Welcome to Nicole Wiebe – Executive Assistant!
Please join me in welcoming Nicole Wiebe as the new Executive Assistant. Nicole’s first day will be April 26th.
Empire Life Information Sessions
Are you an MBS or an Employees’ Association Member at Menno Home or Apartments? Do you have questions about Empire Life, your new benefits provider? Join us for a information session on Wednesday, April 17. RSVP today!
Next Steps for Empire Life Benefits Switch
The following information affects MBS and Employees’ Association Members at Menno Home and Apartments staff ONLY. For all other staff your benefits provider remains the same and there is nothing you need to do.
All MBS and Employees’ Association Members at Menno Home and Apartments that have enrolled with Empire Life for benefits need to complete their registration on the Plan Member Portal.
This portal will give you quick access to:
- Submit claims online
- Access your benefit card – view, print, or save to your computer or mobile device
- Review your claim activity and balances
- View your benefit booklet online
- View and print a copy of your personalized benefit summary
How to Register on the Plan Member Portal
Step 1: Enroll
Make sure you have completed your enrollment and downloaded your benefit card. If you have not enrolled go to https://mennoplacestaff.com/how-to-complete-digital-enrollment-empire-life/ for instructions. You cannot access the member portal until your enrollment is complete.
Step 2: Register
- Have your benefits card with you. You’ll need the numbers on it.
- Go to https://pmw.empire.ca
- Select ‘register now”
- Review and accept the waiver of liability
- Enter the required registration information. You will need your unique identification numbers from your benefit card or your personalized benefit summary
- Choose a user Id and password
- Select a security question and enter a security answer
- Add your banking information to set-up direct deposit
- Review and verify the information you have entered
Once you have completed the above steps you will receive a confirmation screen from which you can enter the plan member website.
Two ways to Access the Portal: Online or Through the App
Once you have completed your registration you can use the portal to submit a claim or download the Empire Life app. Instructions for both options can be found here: https://mennoplacestaff.com/empire-life-how-to-use-the-portal-and-app/
Don’t Forget to Update Your Providers
The new plan went into effect April 1. All claims from this point forward need to go to Empire Life. Please update all of your providers as any claims submitted to Manulife for services that occurred after April 1 will be refused.
All of the information you need to update your providers is available on your benefit card which you can download after you enroll with Empire Life. You have until April 30 to submit any claims to Manulife for services, prescriptions etc that occurred before April 1st. For more information about this process go to https://mennoplacestaff.com/benefits-provider-change-empire-life/
If you have any questions please contact Jessy Manhas (Jessy.Manhas@mennoplace.ca) .
Looking for a Staff Phone Number?
If you’ve ever wondered where you can find the latest staff directory it’s right here on mennoplacestaff.com in the top right corner. This directory is updated frequently. Just click MENNO PLACE DIRECTORY to download a printable copy.
This is also a great time to double check your (or your department’s) listing in the directory and make sure it is accurate and up to date. If you see anything that needs to be adjusted please email the changes to Diana (Diana.Bae@mennoplace.ca).
2024 Vacation Requests Due by Apr 12
MEMO
To: All Menno Home, Apartments and Hospital Staff
From: Menno Home, Apartments and Hospital Staffing
Date: April 3, 2024
Re: 2024 Vacation
Please double-check your booked vacation for 2024.
If you have vacation left to book, please do so by April 12, 2024. If vacation is not booked, Staffing will book it for you on April 13th. You are allowed to leave 37.5 hours outstanding until Aug 1st. If you have outstanding vacation after Aug 1st, Staffing will book it for you.
If you have a negative balance, please let us know which day(s) you would like to cancel.
There will be no exceptions after these dates. We appreciate your cooperation.
Thank-you,
Staffing Team
Winners of the Easter Egg Decorating Contest!
The votes are in and the winners of the Easter Egg Decorating Contest are [drum roll please] …
How to Complete Digital Enrollment – Empire Life
All MBS and Employees’ Association Members at Menno Home and Apartments that are enrolled for benefits should have received an email from Empire.ca with instructions on how to complete their enrollment with the new benefits provider, Empire Life. If you have not received an email please check your junk folder. The email should look something like this:
If you did not receive an email please contact Empire Life customer support at 1-800-561-1268
How to Complete Your Enrollment
Employees should click the link “Member Enrolment” and follow the steps. There are 6 easy steps that each employee will be asked to complete. They are:
- Personal Details
- Banking Information
- Dependents, if applicable. This includes the dependents’ name, date of birth, relationship to employee
- Customize Coverage – where they choose Single/Family/Waive/Coordinate Benefits with Spouse’s carrier
- Beneficiaries – employee is to note who they wish to elect as their beneficiary
- Review & Submit
Once the employee has successfully completed each of the six steps and submits the information, the new window will populate a benefits card for them, with a note:
After this is complete click the Download Benefits Card (green) button to get an electronic benefits card. They also can download a personalized benefits summary detailing the coverage under the plan.
If your date of birth is incorrect please Empire Life customer support at 1-800-561-1268.
Benefits Provider Change – Empire Life
To: All MBS and Employees’ Association Members at Menno Home & Apartments that are enrolled for Benefits.
We sent this information out in an email on March 19th but it has come to our attention that there was a technical issue and not all intended recipients received the email. We apologize for the delay in getting this to you.
Effective April 01, 2024, all members that are eligible for benefits will be changing from Manulife to Empire Life. This transition is intended to enhance our overall benefits offerings. In the next few days you will receive an enrollment email directly from Empire Life. Please open that email and follow all of the instructions to confirm your enrollment details. If you do not receive this email please check your junk mail folder.
We are committed to making this transition as smooth and seamless for you as possible. Please read the following instructions carefully and complete the necessary steps.
Submit Outstanding Claims: If you have any outstanding claims that have not been submitted to your current carrier (Manulife), we encourage you to do so as soon as possible. This will help expedite the processing of your claims and ensure you receive reimbursement under the current plan. Please note: any receipts for expenses incurred prior to April 1, 2024 must be submitted by April 30, 2024 to be eligible for reimbursement.
Download Claims History: Before the transition date, download your claims history from your online portal with the current carrier or contact their customer service for assistance. This will ensure that you have access to your past claims information for reference, if needed, under the new carrier. Pro Tip: Don’t forget to request/ run an additional report of your claims history for the period of Jan 1, 2024 – March 31, 2024 for your tax records next year!
Watch for Enrolment Link: Please be on the lookout for an email (keep an eye on your junk mail folder) from Empire Life containing an enrolment link to complete your registration with the new carrier. The link will provide instructions on how to enroll in the new benefit plan and select your coverage options. It is essential that you complete this enrolment process within the specified timeframe to ensure coverage under the new policy.
Drug Grandfathering: If you are currently using any prescription medications, please be aware of the drug grandfathering process. Certain medications may require pre-authorization or special considerations under the new benefit plan. Every effort is being made to transfer this information from your old carrier to the new carrier. If you find a prescription you were previously covered for is not being covered under the new plan, or have any questions or concerns about the coverage of your medications, please contact Ascension Benefits at service@ascensionbenefits.com and they can assist you.
Fair Pharmacare Registration: If you area resident of British Columbia and are eligible for Fair Pharmacare coverage, please ensure that your registration is confirmed and up-to-date. You may be required to provide your new carrier with your Fair Pharmacare Registration number. Fair Pharmacare may provide additional coverage for prescription medications beyond your employer-sponsored benefit plan. Confirming your registration will help maximize your benefits and minimize out-of-pocket expenses.
Update your Providers April 1, 2024: A digital copy of your benefit card will be available to you on your new plan member website. You can print or save a copy to your phone. Make sure you provide your new coverage information to any provider’s that direct billsuch as your dentist, pharmacy, and other service providers.
If you have any questions please contact Jessy Manhas, Manager of People and Culture Jessy.Manhas@mennoplace.ca.
Listening for the Future – We Want to Hear from You!
If you have ideas to share as we plan for 2025 please fill out this survey.
Easter Egg Decorating Contest!
Calling all artists and egg enthusiasts!
In celebration of Easter, the Health and Wellness Committee is thrilled to announce our Egg Painting Competition! Gather your team (unit/dept) and unleash your creativity on the humble egg canvas.
How it Works:
- Form your units and email Diana (Diana.Bae@mennoplace.ca) to claim your decorating kit. There are 10 kits available, first come, first serve.
- Diana will connect with your team to get you the eggs and painting supplies.
- Let your imagination soar as you paint your eggs with festive designs and vibrant colors.
- Once your masterpieces are complete take a good, clear photo of each egg and also a group shot of your team and email them to Diana for judging.
The top three egg-cellent creations, as voted by randomly selected on-campus participants (non-management), will win fabulous prizes!
Get ready to compete for glory and bragging rights!
Dates:
Claim your kit starting Wednesday, March 13. Kits are first come, first serve. Only 10 kits available.
Submit your photos by midnight on Monday, March 25.
Winners will be announced on Thursday, March 28th.
Don’t miss this egg-straordinary opportunity to showcase your artistic talents and spread some Easter cheer throughout the campus.
Any questions? Email Diana.
Let’s make this Easter egg-stra special together!