FlexBenefits Plan

How It All Works

You have the option of building a package of benefits by choosing from a variety of Flex Options. Read more about these options on "FlexBenefits Choices" page.

To assist you in paying for the cost of your benefits, LCC provides a benefits allowance (or credit) called "FlexDollars." The Flex Dollars are used to pay for your benefit coverage selections. Depending on your benefit choices you may also have to pay for your selections through payroll deduction (when your benefit choices cost more than the FlexDollars that you have been provided) In other words, if you use all of your flex dollars and they do not entirely cover the cost of the benefits you have selected, then you must pay the balance through payroll deduction.

If you don’t use all of your FlexDollars, you can direct the remaining FlexDollars to:

• a Health Spending Account (HSA), or
• your Defined Contribution (DC) component of the Lutheran Church—Canada Pension Plan, or
• be paid as taxable cash on your paycheque.

Each year you will have an opportunity to change your FlexBenefits during a specific re-enrolment period usually in November. Your online enrolment makes this process easy. It calculates everything for you, and lets you change your selections and view the financial implications as many times as you wish. Only then do you have to commit to your selections. If you are satisfied with the choices that you made the previous year, you do not have to re-enrol and you will default to your choices from the previous year.

What if I Don’t Enrol?

If you are a new member, you will automatically receive (are defaulted) into the following coverage selections ( sometimes referred to as "Core Coverage") if you do not enrol when you are first eligible. Keep in mind that if you enrol you can change some of these options, either increase or decrease your coverage depending on your needs. As well you can change some coverages during the annual re-enrolment. :

Group Life
In the event of your death, your beneficiary will be paid the equivalent of 3 times your annual earnings (to a maximum of $500,000).

Extended Health (Option 2 — Member Only
Coverage for you and your eligible dependents includes:

• Yearly Deductible of $25.00 per person (max. of $75.00 per family)
• All Claims Paid at 80% until out of pocket maximum is reached, then 100% covered
• Out of Pocket Maximum
  • $1,500 per member
  • $2,000 for member + 1 dependent or
  • $2,500 for member + 2 or more dependents
• Prescription Drugs
  • Pay direct to pharmacy using your All-in-One Manulife Member Card
  • dispensing fee cap of $7.00
• Vision
  • Prescription Glasses/contacts or laser eye surgery to a maximum of $250 every 24 consecutive months
  • Eye exams – 1 per 24 consecutive months for adults and 1 per 12 months for children
  • Medically necessary contacts to a maximum of $200 every 24 consecutive months
• Medical Supplies and Services including Private Duty Nursing, Hearing Aids, etc. (limits and/or maximums may apply)
• Paramedical Services to a maximum of $500 per practitioner which may include services from: Physiotherapist, Osteopath, Podiatrist, Chiropractor, Massage Therapist, Speech Therapist, Naturopath, Psychologist, Acupuncturist

Dental (Option 2 — Member Only)
Coverage for you and your dependents includes:

• Yearly Deductible of $25.00 per person (max. of $75.00 per family)
• All claims are based on the “Current Fee Guide” for general practitioners in your province of residence (except in Alberta where there is no fee guide)
• Recall Examination paid once every 9 months
• Basic Dental Services, Periodontic and Endodontic Services paid at 90%
• Major Services 50% coverage
• Orthodontic 50% coverage to a lifetime maximum of $2,000 per person

Travel Health Insurance
You will receive member only coverage if you are a new hire and do not enrol during your initial enrolment period. All employees will have Emergency Travel Health coverage for up to 180 days per trip while travelling outside Canada. Emergency medical expenses are paid 100% to a lifetime maximum of $1 million.

Employee Assistance Plan
Employees and their dependents can access confidential professional counselling and advisory services to assist in issues that affect our lives and work.

Long Term Disability (LTD) (Option 2)
If you are totally disabled beyond 13 weeks as defined by the LTD contract, you will receive a monthly benefit equal to 60% of your earnings to a maximum of $10,000 per month. Remember: monthly premiums for your LTD benefit are paid for by employees making claims non-taxable when they are paid.

What happens if I don’t enrol at the annual re-enrolment?

You will automatically default to the coverage you had chosen the previous year if you do not make use of your opportunity to review and make changes to your benefits during the annual re-enrolment in November.