Unauthorized Public Service Health Care Reimbursements Remitted

Summary#

This is the Certain Unauthorized Reimbursements Made Under the Public Service Health Care Plan Remission Order (SI/2021-59). It cancels (remits) past reimbursements paid under the Public Service Health Care Plan to certain people who were accidentally enrolled. The order was made August 11, 2021 and published in the Canada Gazette on September 1, 2021.

What it does#

• Gives a remission (writes off) of amounts equal to reimbursements the person received under the Public Service Health Care Plan, minus any contributions they actually paid during the same period.
• Applies only to people who were enrolled in the Plan in error and who meet one of two conditions:
  • they were employed by the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation or the Canadian Wheat Board and are receiving (or were receiving before death) an immediate annuity or annual allowance under the Public Service Superannuation Act; or
  • they would have been a dependant of such a former employee and are receiving a survivor’s benefit under the Public Service Superannuation Act.
• Defines the relevant period as the time from the day the person was enrolled in error until the earlier of the day the Order was made and the day the person died.
• The Order was made under the Financial Administration Act.

Who's affected#

• Former employees of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation who were wrongly enrolled in the Plan and who receive an annuity or allowance under the Public Service Superannuation Act.
• Former employees of the Canadian Wheat Board in the same situation.
• Dependants (survivors) of those former employees who would have been eligible only if the former employee had been eligible, and who receive survivor benefits.
• Only people who were actually enrolled in error and who received reimbursements for eligible expenses under the Plan are covered.

Why it matters#

• People covered by the Order will not have to repay past reimbursements they received through the Plan for eligible expenses (after subtracting their contributions). That reduces or removes a potential unexpected debt for them or their survivors.
• It fixes a specific administrative mistake affecting a small, defined group of former employees and dependants.
• This does not change who is eligible for the Plan going forward; it deals only with past reimbursements during the error period.