Benefits: Summary of Coverage

The elements of Concordia’s retirees’ benefits plan.

Important note: The employee group or bargaining unit to which you belonged as an employee determines your benefits following retirement. If you have any questions about your eligibility for certain benefits, consult Human Resources or your union or association directly.

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Pension Plan

Retirees from Concordia University benefit from a defined-benefits pension plan that ensures a fixed monthly pension will be payable for life, with the potential for cost-of-living adjustments. The Concordia University Pensioners Association is represented on the Pension Board that oversees the Plan. See for information about the Pension Plan.

Group Insurance Plan

Concordia provides an equitable Plan that is generally the same for pensioners as for employees. Retirees contribute to the cost of our health care benefits in two ways. First, a premium is deducted from our monthly pension payments. Secondly, we pay a portion of the cost of medications and services that are covered by the Plan directly to our pharmacies and clinics. The health insurance plan applies to prescription medication (RAMQ and non-RAMQ); medical and paramedical services and expenses; mental health services; vision care; pharmacogenomic testing; emergency travel care outside of Quebec; and hospital care. Note that retirees are ineligible for dental coverage under Concordia’s Plan. This FAQ prepared by Human Resources is helpful: https://www.concordia.ca/hr/benefits/pensioners-corner/faq-group-insurance-plan-jan2025.html

Be aware of caveats and potential costs:

1. Coverage details: Look for the applicable rate of coverage and relevant annual and lifetime maximums here: https://www.concordia.ca/content/dam/concordia/services/hr/docs/benefits/healthplan/gip-summary-pensioners-en-v3.pdf

2. Read the fine print at https://www.concordia.ca/hr/benefits/fine-print.html: “ While Concordia University expects to maintain these benefits indefinitely, it reserves the right to amend or terminate them at anytime. Should the government reduce or eliminate coverage within any program currently offered, the University reserves the right to not necessarily modify its program or cover any additional expenses. The University reserves the right to change any of the cost-sharing provisions. Concordia will notify you of changes that affect your coverage.”

3. Membership in the GIP: Upon retirement, we have thirty days to confirm our status as members of the GIP plan. If at any time an employee or retiree renounces participation in the plan for any reason other than defined “life events”, it won’t be possible to join later. “Life events” are explained here https://hub.concordia.ca/carrefour/services/hr/benefits/work-life-events.html.

4. RAMQ: Whether working or retired, Quebec residents are automatically registered in the provincial government’s Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) prescription plan at age 65. If you are a member of the Concordia health plan at retirement, you must choose between (1) retaining your membership in the University plan and declining participation in the public plan; (2) retaining your membership as a complement to the public plan; or (3) giving up your membership. If you were not a plan member during your employment, you do not have the option to join upon retirement. On the other hand, if you decline the RAMQ plan at 65, you can apply to join it later.

5. Residency: Residency is significant. A person deemed by RAMQ to be “settled in Quebec” may not be absent from the province for 183 days or more in a calendar year (consecutive or not) without losing the privilege of provincial public health insurance. For details, see https://www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca/en/citizens/absence-quebec.

Note that pensioners living outside Canada are ineligible for health care benefits under the Plan.

Health Care Spending Account

The HCSA is a new addition to Concordia’s healthcare group insurance plan, designed to add flexibility and reduce members’ costs for services not directly covered by our Plan. For pensioners, the HCSA was designed to defray the sharp increase in premiums that took effect in January 2025. Each Plan member receives an annual allocation of funds corresponding to their category, whether single or family, which can be used in a variety of ways. For example, the HCSA may be used for dental or vision care, or to defray the premium increase. Among expenditures ineligible for reimbursement under our HSCA are what we might call “healthy lifestyle” expenses, such as gym membership. Expenditures eligible for reimbursement through the HCSA are detailed on the Government of Canada website: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/tax-return/completing-a-tax-return/deductions-credits-expenses/lines-33099-33199-eligible-medical-expenses-you-claim-on-your-tax-return.html For a better understanding of this financial benefit, please note the following: 1. The HCSA is a taxable benefit, however the amount on your tax slip won’t necessarily correspond to your actual usage. Your “taxable benefit” will be the average usage in your category. 2. The HCSA allocation received on January 1 can be used until December 31 of the same calendar year. Any unused amount on December 31 will be carried forward for one additional year. If the whole of the allocated amount is not used within this extended timeframe, it will be forfeited. That is, at the beginning of any calendar year, the balance in your HCSA will always be at least your current HCSA allocation and never more than the sum of the current allocation and the previous year’s.

Telemedicine

Pensioners covered by the Concordia University health care insurance plan can access remote medical services through Lumino Health Virtual Care. In addition to the obvious advantage of staying home when we feel unwell, telemedicine serves to reduce demand on in-person professional services. For details, see https://www.concordia.ca/content/dam/concordia/services/hr/docs/benefits/telemedicine-services-info-sheet-for-pensioners.pdf

Life Insurance

Concordia retirees have a modest Basic Life Insurance Plan which is fully paid by the University. Coverage ends at death and the amount paid out depends upon several factors. For details, consult Human Resources. Note that, while employees can purchase optional life insurance with the University’s group plan, that option is no longer available upon retirement.

In-kind advantages

Post-retirement in-kind advantages may include library privileges, access to Concordia Health Services, and tuition waivers. These are identified in the collective agreements or other terms of employment, commonly found as a sub-section of “Benefits”. Contact Human Resources to confirm your in-kind benefits. Retirees from all bargaining units are eligible for tuition waivers for for-credit courses at Concordia; some collective agreements also include tuition waivers for dependents. Pensioners may apply for tuition waivers for not-for-credit Continuing Education courses, by using this form, https://www.concordia.ca/content/dam/concordia/services/hr/docs/tuition-waiver-non-credit-courses.pdf, and emailing to hr-reception@concordia.ca.