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Medical Benefits

Medical coverage is provided in different levels:

  1. The Province of Ontario provides the basic level of coverage through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan; or
    Employees coming from outside Canada subscribe to the University Health Insurance Plan.
  2. The University provides the second level of coverage via the UW Extended Health Care Plan to regular employees and eligible UHIP members.

Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)

OHIP is a provincial government plan which currently provides 100% of the cost of in-patient hospital care at ward level and most basic medical and surgical procedures. These include in-hospital procedures, physicians' services, medically required diagnostic and therapeutic treatment, including many out-patient and emergency services. The University pays an Employer Health Tax, which helps to maintain OHIP coverage for Ontario residents. There is no cost to employees for this non-taxable benefit. Please note that you must notify OHIP in person by completing a Change of Information form if you will be outside the province for more than seven months in a calendar year.

Ministry of Health/OHIP Office:
1400 Weber Street East
Kitchener ON N2A 3Z8
Telephone:
(519) 893-3966
Hours:
Monday-Friday, 08:30-17:00
Wednesday, 08:30-18:00

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University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP)

UHIP is a group plan, which provides coverage comparable to OHIP, for individuals and their dependents who are ineligible for OHIP (e.g. visitor status). More information is available here or from www.uhip.ca.

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UW Extended Health Care Plan

All new eligible employees are required to belong to the Extended Health Care Plan. The University pays 100% of this premium for full-time employees and pays the percentage that part-time employees (with an appointment of one year or more) work (e.g.,. a part-time employee working 3 days per week year round would have 60% of their premium paid by the University; the balance paid by the employee). This is not a taxable benefit.

This plan is designed to supplement OHIP and pay the cost of selected, medically necessary expenses not covered by OHIP. For example, ambulance charges are covered in full. The difference in cost between semi-private accommodation and ward care in hospital is covered at 80% for the first 5 days in the calendar year; 100% for the balance of that calendar year.

If you want to find out about a specific benefit covered under the Extended Health Plan please contact the carrier.

Please Note: For all your group benefits, your certificate number is your six-digit employee ID number on your pay advice.

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