Changes can be made using Great-West Life’s Groupnet for Plan Members. Once logged in look for the link titled “View or Request Changes to Dependant Information” under the “Your Profile” menu.

If you have not set up a GroupNet account then a change form will need to be signed before any changes can be made. These forms can be signed in-person at the Local 18 Benefit Office, or mailed to your home.

The change will not take effect until the signed form is received by the Benefit Office.

Active members under the age of 65 have unlimited out-of-country coverage for any medical emergencies.

Active members over the age of 65 and all retired members have a $20,000 limit for out-of-country medical expenses

$20,000 is not a significant amount and it is therefore advised that retirees travelling out of country should purchase additional insurance privately.

When travelling out-of-country you need to take your Benefit Plan ID card with you. This card has your Plan Number, Plan Name and Employee ID Number on it.

Contact Information for Medical Emergencies at Great West Life when travelling around the world:

• Canada or USA 1-855-222-4051
• Mexico 0-1-800-522-0029
• Dominican Republic 1-800-203-9530
• Cuba 1-204-946-2946 call direct- submit long distance charges to Great West Life for reimbursement
• Universal Countries 1-800-9006-7555
• All other countries 1-204-946-2577 call direct or collect direct- submit long distance charges to Great West Life for reimbursement

This information is also available at GroupNet for Plan Members. Sign into Profile, under Forms & Cards. This allows you to print out a benefit card with all information you will need in case of a medical emergency, including your policy number and personal ID number.

If you are travelling to Cuba please contact the Benefit Office for the phone number specific for Cuba.

You can order replacement cards using Great-West Life’s Groupnet for Plan Members or you can call the Benefit Office and new cards will be ordered for you. Delivery can take up to a few weeks.

Yes, all you have to do is contact our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at 1-877-207-8833. You must provide them with the type of counselling you are looking for and LifeWorks will set you up with a counsellor that specializes in that area. For example- marriage counselling, drug addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder, grief counselling, etc.

You can find out more information regarding the services that LifeWorks can provide you by clicking here- LifeWorks.

Specific questions regarding the coverage you have already spent or have remaining is considered confidential and the Benefit Office does not have access to that information. You will have to call Great-West Life at 1-800-957-9777 with your Plan Name and Employee ID number and they will be able to provide you with up to date information.

You can also sign up for a personal profile on the Great-West Life Groupnet web site. Once that is set up you can access all of your confidential information under Claim History.

The Benefit Office has a summary sheet of routine procedures that are covered under your dental plan.

If you are planning a dental treatment and want to know for sure what the plan will cover have your Dentist submit an estimate directly to Great-West Life.

Once the estimate has been processed you will receive a pre-approval that details exactly what your plan covers.

At any time, you can contact the Benefit Office to inquire if hours have been received from another local.

It is your responsibility to complete the Reciprocal Form and have it sent to the Local whose jurisdiction you are working in so they can remit your hours to Local 18.

The Local 18 Benefit Plan provides Vision Care coverage. This plan, covered by Great-West Life, grants members with $300 toward prescription glasses every 24 months.

To complement Vision Care coverage the Local 18 Benefit Office also provides a Safety Eyewear Benefit Program. This program is in addition to what Great-West Life provides and is wholly administered and paid for by the Local 18 Welfare Plan.

The Safety Eyewear Benefit Program provides $125 every 24 months toward the cost of CSA approved prescription safety glasses.

You are free to purchase your prescription safety eyewear at any of the same retailers and clinics covered by Great-West Life’s Vision Care program but you will have to submit your receipt to the Local 18 Benefit Office for reimbursement.

The Plan has negotiated a group rate with several providers. If you visit one of the clinics listed on the Safety Eyewear Benefit Form (available at the Local 18 Benefit Office) you will have access to a selection of affordably priced prescription safety glasses. The clinics will directly bill the Local 18 Benefit Office if you present the Safety Eyewear Benefit Form, up to the $125 maximum.

When your spouse has their own benefit plan they would use their own benefits first and then use your benefits for top up.

For example, your spouse purchases prescription glasses that cost $500. If your spouse’s prescription glasses coverage limit is $200, they can have the remaining $300 reimbursed under your plan.

When it comes to dependants, the parent whose birthday occurs first in the calendar year is the plan that the dependent submits claims under first.

For more information regarding coordinating benefits, please consult the Welfare & Pension Plans – January 2010 booklet or contact the Benefit Office.

Your benefit plan includes up to 26 weeks of short term disability coverage (WI). Contact the Benefit Office and we will send you the necessary paperwork required to start a claim.

The short term disability benefit is a combined maximum of 26 weeks. You will receive either EI sick benefits (refer to Service Canada for the exact amount) or Great-West Life WI benefits ($400.00 per week).

Your out-of-country medical coverage is reduced from unlimited to $20,000 and your life insurance decreases from $100,000 to $10,000.

$20,000 is not a significant amount and it is therefore advised that retirees travelling out of country should purchase additional insurance privately.

Benefits provided are determined by the group insurance policy provisions. The Trustees receive quarterly and annual reports from the Welfare plan consultants, who review the insurance company’s statistics regarding claims and costs, and then propose any changes or improvements to the plan. The Trustees’ goal is always to provide a comprehensive competitive benefit plan for all its members.

Please send your completed claim form directly to:
London Benefit Payments
PO Box 5160 Station B
London, ON
N6A 0C6