Frequently Asked Questions
A: RCC Executive groups are eligible for membership. Interested Executives’ should contact the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) for further details.
A: Participation in the RCC Group Insurance Program is an exclusive membership privilege offered by RCC. Interested RCC members or prospective members should contact Morneau Shepell.
A: Individual members looking for insurance are grouped together under the same umbrella. Instead of applying for individual insurance where the rates are adjusted based on personal claims, we purchase insurance for the group as a whole. Insurance companies give the association volume purchasing discounts. The block of business and the rates are adjusted according to the entire pool’s experience.
A: Payment is due the first business day of the billing month (i.e. January 1 for January). Most invoices are mailed weeks prior to the due date.
A: During an annual renewal of the plan, the insurance company examines the entire pool’s claims experience and other external factors such as inflation. They then determine the rate changes needed to support the claims in the coming year. We do negotiate these renewals on your behalf to ensure that they are remaining as competitive as possible. Rates also factor in age, family status, smoking status, and province of residence.
A: To ensure that employee coverage changes (e.g., new hires, terminations, etc...) are added to your next premium statement, notify Morneau Shepell, using the Group Insurance Change Form, prior to the 12th of the month.
A: No. You can submit changes without adjusting the premium amount due. Your next invoice will indicate the credit or the back charges for the changes submitted.
A: Most plans have 3 month waiting period (3+ employees) for ALL benefits. For 1-2 employees, coverage is in effect the first of the month following approval.
A: Yes, however employees who have Health and/or Dental coverage through a spouse can opt out of their Health and/or Dental coverage.
A: It can take up to 4-6 weeks in total from beginning to end. This depends on your application and if the insurance company requires any additional information from you. We can keep you posted on the status of your application. The effective date of coverage is usually the 1st of the month following your approval date.
A: For groups that require medical evidence, it is ultimately up to the insurance company to approve or decline coverage. They consider your answers to the health and/or financial questions in your application and the coverage that you are applying for. They sometimes require additional health information from you, i.e. blood/urine tests, and will advise you if they require them. Generally they look at height/weight, past medical history, and other medical conditions. If you are approved for coverage, the insurer will make that determination and advise you in writing.
A: Your contract of insurance will state how any pre-existing conditions will be handled.
A: We are consultants who locate the best products to suit your needs as well as ensure the financial competitiveness of your programs. We are also the Third-Party Administrators (TPA) who manage and run all of the administration required of a group insurance program. We do not, however, insure the program (pay the claims) but rather work with various insurance companies on your behalf.
A: No doubt, there can always be a cheaper plan somewhere. You really have to take a close look at the comprehensiveness of the plan and any other limitations and requirements of obtaining that coverage. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples.
Most of the brokers/companies advertise rates on the best possible scenario. For example: a young applicant with no health issues, but that rate changes significantly once you actually sign up for the coverage and submit actual health information.
You can sometimes see large discounts in the first year only to have your rates increase at the first renewal. You should always consider the outliers as suspicious and see if you can get extended rate guarantees beyond a year if the rates seem out of step with the rest if the marketplace.
Unfortunately, we cannot negotiate our rates at this time as these are group insurance rates set for the year for this association plan.
A: No, there is no penalty as long as we receive a written notification requesting cancellation of coverage at least 31 days in advance of a premium due date.
A: You would have to reapply and possibly go through medical underwriting again.
A: Your contract defines the termination date of your benefits. If you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact Morneau Shepell.
A: Your disability claims are adjudicated on a case by case basis. You must meet the definition of disability (as per the contract) and remain under the care of a physician.