Life & Accident Insurance - Postdoctoral Associates

This optional plan offers 24-hour, full-year protection against accidents anywhere in the world, whether you are on or off the job.

You may purchase any amount of insurance in multiples of $10,000 subject to a maximum of $500,000 covering yourself, or yourself and your dependents (Family Plan).

Definition of Dependents

Spouse/Partner: Your spouse by virtue of a legal marriage or your partner of the opposite sex or of the same sex who is publicly represented as your spouse and has continuously been so represented for at least the previous year. At any one time, only one person may be insured as your Spouse.

Dependent Children: Your child or the child of your Spouse (biological, adopted or step-child), who is not married or in any other formal union recognized by law, excluding a child who has attained age 21, or age 25 in the case of a full-time student wholly dependent on you for support.

A child who attains the limiting age who is incapable of supporting himself due to physical or mental disability, is dependent on you for support and maintenance, and is not married nor in any other formal union recognized by law is deemed to continue to be a child for as long as these three conditions exist. This continuation is subject to Sun Life Financial receiving proof of the above conditions not later than 31 days after your child attains the limiting age.

The Plans

You are insured for the principal sum elected.

If you choose coverage for you and your eligible dependents (Family Plan), your spouse and children will be insured as follows:

• If there are no eligible children, your spouse will be insured for a spouse’s principal sum which is equal to 60% of your principal sum
• If there are eligible children, your spouse will be insured for a spouse’s principal sum which is equal to 50% of your principal sum, and each eligible dependent child will be insured for a child’s principal sum which is equal to 15% of your principal sum
• If there is no spouse, each eligible dependent child will be insured for a child’s principal sum which is 20% of your principal sum

An example:

You elect $50,000 on your life and you choose to cover your family consisting of a spouse and three children. Coverage would be as follows:

• You $50,000 (Your Principal Sum)
• Spouse $25,000 (Spouse’s Principal Sum)
• Each child $7,500 (Child’s Principal Sum)

Changes in Amount of Coverage

You may elect to change the level of your Voluntary Personal Accident Insurance or cancel coverage at any time.

Benefit Entitlements

If injuries result in death, dismemberment or loss of use within 365 days after the date of the accident, the plan provides benefits for you, your spouse and your children.

View the Voluntary Accident Insurance Benefit Entitlements chart

Additional Benefits

Additional benefits may also be payable. Outlined below is a summary of those benefits. Specific conditions and limitations may apply. Please contact Human Resources should you want more details on these benefits.

Rehabilitation Benefit (Employee Benefit)

A benefit will be paid if an accidental bodily injury prevents you from performing the duties of your regular occupation and requires you to obtain rehabilitation/retraining as determined by a physician approved by the Insurer. Rehabilitation/retraining means the Reasonable and Customary charges for treatment by a therapist licensed, registered or certified to provide such treatment, or confinement in an institution which is licensed to provide such treatment – where treatment is intended to retrain you for work in any gainful occupation including your regular occupation. Treatment must take place under the direction of a certified vocational rehabilitation specialist.

The maximum amount payable is $15,000.

Spouse Occupation Training Benefit (Spouse Benefit)

Benefit is payable only if your spouse incurs expenses within three years following the date of your loss of life. To be eligible for this benefit you must have elected coverage under the Family Plan and enrolled your spouse.
Spouse employment training expenses means the actual incurred costs for tuition, fees, and room and board billed by the institution of higher learning. Also means the costs for required books and course supplies.
The maximum amount payable is $15,000.

Child Education Benefit (Child Benefit)

To be eligible for this benefit you must have elected the Family Plan and enrolled your eligible dependent children.

Education means the actual incurred costs for tuition, fees, room and board billed by the institution of higher learning for the education of your dependent children. The benefit also covers costs for required books and course supplies. Your eligible child must be enrolled as a full-time student at an institution of higher learning on the date of your loss of life or subsequently enrol as a full-time student at an institution of higher learning within two years following the date of your loss of life.

The maximum amount payable is $7,500 per year, subject to $30,000 total benefit payment.

Seat Belt and Occupant Protection Device (Employee Benefit)

Benefits will be paid if, at the time of the accident, you suffer accidental bodily injury resulting in a loss while operating or riding in a private passenger automobile and utilizing a seat belt.

A seat belt means a lap or lap and shoulder restraint device or a child restraint device which meets the Canadian Motor Vehicle Standards.

The maximum amount payable is 10% of benefit amount for seat belt, 10% of benefit amount for occupant protection device to a combined maximum of $50,000.

Repatriation Benefit

A Repatriation Benefit will be payable when loss of life results in an amount of benefit becoming payable under this benefit.

The maximum amount payable is $15,000.

Home/Vehicle Adaptation (Employee Benefit)

The program may provide alterations to your residence that are necessary to make your residence accessible and habitable to you. Adaptation includes modifications to a private passenger automobile that is necessary to make the automobile accessible and/or driveable by you.

The maximum amount payable is $15,000.

Family Transportation Benefit

The insured person must be confined to a hospital no less than 50 kilometers from his permanent city of residence and the physician recommends the personal attendance of a member of the immediate family.

The maximum amount payable is $15,000.

Child Care Expense (Employee/Spouse Benefit)

The actual incurred costs billed by the provider for the care and supervision of a dependent child under the age of 13.

Expenses must be incurred within 365 days of the loss of life. If, on the date of the insured person's loss of life, the dependent children are not eligible for child care expenses, a one-time payment of $2,500 will be made in addition to the loss of life benefit.

The maximum amount payable is $5,000 per child per year to a maximum total benefit of $25,000.

Identification Expenses

Identification expense (for the purpose of identifying the body of an insured person) means the actual costs for hotel accommodation for a maximum of three days and transportation by a member of the immediate family by the most direct route by a licensed common carrier.

The maximum amount payable is $5,000.

Parent Care (Employee/Spouse Benefit)

Dependent parent: parents or grandparent of yours or your Spouse who at the time of an accident is receiving support and care provided by you or your spouse as evidenced by Canadian income tax returns showing parent as a dependent.

The maximum amount payable is $5,000 per eligible parent.

Funeral Expenses

Funeral expenses means the reasonable costs associated with interment.

The maximum amount payable is $5,000.

Psychological Therapy

Psychological therapy means the reasonable and customary charges for treatment or counselling by a therapist or counsellor, who is licensed, registered or certified to provide such treatment.

The maximum amount payable is $5,000.

Vocational Training (Employee Benefit)

Vocational training expenses means the actual costs incurred for tuition, fees, room and board billed by an institution of higher learning that is intended to prepare you for work in any gainful occupation. Includes costs for required books or course supplies.

The maximum amount payable is $15,000.

Common Accident

If a common accident causes you and your spouse's loss of life, the combined Loss of Life benefit amount will be two times the larger of the two Loss of Life benefits amounts payable. This combined Loss of Life benefit amount will not exceed two times your benefit amount.

Common accident means a single accident or separate accidents that occur within the same 24-hour period and result in accidental bodily injury to an insured person and the insured person's spouse. The common accident extension of coverage is subject to a maximum amount of two times your Loss of Life benefits amount.

Aggregate Limit

When you or your dependent have multiple losses as a result of one accident, the maximum amount payable will not exceed 100% of the Loss of Life benefit amount with the exception of loss of use of both arms, both legs or a combination of one arm and a leg, quadriplegia, paraplegia and hemiplegia.

In no event will the maximum benefit amount per insured person exceed 200%.

Beneficiary Designation

You may designate any person you wish as your named beneficiary and may initiate a change at any time. If the named beneficiary is under the age of 18 or mentally infirm, a trustee must be designated. Benefits payable in the event of your death are paid to your named beneficiary. In the event of your loss under the dismemberment coverage, benefits are payable to you. Losses payable under the Family Plan are automatically paid directly to you.

Termination of Coverage

Coverage will terminate on the earlier of one of the following:

• The date you withdraw from the plan
• The date you terminate your employment
• The date you reach your Normal Retirement Date
• The date you retire; or
• The date the plan is cancelled for any reason

The maximum benefit for Optional Life insurance on your life cannot exceed $500,000.

Limitation of Coverage - In the event of death by suicide, the Optional Life Insurance death payment (if the life benefit was in force for less than one consecutive year) will be limited to the return of premiums.

Death Benefit - The amount of life insurance at the time of death is paid by the insurance provider when in receipt of the appropriate documentation.

In the event of death, your designated beneficiary will receive a lump sum payment, based on the level of coverage you choose. It is in your best interest and your loved ones, to ensure that your beneficiary designations are up-to-date and that your current wishes are documented and on file. This will ensure that when you die your benefits are paid-out according to your intended wishes.

If you do not name a beneficiary, or your beneficiary dies before you and you have not updated your designation(s), the death benefit is paid to your estate.

Anyone can be named as your beneficiary, however, if a beneficiary is under the age of 18 or mentally infirm, a trustee must be designated.

A contingent beneficiary can also be specified by you and will receive the benefits if your primary beneficiary(ies) is deceased at the time the benefit is to be paid. You are automatically the designated beneficiary for the Dependent Life plan. For more information, consult your financial advisor or a professional well versed in estate planning.

A Special Advance Payment of the death benefit may be provided to you when all of the following conditions are present:

• In the opinion of insurance provider you are suffering from a condition which is expected to result in death within 24 months of the date of the request for such payment
• Satisfactory medical documentation is provided to the insurance provider by your attending physician
• You are considered, or would be considered eligible under the terms and conditions of Total Disability Waiver of Premiums benefit provision
• You make the request in writing

This Special Advance Payment cannot exceed 50% of your Optional Life benefit at the time of the request or $50,000 – whichever is less. There can be only one payment payable in a lump sum to you.

The eventual death claim will be reduced by the amount of the loan plus the interest to the date of death.

The insurance provider must approve this benefit. If you receive a Special Advance Payment, the amount available for conversion is reduced by the amount of the special advance payment.

Termination of Coverage

Coverage will terminate on the earlier of one of the following:

Optional Life Insurance:

• End of the month you terminate your employment
• End of the month you retire
• Your Normal Retirement Date
• On your death
• The date the plan is cancelled for any reason

Dependent Life-Spouse:

• End of the month you terminate your employment
• End of the month you retire
• Your Normal Retirement Date
• The date the plan is cancelled for any reason

Dependent Life Insurance for Dependent Children:

• End of the month you terminate your employment
• End of the month you retire
• Your Normal Retirement Date
• The date the plan is cancelled for any reason

Conversion Privilege

If your coverage ceases or reduces on or before your Normal Retirement Date (NRD) for any reason other than your request, you may convert your existing group life insurance to an individual policy plan (up to a maximum of $200,000) with the insurance provider without proof of good health, provided you apply and pay your first monthly premium within 31 days of your coverage reducing or attainment of your NRD.

During this 31-day period, the amount of life insurance eligible for conversion is continued without charge.

To convert your group life insurance to a private policy, contact Human Resources at 519-661-2194. If the coverage ceases for your spouse for any reason other than your request, the spouse may convert their coverage. The conversion option does not extend to any coverage on dependent children.

Download the Conversion Form