Benefits and pension

If you are eligible for benefits and have eligible dependents, you must select family supplementary health and dental coverage. Eligible dependents are defined as:

• spouse: a person who is legally married to you or who is not legally married to you but has continuously resided with you for not less than 12 consecutive months
• children: your natural, adopted, stepchildren or children for whom you are the legal guardian. Children must be:
  • unmarried
  • under 21 and not working more than 30 hours per week
  • less than 21 or, if 21 but less than 25, attending an accredited educational institution, college or university on a full-time basis (minimum three courses)

To be eligible, dependents must have a provincial healthcare card.

Opting out of supplementary health and dental coverage

You may opt out of supplementary health and dental coverage within the first 31 days of initial eligibility if you have other group coverage through your spouse’s plan or another employer. If family premiums are not applied when applicable, a premium adjustment will be processed retroactive for up to a maximum of 12 months (late applicant process).

Once the first 31 days of initial eligibility has passed, if you have one or more dependents and are defaulting to single coverage, you will be subject to the late applicant process.

If you are newly eligible and were previously employed by Covenant Health, Covenant Care, Covenant Living, Alberta Health Services or Alberta Precision Laboratories in the past six months, you may apply to have your life and disability benefits waiting period waived. To apply for the waiver, send a completed application form to general.documents@covenanthealth.ca within 31 days of your hire. If approved, all life insurance benefits previously approved via a medical health statement may also be eligible for reinstatement within six months.

If you are eligible for a flexible spending account (FSA), allocate your credits to one or more of the following accounts within 31 days of becoming eligible for benefits: 

• Flexible Spending Health ― Canada Account (HSA) (non-taxable)
• Personal Spending Account (taxable)
• Group Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) (taxable) under RBC account #2546
• Group Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) (taxable) under RBC account #18271

If you do not allocate your credits within 31 days of becoming eligible for benefits, your credits will default to the HSA. You will not be able to reallocate them. See our frequently asked questions for more information. 

The TFSA option is not applicable to AUPE ― STV, CUPE 408 Medicine Hat and USW.

Group RRSP and TFSA

Employees can contribute to the voluntary Group RRSP through payroll deduction. If you have an FSA, you may allocate your flex amount to an RBC Group RRSP. For more information see an overview of the RRSP plan options, RRSP enrollment form and TFSA plan overview.

If you are UNA permanent employee, we will match contributions up to two per cent of your regular earnings to either an employer-matched Group RRSP or an employer-matched Group TFSA.

Any credits allocated to the Group RRSP and/or Group TFSA will be divided into equal monthly deposits depending on the number of full months remaining in the calendar year.

You must have your Group RRSP and/or Group TFSA account(s) set up within 14 days of allocating your FSA by calling RBC at 1.888.769.2566 or visiting any RBC branch. If you do not set up the Group RRSP and/or Group TFSA with RBC within 14 days, the credits will be rejected and redirected to the HSA. You will not be able to reallocate them.

See frequently asked questions for RRSPs and TFSAs for more information about making contributions.

Employment transfers and terminations

If you end your employment with us or transfer to a position that is not eligible for benefits, you will lose any remaining balance in your Group RRSP and/or Group TFSA. Also, you will lose any remaining FSA credit balances (flex spending and personal spending) not spent before the last day of the calendar month in which you were eligible.

Covenant Health has a robust health and wellness program for all employees. You may access more information on the wellness resources on CompassionNet.

Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)

As an employee, you and your immediate family members have access to free and confidential support services provided by professionals to help you assess and resolve work, health and life issues.

See the EFAP brochure or overview of services for more information.