic claim submission on the member’s behalf. Health care providers can visit Telus Health for information on how to register.

Online

• PSHCP members residing in Canada with Supplementary coverage, are able to submit claims, including non-emergency claims incurred outside of Canada or province/territory of residence, online on the PSHCP Member Services website.
• PSHCP members residing outside of Canada with Comprehensive coverage or PSHCP members with Supplementary coverage who have eligible out-of-province Emergency Benefit claims can submit their claims to MSH International on the MSH PSHCP Member Portal.

Mail

• PSHCP members with Supplementary coverage can also submit their claims by mail to Canada Life using a completed PSHCP Claim Form.
• PSHCP members with Comprehensive coverage can also submit their claims by mail to MSH International using a completed PSHCP Claim Form for Out-Of-Country Claims.

No. In the event of your death, Pensioners’ Dental Care Plan (PDSP) coverage provided to your dependants ends. However, they may be eligible for coverage under the PDSP if they are in a receipt of an ongoing recognized public service monthly pension. If they are, they can apply to the PDSP as a member in their own right.

Once positive enrolment has been completed, they will be able to access their PDSP benefit card either online by signing into their PDSP Member Services account or through the My Canada Life at Work app. If positive enrolment was completed by paper, a paper version of the PDSP benefit card will be sent to them, or they can call the PDSP Member Contact centre and ask that a paper version of the PDSP benefit card be mailed to them.

Refer to Survivor and Dependants: Becoming a survivor.

Yes. Once your eligible surviving dependant’s (survivor’s) application is approved and PSHCP positive enrolment and/or PDSP positive enrolment is completed with Canada Life, they can register for:

• a PSHCP Member Services account
• a PDSP Member Services account

Refer to Survivor and Dependants: Becoming a survivor.

Your survivors should notify the Government of Canada Pension Centre and your departmental Compensation services or the Public Service Pay Centre immediately for instruction.

If you had a Civil Service Insurance policy, your survivors should contact the Civil Service Insurance program.

The following plans may be available to you:

• Public Service Health Care Plan (all employees)
• Public Service Dental Care Plan (all employees)
• Disability Insurance Plan (unionized employees)
• Public Service Management Insurance Plan (non-unionized and executive employees)

If you join the public service, refer to New to the public service on how to apply for coverage under the various group insurance benefit plans.

Employees who live in provinces or territories where a contribution is required for provincial health care, refer to the Employer Contribution to Provincial Health Insurance. Currently, employees residing in British Columbia are eligible for this benefit (British Columbia Medial Services Plan).

Public Service Health Care Plan :

If you retired from the federal public service with an ongoing pension based on at least six years of pensionable service, you may continue coverage under the Public Service Health Care Plan without interruption.

Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan :

If you retire from the federal public service with an ongoing pension, you may have the option to enroll in the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan.

1. You should notify the Government of Canada Pension Centre immediately.
2. If you are eligible to receive a survivor public service pension benefit recognized under the group insurance benefit plans, you will be counselled on the Plans you may be eligible to continue and/ or how to apply.
3. You should send the members’ death certificate to the Government of Canada Pension Centre.
   • A death certificate is required to pay any survivor pension or death benefits. The deceased plan member’s pension number should be clearly indicated on all correspondence and documents you send to the Pension Centre.
4. If the plan member was still employed, you should contact his/her departmental Compensation services or Public Service Pay Centre for information on other possible pay-related benefits that may be payable.

If the member was covered by the Public Service Management Insurance Plan (PSMIP), the designated beneficiary under the PSMIP will receive any applicable Life Insurance and Accidental Death or Dismemberment insurance amounts payable in a lump sum.

In the event of a public service employee’s or pensioner’s death, you and your eligible dependants may be eligible to apply for the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) and the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP) in your own right if you are entitled to an ongoing public service monthly pension benefit (survivor benefit).

If there is no surviving spouse or common-law partner, eligible children (including those under 25 years of age who are enrolled as a student in an accredited school, college or university on a full‑time basis) who are entitled to an ongoing monthly pension benefit (child allowance) are generally eligible for coverage under both plans.

Participation in these plans is optional.

There are two steps to the application process for the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan. Both steps must be completed before claims can be paid.

1. To apply, you must complete and submit a PDSP form available from the Government of Canada Pension Centre. Once your application is approved, you will receive your certificate number. The plan number for eligible surviving dependants (survivor benefit) is 92115.
2. Complete positive enrolment, which is the process where you provide Canada Life with information about you and your eligible dependants, including providing consent to use your personal information to process claims. Positive enrolment is mandatory and must be completed and maintained separately for all benefit plans.

Positive enrolment can be completed either online through the PDSP Member Services website or by paper form. You can print a paper version of the positive enrolment form from the PDSP Member Services website or by contacting Canada Life.

Once enrolled with Canada Life:

• you can print your PDSP benefit card through your PDSP Member Services account, or
• if you completed positive enrolment by paper, Canada Life will mail you your paper PDSP benefit card.

You can also contact Canada Life and request that a paper benefit card be sent to you.

Coverage then continues for as long as you remain entitled to an ongoing public service pension benefit or child allowance and the required contributions are paid.

Public Service Health Care Plan:

If the deceased plan member had family level coverage under the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP), coverage will be continuous if you apply within 60 days of the member’s death.

If the deceased plan member was not covered by the PSHCP or did not have family level coverage, your coverage will take effect three months after your application is received by the Government of Canada Pension Centre.

Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan:

If you apply for the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP) within 60 days of the member’s death, your coverage will take effect the day following the members’ death. Otherwise, your coverage will take effect on the first day of the second month following the date the Government of Canada Pension Centre receives your application.

You can be covered by the PSHCP and the PDSP even if you do not reside in Canada. For more information, contact the Government of Canada Pension Centre.

Important note for residents of Quebec

If you are a Quebec resident, you are automatically covered by law under the prescription drug insurance plan of the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) once you reach the age of 65.

In July 2001 , the Superior Court of Quebec determined that the province of Quebec cannot exclude federal employees from RAMQ and that federal employees could have coverage under both RAMQ and the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP).

For further information on coverage under the RAMQ plan or to find out how to cancel your enrolment in that plan, please refer to the RAMQ site.

Coverage under the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) is the same as when the member was alive. For information on covered benefits, refer to the PSHCP at a Glance.

If the member was still employed at the time of death, your coverage as a dependant would have been under the Public Service Dental Care Plan (PSDCP). A different plan, the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP), is available to you as an eligible surviving dependant (survivor). The PSDCP and the PDSP do not provide the same coverage. For information on covered benefits, refer to the PDSP member booklet or the PDSP Rules.

If the member was retired and covered by the PDSP, the coverage remains the same.

As a member of the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP), you can access your PSHCP Member Services account online and through the My Canada Life at Work mobile app.

Canada Life PSHCP Member Services website

• Complete or update personal account (“positive enrolment”) information.
• View drug coverage and learn what is covered under the PSHCP quickly and conveniently.
• Submit electronic claims, track claims progress and view claims history for you and your dependants.
• Sign up for direct deposit or update your banking information.
• Coordinate benefits claims between two Canada Life plans or submit the remaining balance of a claim already processed through another insurer.
• Locate health care providers using the "provider search" feature.
• Print or save your PSHCP benefit card to your mobile device.
• Attach receipts, photo receipts and other supporting documents to claims for expenses such as lab tests, equipment, and medical supplies.
• Attach documents requested by Canada Life, such as referrals, proofs of payment, estimates and drug forms, to recently completed claims.
• Use two-step verification to verify your identity and protect your personal information.
• Access to de-listed providers.

My Canada Life at Work mobile app

• View your personal account information, including dependant and banking information.
• Submit electronic claims, coordinate benefits claims between two Canada Life plans, track claims progress and view claims history for you and your dependants.
• Attach receipts, photo receipts and other supporting documents to claims for expenses such as lab tests, equipment, and medical supplies.
• Sign up for electronic explanation of benefits statements.
• View and save your and your dependants PSHCP benefit cards to your mobile wallet.
• View your health coverage and balances.
• Enable and sign into your account with Face and Touch ID.

As a member of the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP), you can access your PDSP Member Services account online and through the My Canada Life at Work mobile app.

Positive enrolment must be completed to create a PDSP Member Services account.

Your PDSP Member Services account allows you to do the following and more:

• easily navigate your plan details
• update positive enrolment
• submit claims
• set up direct deposit
• check coverage balances
• access your benefit card

For more information, consult your PDSP member booklet.

Positive enrolment must be completed and your PDSP Member Services account must be created before you can access the My Canada Life at Work mobile app.

Your My Canada Life at Work mobile app allows you to do the following and more:

• save your benefit plan card directly to your mobile phone
•  view your plan number and certificate number
• update positive enrolment information
• submit claims
• view your claims history

For more information, consult your PDSP member booklet.

If you’re having trouble registering or signing in:

• contact Canada Life within North America (toll-free) at 1-855-415-4414, Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm, your local time

for international enquiries, call 1-431-489-4064 (collect), Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm Eastern Time

A person receiving an ongoing public service monthly pension benefit as an eligible surviving dependant (survivor) remains covered by the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) and the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP) as long as they continue to pay the required contribution rates.

Refer to the PSHCP Pensioner Monthly Contribution Rates and the PDSP Contribution Rates for information on the applicable contribution rates.

Children (including those under 25 who are enrolled as a student in an accredited school, college or university on a full‑time basis) who are receiving a child allowance remain covered by the PSHCP and the PDSP as long as they are eligible children and the required contributions are paid.

If you are in receipt of a survivor public service pension benefit and enrolled in the group insurance benefit plans as a retired member in your own right, contact the Government of Canada Pension Centre without delay to:

• provide your new address;
• find out whether your move will impact your group insurance benefits plan coverage.

Yes. A retired member who lives outside of Canada and is not covered by a provincial or territorial health insurance plan is eligible for Comprehensive Coverage under the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP). Note: A survivor is considered a retired member under the Public Service Health Care Plan.

To apply for Comprehensive coverage under the Public Service Health Care Plan complete a Pensioner application form to ensure coverage is continued at the desired coverage level. Alternatively, you can contact the Government of Canada Pension Centre to obtain an application form.

Claims will be paid in the currency of the country where you reside. Claims must be submitted to MSH International online on the MSH PSHCP Member Portal or by mail using the PSHCP Out-of-Country Claim Form.

Additional information on Comprehensive Coverage can be found in the PSHCP Directive. You can also contact MSH International.

Your Comprehensive Coverage will continue when you return to Canada, until you again become eligible for provincial/territorial health insurance.

If your application to transfer from Supplementary to Comprehensive coverage is received by the Government of Canada Pension Centre within 60 days of the date you are no longer covered by your provincial/territorial health insurance plan, coverage is effective the first of the month following the date of receipt. Otherwise, there is a three month waiting period.

No. There are differences in the level of Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) coverage available to Canadian residents and those living outside Canada.

The cost of coverage for those living abroad is higher than it is for Canadian residents. Additionally, retired members, including survivors, are not eligible for coverage for certain provisions under Comprehensive Coverage. This includes the Out-of-Province Provision (available only under Supplementary Coverage) and the Hospital Expense (outside Canada) Provision, which covers expenses normally paid by your provincial/territorial health care. 

Retired members are still covered by the Hospital Provision, however, it is important to remember that this provision provides reimbursement only for hospital room and board expenses beyond standard ward charges (up to specified dollar amounts), and not for any services rendered in a hospital. It is recommended that retired members living abroad obtain coverage for emergency medical services from a third party provider.

Yes. Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP) coverage will continue as long as you continue to pay your contributions. Dental expenses reimbursed under the PDSP will be based on reasonable and customary charges in the area where the services were performed and paid in Canadian dollars.

Claims for dental services incurred outside of Canada can be submitted online or by mail. Reimbursement is paid in Canadian dollars. Members residing in the United States can choose to receive reimbursement in US dollars by cheque. For more information on how to submit claims, refer to the PDSP member booklet.

If you live outside of Canada, eligible Public Service Health Care Plan expenses will be reimbursed by cheque. Payment can be made by direct deposit only into Canadian bank accounts.

If you live outside of Canada, the PDSP provides reimbursement for eligible dental services based on the Reasonable and Customary Charges in the location where the services are rendered, up to the previous year’s Ontario dental fee guide.

Claims for dental services incurred outside of Canada can be submitted online or by mail. Reimbursement is paid in Canadian dollars. Members residing in the United States can choose to receive reimbursement in US dollars by cheque. For more information on how to submit claims, refer to the PDSP member booklet.

If you have opted for coverage under the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) or the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP) as a survivor, you can apply for coverage for your new eligible spouse, common-law partner and/or dependant children.

An eligible spouse or common-law partner means the person to whom you are legally married or your common-law partner (the person with whom you have lived with for a continuous period of at least one year).

An eligible child includes an unmarried child of a member, the member’s spouse or the member’s survivor (if the survivor is entitled to an ongoing public service monthly pension benefit), including:

• a stepchild
• an adopted child
• a child for whom the member stands in place of a parent (custody or guardianship documents required)

To be dependant, the child must be:

• under 21 years of age
• under 25 years of age and attending an accredited school, college or university on a full-time basis
• 21 years of age or over and is incapable of engaging in self-sustaining employment by reason of mental or physical impairment and is primarily dependant upon the member, provided such impairment occurred by the ages indicated above

To apply for the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP):

• You must apply for coverage for your new dependant(s) within 60 days following their eligibility date for coverage to be effective as of that date; otherwise, there is a three-month waiting period. The eligibility date is:
  • the date you are legally married or you reach common-law status, or
  • the date your child is born or becomes a stepchild, an adopted child or a foster child
• Complete a new PSHCP application form and submit it to the Government of Canada Pension Centre. If your PSHCP coverage type is already Family, you don’t need to amend your coverage type; however, you will need to update your positive enrolment information with Canada Life to include your new dependant(s).

  Note: No claims can be paid for any of your dependants until you have updated your positive enrolment information.

• Changes can be made by logging into your PSHCP Member Services website and updating your positive enrolment information under your profile. Alternatively, you can:
  • print a paper version of the positive enrolment form from the PSHCP Member Services website, or
  • request the form by contacting Canada Life and submit it by mail

To apply for the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP):

• You must apply for coverage for your new eligible spouse or common-law partner or dependent children within 60 days of their eligibility for coverage to be effective as of that date; otherwise, coverage is effective the first of the second month following the date the form is received.
• Complete and submit the PDSP form, available from the Government of Canada Pension Centre.

  Note: Your category of coverage and contribution rate will change.

• You must then update your positive enrolment information under your profile on your PDSP Member Services account with Canada Life to include your new spouse or common-law partner or child(ren). Alternatively, you can:
  • print a paper version of the positive enrolment form from the PDSP Member Services website, or
  • request the form by contacting Canada Life and submit it by mail

  Note: No new dependant claims can be paid until you have updated your positive enrolment information.

If you and your dependant spouse or common-law partner are covered under more than one group health or dental care plan, you may coordinate benefits for up to 100% of the actual eligible expenses. In situations where coordination of benefits is allowed, the combined reimbursement from all Plans cannot exceed the expenses incurred.

Coordination of benefits between two Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) members is allowed. However, there is no coordination of benefits between two members of the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP).

Upon your death, your surviving child(ren) may be eligible to apply for coverage under the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) and the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP) in their own right as a member as long as they are in receipt of an ongoing public service monthly pension benefit (child allowance).

Contact the Government of Canada Pension Centre for more information.

If you have remarried or established a common-law relationship prior to your death, your new spouse or common law-partner’s health and dental care coverage stops immediately upon your death.