FAQ

EMPLOYERS/CHURCHES:

Our church as an employer would like to change the coverage that is offered in our plan.

Your church can make a change in its plan by filling out the Employer Application Form for Insurance and ticking off ‘Amendment’ at the top right of the page and indicating the effective date of the change. Note that once a change has been made to a plan, you will then be locked into that plan for two years. When the form is completed, please mail the original, signed copy to BGC Canada.

Our church cannot afford to enroll every employee working at least 20 hours per week (15 hours per week in Saskatchewan) in the plan. Is there anyway to adjust the eligibility requirements?

If an employer wishes to specify eligibility requirements by increasing the minimum number of hours worked per week that defines a full-time employee, they may do so. In this case, the employer must have a written policy in place that relates to the offering of insurance and states the defined criteria for eligibility as a full-time employee. Note that if this is the case, it will remain mandatory that every employee who is eligible under the newly defined hours-per-week criteria still be enrolled in the plan.

An employee who was enrolled in plan has resigned from our church. What do we do?

You may contact CanBenefits directly to have the employee taken off your billing. Please also notify BGC Canada so that we can make record of the termination.

 

EMPLOYEES/PASTORS/STAFF:

I am enrolled in the plan with my church, but I would like to add some optional benefits to my plan. Is there anyway I can do this?

There are a few optional benefits available to individual members of the Plan. These include: Optional Life Insurance, Spousal Optional Life Insurance and Voluntary Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance. These do not include dental or vision care if they are not already offered in your plan. For more information on adding optional benefits to your plan, please contact BGC Canada.

I am enrolled in the plan but now my spouse has coverage, and I do not need to receive benefits through BGCC any more. Can I opt out of the plan?

You may not opt out of the plan entirely, but you may waive extended healthcare and/or dental care (if applicable) if you are covered by your spouse. If such is the case, you will need to fill out an Employee Application Form for Insurance, noting that it is a change in coverage with effective date. In the section entitled “Requested Coverage”, mark “I decline to participate in” and check off the appropriate boxes. Once the form is complete, please mail the original to BGC Canada to be recorded and forwarded to CanBenefits.

I have just got married or had a baby. How do I change my coverage to include my new family member?

If you have had a baby and would like to add him or her as a dependant, please email the BGCC Office with the following information within 30 days of the life change: The baby’s first and last name only, the baby’s gender, and date of birth.

If you have gotten married and would like to change your name and/or beneficiary, please contact the BGCC Office for an Employee Change Form.

I’ve just received a salary change. How does this reflect my coverage?

When you receive a salary change, you should ensure that your employer has notified CanBenefits of the change. It is important that your employer keep this information updated as the pay out for Life Insurance and Long Term Disability is salary related. Should the need arise for you to collect insurance in one of these areas, the amount paid out would be based on the last salary amount the insurance company has on file, even if your actual salary amount is higher than what is on file.

Please contact the BGCC office if you think you are eligible to join one of these plans or your church is interested in providing coverage for your pastor and family.

 

EMPLOYERS/CHURCHES:

Our church as an employer would like to change the coverage that is offered in our plan.

Your church can make a change in its plan by filling out the Employer Application Form for Insurance and ticking off ‘Amendment’ at the top right of the page and indicating the effective date of the change. Note that once a change has been made to a plan, you will then be locked into that plan for two years. When the form is completed, please mail the original, signed copy to BGC Canada.

Our church cannot afford to enroll every employee working at least 20 hours per week (15 hours per week in Saskatchewan) in the plan. Is there anyway to adjust the eligibility requirements?

If an employer wishes to specify eligibility requirements by increasing the minimum number of hours worked per week that defines a full-time employee, they may do so. In this case, the employer must have a written policy in place that relates to the offering of insurance and states the defined criteria for eligibility as a full-time employee. Note that if this is the case, it will remain mandatory that every employee who is eligible under the newly defined hours-per-week criteria still be enrolled in the plan.

An employee who was enrolled in plan has resigned from our church. What do we do?

You may contact CanBenefits directly to have the employee taken off your billing. Please also notify BGC Canada so that we can make record of the termination.

 

EMPLOYEES/PASTORS/STAFF:

I am enrolled in the plan with my church, but I would like to add some optional benefits to my plan. Is there anyway I can do this?

There are a few optional benefits available to individual members of the Plan. These include: Optional Life Insurance, Spousal Optional Life Insurance and Voluntary Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance. These do not include dental or vision care if they are not already offered in your plan. For more information on adding optional benefits to your plan, please contact BGC Canada.

I am enrolled in the plan but now my spouse has coverage, and I do not need to receive benefits through BGCC any more. Can I opt out of the plan?

You may not opt out of the plan entirely, but you may waive extended healthcare and/or dental care (if applicable) if you are covered by your spouse. If such is the case, you will need to fill out an Employee Application Form for Insurance, noting that it is a change in coverage with effective date. In the section entitled “Requested Coverage”, mark “I decline to participate in” and check off the appropriate boxes. Once the form is complete, please mail the original to BGC Canada to be recorded and forwarded to CanBenefits.

I have just got married or had a baby. How do I change my coverage to include my new family member?

If you have had a baby and would like to add him or her as a dependent, please email the BGCC Office with the following information within 30 days of the life change: The baby’s first and last name only, the baby’s gender, and date of birth.

If you have gotten married and would like to change your name and/or beneficiary, please contact the BGCC Office for an Employee Change Form.

I’ve just received a salary change. How does this reflect my coverage?

When you receive a salary change, you should ensure that your employer has notified CanBenefits of the change. It is important that your employer keep this information updated as the pay out for Life Insurance and Long Term Disability is salary related. Should the need arise for you to collect insurance in one of these areas, the amount paid out would be based on the last salary amount the insurance company has on file, even if your actual salary amount is higher than what is on file.

Please contact the BGCC office if you think you are eligible to join one of these plans or your church is interested in providing coverage for your pastor and family.