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Drawbridge for Unions

Union Management
From dues to dispatch, depend on Drawbridge.

Putting vital membership information at your fingertips wherever you are, Drawbridge’s real-time union management module is designed to keep unions firing on all cylinders. With one simple-to-use interface to manage all the functions of a trade union, plus connection to members’ pension and benefit plans, Drawbridge is the only solution that truly keeps everything a member needs in one place.

Drawbridge provides unions with:

  • Comprehensive membership and contractor tracking tools
  • Maintenance of collective agreements, trade classifications, wallet cards, and safety qualifications
  • Real-time job board, dispatch, and call outs with named hire and list hire functionality
  • Invoicing and payment processing including self-pay and dues
  • Apprentice and training centre management
  • Tax and other financial tracking and reporting
  • Membership communications and outreach
  • Full integration with your pension and benefit plans managed on Drawbridge
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Optional Group Life Insurance

Statistics indicate that Canadian families require insurance coverage at a level of four to six times their annual household income. One of the most valuable assets that we as individuals possess is the ability to earn an income. Loss of income through untimely death can have a devastating effect on a family’s lifestyle and dreams, unless provisions are made for the replacement of lost income. Optional Group Life Insurance provides the opportunity for you and your spouse to purchase additional life insurance to supplement the basic life insurance protection.


Optional Supplemental AD&D

Accidents happen everywhere–on the job, at home, on holidays, and in many other situations. This insurance provides an opportunity to purchase economical supplemental AD&D insurance. This coverage can be applied to you, your spouse, and your dependant children.

Disability Management

After illness or injury, the road to recovery can be lengthy. That makes an early start in assisting someone back to a healthy work state essential.



Early Intervention Program

Drawbridge’s early intervention program concentrates on one’s ability, not their disability. Our aim is to assist the member in finding the right tools and solutions for a timely recovery, with the intention of returning the member to their previous, or modified job. Our integrated approach to disability management includes actively involving the member, employer, primary physician, and other treatment providers. This allows us to focus not just on the illness or injury, but also on other issues that may be impeding the member’s recovery and ultimate return to work.

How It Works

  • As soon as a member has been absent from work due to illness or injury for five consecutive days, the employer contacts Drawbridge to initiate the process.
  • The disability management team prepares to meet with the member, the member’s primary physician, and the employer, and coordinates the support of specialists.
  • After the initial assessment, the disability management team develops a course of action for the member’s return to the workplace.
  • We ensure that active and appropriate treatment is ongoing throughout the duration of the claim.

Advantages of a Disability Management Program

Employees


  • Statistically reduces length of recovery.
  • Promotes pro-active rehabilitation.
  • May provide modified/rehabilitative job capabilities.
  • Provides access to specialists and/or diagnostic procedures on a timely basis.

Employees


  • Expeditious return of plan member to workplace.
  • Reduces the duration and cost of employee absenteeism.
  • Strengthens employee and employer relationship by facilitating open communication.
  • Reduces loss of productivity.
Administrative Services Only

An ASO arrangement can help reduce the high administration costs charged by an insurance company. Under this arrangement, an employer provides benefits to plan members on a self-insured basis. No premium is paid to the insurer for ASO benefits. The employer only pays for the actual claims incurred by plan members, plus an administration fee. The ASO arrangement is best suited for benefits such as extended health and dental, since claims for these benefits are predictable, short term, and generally not catastrophic.

Stop Loss Insurance

To mitigate the impact of unexpectedly high claims under a self-insured plan, Drawbridge offers stop loss insurance. Once claims for an individual or family have reached a certain amount, the cost for any further claims during the policy year transfers from the employer to the insurer. The per individual or per family stop loss benefit can be designed in two different ways: (a) applied to drug claims only; or, (b) applied to the entire extended health benefit (excluding emergency out-of-country coverage). Drawbridge offer flexible stop loss benefit amounts starting at $500.

Health Spending Accounts

An HSA provides reimbursement for medical and dental expenses that qualify under the Income Tax Act and that are not covered elsewhere. While a Cost Plus program is usually only set up for business owners or key executives, a Health Spending Account can deliver benefits in a tax-effective manner for all employees. In order to be a tax-effective program, an HSA must comply with regulations set out by the Canada Revenue Agency, and it must be fully funded by employer contributions. An HSA works essentially like a bank account. A credit amount is allocated to each employee. The employees use the credited amount to cover an extensive range of medical and dental costs incurred for themselves or their dependents.



Advantages of an HSA

Employees


  • Credit amounts are non-taxable (except in Quebec).
  • Covers a broad scope of health and dental services not reimbursable under a group plan.
  • Gives the employee more control to spend their credits on what they need.
  • Offers an expanded definition of dependant.

Employees


  • Employer paid credits are deductible.
  • Effective cost containment strategy since benefit spending is limited to a defined contribution amount.
  • Can be coordinated with the group plan or offered on a stand-alone basis
Cost Plus


Cost Plus is a tax-effective way for an employer to pay for an individual’s claims that are not covered under the group benefit plan. This program is usually provided for incorporated business owners and other key executives. Unlike a traditional fully insured group benefit plan, Cost Plus is a self-insured program, paid with corporate dollars on a claim-by-claim basis. Cost Plus covers medical and dental expenses that qualify under the Income Tax Act.

Advantages of Cost Plus

  • Benefits paid to an individual are non-taxable
  • 100% tax deductible business expense
  • No monthly premium payments required
  • Covers a more extensive range of services and expenses than a group benefit plan
  • Broader definition of an eligible dependent

Before implementing a Cost Plus program, we encourage you to consult with your professional tax advisor to ensure you qualify, and before any expenses are submitted for reimbursement, you will need to ensure the expenses are eligible. For a complete list of eligible medical expenses (form IT-519), visit Canada Revenue Agency’s website or call 1-800-959-2221