Benefits FYI | Spring 2023

Welcome to Benefits FYI

This month we look at some new benefits plan provisions that will help improve equity at UBC, we learn about changes to our Employee and Family Assistance Program, and we invite you to learn more about your benefits at our webinar.

New family building, accessibility, and gender-affirmation benefits added to improve equitable access to coverage for extended health plan members

The coverage for these extended health benefits provisions is now available for plan members, and any eligible expenses incurred on or after January 1, 2023, can be submitted to Sun Life.

Find out more

Questions about your benefits (including the new ones)? Check out this webinar

Janet McHugh and Lauren Lee from the Health, Wellbeing & Benefits team will help you better understand the wide range of benefits available to you, with a focus on the new benefit plan provisions that were added on January 1, 2023.

Enrol today

Workday corner: use the benefits snapshot to ensure your details are up-to-date

There are valuable aspects of your benefits plans you won't want to miss. We host a semi-annual webinar so you can discover what's available to you. Check out the webinar or read a quick summary.

Learn more

Sun Life has completed the transition to the new Pharmacy Benefits Manager

Sun Life has completed the transition of its Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) to Express Scripts. They sent a communication to plan members on February 13, reiterating that there is no action required by UBC benefits plan members. There will also be a message about the change when you sign in to mySunLife.ca.

If you experience any issues at your pharmacy just let them know our new PBM is Express Scripts Canada. You can also download your drug card again from Sun Life, it now has updated information about Express Scripts.

Learn more

LifeWorks starts rebranding to TELUS Health

With the acquisition of LifeWorks (UBC's Employee and Family Assistance Program provider) by TELUS Health, faculty and staff may notice some changes to the branding on some of the LifeWorks pages, including the LifeWorks home page.

We wanted to assure faculty and staff that these changes do not affect the services offered by our EFAP provider and that there will be no changes to the privacy considerations we have in place with LifeWorks.

Find out more

Event highlights

Online Pensions Workshops and Seminars: Spring 

Register for a Group Appointment with the UBC Pharmacists Clinic

This year, the Pharmacists Clinic is offering group appointments for migraine headaches. Group Appointments are designed to bring together up to 10 people experiencing a similar health issue to learn from and with each other.

Group Appointments are held over Zoom for one hour each month, over three months, and are offered free of charge to all faculty and staff at UBC; you can also invite any friends or family who experience migraines. Registrants are asked to attend all three sessions — this will allow the pharmacist to build on previous topics and facilitate a deeper understanding of this complex health condition.

There are 10 spots available for the spring session of Migraine Group Appointments. Sessions take place on Wednesdays from 1 pm – 2 pm on the following dates: April 26, May 31, and June 28, 2023.

Register today

UBC recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers in 2023

This special designation recognizes the British Columbian employers that lead as exceptional places to work – and who offer employees the most progressive and forward-thinking programs.

This year, we were specifically recognized for our extended health benefits plan coverage for licensed psychologists, social workers, and registered clinical counsellors up to a maximum of $3,000 for each person per benefit year (including counselling services and psychological testing).

View the announcement on the UBC Focus on People website to see why UBC was selected for this award.

When less is more

According to the latest guidance from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, the less you drink the better. By gaining a better understanding of the facts, you can make conscious choices about your drinking and reduce the risks of long-term consequences.

Take the ALAViDA quiz to test your alcohol IQ and get a $5 gift card (retailers including Amazon, Winners, Starbucks, Home Depot and more.)

Take the quiz

Explore your benefits

Want more health and wellbeing stories?

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

Subscribe to Healthy UBC

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.