Retirees

 

Glossary
 
 
 

Brain death

Irreversible unconsciousness with total loss of brain function and complete absence of electrical activity of the brain, even though the heart is still beating.

 
 

Child

Your natural, legally adopted, step or other eligible child1 who meets all of the following requirements:

unmarried;
not cohabiting in a conjugal relationship with another individual;
totally dependent on you for support and maintenance;
one of the following ages:
 
-
under age 21;
 
-
under age 26 if a full-time student at an accredited post-secondary institution2;
 
-
of any age if physically or mentally disabled, but otherwise qualifies under this definition, provided he or she became disabled while covered by the plan and you provide satisfactory proof that your child is incapable of self-support as a result of the disability3;
living in Canada, unless a full-time student elsewhere; and
not in the armed forces (except for optional and dependent life insurance coverage).

 

1 The plan can also include the natural or legally adopted child of your common-law spouse and another person, a child who resides with you and is not eligible for publicly provided benefits substantially equivalent to those provided under the plan and in respect of whom you have legal custody or guardianship, and any child who lives with you and is totally dependent on you and/or your spouse for support. Totally dependent means that no support or maintenance of a financial nature is paid or payable on account of this child by an individual other than yourself and/or your spouse and no other individual receives (or would be eligible to receive if application were made) publicly funded benefits or tax credits on account of this child.
2 Confirmation of enrolment as a full-time student must be provided.
3 Proof of your child's continuing disability and incapability of self-support may be required from time to time. Coverage may be terminated if the child becomes capable of self-support.
 
 

Dentist

A doctor of dental surgery or a doctor of dental medicine licensed to practice and prescribe in the area where services are rendered.

 
 

Dependents

Your eligible spouse and children.

 
 

Hospital

A facility that is licensed to provide active treatment for sick or injured patients. It does not include rehabilitation hospital, mental institution, convalescent hospital or home, an institution used primarily for treatment of a specific illness or disease, a nursing home, a chronic care facility, a home for the aged, a rest home or any other facility that provides similar care. Beds set aside for chronic care in a hospital are not covered.

Regarding accidental injury or death benefits
For in-hospital confinement monthly income, hospital means a legally constituted establishment that meets all of the following conditions:

operates primarily for the reception, care and treatment of sick, ailing or injured persons as inpatients;
provides 24-hour service by registered or graduate nurses;
has a staff of one or more licensed physicians available at all times;
provides organized facilities for diagnosis and surgical facilities; and
is not primarily a clinic, nursing home or convalescent home or similar establishment nor, other than incidentally, a place for alcoholics or drug addicts.
 
 

Immediate family

“Immediate family” refers to a spouse (or common-law spouse), parents, grandparents, children over 18, brothers or sisters.

 
 

Medically necessary

A service or supply provided or prescribed by a health care professional to prevent, diagnose, or treat an injury, disease, or disability that is:

consistent with the treatment of symptom(s) or diagnosed injury, disease, or disability;
not primarily prescribed or provided for convenience;
the most appropriate, safe, and cost-effective service or supply; and
generally recognized as accepted medical practice.
When the plan refers to a health care professional, it means a person who is legally licensed to practice his or her profession where services are rendered, and includes physicians, pharmacists, dentists, and other professionals as approved by the plan.
 
 

Mission statement

The Trustees of the Public Sector Group Insurance Plan are mandated to act in the best interest of the plan and its beneficiaries.

To achieve this objective, the Trustees are committed to the following qualities:

Proactiveness
Identify and analyse group insurance trends and best practices
Make recommendations to optimize the plan’s cost-effectiveness and long-term sustainability
Transparency
Inform parties of all decisions
Educate beneficiaries on the plan and their role
Integrity
Adhere to the Trust document at all times
Respect all legal documents and requirements
 
 

Physician

A doctor of medicine who is legally licensed to prescribe drugs, administer medical treatment, and perform surgery within the scope of this license.

 
 

Professional counsellor

A therapist or counsellor who is licensed, registered or certified to provide the applicable treatment or counselling.

 
 

Proof of good health

Medical questionnaire that you must complete to show the status of your health. Depending on your answers, Great-West Life can require a medical examination and any other information.

 
 

Spouse

The person to whom you are legally married, or the person of the same or opposite sex with whom you have been living in a common-law relationship for at least 12 months.

Also note:

Your spouse must live in Canada, unless he or she is a full-time student elsewhere.
The plan does not cover any spouse in the armed forces.
The plan covers only one spouse at a time.
 
 

Stable condition

Any medical condition or related condition (including any heart condition or any lung condition) for which there have been:

no new treatment or new prescribed medication; and
no change in treatment or change in prescribed medication (including the amount of medication to be taken, how often it is taken, the type of medication or change in treatment frequency or type); and
no new symptom, more frequent symptom or more severe symptom experienced; and
no test result showing a deterioration; and
no hospitalization or referral to a specialist (made or recommended) or the results of further investigations not yet completed for that medical condition or related condition (including any heart condition or any lung condition).
 
 

Usual cost

The usual cost of covered services and supplies that are medically necessary to treat an illness, injury or pregnancy.

The plan will only cover:

the amount that is usually charged for the service or supplies in the area in which the charge is made;
services and supplies that are needed to diagnose or treat an illness, injury or pregnancy and that are recognized by the Canadian Medical Association as effective and appropriate and based on accepted standards of Canadian health care;
services and supplies that the plan is legally allowed by the government to cover. The plan will not cover services or supplies that are covered by the government plan in the insured person’s home province;
charges for services and supplies that are incurred while the person is insured;
charges for services and supplies for the least expensive treatment that is medically adequate.
 

May 2011