Benefits Ontario (Canada) 1.866.856.6799

GMS Immigrants & Visitors to Canada Plan gets a makeover as Super Visas are introduced.

GMS is pleased to announce it has made some updates to its Immigrants & Visitors to Canada (IVC) emergency medical insurance plan.

Following the recent announcement by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) of its newly introduced Parent and Grandparent Super Visa, GMS is expanding its IVC coverage to meet the medical insurance needs of Super Visa applicants.

The Super Visa —a multiple entry visa valid for up to 10 years—has been created by CIC to allow family members to remain in Canada for up to two years at a time. The visa is conditional on a number of requirements, one of which is a proof of private Canadian medical insurance coverage. The medical insurance purchased must be valid for a minimum period of one year (365 days) and must provide a minimum of $100,000 in coverage.

On December 19, 2011, to accommodate the requirements of the Super Visa program, GMS will offer visitors to Canada more flexibility on their medical insurance coverage during their stay in Canada. With the revised Immigrants & Visitors to Canada plan, applicants age 55 to 79 will now have the option to obtain coverage for 365 days. Coverage for this age group was previously limited to 180 days. Moreover, the medical insurance coverage will be continuous throughout the 365 days—regardless of the number of times a parent or grandparent returns to their home country. Best of all, GMS will continue to provide competitive rates on the IVC plan.

Craig Ferguson

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Do you have a large family requiring dental coverage?

Would you like to save big dollars on dental bills, because you are paying only for the first three family members, and you can have up to six people insured?

Why haven’t you heard this before?

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With low interest rates on Canadian savings accounts, high personal debt, and a baby-boom generation inheriting money and retiring with dependents , whole life insurance is just the solid protection you may need

It’s 2012 and you are happy to be Canadian – -  thanking your lucky stars you are better off than many.

But how do you protect that wealth and ensure it gets passed along with no risk to those who depend on you?

You probably can’t help but wonder if the stock market will hold up,  and no doubt wondering if it is worth the risk.  So, where do you invest your money to keep it intact, and where do you get a good return?

 Now, it’s the return of stable, reliable whole life insurance!

In the early nineties it was Universal Life to the rescue of the budget-conscious. With high interest rates and returns in the market, UL as it is often called had a lure of low premium, high potential cash value, and a payment period that could be shortened. Little did the companies and the agents realize when delivering those policies based on escalating insurance costs that the double whammy would eventually hit. There are still those looking to get out before they get old so to speak. There is still time to remove the wealth that remains in those plans with “yearly renewable, non-guaranteed cost of insurance” and get while the gettings good! And when I say get out if it has yearly renewable term, please get out before an illness strikes and leaves you unable to replace it!

The problem Universal Life policies may continue to experience is the nature of the plan – -it is a variable contract, where the guarantees of whole life plans are lacking. And, with the need to pick your own investment choices with fewer looking safe, UL policies are no longer looking like the proven winner.

So, what type of policy in the whole life market is the best? It will depend on many factors including affordability, but you really cannot go wrong with high guaranteed cash value plans that let the insurance company figure out how they are going to come up with the cash.

Lately, I really like the 20-pay offerings from some of the high cash value, low guaranteed premium players.

The market is vast, and the rates and plans worth looking at can vary with your age, whether you smoke, and whether you want a joint first to die type, and on and on. And, that’s where experience comes in. But not just experience.

The ability to examine the market as a whole with an online whole life insurance rate tool has been very effective.

Please drop me a line or call me at 1.866.856.6799, ext 201.

You can also fill out a contact request, and I will get back to you promptly.

It would be a  pleasure to help you secure your family’s wealth!

Craig Ferguson

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You might be looking for Blue Cross short-term disability.

If you need to find information related to short-term disability as part of your company’s group benefit plan, please check with your personnel or benefit department at work.

If you are looking to acquire disability coverage, you might want to look at Blue Cross Tangible Disability, which offers fairly low waiting periods before you can collect.

You can leave your name and number too, and we’d be happy to talk with you about your options.

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Guidelines

Definitions

Survivor – for a definition of “survivor”, see 20-01-02, Definition and Application Dates.

Spouse – for a definition of “spouse”, see 20-01-02, Definitions and Application Dates.

How survivors claim

Survivors must complete the Dependency Claim form to file the claim. At the same time, survivors must provide official documents to establish their relationship to the deceased worker.

(see source:WSIB)

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Here is a handy search site for looking for health professionals in Ontario, Canada.

For medical and dental insurance, please fill out some information, and we’d be happy to assist you.

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Have a large family needing dental coverage?

Well, has GMS (Group Medical Services) got a deal for you.

If you have eight people in your family, you pay for just three on dental. That’s right, the buck stops at three for dental coverage.

This may have been a short note, but sometimes the shorter and to the point the better.

Give us a call at 1.866.856.6799 and press “1″ to speak with us on this today!

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Please see the good news as outlined from the CFIB.

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Wondering if benefit plans are really worth it?

Make the call and speak with us and get the “straight goods” on individual benefit and insurance plans! 

As a broker, I have done the math, and we need to have a discussion about benefit priorities.

We are experienced benefit brokers that want to ensure that your money is not thrown away on unnecessary benefit plans that may not pay you anywhere near what you put into them. The truth is, individual benefit plans can be no where near as cost-effective as large company group plans, and this is often what people expect.

Are you really thinking of outlaying $100, 200, or $300 per month without consideration of the facts?  A two minute phone call may save you thousands of dollars. We urge you to get  the advice that may help you save a good portion of that hard-earned money? And, to set your priorities straight, it would be good to know where it really would hurt, wouldn’t it?

Hamilton: 905-667-4410

Toronto: 416-238-4410

Kitchener: 519-772-4810

Ottawa: 613-288-8194

Other regions: 1-866-856-6799

Thank you, and looking forward to speaking with you!

Craig Ferguson

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Houston, we have a problem!

And in this case it is the Government botching up a system of disability that should be left to the private disability industry. Huge losses mean innevitable rate increases according to the National Post:

While there is no shortage of agencies that are deserving of increased public scrutiny, a most fitting and early test of the government’s resolve is the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). Funded by employers, the WSIB is responsible for managing scarce tax dollars to provide compensation to injured workers. However, recent losses at the agency — $3.34-billion — threaten to drag the workers compensation system into financial ruin. (more…)

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