Pensioners wary as federal dental plan switches to Canada Life
After Canada Life took over the administration of the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) sixteen months ago, federal retirees are now facing a similar transition with their dental plan. The switch to Canada Life for the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP) took place on November 1, affecting 325,000 federal retirees.
Debbie Myers, a retired federal public servant, expressed concerns about the switch based on the problems experienced during the PSHCP transition. She highlighted issues such as delayed reimbursements and denials of claims, which caused frustration among members. Ralph Landry, a former Global Affairs Canada employee, shared Myers’ apprehension about the dental plan switch, citing the lack of communication and past experiences with Canada Life.
The transition of the pensioners’ dental plan was initially set for July 1 but was delayed for four months at the request of the National Association of Federal Retirees. The association lobbied for the delay to ensure a smoother transition and address members’ concerns about the switch to Canada Life. Hélène Nadeau, the association’s vice-president, emphasized the importance of a seamless process for dental claims without delays.
In response to the concerns raised, the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) assured members that lessons learned from the PSHCP transition had been leveraged to support a positive experience for PDSP members. TBS highlighted improvements such as automatic enrollment of members and increased call center capacity to handle higher volumes. Additionally, measures were taken to prevent claim denials due to outdated plan information.
Despite these efforts, Landry remained skeptical about the effectiveness of the changes and expressed doubts about Canada Life’s ability to improve the claims process. He emphasized the need for better communication and efficiency in handling claims to ensure a smoother transition for retirees.
As the transition to Canada Life for the PDSP continues, federal retirees are cautiously optimistic about the changes but remain vigilant about potential challenges. They hope that Canada Life will learn from past mistakes and prioritize member satisfaction to ensure a seamless experience for dental care benefits.
