QUESTION 12 Is there any improvement or addition to benefits that you would like to see? Keep in mind that changes to the benefits are determined by the Trust. We will compile and forward these issues to the Trust for their consideration. Please be specific

Faster and more efficient service for claims.

The Blue Cross benefits provided detailed information in a timely manner. The new benefits have not. We should be given specific information (not "it's just like the old one") with regards to our coverage, and it should be available to all without any delay. Furthermore, requests for information from the Trust are not being answered in a timely manner. This, too, needs to change.

No.

I would like to see salary increases apply entirely to take home pay for the entire fiscal year, rather than be directed towards benefits after January 1.

- serious money for orthotics (co pay at 50%)
- improved vision care funds (up to $500 every two years for glasses)
- ancillary treatment such as acupuncture and chinese medicine,
- opportunity to see a dietician regularly
- money for a personal trainer or coach
- payment of health and dental benefits for retirees.

Generally the benefits are adequate except for eye glasses, hearing aids, and chiropractic care.

increase the vision and major dental work cap maximum

Dental- Dependent orthodontics is not covered now! people with children will find this to be an issue.

Re. questions 7-9: it is hard to know what each of these % options may get us in terms of additional benefits-I chose the average option from that perspective.

Better provision for specialist services e.g psychologists, OT etc

Better coverage for optometry visits and eye glasses (currently $120 every two years is ridiculously low);
Coverage for Naturopathic Doctor visits;
Medical coverage (doctor visits and hospital care) outside the country

More money for vision benefits. Current amounts cover little more than exams, let alone a pair of eyeglasses (or two), prescription sunglasses, and contact lenses.

- disability
- life insurance

Payment of 80% of dental bill, not 80% of recommended provincial rate.

post retirement benefits are necessary just like other institutions do to their retirees.

dental, ortho

I would like to use the increased employer contributions to reduce the costs borne by the employees.

-automatic billing

Our benefits did not improve, and in fact were restricted in some areas, and Great West is less competent at handling claims, is more controlling about prescriptions refills and claim documentation, and has no "instant claim processing" facility for small claims. I do not see any benefits associated with the SMUFU take-over of the health insurance plan and am starting to think that the massive effort involved was a waste. I think we need some explanation of how this change has resulted in benefits to us.

* Acupuncture
* Rebates for health club memberships and other activities that keep us healthy

Increased amounts for HSA (healthcare spending account).
More $ for chiropractic care, perhaps combined with massage therapy $ allotment (should be increased above $500).
Increased vision care.
Increased dental care.

A more equitable amount for family coverage. The amount for supplementary spending should not be the same for single and family coverage. Family coverage should be at least twice the amount. This is grossly unfair.

Increase in visual, increase the percentage for dental, increase the amount for chiropractor and massage.

Eye glass/laser surgery and orthotics coverage is inadequate, as are other "minimums" on such wellness benefits as message therapy. Dental is minimum acceptable.

Changes in benefits in recent years seem more towards retiring faculty than towards expanding benefits for the general membership. While I understand the need to change things for those retiring, it seems to me that the current situation is unfavorably balanced in their favor. There has been practically no change in benefits for the rest of the membership. I feel VERY strongly that this needs to be addressed, and soon.

It is because things are currently lopsided that I have marked the following questions the way I have.

None that I can think of yet.

Increase the non-dedicated allowance per year for medical claims. Increase the allowance for corrective eye lenses.

I would like to go back to Blue Cross.

I would like the University to administer these benefits again.

The Union or "Trust" should not be involved in health benefits.

Our health benefits should include more forms of alternative medicine coverage (i.e. homeopathy, naturopathy, osteopathy, chiropractic) and higher caps for therapeutic massage treatments. The current caps are too low.
Also, there has to be a way to submit claims by the provider directly rather than paying first and then get reimbursed by the insurance.
Currenly, there is very little information provided by the insurance on health benefits. Service under Blue Cross was by far superior in terms of interface with the clients (beneficiaries).

continuation of drug benefits after age 65 for those still on salary - reinstatement of drug benefits to those already removed from the plan who are still on salary at SMU

There is not enough information provided to make an educated choice as to what health benefit selection to make. e.g. At what rate are healthcare costs rising? How do we compare to averages of similar institutions?


I would like to see orthodontics included in benefits -- but how much would this raise premiums? This might make me NOT want to see orthodontics included. Not enough information.

Remove the need for doctor's referrerals for physiotherapy and massage. This is a strategy that makes benefits recipients less likely to access these services for which they have already paid.
Increase the amount for optical services / eyewear.
Do not extend (drug) benefits to retirees at the cost of younger faculty who are earning proportionately much less! Older faculty should not pass on the responsibility of their lack of planning to younger faculty.
I am firmly set against allowing retirees to hijack our bargaining position as they did in the last round. We lost ground considerably as a result. Leave the rights of so-called retirees to the provincial and federal governments.

1. Orthodontics
2. Massage therapy
3. Twice-a-year dental visits

n/a

re-evaluation of Great West Life as our provider. Many errors in service (e.g. denying claims even though we are entitled to certain benefits and provided all documentation as directed, loosing claims, overall very poor customer service). Never had this many problems with Blue Cross.

I would be more interested in a dental plan that allocates a dollar figure per employee, spouse and dependent as opposed to the percentage system we currently have. For example, each employee would be entitled to $500. That way for employees who have basic dental needs (once or twice a year cleanings) the entire amount would be covered instead of 80% or whatever it is now. For employees who have dental needs that exceed the $500 a year, they could use the supplementary health care spending account.
I think this would just result in a greater amount of coverage for most average users of the plan.

To be able to opt out if on sessional contracts not covering a full benefit year (ie 9 month contract, new contract does not begin for 3 months leaving 3 month gap with no coverage).

I would like a better billing system, like Blue Cross.
I think the need for a doctor's referral for Massage and Physio should be dropped, like Blue Cross.

no

To include orthodondics

Can we include post doctoral fellows as part of the faculty plan? At the moment they have the worst of both worlds because they cannot access the supplemental health care at all (HR considers them effectively as limited term employees and the contract with their provider does not allow limited term employees supplemental health care for the first year).

Please make sure that we have a better health insurance provider. It took me 5 days and 4 e-mail to get the address to mail my claim.

Vision should be covered to a reasonable extent, rather than requiring those who need it to eat up their $400 flex fund. I imagine this covering an examination every two years and a supply of contact lenses OR eye glasses by way of a reasonable max expenditure over a 2 year period. This strikes me as *very* standard coverage and I find it very irritating that it is not assumed.

It also seems odd that we receive substantial funding for massage but trivial funding for doctor-prescribed corrective implements such as orthotics. (Though the situation is substantially improved now with the flex fund.)

Dental, chiropractic and vision care need improvement.

Major improvements are required to the dental plan.
Seeing and hearing are in my mind priorities. Our plan should cover the costs almost entirely where glasses or hearing aids are required for doing the job of a professor. There may well be other health issues that are related to the essential functioning of a professor. A survey of faculty may help identify these areas and the setting of priorities.

Our dental benefit is very limited. I would like to have orthodontics and oral surgeries.

Increase coverage for vision care to $200 (per 2 years)

I am totally opposed to paying any dental and health benefits to retirees. They had 25 to 30 years to prepare for their retirement and can pay for Pharmacare or another insurer like everyone else. This would be a further drain on the benefits resources that are already structured to the needs of retiring faculty members.

How about some benefits geared to the large demographic group among the faculty who are under 50 whether they are single or have families. This group don't need large pharmaceutical bills such as viagra ( why are we paying for a vanity drug like viagra?) , but are healthy, active, fit and use the massages, need coverage for essential children's dental needs such as orthodontics ( not covered by one penny contrary to the misconception of the chief negotiator), more eye care coverage, and need the safety net of long term disability or some pharmaceutical care in the event of real diseases such as cancer.

i'd like to see the benefits included in the package reflect the needs of the constituency of the faculty as a whole. and i'd like to see particular attention paid to the needs of children and young families.

Single page annual summary statement that lists & details all items
of coverage that a member has paid for and what each costs.