Looking for extended health care (EHC) coverage? It may be closer than you think: your College Pension Plan offers coverage that can meet your needs today and into the future.

Last year, following a survey of retired members, we announced changes to EHC coverage that improved offerings in the areas of vision care, hearing care and paramedical services. We also lowered the deductible, helping reduce costs for plan members and their loved ones.

What is EHC coverage and who can enrol?

The EHC coverage offered by the plan is designed to support members in their retirement years. Coverage may be available to you, your spouse and your eligible dependants when you retire, subject to plan eligibility and enrolment requirements.

You can apply for EHC coverage online during the retirement process if you are a permanent resident of Canada and have medical coverage through a provincial health plan in the province where you live. You may also be able to apply after retirement if you have had continuous comparable coverage in another extended health plan, such as your spouse’s plan, and meet the plan's enrolment requirements.

Benefits of EHC coverage

Because you’ll be responsible for paying the full cost of EHC premiums, it’s important to understand the benefits and value you’ll be getting from your EHC coverage.

EHC covers a broad range of medications—more than BC PharmaCare and many other plans—and offers competitive coverage in the areas of vision care, hearing care, paramedical services and more.

Of course, coverage is only part of the picture. Health costs increase every year, and the plan’s EHC coverage is designed to manage changing costs and maintain affordability over time. It does this through regular usage reviews and by adjusting different costs, such as annual deductibles and reimbursement levels.

Learn more about EHC coverage and recent changes by watching our video on post retirement group benefits coverage.