Provincial health insurance plans

Table of contents

1. Introduction

The government, as employer, contributes towards employees' provincial health insurance premium costs.

2. Eligibility

The provincial health insurance authorities establish eligibility criteria for coverage under their plans. As employer, the federal government has agreed to comply with those criteria in respect of its employees. Therefore, if the provincial criteria require an employer to enrol an employee in the employer group and make premium payments on behalf of that employee, departments may authorize a deduction from that employee's salary of the appropriate share of the required premium, (regardless of the length of term and the assigned work week), as well as payment of the appropriate employer share.

For example, if an employee is hired for four months and is required to enrol in the employer group for British Columbia Health Care Plan coverage, the department may authorize a deduction of the required premium taking effect from the date stipulated by the provincial rules. However, in no case should premium payments be authorized for any period during which the individual was not an employee of the government.

3. Employer contributions

In provinces where premiums are payable by residents, the government contributes towards combined provincial hospital and medical care insurance premiums payable by its employees. The applicable employee and employer contribution rates for employees with and without dependants are contained in Appendix A to this chapter.

3.1 Deductions at source

In provinces that levy health insurance premiums, deductions of employee contributions are made from salary and sent to the provincial authorities along with government contributions.

The government contributions in Appendix A are not payable in respect of any full calendar month of leave without pay. Employees must arrange to pay the required premiums directly to the provincial authorities, where applicable.

3.2 Contributions in respect of provincially subsidized health insurance premiums

The provincial health insurance plan of British Columbia provides for premiums to be paid at reduced rates by residents whose income is below certain levels. For detailed information regarding eligibility, the provincial authorities should be consulted.

Present provincial practice and salary deduction limitations require employees eligible for these subsidized rates to pay the reduced premiums directly to the provincial health plans. At the end of the year, employees apply for the appropriate employer contribution towards the subsidized premiums.

Personnel offices must have proof (normally receipts) that employees, while employed, have paid subsidized health insurance premiums directly to their provincial health insurance plan during a year, prior to processing employee requests for the government's contribution towards those premiums. Employees in that circumstance must apply for the government's share of the contribution before of the year following the calendar year for which they are making an application. Departments should retain on the employee's personnel file all pertinent information related to these payments.

Enquiries from personnel offices concerning contributions to subsidized premiums should be directed to the Accounting, Banking and Compensation Branch of Public Works and Government Services Canada.

4. Grievance procedure

In cases of alleged misinterpretation or misapplication of this directive by the employer, the grievance procedure for all represented employees, within the meaning of the Public Service Labour Relations Act, will be in accordance with section 15 of the National Joint Council By-Laws. For unrepresented employees, the departmental grievance procedure applies.

5. References

Financial Administration Act
-Deductions from pay section 2.4.4
Chapter 6, 2.4.4.

6. Enquiries

The Accounting, Banking and Compensation Branch of Public Works and Government Services Canada is responsible for premium deductions (where authorized), accounting procedures, and forwarding of premiums to the provincial authorities. From time to time, Services Pay directives are issued in respect of such matters. Enquiries should be directed to the appropriate pay office.


Appendix A

Monthly Rates of Contributions to Provincial Health Insurance Premiums

Province

Employee
$

Employer
$

Total Premium
$

British Columbia

()

Single employee

18.00

18.00

36.00

Employee and one dependant

32.00

32.00

64.00

Employee and more than one dependant

36.00

36.00

72.00

2002 ( deduction)

Single employee

27.00

27.00

54.00

Employee and one dependant

48.00

48.00

96.00

Employee and more than one dependant

54.00

54.00

108.00

2010 ( deduction)

Single employee

28.50

28.50

57.00

Employee and one dependant

51.00

51.00

102.00

Employee and more than one dependant

57.00

57.00

114.00

2011 ( deduction)

Single employee

30.25

30.25

65.00

Employee and one dependant

54.50

54.50

109.00

Employee and more than one dependant

60.50

60.50

121.00

2012 ( deduction)

Single employee

32.00

32.00

64.00

Employee and one dependant

58.00

58.00

116.00

Employee and more than one dependant

64.00

64.00

128.00

2013 ( deduction)

Single employee

33.25

33.25

66.50

Employee and one dependant

60.25

60.25

120.50

Employee and more than one dependant

66.50

66.50

133.00

2014 ( deduction)

Single employee

34.62

34.63

69.25

Employee and one dependant

62.75

62.75

125.50

Employee and more than one dependant

69.25

69.25

138.50

2015 ( deduction)

Single employee

36.00

36.00

72.00

Employee and one dependant

65.25

65.25

130.50

Employee and more than one dependant

72.00

72.00

144.00

2016 ( deduction)

Single employee

37.50

37.50

75.00

Employee and one dependant

68.00

68.00

136.00

Employee and more than one dependant

75.00

75.00

150.00

2017 ( deduction)
Level 1-One Adult 37.50 37.50 75.00
Level 2-Two Adults in a Family 75.00 75.00 150.00
2018 ( deduction)
Level 1-One Adult 18.75 18.75 37.50
Level 2-Two Adults in a Family 37.50 37.50 75.00

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