Government Incentives

The incentives included are the following: 

 A one-time increase to the Health Spending Account (HSA) to everyone, including those who are still waiting patiently to be on the same benefits plan as the rest of the former facility members. 

$8.00/hour weekend premium that we have been waiting for since the nurses got it back in November 2022.  

And a licensure Reimbursement for those who have paid for their licensure for 2023-24 and the upcoming 2024-25 year.  You can only request one per year. Some of these licensures are 100s of dollars.    

These incentives are between the government and the employer, therefore if you have any questions please reach out to your manager.  

HEALTH SPENDING ACCOUNT (HSA) 

  •  A one-time, temporary increase to the employee’s HSA in the amount of $500 for full-time employees and $250 for part-time employees.  
  • This increase to your HSA is between the employer and Manitoba Blue Cross directly.  
  • The benefit is intended to provide additional coverage/reimbursement for healthcare-related expenses to each applicable employee.  
  • For eligible employees who remained actively employed as of August 1, 2023, the additional one-time, temporary increase of $500 for full-time employees and $250 for part-time employees, credits will be applied to their HSA account.   

Question you may have if: 

…You already have BlueCross coverage: and 

  • you have already logged into your blue cross account and  
  • have submitted your HSA requests for payment before?  

Great! You are good to go, this incentive will be automatically increased in your HSA to access when you have used your coverage.  Please just wait patiently for the number to be updated. If you have any issues or concerns talk with your manager 

…if you have the coverage but have never been explained how the HSA works? That’s ok, let’s go through it: 

  • Click on the mybluecross box at the top of the page.  
  • Sign up or Log in. 
  • Follow instructions on how to sign up if you are comfortable too. If not then please call blue cross for support. 1-888-596-1032 – the call centre is open Monday to Friday from 8:00am – 5:30pm 
  • Once logged in check out their site that is personalized just for you and/or your family if you have the extended benefits.  
  • On the left hand side of the page you will see HSA Request.  Click on it. 
  • Scroll down and select the claims for payment by clicking on the boxes. 
  • Once boxes are selected and if you agree to the terms of the request then you have one last box to click, REQUEST HSA PAYMENTS. 

 …if you do not have BlueCross: (Waiting for confirmation if the following process will be done the same way in the Southern Health Region. Holly has reached out to HR.  Just waiting for a reply.) 

  • Employees that do not have a current active HSA with Manitoba Blue Cross will need to complete an application form to have the account created.  
  • Application forms will be emailed to those employees that have been identified. If you have not received one and you know someone else has then please see your manager.  We do not have confirmation of a date that this will be done at this time.  
  • You will be able to submit claims effective back to Jan 1, 2023 calendar year once the funds are available in your HSA account.  

…If you are waiting patiently to get switched over to BlueCross and HEBP: 

We are not giving up and are pushing through to get it worked out… The process just takes time. We are still in discussions at the multi-union table.  

LICENSURE REIMBURSEMENT for those who have paid for their professional licensure OR the Professional association membership fees for 2023-24 and the upcoming 2024-25 year. 

These include the following fees:  

List of licensures and association membership fees  

(Waiting for confirmation if this is a list that can be made. Holly has reached out to HR.  Just waiting for a reply.) 

$8.00/HOUR WEEKEND PREMIUM 

  • All Healthcare workers will receive $8.00 is per hour, for hours worked on weekends. 
  • This premium is for everyone including the programs.  
  • This premium is above the current bargained weekend premium. 
  • The weekend incentive starts on Friday evening shift and will include all shifts until the end of the Sunday evening.  
  • The night shift that you may go into on Sunday at 11pm is considered the first shift of the next day and does not qualify for the premium.  
  • We were able to get retro** on this incentive, back to when the nurses got it, on November 18 2022. 
  • If you were on any unpaid LOA (Leave of Absences), Paid LOA, utilizing income protection, during down time, on vacation, or using banked hours, you do not qualify for the 8.00/hour during that time, or days as this is not considered time worked according to this incentive’s rules.   

**Menno home retro will be as follows – Nov 18th HCAs going forward. 

Feb 16, 2023 (point of certification date) for all other departments going forward.  

Any questions about these incentives need to be brought to your manager first.  

Any specifics of Manitoba BlueCross: 

 …If you have read this…  

The Local Representatives and Executives would like to thank you, for all that you do each and every shift.   

Support workers are the foundation of Health Care