Johnson Inc 

INSURING A VACANT HOME Johnson inc.

Most people know to check with their insurance provider if they’re going away on extended vacation. But what about when you’re vacating a property with no plans to return – like when you’re moving to another home? Many people are unaware that vacant properties are insured much differently than occupied ones. So what exactly is vacancy and how does it affect your insurance coverage? What is vacancy?

Many insurance policies in Canada define vacancy as the circumstance where the occupants of a home have moved out with no intention of returning and no new occupant has taken up residence. It is important to note that this holds true regardless of whether there are still furnishings in the dwelling.

In the case of a newly constructed house, it would be deemed vacant if no occupant has yet taken up residence.

Remember, the term “vacant” in an insurance policy does not apply to a home that is unoccupied while the owners are away on a vacation or business trip.

For periods up to 30 days

As soon as a home is vacant, certain coverages (if currently part of the policy) are removed. These typically include: • Water • Vandalism or malicious acts • Glass breakage • Fuel escape • Sewer back-up After 30 days

Once a home has been vacant for more than 30 consecutive days, there is no coverage for any damage unless a vacancy permit is granted. A vacancy permit acknowledges that the insurer is aware that the home is vacant and is willing to extend the standard 30-day vacancy limitation. When a vacancy permit is provided, there are usually additional reductions in coverage after 30 days, such as theft and guaranteed replacement cost, but basic coverages for such things as fire, lightning, explosion and wind continue.

Protect your vacant property

Vacant houses make easy targets for burglars and vandals, and are

also more at risk of water and fire damage. Take the following suggested precautions to eliminate or reduce such risks: • Considerahousesitterorrenterwho can occupy the home until it can be sold. • Consider installing a monitored alarm system. • Ensure there are dead bolt locks on all doors. • Securewindowsandclosedraperies or blinds. • Havethehomevisiteddailytocheck for any damage and prevent loss. • Use timers on your lights, and change the timer periodically. • Makesuretoredirectyourmailand have flyers collected on a daily basis. • Stop newspaper delivery. • Ensurethatlawnsaremowedinthe summer. • Ensurethatdrivewaysandsidewalks are cleared in the winter. • If the telephone is left connected, turn down the ringer volume.

It is always a good idea to check with your insurer and inform them of any changes that may affect your policy.

Insurance Plan FAQs for New RTAM Members

Johnson inc.

Some of you may be new Members of the Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba (RTAM), or prospective Members interested in all that RTAM has to offer. If this speaks to you, we say “WELCOME!” One of the most utilized benefits of becoming an RTAM Member is the ability to join the RTAM Voluntary Group Insurance Plan. RTAM Members are eligible for various insurance benefits administered through Johnson Inc., which include: Extended Health Care Dental Care Out-of-Province / Out-of-Country Travel Insurance (Premier Travel Plan & the NEW MEDOC Travel Plan) Stand Alone Trip Cancellation and Interruption & Baggage Insurance Guaranteed Life Insurance Term Life Insurance Long Term Care Home Insurance (auto available outside of Manitoba)

This information can leave you with many questions that we hope to answer here. Please continue reading to find out more information on how to become an RTAM Plan Member, who to contact to receive more information on insurance benefit offerings, and how the application/ enrolment process works.

1.HOW DO I BeCOMe an RTaM VOLunTaRy BeneFIT PLan MeMBeR?

To be eligible to join any of RTAM’s Voluntary Benefit Plans, you must first become a Full or Associate RTAM Member. For RTAM membership, contact the RTAM office at:

Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba 113 - 1555 St. James St.

Winnipeg, MB R3H 1B5

Phone: 204-889-3660

Manitoba Toll Free: 1-888-393-8082

Email: rtam@mymts.net

Website: www.rtam.mb.ca

The RTAM office is open on Tuesday to Thursday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Phone messages can be recorded at all times of the day.

2.WHOM DO I COnTaCT FOR MORe InFORMaTIOn On THe InsuRanCe PRODuCTs OFFeReD TO RTaM MeMBeRs?

For more information on RTAM sponsored voluntary insurance products please contact the Plan Administrator, Johnson Inc. Johnson Inc.’s Service Supervisors are happy to provide you with any general plan inquiries and information requests you might have regarding your benefit plan needs. By providing your contact information, you will receive paper copies of benefit coverage details and application forms. You can also retrieve this information online at: www.johnson.ca/rtam.

You can contact Johnson Inc.’s Service Supervisors at:

Johnson Inc. - Service Department

Toll Free: 1-877-989-2600

Telephone: (780) 413-6536 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MST, Monday through Friday. www.johnson.ca/rtam

3. HOW DO I enROLL In RTaM’s VOLunTaRy BeneFIT PLan?

To enroll in RTAM’s Voluntary Benefit Plan you must fill out an Insurance Application Form. Application forms can be requested by calling RTAM’s Plan Administrator Johnson Inc., or can be retrieved online at www.johnson. ca/rtam. To access forms online, please perform the following steps: Type the following into your web browsers: www. johnson.ca/rtam; Select your province of residence from the drop-down menu; The right-hand side of the website contains links to

each of RTAM’s benefit product offerings; Click on the “Health and Dental Application” link to retrieve the voluntary benefit plan Application Form A PDF document will open up, which you will need to fill out and mail back to Johnson Inc. Please remember to complete and return all four (4) of the pages contained in this document (Application Form and PAD Agreement).

All inquiries about the application, policies, authorization for premium deductions or any written notice of change or cancellation should also to be directed to Johnson Inc.

4.I HaVe nOT HaD suPPLeMenTaL HeaLTH InsuRanCe (COVeRage InaDDITIOn TO ManITOBa HeaLTH) sInCe I ReTIReD – WILL I sTILL Be aBLe TO JOIn THe PLan?

Yes, RTAM members with or without current supplemental health coverage are able to apply for the RTAM Voluntary Group Insurance Plan.

Please note that if you apply for the Plan within 60 days of losing your existing employer group coverage you will avoid having to submit medical evidence for eligibility. After 60 days, Extended Health Care applications require medical evidence of insurability and you may be declined coverage. An evidence of insurability form can be retrieved by contacting Johnson Inc.

5.IF I CuRRenTLy PaRTICIPaTe In THe ManITOBa TeaCHeRs’ sOCIeTy (MTs) OR WInnIPeg TeaCHeRs’ assOCIaTIOn (WTa) BeneFITs PLans, Can I MOVe TO RTaM’s eXTenDeD HeaLTH CaRe anD/OR TRaVeL PLans?

Any current MTS or WTA participant, who requires more comprehensive coverage, may apply for RTAM’s Extended Health Care (EHC) and/or Emergency Medical Travel Plans with or without cancelling their existing EHC or Travel coverage.

There is no need to cancel existing coverage. Benefits payable under the RTAM Plans would be coordinated with any other coverage, in accordance with insurance guidelines set out by the Canadian Life and Health Insurance industry Association (CLHIA). Benefits are payable in excess of all other benefits in effect on the Insured person’s behalf, so that payment under this policy and any other plan, including but not limited to the Insured person’s Government Health Insurance Plan, individual or group policy, credit card coverage or other insurance, shall not exceed 100% of the eligible charges incurred.

Note: RTAM members must apply for EHC within 60 days of losing or cancelling employee sponsored group

coverage to avoid the requirement for evidence of good health. (MTS and WTA are considered a group benefit plan by RTAM).

6. I aLReaDy HaVesuPPLeMenTaL eXTenDeD HeaLTH CaRe COVeRage, aM I aBLe TO PaRTICIPaTe In JusT THe DenTaL COVeRage unDeR THe RTaM PLan?

Yes! One of the advantages of enrolling in RTAM’s Voluntary Group Insurance Plan is that you are able to pick and choose the benefits that you are interested in – you can choose them all, or individually. This allows Members to elect some or all of the following coverages: Extended Health Care Dental Care Out-of-Province / Out-of-Country Travel Insurance (Premier Travel Plan & the NEW MEDOC Travel Plan) Stand Alone Trip Cancellation and Interruption & Baggage Insurance Guaranteed Life Insurance Term Life Insurance Long Term Care Home Insurance (auto available outside of Mani toba)

7. I neeD THe TRaVeL PLan, BuT I DO nOT WIsH TO JOIn RTaM’seXTenDeD HeaLTH CaRe. Can I JOIn RTaM’s TRaVeL PLan OnLy?

Yes! RTAM’s Voluntary Group Insurance Plan is beneficial to Members in a variety of ways, such as allowing participants to choose any or all of the benefits that are of interest to them.

RTAM offers three (3) Travel Plan options: 1. Premier Plan Emergency Medical Travel Plan (available to Full Members Only) - Good for multiple trips up to 62 days, with $2,000,000 lifetime and $7,000 per trip coverage. 2. MEDOC Plan (Available to Associate and Full Members) – Covers Members who travel for shorter durations for multiple trips up to 17 or 35 days, which includes up to $5,000,000 Emergency Medical Coverage. Supplemental coverage for single trips longer than 35 days each year is available. 3.Stand Alone Trip Cancellation and Interruption & Baggage Insurance - for those who may have third-party travel insurance and want to increase coverage to include trip cancellation up to $6,000 per year.

For Example, if a Member is currently enrolled in the Premier Travel Plan at $7,000 per trip coverage, they can enroll in the Stand Alone Trip Cancellation Plan to increase their coverage by an additional $6,000 coverage for the year. (Total coverage of $13,000, $7,000 per trip plus $6,000 for the year).

8. I WOuLD LIKe TO JOIn THe RTaM PReMIeR TRaVeL PLan, BuT HaVe ReCenTLy HaD suRgeRy. IF I WeRe TO enROL In THe PLan, HOW LOng WOuLD I HaVe TO WaIT BeFORe I aM aBLe TO TRaVeL anD Be COVeReD unDeR THe PLan?

Pre-existing conditions are not a limitation under the RTAM Premier Travel Plan. The Premier Plan covers insured members for medical expenses that are sudden and unforeseen. You must be medically fit to travel as determined by your physician before departure.

For example, if you are awaiting medical results for a potential health condition and you choose to travel, you will not be covered in the event of a medical emergency related to that health condition, because it is not considered sudden and unforeseen. Please seek your physician verification that you are medically fit to travel before booking, or departing on a trip.

Note: Insured members under the new Medoc Plan, must be stable for 90 days prior to departure before your preexisting medical conditions will be eligible for coverage.

9. In ReLaTIOn TO THe TRaVeL PLan, aRe THeRe any ResTRICTIOns On aIR TRaVeL?

Exclusions and limitations are outlined on page 13 of the Out-of-Province and/or Out-of-Canada Emergency Medical Insurance Plan Certificate of Insurance. Your Certificate of Insurance should be reviewed carefully before booking or departing on a trip.

For example, the policy does not cover, provide services, or pay claims for expenses for any Medical Emergency incurred in a country or region for which the Canadian government issued, prior to the trip departure date, one of the following travel warnings: Avoid non-essential travel, or Avoid all travel.

The Insured person who is in the country or region for which a travel warning is issued during his trip is not subject to this exclusion. However, he must make the necessary arrangements to leave the country or region as soon as possible.

Note: Your certificate of insurance is the governing document and can be found online at www.johnson.ca/rtam or by contacting the Plan Administrator, Johnson Inc.