Industrial Alliance Pacific - Questions and Answers

Who is eligible for insurance under this BCTF Voluntary Group Insurance Plan

As eligibility can vary by product, please check the individual Products pages for detailed information.

What happens once I apply?

For Term Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Dependent Children Term Life and Critical Illness Insurance:

Once IAP receives your application, our underwriters will review it. You and/or your Spouse (if applying) may be requested to provide additional medical information at this time. Typically, applications take approximately three to five weeks to process, but if additional medical information is required, the process may be longer.

If the application is approved, an approval letter and a Certificate of Insurance will be sent to you for your review and acceptance. If the application is not approved, you will receive a notification letter and a full refund of any premiums paid, if applicable.

For Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance:

No medical underwriting is required – your acceptance is guaranteed. Once your application is received and your first month’s premium has been paid, an approval letter and a Certificate of Insurance will be sent to you for your review and acceptance.

When does coverage begin?

For Term Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment and Dependent Children Term Life Insurance:

Insurance for you and your family will take effect on the first day of the month coincident with or next following the date your application is approved.

If you are not actively at work on the date insurance would normally commence, insurance for both you and your family will commence on the date you return to active employment, provided there has been no change in your health or insurability.

Please Note (Applicable if your school district participates in the “Premium by Payroll Deduction” administration process): If you are paid on a 10 month basis and you and/or your family are approved for coverage between May 1^st and August 31^st of a given year, payroll deductions will commence in September and insurance will take effect October 1^st of the same year.

For Critical Illness Insurance:

Insurance for you and/or your spouse will take effect on the first day of the month coincident with or next following the date your application is approved and the first month’s premium paid.

If you are not actively at work on the date insurance would commence, insurance for you and/or your spouse will commence on the first day of the month following the date you return to active employment, provided there has been no change in your health or insurability.

For Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance:

Coverage will take effect once your application and first month’s premium is received by IAP.

How will my premiums be collected?

For Term Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment and Dependent Children Term Life Insurance:

The majority of British Columbia School Districts participate in the “Premium by Payroll Deduction” administration process for this plan.

This means that if your annual salary is payable over 10 months, the 10 month basis rates apply and premiums for you and/or your spouse will be deducted from your salary in 10 equal amounts. If your salary is paid over 12 months, the 12 month basis rates apply and premiums will be deducted monthly.

For a complete list of participating School Districts, please press here.

For Teachers on Call and for those BCTF members who are employed by a school district that does not participate in the “Premium by Payroll Deduction” administration process, the 12 month basis rates will apply and your Term Life, AD&D and Dependent Children Term Life Insurance premiums will be billed directly to you. You have the convenience of paying your premiums on either an annual basis by cheque or credit card, or on a monthly basis through pre-authorized cheque, Visa, or MasterCard. Annual premiums are due by January 1^st of each year. Monthly premiums are deducted from your account or charged to your credit card on or about the first of each month.

For Critical Illness and Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance

Premiums will be billed directly to you. You have the convenience of paying your premiums on either an annual basis by cheque or credit card, or on a monthly basis through pre-authorized cheque, Visa or MasterCard. Annual premiums are due by January 1^st of each year. Monthly premiums are deducted from your account or charged to your credit card on or about the first of each month.

When does coverage terminate?

For Term Life Insurance:

Your insurance will terminate automatically on the earliest of the following dates:

the end of the month in which you are no longer eligible;
the end of the month an employee loses the right to recall under their specific collective agreement;
the June 30th following the date you turn age 85 providing you continue working until the end of the school year and you are paid on a 12 month basis;
the September 30th following the date you turn age 85 providing you continue working until the end of the school year and you are paid on a 10 month basis;
the end of the month following the date you turn age 85 if you choose not to work to the end of the school year.

Your spouse’s insurance will terminate on the earliest of the following dates:

when he/she turns age 85;
when he/she no longer qualifies as your spouse;
when you are no longer eligible.

For Accidental Death & Dismemberment and Dependent Children Term Life Insurance:

Your insurance will terminate automatically on the earliest of the following dates:

the end of the month in which you or your dependent children are no longer eligible;
the end of the month an employee loses the right to recall under their specific collective agreement;
the June 30th following the date you turn age 70 providing you continue working until the end of the school year and you are paid on a 12 month basis;
the September 30th following the date you turn age 70 providing you continue working until the end of the school year and you are paid on a 10 month basis;
the date your Term Life Insurance terminates;
the end of the month following the date you turn age 70 if you choose not to work to the end of the school year.

For Critical Illness Insurance:

As long as you pay your premium when it is due, your Critical Illness Insurance will continue until the earliest of:

the December 31^st coincident with or next following your 75^th birthday; or
the December 31^st coincident with or next following the date you no longer qualify as an eligible BCTF member; or
the date that the Critical Illness benefit is paid; or
the date that the group policy between BCTF and IAP is terminated.

Your spouse’s insurance will terminate on the earliest of the following dates:

the date the Critical Illness benefit is paid to the spouse;
the December 31^st coincident with or next following his/her 75^th birthday;
the end of the month in which he/she is no longer your spouse;
when you are no longer eligible.

For Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance:

Your coverage will terminate on the earliest of the following dates:

the end of the month in which your written request to cancel your insurance is received by IAP;
the end of the month in which you are no longer eligible, unless eligible for the Retirement Continuation Option;
the due date of any unpaid premiums;
the date the Group Master Policy between BCTF and IAP terminates.

Your Spouse’s coverage will terminate on the earliest of the following dates:

the date your coverage terminates (unless your Spouse is eligible for the Special Continuation Benefit)
the end of the month in which they are no longer eligible as a “Spouse”.

How much will coverage cost?

The cost of your insurance coverage will depend on many factors, including the type of insurance, your age and smoking status.

Each of the links below will open a new browser window, taking you to the Premium Rates section of the specific product description document. To continue, just close the new browser window using the Close function of your browser.

Term Life Insurance Premium Rates

AD&D Insurance Premium Rates

Critical Illness Insurance Premium Rates

Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance Rates

Do premiums stay the same?

Premiums for Term Life Insurance are calculated based on the Member’s attained age and applicable rate at January 1^st each year. As the rates are in 5 year age-bands, the premiums will increase as each higher age-band is reached. Premium rates for Dependent Children Term Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance remain level.

Premiums for Critical Illness Insurance are calculated based on the insured’s attained age and applicable rate at January 1^st each year. As the rates are in 5 year age-bands, the premiums will increase as each higher age-band is reached.

Premiums for Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance are based on the insured’s age at the date the coverage is issued. Rates do not increase as the insured person enters a new age band. However, they are not guaranteed to never increase.

Can I change the amount of my insurance?

Yes. To increase your coverage, we require completion of a new application. You may print off the applicable application provided in the "Apply Now" section. For Term Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, Dependent Children Term Life and Critical Illness Insurance or you can also apply online for additional coverage. You may also request an application and brochure by e-mail at group@iapacific.com.

For Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance, additional coverage can be obtained by completion of a new application to an overall maximum of $25,000 for all such coverage. Each new request for coverage will have premiums charged at the rate for your attained age at time of application.

To decrease your coverage, we require only your written authorization, which must be signed and dated. This request may be forwarded by mail or fax.

How do I make a claim?

Before paying any benefit, we will require our claims forms to be duly completed and sent to IAP. Please call IAP at 1-800-266-5667 to obtain the appropriate forms and for details on claims procedures.

Can I continue my coverage after I retire?

For Term Life Insurance

Members who retire after age 55 may apply to continue all or part of their Term Life coverage and/or their Spouse’s coverage on an individually billed basis up to age 85. Accidental Death & Dismemberment and Dependent Children Term Life Insurance may also be continued to age 70, provided you continue your Term Life Insurance. To continue coverage after retirement you must complete the “Request for Continuation of Insurance” form and send it back to IAP within 31 days of the retirement date.

For Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance:

Members who retire after age 55 can continue their Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance and/or their spouse’s insurance indefinitely, provided they have been insured for at least six months immediately prior to retirement and are in receipt of a pension from the Teachers’ Pension Plan.