Insurance for Retirees

To be eligible for insurance for retirees, workers must meet the following three conditions:

• Receive a retirement pension from the Pension plan of the construction industry;

AND

• Have accumulated at least 21,000 hours worked in the construction industry's pension plan prior to the date of retirement (hours worked after retirement are not taken into account);

AND

• Have been insured by one of the basic plans A, B, C, D or one of the supplementary plans;
  •  During the insurance period containing the date of their retirement;

OR

• During one of the three insurance periods preceding their retirement;

It should be noted that a worker recognized as disabled before January 1, 1996, and insured under plan M or ME during one of the four insurance periods indicated above is considered to have met the third condition.

Someone who is insured under plan Z does not meet the third condition.

If the retirement date is within the period between March 1 and August 31, the worker is eligible for insurance for retirees beginning the following January 1.

If the retirement date is within the period between September 1 and February 28/29, the worker is eligible for insurance for retirees beginning the following July 1.

A worker who feels that he or she has the right to insurance coverage different from that granted by the Commission de la construction du Québec may contest this decision. To do this, he or she must contact Customer Services, which will send him or her the appropriate form.

Date of retirement

The date of retirement is the first day of the month following the month during which the worker submitted his or her retirement application. For example, if the Application for Pension Benefit form is dated August 20, the worker’s retirement date is September 1.¸

Note: The retirement date considered for eligibility for insurance for retirees is the date of the partial retirement or full retirement, according to the first of these two events to occur.

The retirees insurance plan offers three different levels of coverage : R1, the most complete; R2, an intermediate plan; and R3, a minimal coverage.

If workers were insured by the supplementary insurance plan for roofers (C), electricians (E), tinsmiths (F), line workers (L), millwrights (M) or pipe fitters (T) during the insurance period containing the date of retirement or during one of the three preceding insurance periods, they and their dependents may also benefit from certain additional insurance coverage (plans RC1/RC2/RC3, RE1/RE2/RE3, RF1/RF2/RF3,RL1/RL2/RL3, RM1/RM2/RM3, RT1/RT2/RT3).

In paying the insurance premium for retirees, retirees benefit from insurance coverage for themselves and their dependents.

In some cases, workers must pay this premium or the premium required to obtain coverage under plan Z; consult the section about the Act Respecting Prescription Drug Insurance.

Twice a year, in May and November, the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) sends an insurability notice that indicates the premium to pay to be insured for the following insurance period. However, workers who have not been insured a first time by the retirees insurance plan may continue to be insured by the basic plans or the supplementary plans if the hours and contributions recorded in their file allow it. The insurance notice indicates all of the ways in which a retiree may be insured.

Choice of coverage

• For retirees who have chosen R3 coverage (RC3, RE3, RF3, RL3, RM3, RT3), only this insurance option will be offered in the following period;
• Retirees who have chosen R2 coverage (RC2, RE2, RF2, RL2, RM2, RT2) will have a choice between plan R2 and plan R3 for the following period;
• Retirees who have chosen plan R1 (RC1, RE1, RF1, RL1, RM1, RT1) will have the choice between plans R1, R2, and R3 in the following period.

The option of choosing plan A, B, C, or D will no longer be offered to retirees once they are insured by one of the insurance plans for retirees.

Starting when they are 65 years old, only the insurance plan for retirees will be offered to retirees who are eligible.

Retirees aged 65 or over who are insured by the Retirees Insurance Plan have the choice of using the medication insurance coverage offered by MÉDIC Construction or the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ).

To find out what to pay to obtain coverage R1, R2, or R3, consult the section Insurance Premiums.

The premium to pay to obtain R1, R2, or R3 coverage varies depending on the coverage offered and the age of the retiree. The table below shows the premiums to pay to be covered by the retirees insurance plan.

Retirees aged 65 or over who are insured by the Retirees Insurance Plan can choose to take their medication coverage from MÉDIC Construction or the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ).

The hours accumulated during the reference period and the retiree’s hour reserve, adjusted to the new rate, if applicable,  are used to lower the amount to pay. The supplementary contributions registered in the file are also used to lower the premium to be paid.

Payment of the premium

Eligible retirees receive a notice of insurability. The required premium must be paid before the deadline given on the insurability notice.

Retirees who plan to be away when the notices are sent (in May and November) may make an advance deposit to the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) to cover the amount of their insurance premium. Retirees may request reimbursement of a deposit at any time.

Retirees who do not pay the required premium may lose forever their right to insurance for retirees.

Retirees lose forever their right to benefit from the retirees insurance plan in either of the two following situations:

• They are insured under the retirees insurance plan in an insurance period and do not pay (before the deadline) the required premium to be insured for the following period

OR

• During two consecutive insurance periods: 
  
  
  
  • They do not pay the premium required for coverage by the retirees insurance plan

AND

• They are not insured under basic plan A, B, C, or D.

It is therefore important that retirees examine the situation closely before refusing to pay the premium required to be insured.