Health care benefits after you retire

When you retire directly from active employment to a pension, you may be eligible for retiree extended health care coverage.

When you retire, your health care coverage as a WorkSafeBC employee will end. However, as a retired employee of WorkSafeBC, you are still covered for some health care costs, which provides health care benefits to employees who retire directly from active employment to a pension.

If you meet the eligibility requirements at retirement, WorkSafeBC pays the full coverage cost of your Pacific Blue Cross extended health care.

You can also apply for optional dental coverage; however, you are responsible for paying the monthly premiums.

You can apply for these health care benefits when you apply for your pension.

Retiree health benefits are contingent; that is, they are not guaranteed and coverage may be changed.

Eligibility requirements

You are eligible for extended health care coverage immediately after you retire if you:

Were covered by WorkSafeBC’s group benefit plans as an active plan member before you began receiving your WorkSafeBC pension
Retired directly from active employment (including long-term disability) to a pension
Have medical coverage under the government plan in your province of residence

If you deferred your pension, you are not eligible for extended health care benefits. However, you can apply for voluntary dental coverage.

Dependants and your health benefits

Coverage for your dependant is the same whether you are retired or an active employee. However, after you retire, you cannot add new dependants for benefit coverage.

Depending on the pension option you chose at retirement, your dependant may need to seek benefit coverage from another provider when you die.