a

”
AUGUST, 1971
a ET

¥ By BEN THOMPSON

ist Vice- President Local 1-71
Extended Health Benefits is

~ aplan designed to provide low-

|

,

}

‘cost protection against the
extra expenses of prescription

: -drugs, ambulance, private and

semi-private room hospital
yaccommodation, etc. — in
short, coverage for most of the

expenses related to an illness

_ "which is not provided by your

medical carrier under the

*hasic services of the Medical
Services Act of B.C. The E.H.-

«B. package offered by M-S-A
now covers an extended list of

Services.

BENEFITS

, e Prescribed drugs and medi-
cines,

e Services exceeding those
available under the basic
medical plan of Chiro-

© practors, Naturopaths,
Physiotherapists or Osteo-

+ pathic Physicians,

e Treatment by a licensed
Podiatrist,

e Private nursing care when
ordered by attending
physician,

e Charges for oxygen,

* prosthetic appliances
(artificial limbs, eyes),

« erutches, splints, casts,
trusses, braces,

e Ambulance service in an
emergency, including
transportation by railroad,
boat or scheduled airline,

e Dental services as a result

- of injury or accident to

natural teeth,

Private and semi-private

hospital room charges

~ above the one dollar daily

f

ne

THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

co-insurance charge of B.C.
Hospital Insurance,
e Emergency hospital room

accommodation  out-of-
province over and above
allowed by B.C.H.1.S. for 21
days, Z

e Emergency services and/-
or supplies while travelling
or on vacation outside the
Province on the same basis
as covered in British
Columbia,

e Reasonable charges for
physicians and surgeons’
services in an emergency
outside of B.C. over and
above the amount allowed
under the Medical Services
Act of B.C.

HOW PLAN WORKS

M-S-A will reimburse 80
percent of all eligible expenses
in excess of one $25.00
deductible per person or
family each calendar year.

After $1,000 has been paid out
for an individual in a calendar
year, future expenses within

that year will be paid at 100

percent.

The eligible expenses in-

curred during the last three ©

months of one calendar year
may be applied against the
deductible for the next
calendar year.
HOW CLAIMS
ARE SUBMITTED
1. As soon as a member or his
family has accumulated
more than the deductible in
eligible expenses, a claim
form(s) is submitted.
(Obtainable from M-S-A,
Employer or Local Union).
2. SEPARATE claim forms
for EACH member of the

family are submitted to M-
S-A along with the receipts.
The receipts should give
sufficient information to
identify the member of the
family, date expense in-
curred and_ services
provided.

3. Receipts are returned as
soon as the claim is
processed.. (May also be
used for Income Tax
deductions).

SERVICES NOT COVERED
1. Expenses for which Basic

Medical Plan is liable.

2. Dental treatment except as
expressly provided.

3. Eye glasses, contact lenses,
refractions or hearing aids.

4. Illness or accident provided
for by W.C.B. or Govern-
ment Authority.

5. Expenses related to war,
riot, insurrection.

6. Prescribed drugs used for
contraceptive purposes and
proprietory or patent
medicines.

7. Expenses of a hospitalized
patient at the time of
enrolment.

EXAMPLE OF AN
E.H.B. CLAIM
Prescription Drugs $ 80.00
Ambulance 30.00

Private Room
Accommodation 48.00
Registered Nurse 50.00

Total Eligible Expenses 208.00
Deductible 25.00

Balance 183.00

80 Pct. Reimbursement
to Member $146.40

| Meet our better ‘half’!

Now, B.C.’s favourite wines are
available in an attractive, new, half-
gallon decanter. This new decanter

; has been specially designed for people

who prefer wine in the half-gallon.

You'll find it easier to handle —
more convenient than ever!

Calona Red Dry (Medium Dry)
Calona White Dry (Medium Dry)
Calona Royal Red (Medium Sweet)

Calona Royal White (Medium Sweet)

Also available in —
260z. 4002z.
and gallons

‘

A great idea! Try our
better ‘half’ soon.

Calona

— the spirit of hospitality.

COST OF E.H.B.

The total cost of the Ex-
tended Health Benefit Plan
offered by M-S-A to the I.W.A.
Industry is 45c a month for a
Single person and $1.35 for a
family. (Dependents are the
same as in the basic medical
coverage under the Medical
Services Act.)

I.W.A. CONTRACT CHANGES

While more than 500,000
persons in B.C. now have some
extended health coverage,

there are only a few Forest
Industry Companies who are
providing this fringe benefit.
The many additional costs’
which accompany an illness
can. be a financial burden, or
even crippling, to a member.
The opportunity to correct this
problem is in the mem-
bership’s hands when they
decide what improvements
they would like to see

negotiated into their next
I.W.A. Agreement.

thet .

_ This advertisement is not published or displayed by the Liquor Control Board or by the Government of British Columbia