This form will provide you with details regarding the various forms of leave covered under the Unit 1 Collective Agreement.

Health Benefits

Members of Unit 1 are entitled to access health benefits under the terms of the Collective Agreement. Two plans exist: Plan A (The “Top-Up” Plan) and Plan B (The “HCSA Only” Plan).

Plan A consists of comprehensive insurance coverage, in addition to a $300 Healthcare Spending Account (HCSA). The HCSA amount increases to $600 for members with dependents. In order to be eligible for Plan A members must have a contract worth, or have worked, a minimum of 30 hours (this threshold must be achieved by July 31 of each academic year) AND must have enrolled in a “base” plan (such as the GSU, APUS, SCSU, UTSU, or PDF plans). NOTE: In order to be eligible for Plan A, members must remain in both the extended health and dental portions of their base plan. There are no exceptions. If you need to purchase an extension of your insurance after graduation, please visit Student Care for information and deadlines.

Members who do not meet the eligibility requirements as outlined above, will have access to Plan B (HCSA only), consisting of a $300 Healthcare Spending Account. The HCSA amount increases to $600 for members with dependents.

For more information about these two plans, please have a look at our Plan FAQ.

Health Benefits - Important Dates and Deadlines

Blackout Period

A blackout period is the duration of time when access to Plan A and Plan B is temporarily unavailable. This is the period when the University confirms the eligibility of members and sends the list to Green Shield.

If you require access to medical and dental services or need a prescription during the blackout period, you can make the payment and submit the claim with receipts to Green Shield after the blackout period.

Fall 2023: September 1 – November 29, 2023

Winter 2024: January 1 – March 15, 2024

NOTE: If you had access to Plan A or B during the previous benefit year (September to August), your plan will show as “Terminated” on the Green Shield portal during the blackout period in September.

Claim submission Deadline

All claims must be received by Green Shield no later than 60 days after the end of the benefit year, by October 30.

NOTE: August 30 is the last day you can submit claims through the Green Shield portal. After August 30, you must submit manual (paper) claim forms. Please contact Green Shield customer service at 1-888-711-1119 for assistance.

Health Benefits - Adding Dependents

NOTE: To opt-in your dependents to your primary plan (in order for them to have access to the Top-up Plan), you must opt them in annually, at the beginning of the term you are first registered in.   For graduate students, visit Student Care to opt-in online during the periods below.  Members with primary coverage from APUS, SCSU, and UTSU should refer to their respective website for similar deadlines.

Fall 2023: September 1 – 30, 2023

Winter 2024: January 1 – 31, 2024

Looking to purchase a 12-month extension of your insurance after graduation? Please visit Student Care.

Health Benefits - Important Forms and Websites

Unit 1 Health Benefits – University of Toronto’s webpage

Unit 1 Benefits & Worker Rights – access this document for a summary of Unit 1 benefits, financial assistance funds and other worker rights.

Top-Up Plan FAQ – have a question about your top-up plan? Check here first for an answer! 

Table of Maximum Amounts – GSU/Top-Up Plan 2023/2024 Plan Year.

HCSA Allowable Expenses – this form, created by Green Shield Canada, lists items/services that may (or may not) be charged to a HCSA, and under what circumstances certain expenses will be covered. Members who are not in a funded cohort are able to claim their UTGSU health and dental premiums through their HSCA account. Check out this guide for details on how to do so! Note: if you are in a funded cohort, your UTGSU plan is covered by your funding and you cannot claim the premiums through your HCSA. 

Financial Assistance Funds

For more information about each fund, click on the name/title of the fund (in red). Please see the Fund Application FAQ to answer commonly asked questions related to fund applications.

Rolling: SEPTEMBER - AUGUST

Sexual and Domestic Violence Survivors Fund (SF)
  • Eligibility period: secured at least 1 hour of Unit 1 work between September 1 and August 31 of the year in which the application is made.
  • Purpose: support survivors. Please apply if you need support of any kind related to your experience as a member of this group.
Trans Fund (TF)
  • Eligibility period: secured at least 1 hour of Unit 1 work between September 1 and August 31 of the year in which the application is made.
  • Purpose: support trans members. Please apply if you need support of any kind related to your experience as a member of this group.
Black and Indigenous Workers Fund (BIWF)
  • Eligibility period: secured at least 1 hour of Unit 1 work between September 1 and August 31 of the year in which the application is made.
  • Purpose: support members impacted by anti-Black and/or anti-Indigenous racism. Please apply if you need support of any kind related to your experience as a member of this group.
International Workers Legal Fund (IWLF)
  • Eligibility period: secured at least 1 hour of Unit 1 work between September 1 and August 31 of the year in which the application is made.
  • Purpose: support international members facing legal difficulties. Please apply if you need support of any kind related to your experience as a member of this group.

January 1 to february 16 [extended] (Group a) &
August 1-30 (Groups a & B), 2024

Student Workers Assistance Fund (SWAF)
  • Eligibility period: have/will have performed at least 30 hours of Unit 1 work between September 1 and August 31 of the year in which the application is made.
  • Purpose: provide funding support to (A) students in the funded cohort (as defined by SGS) who receive less than $20,000 of funding a year and (B) students not in the funded cohort who receive less than $15,000 of funding a year. Only members in group A can apply during Round 1; members in group B apply in Round 2.

february 1 - 28 & July 1 - 31, 2024

International Health Plan Assistance Fund (IHPAF)
  • Eligibility period: have/will have performed at least 30 hours of Unit 1 work between September 1 and August 31 of the year in which the application is made.
  • Purpose: cover UHIP enrolment fees for members who, because of their international status and are no longer in the funded cohort, must pay out-of-pocket for UHIP for themselves, their spouse, or dependent child(ren). Members who receive major external awards that fully replace funding packages are not eligible.
U of T Family Plan Assistance Fund (UFPAF)
  • Eligibility period: have/will have performed at least 30 hours of Unit 1 work between September 1 and August 31 of the year in which the application is made.
  • Purpose: cover U of T student or postdoc base plan enrolment fees for members who pay out-of-pocket for coverage for their spouse and/or dependent child(ren) on their U of T base health care plan.

July 1 - 31, 2024

Research Assistants Defence Fund (RADF)
  • Eligibility period: have/will have performed at least 30 hours of Unit 1 work between September 1 and August 31 of the year in which the application is made.
  • Purpose: protect the funding package for students in the funded cohort (as defined by SGS) in Divisions 1 and 2 (Humanities and Social Sciences) who are forced to undertake T4 taxable RA work in order to receive their minimum guaranteed funding.

September 1 - 30, 2024

Childcare Financial Assistance Fund (CFAF)
  • Eligibility period: have/will have performed at least 30 hours of Unit 1 work between September 1 and August 31 in the year before application is made. (Applications are made the following September—that is, immediately after the eligibility period.)
  • Purpose: offset eligible childcare expenses and primary care expenses that are incurred between September 1 and August 31 in the year before application is made. Children must be within set age ranges to be considered eligible.

How to Access Application Forms

During application periods, forms will be available online and accessible through the Member Portal. To find application forms, scroll up to the top right of the Union’s website.

If, during application periods, you do not see application forms on the Member Portal (under ‘Forms’), then you likely need to fill out a Membership Application Form (also found under the ‘Forms’ tab). When your membership application is processed, then the application forms for funds you may be eligible for will be accessible through the portal. PLEASE NOTE: processing of membership applications can take up to one hour. 

If you do not know your Member ID number, which is required for fund and membership applications, you can find it in your CUPE 3902 newsletter footer at the bottom of the email, or by filling out this form in the Member Portal. For support, please contact website@cupe3902.org.