Group Extended Health Care
A business expense and a nontaxable benefit
The tax code of Canada allows employers to provide Group Extended Healthcare coverage to its employees as a business expense and a nontaxable benefit.
Group Extended Health Care:
Essential Compensation to Employees
Extended health can include coverage for the items that the provincial health plans do not provide. The tax code encouragement has allowed the marketplace for extended health to evolve to the extent that employees may only be able to receive coverage through their employer’s benefit plan.
Extended healthcare has become an essential part of total compensation that attracts and retains top talent to your organization.
There are a lot of moving parts in healthcare insurance and a good discussion will go a long way to getting a positive result.
Call 1-866-936-1548 and we can discuss your wants and needs. Or...
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What is extended health care?Extended health care can be grouped as whatever the government health plans do not cover might be covered in the group health plans subject to the coverage decisions. Typically items like prescription drugs, chiropractors, massage therapists and physiotherapists and more paramedical providers, Vision care, out of country emergency insurance and a variety of covered items are included in extended health care.
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What kind of Extended Group Health plan is best?There are multiple plan types in group health, insured experience rated, insured pooled and self-insured. All plan types can be good; it just depends on your situation.
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Who pays the claims?The insurer or service provider pays the claims.
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How does the claims process work?Claims are progressing faster and faster. From pay-direct drug cards with instant payment at point of sale; online and mobile app claims submission; direct service provider submission; the pace of claim reimbursement is increasing all the time. The percentage paid on a claim is typically a choice made in the plan design by the plan sponsor.
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What is a health spending account?A health spending account is a set amount of money which can be used to pay for CRA eligible medical expenses.
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Are extended health benefits a taxable benefit?Extended health benefits are a non-taxable benefit and, due to this tax treatment ,the market has developed around employers providing coverage to its employees. The plans available in the market are generally available to employers at lower prices and better terms than an employee could buy for themselves.
