Update: Changes to Post-Retirement Insured Benefits

posting date Posted: May 5, 2017
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TORONTO, May 5, 2017 – In November 2016, the Government of Ontario announced changes to its post-retirement insured benefits (PRB) provided to eligible retirees of the OPSEU Pension Plan.  The changes that came into effect on January 1, 2017 include the introduction of a 50/50 cost sharing model for the existing PRB plan (the Legacy Plan) and a new alternative PRB plan (the Retiree-Focused Plan), valued at half the cost of the Legacy Plan.  These changes will impact eligible members who retire and start their pension on or after January 1, 2017, but will not affect eligible retirees who started receiving their pension before that date.

Optional Upgrade Packages

The Government of Ontario has announced that Optional Upgrade Packages will be available effective May 1, 2017 to all pensioners who are eligible for Post Retirement Benefits (PRBs), including eligible retirees who started their pension before January 1, 2017.   The applicable premiums will be paid 100 per cent by eligible retirees who elect to enrol in either of these plans.

Optional Upgrade Package for retirees enrolled in the Legacy Plan includes the following bundled features:

  • Emergency out-of-country coverage
  • Global Medical Assistance Plan
  • Catastrophic Drug Coverage  

Optional Upgrade Package for retirees enrolled in the Retiree-Focused Plan includes the following bundled features:

  • Emergency out-of-country coverage
  • Global Medical Assistance Plan

Note:  The Retiree Focused PRB Plan already includes Catastrophic Drug Coverage.

For more information, click on the documents below:

We are providing you with this information as part of certain services OPTrust provides to the Government of Ontario in connection with its PRB program. While we make every effort to ensure that the information we provide you is correct and complete, it is subject to any information provided to you directly by the Government of Ontario and to the documents which the Government used to establish the PRB program.

The following chart summarizes the eligibility criteria for participation in a PRB plan, applicable PRB plan options and payment terms for premiums for all members who retire on or after January 1, 2017.

Eligibility Criteria PRB Plan and Premiums

Hired before             
January 1, 2017
Minimum 10 years of pension service* before January 1, 2017
RETIREE-FOCUSED PLAN
100% Government paid
(Default option)

OR

LEGACY PLAN
50% Government paid
50% Retiree paid   


Hired before         
January 1, 2017         

with less than 10 years of pension service before January 1, 2017
Minimum 20 years of pension service**

AND

Retire from active service to an immediate unreduced pension

Hired before
January 1, 2017               

with less than 10 years of pension service before January 1, 2017
Minimum 10 years of pension service*

AND

Retire from active service to an immediate unreduced pension
RETIREE-FOCUSED PLAN ONLY
(No access to Legacy Plan)

100% Retiree paid

Enrolment is optional  

Hired on or after
January 1, 2017
Minimum 20 years of pension service**

AND

Retire from active service to an immediate unreduced pension

* or 10 years continuous employment with some pension service in each of the 10 years
** or 20 years continuous employment with some pension service in each of the 20 years

Eligible retirees who have an option of both PRB plans at retirement may switch from the PRB plan they elect at retirement to the other PRB plan in December of any year for coverage starting the following January.  However, once they cease coverage in the Legacy Plan, they cannot re-enrol in that plan.

Eligible retirees  who only have the option of participating in the Retiree-Focused Plan at retirement on condition of paying 100% of the premiums may elect to cease coverage in that plan at any time, but if they do, they cannot re-enrol in that plan.