Beneplan Voluntary Benefits

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Beneplan is a bulk purchasing group for Canadian employee benefits and private group health insurance. Founded in 1989, Beneplan evolved by continuously listening to what clients demanded of the insurance industry. In the 1990s, the market demanded self-insured health spending accounts, and we listened. In the 2000s, customers needed a refundable health insurance plan, and we delivered. In the 2010s, clients required lower costs for drugs, and we built solutions. 

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Today, the needs of Canadian purchasers are more pronounced:

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• We Canadians are proud of our universal health care system, and also, we struggle with long wait times.
• Canadian businesses are under more stress than ever, and need lower costs.
• Canadian workers are busy working multiple jobs to survive, and don’t have time to learn about all of the detail and complexity of their benefit plan.
• Canadian workers have asked to buy more insurance at their own cost, but the options have typically been too expensive and confusing to understand. 
• Canadians are smart and know that those who can afford to pay to ‘skip the line’ are already doing so – and we know that the most vulnerable employees are the ones with the greatest need.
• Canadian employees are in a cost of living crisis, and can’t afford to pay out of pocket to ‘skip the line’.

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To address these needs, Beneplan is evolving again. 

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Beneplan will still continue to provide affordable group insurance for businesses, including the refundable premiums from the co-operative.

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In addition, Beneplan will now provide a best in class enrollment concierge service, with better technology, and also, a white glove benefits coach with them to offer guaranteed issue, portable, affordable, and high quality health and life coverage products.

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In 2026, the first products on this Voluntary Benefits Shelf will include:

• Guaranteed Issue Additional Life Insurance
• Guaranteed Issue Additional Critical Illness Insurance for Employee & Family
• Guaranteed Issue Global Private Health Insurance through Vumi 
• Guaranteed Issue Faster Diagnostic Imaging Services
• Affordable Telemedicine services

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The key feature of these plans is that there is no mandatory employer pay requirement. There is no medical requirement as long as these products are purchased during an open enrollment period, or have a proven life event. All of these products are subject to the terms and conditions of each insurance carrier. 

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Regular employee benefit plans require that employers pay at least 50% of the cost of the premium, terms and conditions aside. 

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Voluntary Benefits through Beneplan do not have any mandatory employer pay component, so employees can choose to add these on at their own cost. 

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We ask each employer to pick a date in the future for open enrollment of their business. The enrollment period will close 30 days after that period, and future employees can join during the same time as their effective date, or, an eligible life event*, or when they have lost equivalent coverage. If not, employees must submit to a medical questionnaire, exam and underwriting in order to be approved to purchase voluntary benefits at their own cost. 

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What are the benefits to an employer to introduce voluntary benefits to staff:

• With the launch comes one on one meetings with your staff, either in a face to face or video setting, so that a benefits coach can educate all staff on their current benefits and ensure they are aware of all options to cover their life, health and family with insurance.
• Compliance: this helps employers ensure that 100% of eligible staff was offered the opportunity to join at low rates, no medical and suitable coverage, to ensure their needs are met. This prevents future lawsuits or conflict at work when someone becomes ill, injured or passes away, and there is confusion or a dispute about what benefits they had available to them through their workplace. 

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What are the benefits to an insurance advisor to introduce Beneplan Voluntary benefits to their clients:

• Greater peace of mind that clients are receiving the full opportunity of coverage; and,
• Respect of the client–advisor relationship; and,
• Employee education from the provider with high quality knowledge and advice.

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What are the benefits to staff to learning about purchasing additional voluntary benefits:

• Lower premiums through bulk discounting and buying power;
• No medical exam required as long as done through an open enrollment period; and,
• Awareness and knowledge of their plan, and an opportunity to ask questions in a confidential and fully private setting.

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To learn more about setting up an enrollment window, please contact Diane Carvalho at diane@beneplan.ca