Springtime campus scene with cherry blossoms in bloom and a building in the background. Overlaid text reads “Benefits FYI: Spring 2026,” with the UBC crest displayed on the right.
 

Welcome to Benefits FYI. In this edition:
 

Extended Health benefit update: Simplified access to diabetes monitoring tools 

As of March 1, 2026, Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) are covered under the prescription drug plan—no doctor’s note needed. Use your Sun Life card at the pharmacy for real‑time claims and reduced up‑front costs.

Learn how to access CGMs

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Two people sit at a desk with a desktop computer; one person is seated in front of the screen while another stands beside them, pointing at the monitor. A bright office environment is visible in the background.

Exploring financial counselling through our EFAP

Discover how unlimited financial counselling, offered through UBC’s Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) provider, GreenShield Health, can help you navigate taxes, budgeting, and long‑term planning. 

Learn about the free financial counselling through EFAP

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A pink piggy bank wearing a graduation cap sits on a table beside a stack of books, with a softly blurred background.

Build your pensions literacy

Did you know that only 42% of working Canadians have access to some type of employer-sponsored pension plan? UBC pensions and other workplace pension plans* are valuable benefits and an important part of your financial health and wellbeing in retirement.

Build your pension literacy during your working years by learning about the Plan you participate in.

UBC Faculty Pension Plan

UBC Staff Pension Plan

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*If you are a BCGEU Child Care employee participating in the BC Target Benefit Pension Plan (BCTBPP), you can learn more, here.
 
Four people sit around a table in a meeting room, with open laptops and notebooks, engaged in a discussion. Large windows and a whiteboard with writing are visible in the background.

Learn about your benefits plan during our semi-annual benefits webinar 

Date: Tuesday, April 28 | Time: 10:30 am–12 pm | Location: Zoom

Join us for a wide-ranging discussion about your UBC benefits, including what you are eligible for and how to access them. In this 90-minute webinar, we will focus on leaves of absence.

  • Types of leaves available (both paid and unpaid)
  • Leaves eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) application
  • Potential impacts on your benefits while on leave
  • How to maintain benefits enrolment while on leave

Enrol in the semi-annual benefits webinar
 

When we focus on wellbeing, everyone benefits

Your benefits plan is one way UBC can help support your health and wellbeing, but there are more opportunities to explore—here are some other initiatives to help support your wellbeing at UBC.
 
A group of five people standing in front of a UBC Thunderbirds backdrop at an indoor sports venue, holding handmade signs that read “We love Sports Day!” and “Team work makes the dream work.” The group poses together for a photo, with section signage visible in the arena background and a UBC Thunderbirds logo watermark in the bottom corner.

Faculty and Staff Sports Day, May 1: Registration now open

The Faculty and Staff Sports Day will take place on Friday, May 1, on both the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses. 

Registrations close April 20 for UBC Vancouver and April 27 for UBC Okanagan.

Register for Sports Day
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Healthy Workplace Initiative Fund Program applications now open

Do you have an idea for improving health and wellbeing in your workplace? You can now access up to $3,000 from our Healthy Workplace Initiatives Fund Program (HWIP).

Applications are open until Thursday, April 23.

Apply for HWIP funding
 

Want more health and wellbeing stories?

Have you signed up for Healthy UBC? In this monthly newsletter, you will get a selection of our best health and wellbeing stories and events from across UBC.

Subscribe to Healthy UBC
 

A snapshot of the UBC Benefit Plans in 2025
Infographic titled “2025 Annual Benefits Plan Statistics.” It reports an average of 43,000 plan members, including 16,180 employees and 26,820 dependents. Extended health benefits claims processed total 494,200, and dental claims processed total 292,000. Benefits enquiries include 22,429 handled by Sun Life and 4,172 handled by the internal benefits team. The top extended health benefits services accessed are prescription drugs, psychological services, massage therapy, and vision care. The infographic is branded with The University of British Columbia Health, Wellbeing & Benefits logo.
 

Updates to our faculty and staff perks

View the latest offers available to faculty and staff on the UBC Exclusive Discount and Perks page. This edition, we are focusing on the $400 e-bike rebate available on both campuses!

Get ready to ride with a $400 e-bike rebate!

Faculty and staff are eligible to receive a $400 rebate with the purchase of an e-bike for the purpose of commuting to and from UBC Vancouver Point Grey campus or the Okanagan Campus. This pilot program is running from April 1 to December 31, 2026.

Select your campus below to check your eligibility. 

UBC Vancouver

UBC Okanagan

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Explore your benefits
 

Health, Wellbeing and Benefits
UBC Human Resources
600 - 6190 Agronomy Road
Vancouver, BC Canada, V6T 1Z3

hr.ubc.ca/benefits

You are receiving this email because you are enrolled in one or more UBC Benefits plans. To update your Primary email address, where you receive communications from UBC Benefits, please review the Change My Contact Information article or submit a support request through the UBC Self-Service Portal.

© Copyright The University of British Columbia
 

Disclaimer: The information contained in Benefits FYI is for information purposes only; it is not a contract. In the event of a discrepancy between the information in Benefits FYI and the applicable contracts/documents, the applicable plan contracts/documents, collective agreements and/or governing legislation will apply. Unless otherwise specified in the newsletter, you must be registered and enrolled in the appropriate benefit plans to receive the coverage and/or services as described. Enrolment in some of the benefit plans is not automatic. For more information on benefits, visit hr.ubc.ca/benefits.
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