G RADUATE S TDENTS’ S OCIETY
PART 1: INTRODUCTION
ABOUT GSS • Democratic governance • Promote graduate student representation • Organize cultural, intellectual and recreational activities • Provide services to support our members
OUR SERVICES Car Co-op* GSS Bus PASS Conference Travel Grants (Online Conference Grant) Department Grants* Physical space – room booking* GSS Extended Health and Dental Plan
GET INVOLVED VOTE STAND FOR ELECTIONS SERVE ON A COMMITTEE STAY INFORMED
GET INVOLVED: Graduate Representative Council • The Graduate Representative Council (GRC) is comprised of one representative (“Grad Rep”) from each academic unit with a graduate program at UVic. • The GRC provides a forum for discussion of issues relevant to grad students and advises the Executive Board on how to best support grad students at UVic. • Meetings are once a month • Interested? Your department will be holding elections in September!
STAY CONNECTED Website (gss.uvic.ca) E-Bulletin Facebook Instagram (@uvic_gss)
GSS Bus Pass • What is the GSS Bus Pass? • The Bus Pass allows students in and around Victoria to ride the bus as much as they need • It is tied to your UVic OneCard* • The bus pass needs to be activated every term at one of the kiosks located in the University Centre or Student Union Building. *If you have not received your OneCard, please visit the OneCard website at https://www.uvic.ca/onecard/
GSS Bus Pass Graduate students registered in 1.0 units (or more) of on-campus courses will have the GSS Bus Pass added to your Uvic Tuition Account.
How to Add the GSS Bus Pass If you are registered as a distance/online student but want the bus pass, you can opt-in through the GSS office. • Download a form from (https://gss.uvic.ca/about-gss/services/bus- pass/) or just email us (gssoffice@uvic.ca) and ask for one • Fill out the form and email it to us • We will send you e-transfer instructions • Once we receive payment, we will let you know that you have been added to the bus pass and can activate your bus pass at one of kiosks on campus (University Centre or SUB)
How to Remove the GSS Bus Pass If you do not live in Victoria (this includes outside of BC or Canada), you can opt-out of the bus pass: To opt-out: Download the UPass Opt-Out Form • Fill in all sections and scan and attach a piece of mail with your address • *cannot be a driver’s license • Email all documents to gssoffice@uvic.ca BEFORE September 30 th
Other reasons to opt-out Students who are eligible to opt out • They have a disability that prevents use of transit; • They are assessed for the pass twice (through concurrent registration at UVIC and Camosun, or concurrent registration as an undergraduate and graduate student at UVIC, for example); • They are in receipt of the annual BC Bus Pass issued by the BC Ministry of Finance; or • They are in a distance program, and enrolled in an intensive course that has a short on campus component lasting less than three consecutive weeks. These are the only other reasons to opt-out. We cannot accept opt-outs for other reasons.
PART 2: GSS Extended Health & GSS Dental Plan Mindy Jiang Health and Dental Coordinator
INTRODUCTION to Health Coverage Primary (Basic) Health Insurance: • BC MSP –administered British Columbia government • Provincial/T erritorial Coverage –OHIP , AHCIP , Manitoba Health, New Brunswick Medicare, NL MCP , NS MSI, PEI Health, RAMQ, Yukon Health Care, NWT Health Care, Saskatchewan Health • Guard.me (Mandatory Medical Insurance) – temporary through International Student Services Extended Health and Dental Insurance: • GSS Extended Health & GSS Dental Plan –administered by the Graduate Students’ Society
Primary (Basic) Health All residents of Canada must have primary health (personal health number). In BC, the Medical Services Plan (MSP) is required for all residents that intend to stay for longer than six months. It covers: • Physician visits • Medical specialists • Diagnostic and laboratory testing services • Acute hospital visits Mandatory Medical Insurance (Guard.me) for international students • Contact International Student Services for more information
Extended Health Insurance ALL UVIC students are required to have comprehensive coverage for the duration of their studies. GSS insurance coverage covers most of the cost for: • Prescription Drugs • Travel vaccinations (including flu) • Emergency Travel Insurance Assistance • Eye examinations • Vision care (prescription glasses & contacts) • Clinical counselling and psychologists • Semi-private or private room in a hospital • Emergency ambulance These medical services are not covered by BC MSP
Dental Plan Insurance Primary (basic) care in BC does not include dental care. ALL UVIC students are required to have comprehensive coverage for the duration of their studies. GSS Dental Plan Coverage is 70% (up to a maximum of $750 each calendar year per person) • Diagnostic services (includes examinations, x-rays) • Preventative services • Basic Restorative services Without insurance dental care is very expensive in Canada.
GSS Dental Plan & GSS Extended Health
Why is this on my Tuition Account? You are automatically charged for the GSS Extended Health & GSS Dental Insurance fee with your tuition if you are: • registered in 3.0 units or more (including thesis and dissertation); • or registered as a co-op student • Includes all online/distance, on/off campus students All UVic students are required to have comprehensive coverage for the entire duration of their studies.
Existing Extended Health Insurance – If you have alternate comparable extended health insurance that is NOT Guard.me or BC MSP, then you are eligible to opt- out of the GSS extended health and/or dental plans. Submit online starting on September 1 st at 00:01 AM • Go to www.pac.bluecross.ca/uvicgss • Fill in all the information • upload a digital copy of your policy & ID number. Submissions automatically close on September 30 th at 11:59 PM
Residing Outside of Canada – Opt-Out You are eligible to opt-out if you will: • not be in Canada for the Sept – Dec 2020 term; AND • Do not have MSP or Guard.me Go to our website: www.gss.uvic.ca Download the GSS Health and Dental Opt-Out Form • Fill all sections and note that you will not be in Canada for Fall 2020 • Scan and attach a piece of mail with your non-Canadian address • *cannot be a driver’s license • Email all documents to gsoc@uvic.ca BEFORE September 30 th .
How to Opt-Out If you have comparable alternate extended coverage • You must opt-out by September 30 th every year before 11:59 PM by visiting the GSS’ online opt-out website with Pacific Blue Cross If you reside outside of Canada • Download, fill out a form from the GSS’ website and email it to gsoc@uvic.ca by September 30 th • Include all attachments of your non-Canadian address
Part-time or Visiting Grad Students Part-time or visiting students do not have the GSS extended health & GSS dental plan insurance with UVic tuition. • Go to gss.uvic.ca/health-dental • Download an Opt-In form • Part-time and visiting students pay separately to the GSS. • Visiting students must also include a copy of your visiting student status with your Opt-In Form
How to Add Family to Your Plan Family members (dependents) that have joined you in Canada can be added to your plan at an additional cost. • Go to gss.uvic.ca/health-dental • Download an Opt-In Form • All payments are paid directly to the GSS before September 30 th . • For more information: gss.uvic.ca/health-dental/opt-in.
YOUR INSURANCE CARD
BLACKOUT (CHANGE-OF-COVERAGE) PERIOD • Your coverage is effective as of September 1, 2020 and will run until August 31, 2021 • 8-week automatic blackout (also known as registration/enrollment period) during which you cannot submit any claims or access your online insurance account • After October 16 you can submit receipts from September and October online or by mail
IT CAN BE DONE! All submissions are due September 30th, 2020. Visit our website at: www.gss.uvic.ca for information Questions? For GSS Health and Dental email gsoc@uvic.ca For Bus Pass or other email gssoffice@uvic.ca • Include your student number in the email
Recommend
More recommend
