As a Sessional Lecturer, you are eligible to maintain your current benefits and pension for up to eight months between appointments, if:
- You previously held an appointment eligible for pension and benefits (FEP002 or FEP010), or
- You held an appointment eligible for pension and benefits (FEP002 or FEP010), within the previous 24 months and have been making continuous benefit contributions.
Maintaining your benefits between appointments is optional.
If you are reappointed to a position eligible for health benefits only (FEP005), your coverage for the other benefits (e.g. Basic Group Life, Pension, Disability) may continue when you return to your sessional position, provided that you maintained these benefits in between appointments. If you did not maintain these benefits (e.g. Basic Group Life, Pension, Disability), you will not be eligible to reapply until you hold an appointment eligible for pension and all benefits (FEP002 or FEP010).
If you previously held an appointment eligible for a modified benefits package (FEP005), you are not eligible to maintain your current benefits in between appointments.
Keeping your benefits
At the end of your sessional appointment, you have the option to maintain some or all your current benefits at your own cost. This means that you will be responsible for both the employee and employer portions of the premiums. You may not sign up for additional benefits while you are in between appointments. If you are teaching during the summer, UBC will pay the employer portion of the benefits and pension you wish to maintain for any months in which you hold an appointment.
Financial Services will send you an invoice detailing the cost of maintaining your benefits. You can select which benefits you wish to maintain at that time. If you have questions regarding your invoice, please contact the leave of absence desk in Financial Services:
604-822-9290 for last names beginning A-K
604-822-8979 for last names beginning M-Z
Pension
To maintain your pension, you must pay both the employee and employer contributions of your pension for each month (or portion of a month) when you are in between appointments. Since this may or may not be to your advantage, contact the UBC Faculty Pension Plan to discuss your options. If you hold a sessional appointment during the summer, you must be contributing the full employee portion in order to receive the employer portion.
Other benefits
The Benefits Cost Calculator can tell you what it will cost you to maintain your benefits.
Cancelling your benefits
You may cancel all of your benefits at the end of your active sessional appointment. If you choose this option, some of your benefits will be automatically reinstated upon your return to your sessional position, while you will have to reapply for others. Re-enrolment in cancelled benefits will be based on the appointment to which you return.
Reapplying for benefits
Medical Services Plan (MSP)
If you choose to not maintain your MSP coverage through UBC, you must pay MSP directly or ensure that you have coverage through a spouse or partner’s plan. Upon your return to work, you must complete a new enrolment form to re-enroll in MSP through UBC.
Optional Life Insurance, Optional Accidental Death & Dismemberment
If you decide to not maintain your optional life insurance or your optional accidental death & dismemberment benefits, and then later re-enroll when you start a new term, you will need to re-apply for coverage by submitting a health questionnaire. A medical examination may be necessary at your own expense.
Automatic reinstatement
Extended Health, Dental Care, Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP), and Basic Group Life Insurance
If you decide to not maintain your extended health, dental, Employee & Family Assistance Program or basic life insurance benefits, they will be automatically reinstated the first day of the month on or after the date you return to work, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements.
Income Replacement Plan (effective July 1, 2004)
If you choose to not maintain your Income Replacement Plan benefit, it will automatically be reinstated the day you return to work, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements.
Faculty Pension Plan
Upon return to work, your Faculty Pension will be automatically reinstated, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements.