Retirement health coverage and you

Support your health and peace of mind. Learn about the coverage options available to you as a retired member of BC’s Public Service Pension Plan.

When you retire, any extended health care and dental coverage you were receiving through your employer will stop. However, you can apply for extended health care and dental coverage when you apply for your pension.

This optional coverage is provided through the plan’s insurance carrier, Green Shield Canada, and gives you access to competitive group rates. With extended health care coverage, you may also be eligible for subsidized monthly premiums based on your years of pensionable service.

Your spouse and/or eligible dependants can also be covered under the extended health care and dental plans.

If you do not enrol when you apply for your pension, you cannot enrol later on unless you've had continuous coverage in a different extended health care and/or dental plan since your retirement date.

You may also be eligible for subsidized group life insurance coverage. For more information, contact your employer or BC Public Service Agency's MyHR toll-free at 1-877-277-0772.

Extended health care

This supplemental plan extends your medical coverage beyond that provided by the Medical Services Plan of BC and other provincial health plans. It covers the cost of prescription drugs, vision care, hearing aids, medical aids and supplies, as well as some services.

There are monthly premiums, yearly deductibles and lifetime limits associated with the extended health care plan.

The Public Service Pension Plan subsidizes the cost of monthly premiums based on your years of service. The subsidy is not guaranteed and can be changed or eliminated at any time. The plan does not subsidize the cost of monthly premiums for your spouse and/or eligible dependant(s).

Dental care

If you enrol in the dental plan, you are eligible to be reimbursed for costs associated with preventive and restorative dental services. There are two dental plans to choose from, with different premiums, deductibles and eligible services for each.

The Public Service Pension Plan does not subsidize the cost of the dental plan’s monthly premiums.

How premiums are paid

You must pay monthly premiums to receive extended health care and dental coverage. Premiums are deducted from your pension payment. If your pension is not large enough, you can arrange to pay Green Shield Canada directly through pre-authorized debit.

These benefits are not guaranteed

The extended health care and dental coverage offered by the Public Service Pension Plan is not guaranteed, and coverage may change – your coverage, premiums and deductibles may increase, decrease or be eliminated.