Eligibility requirements

To participate in the OPC Benefits Program you must be

• Under age 65
• A Member or Associate, or
• A full-time OPC employee

Eligibility requirements for your spouse

Your spouse is eligible for coverage if you have coverage yourself.

A spouse is defined as someone to whom you are married legally or married by common law and have lived together for at least one year. This includes spouses of the same sex.

Eligibility requirements for your children

You may apply for coverage for your children if you applied for coverage on yourself. Your eligible dependent children are defined as natural, adopted, or stepchildren who are

• Unmarried
• Not employed on a full-time basis
• Not eligible for insurance as an employee under the OPC Benefits Program or any other group policy, and
• Under 21 years of age, or if a full-time student at an accredited school, college or university, under 25 years of age

A stepchild must be living with you to be an eligible dependent.

A child who is incapable of employment due to a mental or physical disability that occurred before age 21 is also considered a dependent. The child must be primarily dependent on you for maintenance and support.

Participating School Boards

• Algoma
• Bluewater
• Durham
• Grand Erie
• Greater Essex
• Halton
• Hamilton-Wentworth
• Lakehead
• Lambton Kent
• Near North
• Niagara
• Ottawa-Carleton
• Peel
• Rainbow
• Rainy River
• Renfrew
• Simcoe
• Superior-Greenstone
• Toronto
• Trillium Lakelands
• Upper Canada
• Upper Grand
• Waterloo Region
• York Region

Joining the OPC Benefits Program

When you first become eligible to join the plan, you have 60 calendar days after your date of appointment (your first day of work in the role) to submit the group benefits application package to us.

If you apply for optional life insurance for yourself and spouse within 60 days, you are eligible for up to $100,000 coverage without providing evidence of good health. Amounts over $100,000 will require evidence of good health and insurer's approval.

If you apply for any coverage more than 60 days after your appointment  you may still apply for coverage with evidence of good health.

You can download group benefits packages for new applicants (applying within 60 days) or for late applications (applying after 60 days) with all the forms you will need.