Does your plan include health and dental benefits? If it does and you have employees with dependants over the age of 22 (the regular age at which we terminate coverage) but under age 26 attending college or university on a full-time basis, it’s important you let us know. This will ensure overage dependant students receive uninterrupted health and dental coverage for the duration of their formal education up until they turn age 26.

There is no increase in premiums for continuation of coverage for eligible overage dependant students.

What you need to do

If you are managing the administration of your plan online, you can easily add this information.

Not signed up for the Plan Administrator website? Just go to www.empire.ca and click on the “Group Plan Administrator” link in the “Sign in” section at the bottom right hand corner of the page. Then click on “Request a User ID”.

Alternatively, you can find the “Request for Overage Dependant Student Coverage Form” on our website at www.empire.ca.  You can enclose the completed form with your premium cheque, mail it separately, fax it to 1-888-841-9145 or email it to group.administration@empire.ca.

Post secondary institutions outside of Canada or the United States

For overage dependant students attending an accredited post secondary institution outside of Canada or the United States, contact our Customer Service Unit at 1-800-267-0215 or by email at group.administration@empire.ca and provide the following information:

• insured employee’s name, group and certificate numbers,
• dependant’s name and date of birth,
• name and location (country) of the post secondary institution they will be attending,
• the exact school term start and end dates for the current school year, and
• confirmation that the dependant’s provincial health insurance coverage has been extended.

Once Empire Life approves the information, a confirmation of coverage letter will be sent.

Important information regarding the Travel Emergency Assistance Program

Travel Emergency Assistance applies to an insured dependant who is attending an accredited post secondary institution outside of his province/country of residence if the medical emergency incurred is the result of a sudden and unforeseen sickness or injury.

Travel Emergency Assistance coverage applies only to designated countries and may change from time to time. The insured dependant can visit the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada Website at http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/menu-eng.asp prior to departure to confirm whether services apply in a specific country.

Important Notes

You need to update us every year, even if a dependant is a returning student. Please note if you are entering the information online this information is also required every year. Coverage for overage dependant students is extended for each school year (September 1 to August 31). The year of graduation coverage will terminate on August 31 or the overage dependant student’s 26th birthday, if earlier.

Please provide this information by August 31, 2015 to ensure there is no interruption in health and dental coverage for overage dependant students. Empire Life must authorize coverage for overage dependant students.

Contact Us

As always, if you have any questions, please contact our Customer Service Unit at 1-800-267-0215, or by email at group.csu@empire.ca.