Benefits and Covid-19
For Clinically Diagnosed COVID-19 Related Sickness
BC Marine Industry Employee Health Benefit Plan - Weekly Indemnity Benefit
For situations where a Member has been quarantined because they have a clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 or have an illness with COVID-19 symptoms, the Member should make application for Weekly Indemnity (WI) Benefits. As previously mentioned, the applicable 7-day waiting period has been temporarily waived.
For such cases that last up to 14 days, the Plan will not require the Attending Physician’s Statement portion of the WI application form to be completed, HOWEVER the Member will be required to complete a special Member Statement to accompany their WI application. For benefits beyond 14 days, the Member must make a new application for WI which will require the Attending Physician’s Statement completed by the Member’s doctor to support the claim.
If the Member is hospitalized, the Member should make application for Weekly Indemnity Benefits. If eligible, the benefits commence from the first day hospitalized and the Attending Physician’s Statement must be completed on the application for WI benefits.
If a Member’s physician has advised them that, due to an underlying health condition that puts them at greater risk from exposure to COVID-19, they are unable to travel to their offsite workplace location, and are therefore unable to work, despite having no symptoms or exposure to COVID-19, the Member must make an application for WI benefits and the Attending Physician’s Statement must be completed.
For Periods of Self-Quarantine Related to Travel or Possible Exposure to COVID-19 but No Symptoms or Illness
Step 1: EI Sickness Benefits
Eligible Members/workers are to apply for EI Sickness Benefits. These benefits can be received for up to 15 weeks at a maximum of $573 per week. For claims incurred on or after January 1, 2021, the benefit maximum will be $595 per week. For full details on the benefit, eligibility, and the application process, visit the EI Sickness Benefits website. If the Member is not eligible for EI Sickness Benefits, they should apply for the new Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB). Visit Canada’s COVID-19 benefits and services (CRSB) website for further details.
Step 2: BC Marine Industry Employee Health Benefit Plan - Weekly Indemnity Benefit
The Trustees have agreed that once a Member has applied for EI Sickness Benefits or the new CRSB, he/she may also apply for Weekly Indemnity (WI) Benefits. If eligible, the WI benefit will ‘top up’ the EI Sickness benefit or CRSB to the Member’s WI weekly benefit level for the first 14 days of benefit. As previously mentioned, the normal 7-day waiting period under WI has been temporarily waived and the Attending Physician’s Statement portion of the WI application form will not need to be completed. HOWEVER, the Member will be required to complete a special Member Statement to accompany their WI application.
If a further period of quarantine is required beyond the first 14 days, a new WI application will be required along with another completed Member Statement.
COVID-19 Related Lay-Off, Site Closure, Employer Shut-down
STEP 1: Employment Insurance (EI) Regular Benefits
Provided for Members who temporarily lose their jobs through no fault of their own (i.e. shortage of work, mass lay-offs, etc.) Eligible Members/workers are to apply for EI Regular Benefits. Benefits can be received from 14 up to 45 weeks at a maximum of $573 per week depending on hours worked. The maximum weekly benefit level for claims incurred on or after January 1, 2021 is $595 per week. A one-week unpaid waiting period and Record of Employment are required. For full details on eligibility and the application process, visit the EI Regular Benefits website. If the Member is not eligible for EI Regular Benefits, they should apply for the new CRB. Visit Canada’s COVID-19 benefits and services (CRB) website for further details .
Step 2: BC Marine Industry Employee Health Benefit Plan - Weekly Indemnity Benefit
The Trustees have agreed that once a Member has applied for EI Benefits or CRB because of a COVID-19 related circumstance, he/she may also apply for Weekly Indemnity (WI) Benefits. If eligible, the WI benefit will ‘top up’ the EI / CRB benefits to the Member’s WI weekly benefit level for the first 14 days of benefit. The normal 7-day waiting period under WI has been temporarily waived for COVID-19 related claims and the Attending Physician’s Statement portion of the WI application form will not need to be completed. HOWEVER, the Member will be required to complete a special Member Statement to accompany their WI application.
If a further period of COVID-19 related shut down/absence from work is required beyond the first 14 days, a new WI application will be required along with another completed Member Statement.
The Trustees of the BC Marine Industry Employee Health Benefit Plan are within their rights as Trustees to amend the Plan from time to time as they deem appropriate. In view of the current circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, they have resolved to amend the Plan rules temporarily until it is deemed appropriate by them to revert back to the standard rules of the Plan. The Trustees reserve the right to revise this temporary amendment at any time as they deem appropriate.
