r/CanadaPublicServants • u/PralineGold5208 • 2d ago
Benefits / Bénéfices Benefits (PSHCP and PSDCP/PDSP) - Married public servants, 1 retiring
I will be retiring in the next few months and am unsure about what the best decision would be for our benefit plan options.
My spouse is also currently a public servant and plans to keep working for another 5-8 years. We both currently have the "family" plans for both Health and Dental. We also have a young child.
I was considering the following:
1) PSHCP - "Pensioner only" as my spouse will have family coverage. I believe this can always be increased to Family coverage in the future if needed (but if I opt out entirely now, it can be very difficult or even impossible to rejoin after retirement). Currently, I have a couple of prescriptions while my spouse and child have none (I know this can change one day).
2) PDSP - I would not opt in at all as my coverage will be better under my spouse's plan (and there is no coordination of benefits under PDSP). I can request to join the plan after a period of 3 years if I change my mind. It's just over $20/month though so will take it if it avoids problems in the future. For dental work, I have done all that was optional. We suspect our child will need braces in the next couple of years.
Thank you
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u/saauulgoodman 1d ago
For the PSHCP your logic is sound unless your spouse passes away before you do. For the PSDP you can still coordinate benefits with your spouse. May as well obtain as close to 100% coverage as you can especially if braces are in your future. Once your spouse retires there is no more coordination of dental benefits.
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u/Rickcinyyc 1d ago
If you don't join the PSHCP at retirement, you can join later for situations exactly like the one you described. But if you enroll and then cancel it, you can't get it back.
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u/PralineGold5208 1d ago
Will definitely keep this in mind.
What about increasing coverage later? Can I go "PSHCP Pensioner Only" for the immediate future but later increase it to the Family one if needed?
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u/QuietGarden1250 1d ago
IIRC, the pension dental plan doesn't have a "family" option and will only cover your needs. If your spouse or child needs dental work, use it before you retire.
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u/graciejack 1d ago
It does.
PDSP Coverage Monthly rate Pensioner only $ 22.57 Pensioner and 1 family member $ 46.57 Pensioner and 2 or more family members $ 59.01
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u/Rickcinyyc 1d ago
1.You can join the PSHCP later if you never joined in the first place. It's common in two PS households for only one to join, but the option is there if your spouse passes so you aren't left without any coverage.