Opting Out/Opting In

Supplemental Health Plan

Opting out

Participation in the Supplemental Health Plan is mandatory. Quebec legislation requires that you, your spouse and children must be covered under a private group health insurance plan providing at least drug coverage if you are under age 65 and are eligible for coverage under that plan.  In fact, the Régie de l'assurance maladie de Québec requires employers to register eligible employees in their health plan and charge the necessary premiums.

You can however opt out of the Supplemental Health Plan if you provide written proof of alternative health coverage (eg. through your spouse, through membership in professional order or association).  Proof can be a letter from your spouse's employer or insurance carrier, written confirmation from a professional order or association, a photocopy of your spouse's insurance card detailing the type of coverage and effective date of coverage.  

If you wish to opt out of the Supplemental Health Plan: Complete the form Opting Out - Supplemental Health Plan and return it to the HR Service Centre. Please include necessary documentation as requested.

Opting In

You may join the Supplemental Health Plan at a later date if you lose coverage under another health plan (eg. spouse's plan) and provide written proof of loss of this coverage.  In fact, Quebec legislation requires that all employees under 65 be covered under the private group health insurance plan to which they have access.  Therefore, if you have lost coverage under another health plan, you must join the McGill Supplemental Health Plan. 

Dental Plan

Opting Out

Participation in the Dental Plan is optional.  However, once you join the Plan, you are expected to remain in the plan for as long as you are employed at the University.  That being said, you are permitted to opt out of the Dental Plan under the following circumstances:

- You provide the University (HR Service Centre) with written evidence that you are covered under another group dental plan (eg. your spouse's plan). Proof can be a letter from your spouse's employer or insurance carrier, written confirmation from a professional order or association, a photocopy of your spouse's insurance card detailing the type of coverage and effective date of coverage.)  

- You complete three (3) consecutive years of membership in the Dental Plan (you will not be permitted to rejoin the Plan within the same period of employment with the University)

- You retire

If you wish to opt out of the McGill Dental Plan:  Complete the form Opting Out - Dental Plan and return it to the HR Service Centre. Please include necessary documentation as requested.

Opting In 

If you refuse to join the Dental Plan at enrolment, you will be re-offered the opportunity to join in 3 years time.

If you never had dental coverage under the McGill Dental Plan, you may join the Dental Plan before the 3 years is up if you lose dental coverage elsewhere (eg. under spouse's plan).  In this case, you can join the Dental Plan within 60 days of losing coverage under another dental plan (eg. spouse's plan) and provide written proof of loss of this coverage. If you miss the 60 day window, you can still join the Dental Plan; however, coverage will be in effect as of January 1st of the following year.