U3 Members: Use Your HCSA!
What is the Health Care Spending Account (HCSA)?
Sessional Lecturers, Writing Instructors, Sessional Instructional Assistants, and Applied Music Sessionals who have held at least one contract within the bargaining unit between September 2024 and August 2025 are eligible to opt into the Health Care Spending Account (HCSA).
You are entitled to the following HCSA coverage based on your hours worked per plan year:
$500 for the first 34 hours/0.17 FCE of Unit 3 work
An additional $350 for each additional 100 hours/0.5 FCE
Up to a maximum of $1,900 per year thereafter
If you have not opted-in already, instructions on how to do so are detailed below. You can also access this non-exhaustive list of eligible expenses covered by HCSA.
Why you should use your Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) by August 31?
Your HCSA covers a range of eligible health care expenses incurred by you and your family members covered by the plan. Your HCSA will expire on August 31, 2025. Unused amounts cannot be rolled over to the next plan year and will be forfeited.
Furthermore, during this round of bargaining, we fought for a defined benefits plan for Unit 3 members. Following negotiations, we came to the agreement that a Joint Working Group will be established composed of three representatives designated by the Union and three representatives designated by the University to meet, discuss, research, review, and make recommendations for a new health benefits plan in place of the existing HCSA.
The Employer’s contributions to such a plan shall not exceed the Employer’s expenses related to the HCSA for the Sept 2024 to Aug 2025 plan year. Therefore, this is a further incentive for our members to drive up the usage of their HCSAs to maximize the Employer’s contributions to a new defined health benefit plan for members.
Maximize your current benefits and help strengthen future coverage by submitting your eligible claims before August 31, 2025 (please note that you can still submit claims for expenses incurred by August 31, 2025 within 60 days of the end of the plan year).
How to opt-in or make changes to your HCSA?
Step-by-step guide:
To opt-in or make changes, you will need to first fill out the HCSA enrollment/change form.
Then, log into uthrprod.service-now.com/esc
Click on the "Get Help" icon on the main page.
Under the drop-down menu labeled "Please select the functional area that you have a question about", select "Benefits".
Clicking Next will take you to a page where you can attach the HCSA enrollment form and write within the textbox "I am a Unit 3 member. I want to enroll into HCSA. See attached completed form."
Click on Submit.
The University is expected to process your enrollment form and get back to you (note: this process may take a few weeks). You are also expected to be provided with your Green Shield Canada ID #.
Following the processing of our HCSA enrollment form, you should expect to receive an e-mail from Green Shield Canada to register for the GSC’s Plan Member Online Services.
Once you have access to online member services portal on Green Shield Canada, you will be able to submit your eligible claim to be covered by your HCSA.
Submitting a Claim
Step-by-step guide:
To submit a claim, navigate to gsceverywhere.ca/login and log in with your Utoronto e-mail address and password.
In the top left menu, select “Coverage”.
Under this drop-down menu, select “Health Care Spending Account”.
It will take you to a page titled “Health Care Spending Account claim”, which displays the amount you have used to date and the amount remaining.
Under the drop-down menu labeled "Claim Type", select the type of claim you are submitting.
Depending on the type of claim, it will ask you to fill out Provider details (who you paid in exchange for an item or service).
For some claim types, it will ask you to provide a copy of the invoice or receipt.
Finally, review and submit your claim.
Once your claim is processed, GreenShield Canada should send an e-mail notification to your Utoronto account. If you have direct deposit set up, the claimed amount will be deposited to your bank account within a few days of the e-mail notification.
If you need help with your health and dental insurance benefits, claim submissions, or eligibility for your insurance benefits, you can contact GreenShield Canada directly at 1-888-525-7587.
HCSA Information Sessions
Save the Date!
This workshop will provide information to Unit 3 members on their Health Care Spending Account and the process to enroll and make claims. There will also be an opportunity to address any questions you may have about the process.
Thursday, June 19, 3 to 4pm (Zoom)
Wednesday, July 16, 1 to 2pm (Zoom)
Tuesday, August 5, 1 to 2pm (Zoom)
Book an Appointment for Additional Assistance
For assistance on navigating HCSA enrollment or claim submission, you can book a 15-minute appointment with your Second Vice-President (Unit 3), Farhana Islam.
Book a HSCA office hours slot now!