Transition to New Group Benefits Providers

Your current benefit plans remain unchanged, and the coverage you are eligible for today stays exactly the same. However, the university is moving to new providers, so these benefits will now be administered and delivered by our new partners.

Alberta Blue Cross becomes the carrier for Health, Dental, Health Spending Account (HSA), Personal Spending Account (PSA), and Critical Illness, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D), and Business Travel Insurance, effective April 1, 2027.

Canada Life becomes the carrier for disability management, including General Illness or Medical Leave (Short-Term Disability (STD) and Long-Term Disability (LTD)), effective January 1, 2027. Basic Life, Optional Life, Dependent Life, and LTD coverage is renewing with Canada Life with no change to coverage, cards, or the claims process.

*There will be no change to the university’s Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) provider or plan.

The university's current contracts were reaching the end of their term. The university has a responsibility to regularly review its contracts and agreements.

The university ran a competitive request-for-proposals (RFP) and evaluation to ensure it has benefits providers that are the best fit for the community.  

Yes. AASUA, NASA, and PDFA were formally engaged in the RFP and in this transition as the university has negotiated employee benefits with their members. GSA is not involved in this transition as we do not have negotiated employee benefits for their members.

No. Coverage levels, eligibility criteria, and benefit maximums will remain the same throughout this transition.

Over the coming months, you will receive instructions on how to verify your information and access benefits with the new providers. Disability coverage will transfer automatically; further updates will follow.

Sun Life remains your active provider for Health, Dental, Health Spending Account (HSA), Personal Spending Account (PSA) claims through March 31, 2027. Alberta Blue Cross becomes effective April 1, 2027. You will receive new Alberta Blue Cross member credentials before it becomes effective.

Industrial Alliance remains your active provider for claims through March 31, 2027. Continue to submit claims as you do today until that date. Alberta Blue Cross becomes effective on April 1, 2027.

Effective dates differ by benefit plan:

• Health, Dental, Health Spending Account (HSA), Personal Spending Account (PSA), Critical Illness, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D), and Business Travel move from Industrial Alliance to Alberta Blue Cross on April 1, 2027.
• Disability management, General Illness or Medical Leave (STD) and Long-term Disability (LTD) move from Homewood Health Inc. to Canada Life on January 1, 2027 and September 1st, 2026 for new claimants. Existing open claims will transition to Canada Life between October and December 2026. 
• Life Insurance and Long Term Disability (LTD) will not change.

No. The university is coordinating with both current and new partners to ensure a transition that is as seamless as possible.

Yes. New Alberta Blue Cross benefit coverage cards will be issued ahead of April 1, 2027. Your current Sun Life cards remain valid through March 31, 2027. Additional information will be shared on how and when cards will be provided in the coming months. 

Yes. From April 1, 2027 you will use the Alberta Blue Cross member app and member website for Health and Dental claims, direct billing, spending account balances and ID cards. Until March 31, 2027, continue to use the current Sun Life and Industrial Alliance member sites and apps.

Yes. Drug coverage will move to Alberta Blue Cross on April 1, 2027. All currently active prior authorizations will be honoured by Alberta Blue Cross starting from April 1, 2027. 

No. Your active prior authorization will be carried over to Alberta Blue Cross. Your prior authorization drugs will continue to be covered under the Alberta Blue Cross plan.

No. The transition to new benefits carriers does not restrict which providers you can see. 

Any remaining balances in your HSA and PSA will be transferred from Sun Life to Alberta Blue Cross on April 1, 2027. There will be no gaps in your coverage.

You do not need to take any action specific to your leave status. Any coverage you are entitled to with the current providers will continue after the transition to Alberta Blue Cross and Canada Life. Additional information will be provided closer to the transition date. Confirm with your HR Partner if you have questions about your specific leave arrangement. 

No. The Health and Dental coverage for members on approved disability continues. You will be provided with separate university communications about your disability claim transfer from Homewood Health to Canada Life.

Your disability claim is being transferred from Homewood Health Inc. to Canada Life. Those with an active case will receive direct communication about actions required.

Please expect the following steps:

• A letter from the university notifying you of the transfer timeline
• Two separate authorization forms required to facilitate your file transfer from Homewood Health to Canada Life. Please sign and return these before the indicated deadline. Further guidance and specific dates will be provided.
• No additional steps are necessary once these forms are submitted.
• A welcome package from Canada Life following the transfer completion, containing your updated case details and relevant contact information.

No. Your payments will continue without interruption,  and they will continue to come from the university exactly as they do now. Once your file has transferred, your new Canada Life case manager will contact you to introduce themselves and confirm claim details. 

No. Canada Life is administering the same benefit you have today under the same plan terms. The salary continuance definition, Long Term Disability (LTD) definition, elimination period, benefit percentages, and approval criteria are governed by your plan and your collective agreement and are not changing. 

No. In the coming weeks, the university will contact you directly requesting the completion of two consents (one for Homewood Health Inc. and one for Canada Life) to facilitate the file transfer. Once the completed forms have been received by the university, your new Canada Life case manager will receive your complete case file including your treatment program, return-to-work plan, approved medical restrictions, and treating provider contacts. All active case files will be assigned to a Canada Life case manager before the January 1, 2027 effective date, with continuity of case management from that date. You will be contacted directly to provide the necessary consent for this process to occur. 

Before the effective date, continue to contact Homewood Health as you do today. After the transfer, you will be assigned a Canada Life case manager, who you can contact directly. 

• For university-specific questions at any point during the transition, contact your HR Partner.
• For questions about your current disability claims, contact the Return to work consultant that is actively working on the file. 

No. You will not be required to resubmit your LTD application form.  Your Canada Life case manager will manage the transition as a continuous process, even if your General Illness or Medical Leave (STD) period ends after the January 1, 2027 effective date. If your General Illness or Medical Leave period is currently in progress with Homewood Health and your file transfers before the General Illness or Medical Leave (STD) period ends, your new Canada Life case manager will manage the progression to LTD (if required). 

No. The coverage for your benefits will not change. Members will receive information about how to process claims ahead of the April 1, 2027 implementation. Please ensure your current email address is updated in Bear Tracks.