Federal Retirees marks two anniversaries and looks ahead to the AMM in June.
The Public Service Healthcare Plan (PSHCP), which has been renewed with a new claims administrator as of July 1, 2023, is the largest private health-care plan in the country. The PSHCP has 1.7 million members, of whom 46 per cent are federal retirees. A full 73 per cent of the $1.5 billion in paid claims is for prescription drugs.
Before administration of the PSHCP switches from Sun Life to Canada Life on July 1, I urge all plan members to complete Canada Life’s positive enrolment process. The annual plan fee normally charged on April 1 of each year will be due on July 1 this year.
Meanwhile, I’m happy to report that responses to the branch core functions survey were extremely positive, with 71 of 79 branches completing it by the deadline. We shared the survey results with all branches in a webinar during the December national board of directors meeting.
In perhaps its most significant finding, the survey determined that the existing 80:20 cost sharing formula fits most branches.
The survey results also provided the special committee on branch financing with the information it needed to prepare its branch financing report and proposals for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Members (AMM) in June, the planning of which is well under way.
That report has since been reviewed by the board of directors and it will be considered by the president’s forum during the AMM, while also being reviewed by members at the AMM. In addition to the report, the AMM will consider two financing pilot projects on this topic:
- Minimum branch financing, and,
- Recurring branch funding.
The special committee on branch financing will wind down after the AMM.
For years, perhaps decades, the Association has been asked to nominate members who possess specific knowledge, expertise and experience to be members of five government committees. More than a year ago, the government advised the Association that future nominees must be representative of diversity and equity-deserving groups, including women, individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous or Persons of Colour (BIPOC), people with disabilities and members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community. Since the Association’s database does not include this information, we are taking steps to ensure our recruitment efforts are focused on competencies and include diversity criteria.
There is a precedent for this way of recruiting. Our search for an observer for the Public Service Pension Advisory Committee produced 38 applications. We’re optimistic we will also get good results from this process.
Please be sure to sign up for our emails and check our website often — more opportunities will be available. We look forward to leveraging the experience and wisdom and the full diversity of our membership for these types of volunteer and representation roles. The work these committees undertake is challenging and rewarding.