Affiliated Organizations
Our umbrella organization is College and University Retirees Association of Canada (CURAC), the website of which lists, with links, our sister organizations of retirees at other universities and colleges across Canada, as well as events and activities hosted by CURAC itself. The current CURAC Newsletter may be accessed from the CURAC website.
Retirees may retain membership of the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) for a modest fee and continue to receive the CAUT Bulletin and other benefits of membership
Members might also find particular interest in the websites of our sister organizations at Concordia, UQ and l'Université de Montréal. Other Canadian university retiree organizations are listed on the CURAC members site.
The US counterpart of CURAC, The Association Retirement Organizations in Higher Education (AROHE) also has a useful website, which includes a recent survey of the services and privileges US universities offer to retirees.
Other general organizations from which retirees can obtain benefits include the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP), the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), etc.
Insurance
Home and Auto Insurance
It is generally advantageous for retirees to join a group plan designed for older people, as the rates are well below those for broader groups. We have found that the rates offered by the plans mentioned below are generally below those available from the agents currently offering special rates for all McGill employees.
Through our association with CURAC (Colleges and Universities Retirees Associations of Canada), MAUT retired members are eligible for auto and home insurance through Economical Insurance. To obtain a quotation, phone 1-866-247-7700 and mention your affiliation with CURAC.
Those who are members of CARP (Canadian Association of Retired Persons) are also eligible for home and auto insurance at special rates through the McLennan Group. Information can be obtained by phoning 1-888-222-3298. (MAUT members can join or renew their membership in CARP at a reduced rate.) Since rates change all the time, it is important that members get quotes from as many sources as possible.
Travel Insurance
McGill retirees who retain membership in the Supplemental Health Plan continue to be covered by the Emergency Travel Assistance program, and positive reports have been received on the efficacy of this program. It should be noted, however, that retirees are covered by the Manulife Program ONLY if they remain members of the Supplemental Health Plan. Not all retirees do remain members of the SHP, especially those who live outside Quebec.
However, unless one is traveling on university business, this coverage is limited to 90 days for a given absence from Canada. If you intend to be away for a longer period, coverage by a private insurer is recommended, and this tends to be expensive. MAUT continues to press for a longer period of coverage, but in the meantime, one needs to shop for the best rate. Manulife offers such coverage as do CARP (Canadian Association of Retired Persons) through the McLennan Group (1-877-566-1417) and CAA (Canadian Automobile Association).
CURAC (College and University Retiree Association of Canada) also offers, through Johnson and Johnson, an inexpensive nonmedical travel insurance (trip cancellation, interruption, etc.) on an annual basis.
