Retirement health coverage premiums

Find out the cost of retirement health coverage.

Overview

BC's Public Service Pension Plan may pay a portion of the monthly premiums for your extended health care coverage. The plan does not subsidize extended health care or dental premiums for spouses and dependants.

The Public Service Pension Board of Trustees regularly reviews current health benefit funding to ensure it is sufficient to cover future needs. Coverage can change at any time, and your premiums, subsidies and deductibles could increase, decrease or be eliminated.

Any premiums you are required to pay for your retirement health coverage are automatically deducted from your monthly pension payment. If your pension payment cannot cover the extended health care and dental plan premiums, you must pay Green Shield Canada directly through pre-authorized debit.

We deduct premiums one month in advance. For example, February premiums are deducted from your January pension payment.

Extended health care coverage begins the month your pension is effective. Two deductions will be taken from your first pension payment: one for the current month and one (in advance) for the following month.

Voluntary dental coverage begins on the first of the month after the month your pension is effective. One deduction will be taken from your first pension payment. For example, if you retire on April 30, your pension is effective May 1 and dental coverage will not begin until June 1. The deduction for June will be taken from your May pension payment.

This direct payment option is also available to your spouse after your death if they continue to receive pension payments and were covered by the extended health care or dental plan when you died. Contact us for more information.

Note: The extended health care and dental premiums you pay may be tax deductible as part of your eligible medical expenses.