Updated: October 28, 2021

In 2020, we allowed you to continue coverage for temporary lay-offs for up to 6 months, with disability ending at 3 months. This is now changing. Effective November 1, 2021, we’ll start applying contractual limits for temporary lay-offs again.

• This means that for any lay-off starting on or after November 1, 2021, you can maintain benefits up to the limit indicated in your contract. The standard is 3 months, but your contract may have a longer period. For all lay-offs starting prior to November 1, 2021, you can decide to apply the contractual limit or choose to grant 6 months as per the previous exception. You must apply your coverage decision equally to all employees within the same class.
  
  

In 2020, we allowed you to suspend coverage for all your employees for three months. Effective November 1, 2021, we’re no longer allowing policy suspensions.

• This means that if there are no active plan members on the billing date (generally October 25), we’ll end your policy. If your policy is currently suspended, it’ll remain active for a total of 3 months.