Premium Maintenance While Awaiting LTD or LTD Appeal Decision

Under the 2012 - 2014 Provincial Collective Agreement, a NBA member who has a date of disability of April 1, 2012 or later and has applied for LTD or whose LTD coverage is under appeal is eligible for premium maintenance for Health and Welfare benefits (Medical, Extended Health, Dental, Group Life and AD&D and LTD premiums), provided the member has:

• Exhausted their sick leave credits
• Used up all available vacation entitlements (for the current year)
• Exhausted all other paid leave and banks that they are entitled to, and
• Used up their 20 days unpaid leave grace period

Continuance of benefit coverage is available for a maximum of 12 months.

BCNU has reached an agreement with the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) in regards to the implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Under the agreed to process, the Employer will continue to pay benefit premiums for eligible members and invoice the Union for reimbursement. This means nurses who meet the above criteria will have seamless benefit coverage until such time as their LTD coverage begins or the LTD Appeal process is completed.

Eligible nurses who wish to have premium maintenance through this program will be required to sign an authorization form which will be provided by your Employer.

Please also note that BCNU members who access this program and whose LTD claim is accepted, or who are successful in their LTD Appeal, will be responsible for reimbursing 50% cost of premiums for any period where they receive both LTD benefits and premium coverage from the Premium Maintenance Fund.

Any members who meet the criteria listed at the beginning of this bulletin and who have been paying for their benefit premiums should contact their Employer for reimbursement of those payments retroactive to April 1, 2012.

Contact your BCNU Steward should you require assistance or have questions regarding your eligibility.