No, they are two completely separate plans. Please contact the STF for information on the STF Members’ Health Plan and the STS for information on the STS Group Benefits Plan.

You will have to submit evidence of good health if you apply for coverage more than 60 days after the date:

• You retire, or

• Coverage terminates under a spouse’s group plan, or

• Coverage terminates under any other group plan.

Evidence of good health means you would be required to complete a statement of health in order to determine your eligibility for the Plan. This is required if you did not join the Extended Health plan within the 60-day open enrollment window.

If you or your dependents apply for dental benefits more than 60 days after becoming eligible, the maximum benefit will be limited to $100 during the first 12 months of coverage.

A spouse can be added to the Plan within 60 days of:

• Termination of coverage under any group plan.

• Date of marriage.

• One-year common law date.

If a request is made to add a spouse after 60 days, he/she is considered a late applicant and must submit evidence of good health.

Yes, if you have group coverage with an employer, you may suspend your STS Group Benefits. You may reinstate your STS Group Benefits within 60 days of the termination of your group plan. Coverage can be suspended or reinstated for the 1st of any month, provided the STS Office receives written notification before the 15th of the previous month. Notification must be from the member in writing, by email, mail or fax.

The surviving spouse of a deceased superannuate may join the STS Group Benefit Plan within 60 days from the date of death of the superannuate without medical evidence, or at a later date with medical evidence. The surviving spouse of a deceased active teacher is also eligible to join the STS Group Benefits Plan within 60 days from the expiration of coverage under the STF Members Health Plan without medical evidence, or at a later date with medical evidence. In order to be on the Group Benefits Plan, he/she needs to become an STS member.

Dependents are defined as your spouse, unmarried, unemployed dependent children under 21 years of age, and unmarried, unemployed children under 26 years of age who are attending an educational institution or training at a school of learning on a full-time basis. Dependent children who are physically or mentally infirm will be covered beyond the limiting age.

All claims should be sent to Saskatchewan Blue Cross, whether you reside in Saskatchewan or in another province. The address is located at the top of your claim form. You can also submit a claim online at sk.bluecross.ca or through the mobile app.

Claim forms can be printed from the Saskatchewan Blue Cross website at www.sk.bluecross.ca or you can call the STS office at 306-373-3879 to request a form be mailed to you. You can also submit claims online at sk.bluecross.ca or through the mobile app.

Please contact the Customer Service Team at Saskatchewan Blue Cross at 1-800-667-6853 and they would be pleased to assist you. If you have a question regarding a travel claim, please contact the claims department at CanAssistance at one of the following options: 1-800-264-1852 | 1-514-286-8336 | bluecross@canassistance.com

Prescription drugs listed on the Saskatchewan Formulary are covered by the plan. Some drugs are listed on the Formulary as Exception Drug Status. Your pharmacy/physician must apply for Exception Drug Status and a copy of your approval letter must be submitted to Saskatchewan Blue Cross.

Yes, the STS Group Benefits Plan is currently set up with a Pay Direct drug card so the pharmacy can submit your drug claims directly. You will still have to pay your $6 deductible per prescription and your 20% coinsurance.

The pharmacist can only submit one month worth of prescriptions on your behalf. You can submit additional months either by paper or online, however please indicate on them that they are not duplicates.

Diabetic supplies must be submitted either by paper or online; they cannot be submitted by the pharmacist as they are paid under the Extended Health Benefit and not the Drug Benefit. This is done so they do not go towards your yearly drug maximum.

The Saskatchewan Seniors’ Drug Plan is a program through the Government of Saskatchewan. Eligible seniors 65 years and older pay a maximum of $25 for prescription drugs listed on the Saskatchewan Formulary and those approved under Exception Drug Status. Eligibility is based on income. Applications can be obtained from your pharmacy.

If you qualify for the Saskatchewan Seniors’ Drug Plan, you will receive a letter from the Ministry of Health. If you are the planholder on the STS Group Benefits Plan, you will need to forward a copy of that letter to the STS office in order to receive the reduced premium for your Extended Health plan.

Not necessarily, as the prescription drugs covered by the STS Group Benefits Plan are only those listed on the Saskatchewan Formulary. Your pharmacist will be able to confirm whether a specific prescription drug is listed on the Saskatchewan Formulary. If it is not, your doctor may be able to prescribe an alternative prescription drug that is on the Saskatchewan Formulary.

A Health Spending Account (HSA) is a group benefit that can provide reimbursement for a wide range of health and dental related expenses, over and above a regular benefit plan.  You can claim any item or service allowed under the Income Tax Act of Canada as a medical expense.  The STS Health Spending Account will be available from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2026.

The HSA complies with Canada Revenue Agency requirements and the amounts paid to you from the HSA are not taxable nor are a taxable benefit.  This allows you the option to flexibly apply these funds where they best fit your needs.

There currently are funds in the Group Benefits Sustainability Reserve Fund above the target balance range of this reserve fund.  The STS Provincial Executive has therefore approved an allocation of these surplus funds to the HSA. 

Any Extended Health and/or Dental Plan Member (Primary Plan Holder) who is enrolled and active (does not have their coverage suspended) as of January 1, 2025, will be eligible for the HSA.

Anyone covered by the Plan Holder (defined as a dependent) will be eligible to use the Plan member’s allocation of funds.

The allocation of funds for the HSA is as follows:

• $200 if the Primary Plan Holder has “Single” coverage.

• $400 if the Primary Plan Holder has “Couple” coverage.

• $460 if the Primary Plan Holder has “Family” coverage.

No.  Individuals who are members of either the Extended Health Plan or Dental Plan, or both Plans will be allocated funds into their Health Spending Account if they are enrolled and active as of January 1, 2025.

No.  This allocation of funds is intended to be a single event due to excess funds in the Group Benefits Sustainability Reserve Fund. The Health Spending Account will be terminated on December 31, 2026.

Yes, Blue Cross is the carrier of the HSA.

The HSA allocation can be used for any medical expense that is partially covered by the Extended Health and Dental Plan or anything the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) deems as an allowable medical expense for income tax purposes.  The listing of allowable medical expenses is lengthy and includes items not currently covered by the Extended Health and Dental Plan.  The full list can be found on the CRA website that can be found here.

Refunding money paid as a premium for an Extended Health and Dental Plan can have implications on members’ income tax returns.  However, premiums paid to a Health or Dental Plan are eligible for reimbursement from the Health Spending Account.  If members prefer to be reimbursed for their premiums paid instead of utilizing the HSA for health-related services, they can do that by submitting a claim to Saskatchewan Blue Cross for premium costs incurred after January 1, 2025, and receive reimbursement from their HSA allocation. 

Health Spending Account funds remaining after the first year will be carried into the next calendar year to be utilized between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026.

Expenses incurred during periods where coverage is suspended are not eligible for reimbursement.  However, the remaining allocation to the HSA will be carried forward and available for you to utilize when you reinstate coverage, provided it is before the HSA terminates on December 31, 2026.

If you move to another province, your Plan coverage is transferred from a Regional policy to a National policy.  Any expenses incurred before you move must be submitted to the Regional policy prior to your move.  Your remaining allocation to the HSA will be available within your National policy to pay eligible medical expenses incurred after your move.

The HSA cannot be carried forward to a surviving spouse.  The allocation must be used for expenses incurred prior to the member’s passing.    

A pre-existing condition is any medical condition (whether or not the condition has been diagnosed or the diagnosis has changed) that existed prior to travelling.

Pre-existing conditions are covered provided the covered person’s condition is stable and/or has been controlled by consistent treatment with prescribed medication for the 90 days immediately preceding the day of departure, and medical attention is not reasonably anticipated during the travel period. To be considered stable, a condition must not have required medical investigation, diagnosis, treatment or hospitalization in the 90 days immediately preceding the departure date. Routine checkups with no change in medication or treatment are not considered medical investigation, diagnosis or treatment, so they will not affect your coverage.

Participation in professional sports, any speed contest, parachuting, bungee jumping, mountaineering, spelunking, or a flight accident if the person is not riding as a fare paying passenger.

The Travel Assistance Provider must be called for emergency medical assistance when travelling outside your province of residence. Failure to call the Travel Assistance Provider may invalidate your claim. Telephone service is provided on a 24-hour basis around the world in any language.

If in Canada or the United States: 1-866-330-3633 toll free All other locations: 306-667-5299 collect

Travel insurance is recommended even when travelling within Canada. Your STS travel benefits provide coverage for the first 65 days from your date of departure from your province of residence.

For trips exceeding 65 days, it is your responsibility to purchase top-up insurance. Interested travelers should contact Saskatchewan Blue Cross directly. Remember that coverage under a top-up policy is not an extension of your STS travel benefits. The benefits and exclusions (including the pre-existing condition clause) may differ, so be sure you understand your top-up policy.

Coverage is limited to emergency medical expenses incurred by a covered person as a result of a sudden illness or accident that occurs outside your province of residence. Emergency medical coverage does not include medical services for elective, non-emergency, ongoing or follow-up treatment, or when travelling outside your province of residence to seek medical advice or treatment.

Not necessarily as your doctor cannot speak on behalf of Blue Cross travel benefits.

Emergency travel coverage is designed for sudden and unforeseen medical emergencies while travelling away from your home province. If you have been diagnosed with a medical condition or are working with a doctor to explore a current health condition, the condition must be considered stable if any travel is planned.

To be considered stable, a condition must not have required new medical investigation, diagnosis, treatment or hospitalization in the 90 days immediately preceding the departure date. Routine checkups with no change in medication or treatment are not considered medical investigation, diagnosis or treatment.

An airfare itinerary, boarding pass, accommodation receipt, fuel receipt, or a bank statement showing when purchases made outside the province began are all suitable evidence for the purposes of confirming when you left your province of residence.

If you have questions about your claim, the STS office may be able to assist you in seeking answers to your questions. However, if necessary, you may appeal your claim denial or reimbursement decision as follows:

Within 3 months from the date of the initial claim decision, submit a written request outlining the basis for your appeal to the attention of Manager, Health and Dental Claims at Saskatchewan Blue Cross (516 2nd Avenue N, Saskatoon, SK, S7K 2C5). This request should include any additional documentation in support of your claim that you would like considered. A written decision and explanation will be provided to you, in most cases within 30 days from the receipt of your appeal.

If you are still not satisfied with the claim decision, you may request a second and final level of appeal by submitting a written request to the attention of VP, Customer Service at Saskatchewan Blue Cross (516 2nd Avenue N, Saskatoon, SK, S7K 2C5). Please include any additional documentation in support of your claim that you would like considered. This subsequent appeal, along with any additional documentation, must be received within 3 months from the date of the initial appealed decision. A written decision and explanation will be provided to you, in most cases within 30 days from the receipt of your appeal.

If you are still not satisfied with the claim decision, you may contact the OmbudService for Life and Health Insurance (OLHI) who provide independent assistance to consumers at no cost to you. Additional information about OLHI can be found on their web site www.olhi.ca or by calling them directly at 1-888-295-8112.

Yes, a prescription is required every time an orthotic is purchased.

To update your address for your STS Group Benefits Plan or for Outreach, please contact the STS Office in writing. You can send an email to sts@sts.sk.ca or send it by mail to 2311 Arlington Ave, Saskatoon, SK, S7J 2H8. An address change form is available at the bottom of this page.

If you have any further questions please contact the STS Office at sts@sts.sk.ca or 306-373-3879.