Change to the duration of Employment Insurance benefits

As announced by the Government of Canada on November 25, 2022, sickness benefits for new EI claims will be extended from 15 weeks to 26 weeks as of December 18, 2022. 

How will this impact your groups insured with Humania Assurance?

Group with a non-integrated Short-Term Disability plan:

The basic requirements of the EI Premium Reduction Program remain unchanged. For now, no plan adjustments are required to maintain access to the reduced rate.

Group with a Short-Term Disability plan (SUB or integrated) and a Long-Term Disability plan:

If the policy payouts start within 26 weeks of the date of disability, we suggest:

• Amending the plan so that Short-Term Disability benefits are paid out over a period of at least 26 weeks
• Changing the duration of the Long-Term Disability waiting period to at least 26 weeks 

Group with a Long-Term Disability plan and no Short-Term Disability plan:

If the policy payouts start within 26 weeks of the date of disability, we suggest:

• Changing the plan so that Long-Term Disability benefits are paid out after a waiting period of at least 26 weeks
• Adding an integrated, SUB or non-integrated Short-Term Disability plan that benefits from the EI premium rate reduction

If the Long-Term Disability waiting period is 26 weeks or longer and the group doesn’t have an integrated, SUB or non-integrated Short-Term Disability plan, Humania Assurance will become involved in the member’s rehabilitation later in the process, which may prolong the disability period.

In addition, if no changes are made to the policy, some participants may receive disability benefits from both EI and Humania Assurance. This may negatively affect the duration of a disability. Our claims department will do its best to inform plan participants and employers of this reality to limit its financial impact on the group.

If the group wishes to extend the Long-Term Disability waiting period to 26 weeks, a reduction will be applied to the Long-Term Disability rate. 

To learn more about rate savings for a 26-week Long-Term Disability waiting period or to make changes to Short-Term Disability plans, please contact your Humania Insurance representative or send an email to RepServices.Group@humania.ca as soon as possible.