The Wage indemnity Plan (WIP) Board of Trust would like to advise you of some changes made to the application for the Wage Indemnity Plan. There is a new application package available. We believe the new documents will assist Medical Professionals to clearly provide the information necessary for your application to the Wage Indemnity Plan.
Additionally, we have expanded the medical signatories eligible for your application.
Effective immediately Members may have their Attending Physician’s Statement (APS) signed by a, Physician/MD, *Nurse Practitioner,*Psychiatrist or an *Ophthalmologist.
*Claim applications for 14 days or less may now be signed by a *Midwife and *Dentist.
If the illness or injury lasts longer than 14 days the Member must see a Physician/MD, Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatrist or Ophthalmologist to further substantiate the illness.
Members that utilized the AC’s Maple App and have had a telemedicine Dr. appt for absences greater than 7 days and not exceeding 14 days, should request and consent that the note provide;
- The reason for your absence/condition preventing you from being at work
- Treatment during that time off
- Return to work date
- Any supporting documents/reports
If this will not be provided, it can be found in your clinical notes and clinical interactions on the Maple App.
For the application to WIP you may send copies of; the note, in addition to the clinical information found on the app, form 1 the Members application, banking information and disclosure (optional).
* If the time off exceeds 14 days the member must have a Physician/MD, Nurse practitioner, Psychiatrist or Ophthalmologist fill the medical or psychological, APS attending physicians statements.
The new forms and completed package for application are available by clicking HERE for English or HERE for French.
The summary of the approved 2022 Wage Indemnity Plan financials, are now available for review by clicking HERE. The increase in the Member contribution to 4.3% that took place in April 2022 and the steady increase in population have achieved the goal of stabilizing the Plan.
After monitoring the Plan quarterly, the Board of Trust approved a decrease to the Member contribution rate, to 3.8% which was effective in the May 2023, block month. The plan is now, 1 week elimination, followed by 15 weeks of STD 1 (Short Term Disability), 26 weeks of EI SICKNESS INSURANCE CARVE OUT, then 35 weeks STD 2. If a Member, denied EI Sickness Insurance benefits due to insufficient eligible hours, notifies Manion and provides the EI denial letter, the Member will then be considered for continued coverage under the new clause.
EI Ineligibility Due to Insufficient Hours
If you are Totally Disabled but do not satisfy the EI eligibility requirements due to hours, you may be eligible for disability benefits from this Plan for a maximum of twenty-six (26) weeks at 55% of your pre-disability weekly earnings, subject to the maximum payable by EI, provided you submit proof that you are not eligible due to insufficient insurable hours. You must submit your EI denial letter with your claim for WIP benefits to Manion.
During the first 18 months of Short-Term Disability coverage, STD payments may be made if an individual is unable to perform duties of a Flight Attendant due to medically determinable mental or physical impairment. To be eligible for Long Term Disability payments after 18 month of disability an individual must satisfy the change of definition and be incapable of engaging in any gainful occupation for which they are reasonably fitted by education, training or experience.
Reminders:
1) For the WIP application, a medical appointment must be within 14 days of the first flight missed, or shift if on special assignment or Union Officer duties, or first reserve day missed if on reserve.
2) It is your responsibility to submit proof of disability within:
(a) 30 days of your first flight missed, first day missed on special assignment or Union duties, or first
reserve day missed, if on reserve;
(b) 30 days of the termination of your disability benefits under the Employment Insurance Act of Canada in order to reinstate your claim under this Wage Indemnity Plan; and
(c) 30 days of the recurrence of a disability.
LATE CLAIMS WILL BE PROCESSED WHEN YOU CAN SHOW SUFFICIENT REASON IN WRITING FOR NOT APPLYING EARLIER.
3) Prepayment of premiums is not required for an absence from the payroll of 15 calendar days or less. Prepayment of premiums is required for an absence from the payroll of 16 or more calendar days for one of the following reasons. You must prepay the required premium in full within 30 days in order to be eligible for benefit consideration following the end of any of these periods:
Leaves of absence granted LOA(such as personal, educational, maternity, child care, bereavement, or jury duty) other than inability to meet medical standards (IMMS): your coverage may be continued for a maximum duration of up to 24 months.
*NOTE This includes requests for leaves from pairings = LOA’s and if you have 2 requests in a month with no flight or reserve days in between it can create a 16-day personal leave of absence.
Suspension: your coverage may be continued for the duration of your suspension. If you have elected to keep your coverage in force and should you become totally disabled during a suspension, the elimination period will commence on the date you are scheduled to return to work.
If your leave of absence of 16 or more calendar days precedes your vacation and you have not prepaid the premium for that leave of absence, coverage will not be reinstated until you return to active work.
No prepayment of premiums is required when you are absent from work due to vacation or a personal leave of absence of 15 calendar days or less.
On Behalf of The Board of Trust,
Patricia Eberley
Administrative Consultant
NOTE: All Policy Booklet information can be accessed on the Air Canada Component of CUPE web site www.accomponent.ca.
Manion, Wilkins & Associates
Plan Administration
626-21 Four Seasons Place
Etobicoke, Ontario
M9B 0A6
Switchboard: 416-234-5044
Toll Free Line: 1-800-663-7849
Fax: 416-234-0127
Contact Centre: 1-866-532-8999