We are seeing significant developments in the association benefits marketplace in recent months. More and more associations are realizing that providing value-added member services is very important in attracting and retaining a solid membership base. The SSCA's newly developed Member Benefit Insurance Plan is an excellent example of this type of initiative.
The Member Benefit Plan is a voluntary group insurance program exclusive to current SSCA members. The plan is designed and administered by DW Anderson Consulting Group. The primary insurance carrier is one of this country's largest insurance companies: Sun Life of Canada.
In a nutshell, the Member Benefit Insurance Plan provides the flexibility of an individual insurance program with the cost and underwriting advantages of a traditional group insurance package. After electing at least one of the two "core" benefits, the member has the ability to "cherry-pick" from the several remaining options to truly create their own package of insurance benefits to meet their own needs. In addition, a special out-of-province travel insurance option has been made available to the SSCA plan through Ingle Health which provides members with unlimited emergency travel coverage for any number of 8-day trips taken within the year. SSCA members also gain access to the association's exclusive "Snow Bird" travel insurance rates through Ingle Health.
As mentioned, there are several association benefit programs that have been rolled out lately. One such plan is the "Country-Care Plan" available through the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool. Although the Member Benefit Insurance Plan appears similar to this and other plans available, there are significant differences.
While other benefit plans are "pre-packaged" and have very little flexibility to customize it to the member's needs, the SSCA's plan has tremendous flexibility in that there are only two "core" benefits available and each member has the ability to pick their own options after the "core." Also, the SSCA plan provides the ability to choose "couple" coverage which at older ages will be more appropriate and less costly than having to elect a "family" coverage option.
Other plans have significantly lower limits on key benefits versus the SSCA plan. For example, the SSCA's healthcare provides members with unlimited annual and lifetime benefits (per insured) versus a $10,000 per year maximum and a $30,000 lifetime maximum (per insured) found with other plans. The SSCA travel health plan has unlimited annual and lifetime maximums also versus lower maximums found with other plans. There are no lifetime maximums for the prescription drug component of the SSCA health plan either whereas other plans include the prescription coverage in arriving at the $30,000 lifetime maximum. The SSCA healthcare plan covers all paramedical services where other plans available do not. The SSCA dental care plan does not have the restricted benefits in the first year as many other plans do. The SSCA dental plan begins at 100% coverage immediately. Also, the SSCA plan provides higher coverage limits on certain dental procedures than other plans available in the marketplace.
Additionally, the SSCA program has been designed without deductibles for the travel, health and dental care benefits. Other plans are designed with annual deductibles which of course raises the actual plan costs for the member.
The SSCA plan has guaranteed issue products available on both "core" benefits (up to age 50). Even the out-of-country travel portion of the SSCA plan has non medical approval (certain conditions may apply). Also, each SSCA plan member applying for healthcare is guaranteed a minimum level of prescription coverage under this benefit regardless of medical history. Furthermore, if an SSCA member currently has Blue Cross health/dental coverage, they can be automatically guaranteed full healthcare coverage under the SSCA program simply by providing the policy number of their current coverage. Similar benefit plans being promoted require medical underwriting and approval on all benefits.
Other benefit plans have limits of 30 days out-of-country health coverage (per trip) with no option to extend the coverage beyond the 30 days if it is needed. Most travelers would not fully utilize their per trip limit but are paying for it regardless. However, the SSCA plan provides basic 8-day coverage with the option to extend up to 6 months per trip at discounted rates. With the SSCA plan, members only pay for what they need, when they need it and can extend it as required.
Some questions often asked by SSCA members:
"I've compared the costs and it appears the SSCA plan is higher than my Blue Cross health and dental coverage for me and my family." The SSCA plan was designed to provide solid, comprehensive coverage for SSCA members at an affordable price. Although at some age ranges the cost is higher for family coverage, the SSCA plan currently provides significantly higher levels of health and dental coverage than the Blue Cross plan. In addition, there is no "6 month waiting period" associated with the SSCA plan's dental benefit - full coverage begins immediately and it is not "phased in" over the first three years. As with most purchases, you get what you pay for.
"I want a plan that has long term guarantees." As with any association or group insurance program, the rates that are charged to the plan may increase or decrease each year based on claims experience for the group. The insurer, Sun Life of Canada, has priced the plan very conservatively with the expectation that rates will remain stable.
"Do I need to have a medical exam to qualify for benefits?" The two "core" products are automatic issue for applicants under age 50. Additionally, applicants who already have individual Blue Cross health coverage and apply for health coverage under the SSCA plan are automatically issued coverage simply by providing their Blue Cross certificate number. Optional benefits require completion of a short questionnaire.
"I have heard that the Wheat Pool plan uses a consultant out of Ontario as their plan administrator. Where is the SSCA's plan administrator and consultant located?" The SSCA's consultant for the Member Benefit Plan is DW Anderson Consulting Group out of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The consultant has several district representatives throughout Saskatchewan to serve the needs of SSCA members. As well, there is a convenient toll free number (1-888-878-7722) SSCA members can utilize to ask representatives questions about the Member Benefit Plan or simply to have information sent to them.