Jul 6, 2016
Canada Post has served lock-out notice, and we face a disruption to postal services as early as Friday July 8. SUMA has prepared so we can still provide services to members. This article should cover all possible changes, but if you have any further questions or encounter other issues, you can contact the office at suma@suma.org or 306-525-3727. We will monitor the situation, and revisit our processes if necessary.
Getting Things to SUMA
We encourage you to send any items you can by fax (306-525-4373) or email. If an original is required, you can send that in the mail after Canada Post services resume. Please hold any cheques until Canada Post resumes service, or consider sending via courier. For group benefits, the process may differ, so see that section below for specifics.
Election Supplies
Our SUMAdvantage purchasing program for election supplies will continue to run, regardless of any postal disruptions. We can send ballots and supplies via bus service, FedEx and Purolator, or you may wish to pick up your order directly from our office. We will discuss shipping options during the order process to find the option that works best for your municipality.
Group Benefits
Members who take part in our group benefits program face the most changes, so we've broken the details up to make changes easy to follow and implement. We encourage you to share relevant information with your employees to help them avoid delays in claim processing and payment.
Monthly Bills
SUMA will not send out monthly bills during a disruption. If you need a copy of your bill, email gis@suma.org, and we can email one to you.
Premium Payments
As with other items covered above, please hold any cheques until Canada Post resumes service, or consider sending via courier.
Applications/Change Forms/Termination Notifications
You can fax these forms (306-525-4373) or email them to gis@suma.org. We will process using the copy, but you must send the original copy. You may wait until Canada Post resumes services or send immediately via courier.
Drug Cards/Certificates
SUMA will send drug cards and certificates once mail service resumes. Should your office have a new employee, please contact our office and we can provide you with the information needed to make electronic claims.
Health and Dental Claims
You can submit many claims without using postal services:
- Member eClaims allows you to submit many health and dental claims online or via the GroupNet app on mobile devices. Employees must be registered for GroupNet for Plan Members to use Member eClaims. If they have not yet signed up, encourage them to do so now, as there is a 48-hour delay after registering before they can submit their first claim. eClaims is not available for out-of-country claims.
- Your dentist, pharmacist, chiropractor, physiotherapist, massage therapist, naturopath, or acupuncturist may be able to submit claims electronically.
- Some employers may collect claims and send to Great-West Life or SUMA by courier.
To avoid payment delays, employees can sign up for direct deposit through GroupNet for Plan Members under the profile tab. Otherwise, cheques will be mailed once the postal disruption has ended.
Life/ADD&D/Disability Claims
You can fax these forms (306-525-4373) or email them to gis@suma.org. We will process using the copy, but you must send the original copy. You may wait until Canada Post resumes services or send immediately via courier.
Vision Claims
Any vision claims can be sent to the SUMA office via courier. Employees may sign up for direct deposit by completing the applicable section on the claim form.