Government Benefits

• Canada Pension Plan – Disability or Retirement? Find out more here
• Canada Pension Plan – Disability Benefits
• Canada Pension Plan – Disability Benefits New Return to Work Incentive
• Employment Insurance Benefits – Sick Benefits
• Employment Insurance Benefits – Compassionate Care Benefits
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Benefits
• Disability Tax Credit
• Medical Expenses Tax Credit
• Provincial Resources - Ontario
• Ontario Works
• Ontario Disability Support Program

Provincial Resources - Ontario

Trillium Drug Program

• available to residents of Ontario who have an Ontario Health Card and are spending a large part of their income on prescription medications (>5%)
• Trillium program year runs from August 1st to July 31st
• Your annual deductible (the amount you have to pay) is based on your previous year’s income for all family members. You must provide income verification from your Revenue Canada Notice of Assessment or give written consent (on the application) for the Trillium Drug Program to contact Revenue Canada directly to confirm your annual income.
• About 5% of your net income (line 236) is your deductible

Life Insurance Policy/Accelerated Benefits/Viatical Settlements

• People wonder if they can get a life insurance policy with a pre-existing condition. Yes with a group policy such as ones offered with an employer, or if you purchase a “high risk” policy on your own. There is a central data base that registers those who have applied/turned down for insurance. The reason why you might have been turned down is not given, just that you have been rejected. Some companies do have policies for “hard to ensure”.
• Life Insurance policies are frequently used as a death benefit, but there a presently a couple of ways the asset could be used as a living financial benefit:
• Cash Surrender Value: this is a basic amount, probably only a small portion of the value of the policy should you cash in the policy and make it void. Consider carefully because you lose the full value.
• Living Benefits: offered by some insurance companies, it is an advance on the partial value of the policy. Have strict medical conditions that the owner of the policy usually has less than 2 years to live. Given a partial value of the policy (about 50%) and charged interest and administrative fees on the remaining part of the policy. Money received is taxable so you may owe income tax at the end of the year.
• Viatical Settlements: this is now a legal option in Ontario. Basically a company gives you a flat rate based on the value of the policy and your health, and you in turn name them as the beneficiary or sell them the policy. Good to have a lawyer review all documents. The provincial government continues to regulate this new industry, such as regulations as: what companies can do viatical settlements, minimum payout on the policy, withdrawal clauses

Ontario Health Insurance Program (OHIP)

• Available to residents of Ontario who have lived in the province for 153 days of the last 12 months, or have moved to the province and established their residency for at least 90 days
• Some program highlights you might not be aware of: your coverage is good anywhere in Canada, the other provinces will bill Ontario, except Quebec especially with doctor services who may ask you to pay first and be reimbursed, out of province ambulances and long term care will not be reimbursed, regular hospitalization in Canada for maximum 12 months
• Out of Country: only covers emergency health services (acute, unexpected illness for disease) with caps to services - $400 day for inpatient hospital, $200 for less intensive medical services, $50 for emergency outpatient services
• If traveling outside of Canada possibly consider purchasing private insurance but be careful of any pre-existing limitations, caps on services, or upfront payments that will later be reimbursed

Contacts/Resources

• Trillium Drug Program 1-800-575-5386 or visit www.gov.on.ca
• Ministry of Health 1-800-268-1154 or visit www.gov.on.ca
Remember your City Councillor, MPP and MP

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