Blue Cross on a Volley??

[iamvff]

Any Volly/POC departments out there have blue cross plans on their department? Or any other comparable insurance for that matter?? Health, dental, prescription???

iamvff

[Toxic]

Just whatever the RM has in place. We are told that it is very good insurance. I'll beleive it when I see it though.

Luckily my insurance through work will cover firefighting activities. Just can't parachute or drag race faster that 12 seconds...

[iamvff]

Actually, I am not talking life/disability. I am more wondering about blue cross health (which usually includes dental, prescriptions, glasses, etc)

iamvff

[Michael13]

Actually, I am not talking life/disability. I am more wondering about blue cross health (which usually includes dental, prescriptions, glasses, etc)

iamvff

Ahhh I knew thats what you were asking so I wasnt going to post. I was interested in what came up. I know we have great life and disability, but health and dental is the question. I haven't heard of it for vollies.

[smoke286]

Actually, I am not talking life/disability. I am more wondering about blue cross health (which usually includes dental, prescriptions, glasses, etc)

iamvff

Not sure what VFIS offers, we have a side disability policy with that provider that works pretty well for us.

[PEMS17]

Any Volly/POC departments out there have blue cross plans on their department? Or any other comparable insurance for that matter?? Health, dental, prescription???

iamvffOur city admin just allowed us the oppurtunity to join the city employee plan at 100% cost to the ff. It is a blue cross plan. Costs about $130 a month for family coverage. Not sure how inclusive it is though. Hope that helps you.

[firefighter316]

We are in the process of negotiating for benefits for the members that want them. I think the upcoming election will play a big role in whether it goes through

[iamvff]

Our city admin just allowed us the oppurtunity to join the city employee plan at 100% cost to the ff. It is a blue cross plan. Costs about $130 a month for family coverage. Not sure how inclusive it is though. Hope that helps you.
I have done a small amount of looking into it through the town, and they claim that the Vollies are not employed therefore not eligable. Even if we pay the entire cost. Just curious if other have done anything different. I have been thinking it would just be another good recruitment tool.

iamvff

[Toxic]

Actually, I am not talking life/disability. I am more wondering about blue cross health (which usually includes dental, prescriptions, glasses, etc)

iamvff

Got Ya. Heck of good idea for the guys that don't have coverage. Our Blue Cross plan at work works different for full and part time employees. I'd have to assume that firefighter would be considered part time. I guess the arguement would be volunteer vs part time employee...

[iamvff]

Got Ya. Heck of good idea for the guys that don't have coverage. Our Blue Cross plan at work works different for full and part time employees. I'd have to assume that firefighter would be considered part time. I guess the arguement would be volunteer vs part time employee...
Of course the next question to answer is....is a POC considered a part time employee?

iamvff

[dentedhead]

Of course the next question to answer is....is a POC considered a part time employee?

iamvff

In a situation like this the definition would have to be from the ESA or your provincial MOL.

I think its a great idea if you could swing it.However it may be a touch hard to justify to the beanos.

Dentedhead

[Toxic]

I'm issued a T4 from the fire department so I'd argue till I was blue in the face that I am a part time employee. Be curious to see for real though...

[PEMS17]

Like I posted, we are able to sign into the city plan that covers the public works, admin staff, etc. but the cost falls on the individual. The fact that I receive a cheque every month makes an employee. WCB coverage etc. we are employees without question. I would question though whether we are even parttime though, perhaps casual employees is a closer description. No guarantee of hours of the part of the employer or employee.
The buy in to the plan was just recently offered to the local FD with the 3 month waiting period waived if you signed up by Nov. 1

[fire16]

All "vollies" in AB who received enumeration (what ever its form) , had to be considered "employees" by their administrators to comply with federal income tax rules. I get diddly squat in the form of insur. other than liability. Its been a line of contention ever since. I am an "employee" only when it is beneficial to the administration, not for anything else.

Provincial govts also get away with this. ie- I work 6-8 months a yr for the provincial govt, pay union dues, but get zero benefits that full time employees get. ie- dental, glasses, etc, can and do take time off without pay though.

I do have it a little bit better being on a POC outfit than a strictly volunteer unit. I dont have to fundraise for every item required to do the job. Just remember and realize, all FF.s are VOLUNTEERS. Paid or not. Those that get nothing in pay and the POC.s should still have access to the administrations insurance plans

[DFCSmash]

I like the Blue Cross idea, but, the question is can you afford it? Firstly, you must be considered an employee. This means getting a T4 and paying Income Tax, EI, CPP on all of your "earnings". Now I dunno about the rest of you POC folks, but I have never made enough from firefighting to pay for the clothes that get destroyed, or at least moved from "good" status to "paint the house" status.

12 or so years ago Taxation Canada, decided our department were part-time employees. We appealed the ruling, and won. Therefore, we pay no deductions from our fire stipend. We don't have duty weekends, which WILL make you part-time. We could prove through our duty log, that we put in far more unpaid time at the hall than we did paid time. The concept of it being more of a clothing allowance than a wage was also brought forward to them. With this and some other work, taxcan changed their ruling on the part time thing, and we are classified as volunteer. So no more deductions, but we are still covered by workers comp., and the municipal death and disability benefits. (Why do they call them benefits if you have to die to get them?)

The idea is great, but the ramifications of the action must be examined carefully, and considered thoroughly. For some, it may not be a viable choice.

[fire16]

All of which brings up the fed. bill re the 1000 - 3000 dollar per yr. tax deduction for "vollie" personnel. Each case (dept/municipality) although appearing the same, is unique. gray areas abound, even the think tanks (lawyers) cant agree on interpretations.