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Faculty/Staff > Comp > Benefits > Group Plans > Postdoctoral Associates

Postdoctoral Associates - Benefits

Frequently Asked Questions

 

How do I update my personal information on "my Human Resources"?

If you are looking to review/update your personal information, log into "my Human Resources" and it is listed under the “Personal Information” icon.

How do I know what benefit plans I have opted to participate in?

You can view a summary of your benefit plans when you log into "my Human Resources" under the “Benefits” icon.

Who administers the Health Care Spending Account (HCSA)? What is the policy number of this plan?

Manulife Financial administers this policy. The policy number is 87221.

Where do I get the claim forms?

Information regarding claim forms and how to submit claims can be found on the Claims Submission and Claim Forms pages on the right.

Where do I submit HCSA claims?

You would send your completed HCSA claim forms to:

Manulife Financial
Group Health Claims
PO Box 1653
Waterloo, ON N2J 4W1

I have the HCSA benefit, what types of expenses can be claimed against the HCSA?

A HCSA is provided for reimbursement of medical expenses. Medical expenses as defined by Income Tax Regulations are eligible for reimbursement including premiums for other insurance programs, dental expenses, vision care expenses, drugs, hospital, supplies and various other items. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) defines which expenses can be reimbursed. A list of eligible expenses can be found on the CRA website in interpretation bulletin IT-519R2.

How do I access my HCSA information?

Manulife offers a confidential site, where you can access bilingual information about your benefit plans 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All you need to do is register at Manulife Financial website or call Manulife directly at 1-866-896-8515.

Can I have my HCSA claim reimbursement direct deposited to my bank account?

Yes. When you sign on to the Manulife site, you have the option to provide your Direct Deposit Information.

What is the HCSA benefit year and why is it important?

The benefit year is January 1 to December 31. Your HCSA allows you to carry forward any unused credits for one benefit year. For example, if you have a remaining 2011 HCSA balance at December 31, 2011, this amount will be carried forward and added to your 2012 HCSA deposit. You will have until March 31, 2012 to submit any unpaid claims incurred in 2011 towards your 2011 deposit. After March 31, 2012, only claims incurred in 2012 can be applied towards your 2011 and 2012 deposit, assuming a balance was carried forward. For any 2011 claims submitted, Manulife Financial will apply against your 2011 balance prior to it being carried forward to 2012. No cash outs of HCSA funds are permitted.

How important is the effective date of a medical or dental expense in relation to the year in which the claim is made?

This is very important. Expenses incurred in a given year may only be claimed from the HCSA during the same calendar year. An expense from the previous year may be claimed but only from funds that were carried over from the previous year. There is also a 90 day proof of claim period for these expenses. For example, an expense incurred in 2011 can only be claimed against the 2011 allotment and that claim cannot be received by Manulife any later than March 31, 2012.

What dollar amount do I have available in my HCSA?

You will have the following amounts deposited to your HCSA:

  • October 21, 2011 - December 31, 2011 -- $500
  • January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012 -- $700 plus any unused amount from 2011 deposit
  • January 1, 2013 - December 31, 2013 -- $750 plus any unused amount from 2012 deposit

Can I enhance my HCSA by adding additional funds from elsewhere?

No, you cannot add any additional funds to your HCSA.

If my spouse is also a Postdoctoral Associate, can we each have an HCSA?

Yes, you both are entitled to a HCSA.

My niece, who lives with me and is dependent on me for support, has a bill for new prescription glasses. I suppose the only thing I can do is claim it on my income tax to see if she is eligible?

If your niece qualifies as your dependent under the Income Tax Act you can submit the expense to your HCSA.

 

If I have questions concerning the Postdoctoral Associate benefits program, who can I contact?

Western University – Human Resource Services

By Telephone: HR Communication Centre at (519) 661-2194 or Ext. 82194
By Email: hrhelp@uwo.ca
By Fax: (519) 661-4104

If I have questions concerning my Health Care Spending Account, who can I contact?

Manulife Financial

By Telephone: Customer Care Centre at 1-866-896-8515