GROUP HEALTH PLAN
Extended health insurance for Arts BC members.
About the Health Plan
This is true group insurance, which means that all of the usual benefits offered through an employer, if you were an employee, are now available through Arts BC for cultural groups of all sizes, specializing in smaller organizations and the self-employed.
Established by the BC Alliance for Arts + Culture over twenty years ago to meet the needs of artists and arts organizations at a time when it was difficult for artists to get insurance, we are excited to now offer our membership this group plan that continues to protect the community by maintaining its long history of plan stability and competitive rates.
The plan is well-suited to fit the needs of organizations of all sizes in the cultural industries. Sole proprietors and small companies, who often find it difficult to obtain quality coverage on their own, will find the plan especially beneficial.
Our plan offers excellent coverage for all products with no medical evidence requirement, pending approval, and eligibility of application by providers.
Available Benefits
- Extended Health
- Dental
- Life Insurance
- Accidental Death & Dismemberment
- Long Term Disability
- Optional Critical Illness
- Employee Assistance Program
Please note that access to this plan is for registered Arts BC Members.
Group Health Plan Update
We have an important announcement for Arts BC Members who have enrolled in our Group Health Plan with Southlands Financials.
Southlands Financials has recently completed the annual renewal of the benefit plan for our members. Factors such as pharmaceutical pricing, the aging of plan members, and inflation have all played a role in shaping the claims experience of the program. Unfortunately, rising inflation has been a persistent challenge this year, impacting costs.
We’re pleased to share that Southlands Financials has successfully negotiated this year’s increase down to just 6.6%, which is well below the industry norm that’s seeing increases as high as 12-15%.
These new rates will take effect on November 1, 2023. Members enrolled in this plan will see this adjustment in their current billing cycle. To facilitate a smooth transition, members on this plan are kindly advised to update their payroll system, and remember that each individual employee is responsible for 100% of their own long-term disability (LTD) premium to maintain the tax-free status of this benefit. Should any changes occur, kindly provide earning details to Nikki Salituro from Southlands Financial’s administration team at ZLC, who will ensure the accuracy of the LTD benefit for each individual. If anyone has been living with their partner for 1+ years, gotten married, had a child etc. please make sure to update their coverage within 31 days of the change.
Should you have any administrative inquiries, please email [email protected]. For more general support or simply want to learn more about the plan, don’t hesitate to reach out to our plan representative Saskia Vermeulen at [email protected].
How it Works
Organizations pay partial to full amounts of their employee costs, and self-employed artists pay premiums themselves. There is some tax relief for the self-employed who purchase their own extended medical benefits.
Associated Costs
The rate schedule is based on your family status and your annual income. The health and dental plans are designed to extend to cover spouses and dependent children.
For example, an individual making $30,000 per year can expect to pay approximately:
- $233 per month (single coverage)
- $394 per month (couple coverage – one dependent, spouse or child)
- $596 per month (family coverage – two or more dependents)
Please note: Higher incomes will result in higher Long Term Disability premiums as the benefit amounts payable will also increase to cover 60% of net earned income. Our insurance representative Saskia Vermeulen would be pleased to provide you with a quote upon request.
Accessing the Benefit
To get started, simply contact our customer representative Saskia Vermeulen. They will provide further information on how you or your organization can get enrolled today. If you have any questions about the plan, please don’t hesitate to connect with them.
Saskia Vermeulen
Insurance Advisor
Southlands Financial
604 862 7891
[email protected]
Have Questions?
To learn more about the insurance plan, please direct your questions to Saskia Vermeulen. For general questions about Arts BC’s membership, simply email us at [email protected] or give us a call at +1-778-410-5104.
