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Pension & Benefits June 24, 02
By John Meyer, Chair of pension & benefits committee of WURA (retirees)
Health Benefits: (mostly "good news")
With the cooperation of Jim Butler and as of May Ist, a new category of "couple" and a "fourth"
option ("dental") have been introduced resulting in lower premiums for those previously in the
"family' category. Letters have been received from the Office of Human Resources explaining
the new category in our Green Shield plan. See below the new schedule of rates and the four
options offered upon normal retirement (65yrs) and at your own expense.
| COVERAGE | OPTION 1 | OPTION 2 | OPTION 3 | OPTION 4 |
| TOTAL PACKAGE | NO DENTAL | NO DRUGS | DENTAL ONLY | |
| INDIVIDUAL | $213.73 | $190.99 | $71.03 | $22.74 |
| COUPLE | 427.43 | 381.96 | 142.03 | 45.47 |
| FAMILY | 577.15 | 514.63 | 184.73 | 62.52 |
As predicted, Green Shield premiums have increased for the year (05.01.02) by about 10%. An
analysis of the health benefits, premiums, and limitations of 12 health benefit/insurance carriers
has been completed and will be available for your information on both WURA's website/listserv
and as paper copy for those requesting. This provides a useful comparison with our current
Green Shield retirees' plan.
Efforts are underway to update any improvements in new collective agreements of Canadian
universities. Compared to the 16 Canadian university health benefits surveyed last year,
Windsor's collective agreement provides the least beneficial package with only 50 % of the
dental premiums provided. Gord Olafson, John Meyer, and Debbie Noble are conducting this
initiative.
The committee responsible for the benefits Trust Fund provided by the current collective
agreement has now had its first meeting and is awaiting information from external consultants
concerning governance and tax implications. Official estimates indicate that from the total
pension performance and evaluation (every three years by Mercer Inc.) of $6,082,000 there will
be $1.6 million for the trust fund and it has been deposited in an account. Retired economics
professor, Peter Burrell, is WURA's representative.
We continue to explore ways and means of creating more critical mass or volume for our
current and future health plans in order to provide lower premiums. Unification of the 10 or more
University plans is also being explored.
Dispensing fees for prescriptions vary, as many of you know. I found Sobey's, Zehrs, and
Walmart to offer the least expensive fees.
Green Shield has now moved to a new location in Tecumseh on South Service Road East.
Inside this issue
Page 1. President's Report
Page 2. Campus News
Page 3. Campus News
Page 4. Association News
Page 5. Association News
Page 6. Association News
Page 7. Editorial News