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Manage Your Group Benefit Program With MyBenefits

YXE Benefits offers the simple, stable, smart group benefits choice for Saskatoon businesses; combining accessibility, flexibility and the stability of pooled benefits. Saskatoon companies choose the The Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan because it offers unsurpassed value & outstanding customer service. The Chambers plan group benefits are for Saskatoon Chamber members. In our latest article, we talk about how business owners can save time managing their group benefit program with MyBenefits from the Chambers Plan.

Looking for a way to save time managing your group benefit program? MyBenefits from the Chambers Plan can help!

What is MyBenefits?

MyBenefits is a secure, online tool that you can conveniently use anywhere, anytime. It provides you, as a business owner, a quick and easy way to access your company’s coverage and premium information.

Whether you are looking to ensure a new employee is set up for benefits or calculate payroll deductions, you can use it to keep employee records current. MyBenefits allows you to add new plan participants, change their coverage, or terminate benefits of former employees.

What are the Benefits of MyBenefits?

Contact Your Advisor

If you need to contact your benefits advisor, your employee’s assistance provider or anyone else connected to the plan, it is all just a convenient click away.

Instead of call centres, talk to a real life person. At YXE Benefits, we know being able to contact the Chambers Plan to speak with someone who ensures your needs are met is crucial for busy small to medium sized business owners, as well as your employees.

Access Group Benefit Publications

With MyBenefits you have access to a variety of group benefits publications. You also have access to time saving tools and resources like an employee deduction calculator and taxable benefit report. It’s like having your own personal benefits plan assistant at your convenience!

Provide your employees easy access to their own personalized benefits and claims information and more! Give them the details and resources they need, leaving more time for you with less questions being directed towards you.

Save Paper!

MyBenefits is eco-friendly when you register online! Do away with paper mailings by registering to receive billing statements online as soon as they are ready. No need to wait for the mail to be delivered when you have everything available to you online via phone, tablet or computer.

Start saving time by administering your group plans online today. To register visit my-benefits.ca and follow the instructions.

We encourage you to connect with us on our Saskatoon social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.

‘Join the Group- It’s Time To Benefit’

www.yxebenefits.ca

Will an accident leave your business disabled?

YXE Benefits offers the simple, stable, smart group benefits choice for Saskatoon businesses; combining accessibility, flexibility and the stability of pooled benefits. Saskatoon companies choose the The Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan because it offers unsurpassed value & outstanding customer service. The Chambers plan group benefits are for Saskatoon Chamber members. Our latest post subject is will an accident leave your business disabled?

What if you had an accident and couldn’t work for a while?

Your disability insurance would provide income in place of your salary until you were on your feet again, but what about those business bills! Unfortunately, none of us can predict a sudden illness or injury. It’s wise to consider how your absence would impact your business and make sure you’re prepared for unforeseen circumstances.

There is an answer!

Protect your business with Business Overhead Benefits from your Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan®.

Designed for self-employed business owners who generate all of their firm’s sales and revenues and who are involved in the day-to-day operations of the business, BOE covers your business’ fixed expenses if you’re away for an extended period of time due to disability. BOE must be purchased in conjunction with Long Term Disability benefits.

Available in blocks of $100, coverage is available from $500 to $2,000 per month. The benefit will pay eligible business expenses, after a 30 day waiting period, for up to 18 months while you are disabled. Eligible business expenses are the actual, normal and customary expenses incurred by you, the owner, in the operation of your business. For partnerships, your assumed portion of such expenses is covered.

Eligible business expenses include:

Rent, electricity, telephone
Business taxes and licenses
Property taxes for the place of business
Leasing and amortization costs of equipment, including automobiles
Interest including the interest portion of mortgage payments, unpaid bills or lines of credit
Amortization or periodic repayment of capital including mortgages

In Addition:

Salaries of personnel who do not generate income and whose services are essential during your disability
Professional services of an outside accountant
Professional dues and professional liability insurance
Office cleaning
Postage and office supplies

You can purchase Business Overhead Expense coverage in conjunction with Chambers Plan Long Term Disability benefits. Together, it’s the coverage business owners need, at an affordable price.

With quick claim payments, rate stability, and guaranteed renewable coverage, the Chambers Plan makes it easy for you to invest in the health and well-being of your employees. 3,000 small businesses just like yours join the Plan every year. With the help of our local advisors at YXE Benefits, let us design a plan to fit your needs and your budget from an array of benefits and options:

We encourage you to connect with us on our Saskatoon social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.

‘Join the Group- It’s Time To Benefit’
www.yxebenefits.ca

Chambers Plan Disability Insurance Coverage Explained

Chambers Plan Disability Insurance Coverage

With quick claim payments, rate stability, and guaranteed renewable coverage, the Chambers Plan makes it easy for you to invest in the health and well-being of your employees. 3,000 small businesses just like yours across Canada join the Plan every year. With the help of your local advisors at YXE Benefits , the Chambers plan design a plan to fit your needs and your budget from an array of benefits and options including disability insurance.

Comprehensive Protection: Short Term & Long Term Disability Insurance

Disability insurance, whether short or long term, gives employees a financial cushion in the event they become disabled due to an injury or illness and are unable to work for a period of time. Although Health insurance will typically cover the costs of treating an injury or illness, most people will have a difficult time paying for basic necessities if they aren’t able to work.

Short Term Disability Insurance (Weekly Indemnity)

We understand that each of our clients has a different budget and unique needs. You will be able to decide how long your employees must be off work before they may begin to collect benefits, and how long they may collect benefits. For employees under age 65, Short Term Disability insurance benefits represent 66 2/3% of their gross income to a maximum of $1,200 per week.

Long Term Disability (LTD) Insurance

Insuring employees for the long term, LTD coverage can help provide financial security so a disabled employee can focus on recovery and returning to work. Chambers Plan LTD benefits provide employees with:

Up to $7,000 per month
Benefits for 2 or 5 years, or until age 65
Guaranteed coverage to groups with 3 or more employees (non-evidence limits vary from $1,200 to $3,000)

We encourage you to connect with us on our Saskatoon social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.

‘Join the Group- It’s Time To Benefit’
www.yxebenefits.ca

What Is Stop Loss Insurance?

YXE Benefits offers the simple, stable, smart group benefits choice for Saskatoon businesses; combining accessibility, flexibility and the stability of pooled benefits. Saskatoon companies choose the Chambers group plan because it offers unsurpassed value & outstanding customer service. The Chambers plan group benefits are for Saskatoon Chamber members. In our latest post, we share an article by Benefits Canada on stop-loss insurance.

Stop-loss Insurance takes claim off the Employer’s shoulders

When an employee has a health issue requiring expensive treatment, the associated high-cost claims can be significant for their benefits plan sponsor. But it’s impossible to predict when a large claim will arise, so stop-loss insurance, which takes the claim off the employer’s shoulders, is one option to help protect against these unexpected costs.

As a type of insurance policy that sits on top of a benefits plan, stop-loss is available to both fully- and self-insured plan sponsors. When choosing stop-loss insurance, an employer selects a threshold up to which it can reasonably cover claims — ranging from between $10,000 and $100,000 — and any claims beyond that will be covered by the policy.

Stop-loss not a substitute for plan management

The main benefit of stop-loss insurance is its ability to protect the Saskatoon employer from catastrophic claims. For
self-insured groups, it primarily acts as a budgeting tool so there aren’t any unexpected hits that could affect accounting.

On the other hand, stop-loss can become costly. While a claim may be mitigated in the first year, premiums can rise
in the following years, essentially providing only short-term stabilization. This is especially difficult if the claim is reoccurring, which is the case for most drug claims.

“Stop-loss doesn’t help you avoid cost; it simply helps you prevent an unexpected surge in costs in a given year. It’s not a substitute for plan management.”

Another drawback is that most plans only have a single market for stop-loss insurance, meaning employers can only purchase it from one group, typically their own health insurer, which limits them to that insurer’s quote.

To limit risk, employers can use a pre-existing condition clause for an employee’s first year of employment by setting benefits to a specific limit so they can’t bring in unexpected expenses. Another option is to put a limit on drug reimbursement levels or incorporate provincial drug programs into the benefits plan.

While stop-loss prevents large, unexpected claims from affecting a plan sponsor, it’s important to understand that issues can still arise after a claim is made and employers should be aware of all the available options, so they can make a decision before it’s too late.

See related YXE Benefits posts on health insurance.

We encourage you to connect with us on our Saskatoon social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.

‘Join the Group- It’s Time To Benefit’
www.yxebenefits.ca

Accidental Death and Dismemberment Benefit explained by YXE Benefits Team

YXE Benefits offers the simple, stable, smart group benefits choice for Saskatoon businesses; combining accessibility, flexibility and the stability of pooled benefits. Saskatoon companies choose the Chambers group plan because it offers unsurpassed value & outstanding customer service. The Chambers plan group benefits are for Saskatoon Chamber members. In our latest post, we shed light on Accidental Death and Dismemberment Benefit (AD&D).

A Group Benefit with Big Value

In a matter of seconds, an accident can drastically change a life. If that accident happens to one of your employees, your Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan can offer support.

Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefit offers a lump sum payment in the event of death, loss of limb, or any qualified injury resulting from an accident.

Benefits are paid out in addition to other types of coverage so in the event of a loss of limb, for instance, an insured might receive disability payments as well as an AD&D payment.

In the case of accidental death, an insured’s beneficiary would receive the traditional group life insurance benefit as well as a second, equal amount, through Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage.

Covers recovery-related expenses

If a serious injury occurs, the employee will likely face many challenges as they recuperate.

To help with recovery, the Chambers Plan Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefit will cover up to $15,000 of expenses for occupational training, and up to an additional $5,000 is available if you require special adaptive equipment or workplace modifications.

Group Benefit not limited to the Saskatoon workplace

Together these payments can form the foundation of a program to help the employee re-enter the workplace after an accident. But Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefits aren’t limited to the workplace.

Recognizing that an injury can affect how the individual interacts with his or her surroundings, there’s a benefit of up to $50,000 to modify the home or vehicle when a wheelchair becomes necessary as a result of the accident.

Accidental Death and Dismemberment Benefit can provide vital support at a critical time for Employees

This money can be used to offset the cost of projects like ramp installation, changes to the layout of the house, and vehicle control modification.

With the Chambers Plan, Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefits are extensive and included in every benefits package. It is an often-overlooked benefit but can provide vital support at a critical time.

We encourage you to connect with us on our Saskatoon social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.

‘Join the Group- It’s Time To Benefit’
www.yxebenefits.ca

Heard of Employee Assistance Program from Chambers Plan

YXE Benefits offers the simple, stable, smart group benefits choice for Saskatoon businesses; combining accessibility, flexibility and the stability of pooled benefits. Saskatoon companies choose the Chambers group plan because it offers unsurpassed value & outstanding customer service. The Chambers plan group benefits are for Saskatoon Chamber members. In our latest post, we share information on Employee Assistance Program from The Chambers Plan.

Employee Assistance Program to the rescue

When life’s challenges make it difficult to concentrate on work, support for you and your employees is available through the Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Arive®.

This confidential service provides access to professional counselling and guidance from experts who understand how coping with personal issues affects absenteeism and productivity on the job.

A good solution for businesses without internal HR support

The Chambers Plan Arive® Employee Assistance Program can complement any human resource department. It is also a good solution for businesses without internal HR support to help individuals deal with complex issues best resolved with the assistance of accredited professionals.

External one-on-one consultation is often financially out of reach for many employees; through the Chambers Plan Arive® EAP, you and your staff now have access to expert advisors and clinical assistance.

Professional Support for Individuals

Employee Assistance Program offers confidential, face-to-face counselling with a designated counselling professional, for employees experiencing personal problems, including:

Family challenges/Personal problems
Work-related difficulties
Addiction/Dependency concerns
Eldercare issues

Telephone consultation for Nutrition counselling

Also includes private telephone consultation for:

Legal issues
Financial struggles
Childcare information

Additional Support for Management

Management Guides and Bulletins: Guides and bulletins written by experts who understand the stresses and complexities of employee management on such topics as handling mental health issues in the workplace, holding better meetings, attracting and retaining great employees, dealing with addiction issues, bridging the generation gap, managing absenteeism, and more.

Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD):In the event of an armed robbery, unexpected death of a co-worker, major occupational injury or other critical incidents – immediate help is available.

A counsellor will help you design communications, a support plan, and employee information sessions to best suit the situation. Intervention may be in-person or by telephone, as determined in the initial contact.

We encourage you to connect with us on our Saskatoon social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.

‘Join the Group- It’s Time To Benefit’
www.yxebenefits.ca

Business Assistance Service Offers Added Value For Business Owners.

YXE Benefits offers the simple, stable, smart choice for Saskatoon businesses; combining accessibility, flexibility and the stability of pooled benefits. Saskatoon companies choose The Chamber group plan because it offers unsurpassed value & outstanding customer service. The Chambers plan group benefits are for Chamber members. In our latest post, we discuss added the Chamber Plan value, one of which is the Business Assistance service. This is just one of the additional features built into each benefit plan at no additional cost.

Business Assistance Service (BAS)

Helping you manage your business more efficiently

Most small businesses can’t afford to have a team of specialists on hand to help deal with unexpected problems that require an expert opinion. The Chambers Plan BAS is designed to fill this gap. This confidential service provides access to professional accounting, counselling, legal and human resource experts who understand the challenges faced by small business owners. One-on-one consultation is often financially out of reach for many businesses, however through the Chambers Plan BAS, firms have access, free of charge, to expert advisors who can help their business grow.

The Chambers Plan BAS provides business owners:

MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Provides up to nine hours of Legal, Accounting and Specialized Human Resource services combined, per calendar year.

Legal Advice – When faced with a legal dilemma, this service provides practical and current interpretations of company, partnership, taxation and insolvency law, plus all relevant aspects of common and civil law.
Accounting Advice – When the numbers don’t add up, advice from a professional enables owners and managers to strengthen management and control functions through expert counsel.
Specialized Human Resource Services – When facing a technical human resource issue, from termination processes and overtime pay to legislative/labour law concerns, this service provides you with answers confidentially, via telephone.

HUMAN RESOURCE COACHING

Confidential telephone coaching helps address a wide range of challenging people issues, including performance management, absenteeism, conflict and difficult behavior.

ABSENTEEISM MANAGEMENT

When an employee is consistently absent from work, or underperforming, there is a strong probability that a personal issue is the cause. Owners now have the resources available to help employees deal with situations affecting performance, through face-to-face counselling with a trained professional.

Business Assistance Service Chambers Plan Value

The Chambers Plan has retained Arete® Human Resources Inc. as the independent service provider of the Business Assistance Service. Arete manages a national network of professionals, ready to assist you and your employees, and a toll-free call will put you in touch with a trained specialist who will identify how best to help you.

We encourage you to connect with us on our Saskatoon social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.

‘Join the Group- It’s Time To Benefit’
www.yxebenefits.ca

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