Privacy
At Heath, we have been closely following the privacy legislation as it is being developed. We are committed to ensuring that Heath not only meets the requirements of the legislation as it pertains to our offices across the country, but that we exceed these requirements to reach a high and uniform level of compliance.
What Is Personal Information?
Personal Information includes, among other information, employee and employer name, home address and telephone number, age and date of birth, gender, marital status, Social Insurance Number, occupation, salary, similar information about dependents, and health information.
Why Do We Collect Personal Information?
We collect, use, and disclose Personal Information for the purpose of enrolling employees for coverage under an employee benefit plan in which they are either a beneficiary or have an interest. Additionally, we collect and use employee Personal Information to identify employees and their dependents.
Personal Information is disclosed to insurance carriers who provide employees and their dependents with benefits. We do this so that if there is a claim, it can be processed and benefits can be paid. The insurance carriers to whom we provide Personal Information have developed their own privacy policies, which are available upon request to employers and employees. We do not provide Personal Information to any other parties, unless legally required to do so and we would not provide Personal Information to a third party without the employee’s or dependant’s express written consent.
What Personal Information Do We Provide to Employers?
Under our contract to provide administrative and/or consulting services to employers, we prepare reports summarizing the claims experience of the benefit plan. However, these reports do not contain information that could allow an employer to identify a specific employee or any dependents. Information received about specific claims is kept strictly confidential.
How Do We Protect Personal Information?
Heath employees are committed to our policy of respecting and protecting Personal Information. We have put in place appropriate electronic and physical safeguards to ensure there is no unauthorized access to Personal Information.
How Do We Obtain Consent?
Employees have consented to enrollment in a benefit plan by signing the employee enrollment form. We also infer that an employer has obtained the required consent from employees to enroll them in the plan. We will continue to infer implied consent on the part of an employee and his or her dependents in the future if they continue to submit claims or ask us for assistance with their claims.
How is Consent Withdrawn?
If an employee wishes to discontinue our collection, use, and disclosure of Personal Information he or she can withdraw consent in writing. We will stop collecting, using, and disclosing Personal Information to the insurance carrier only if there are no legal or regulatory requirements preventing us from doing so.
If an employee withdraws consent for us to collect, use, and disclose Personal Information, we will not be able to enroll the employee in a plan that provides the employee and his or her dependents with benefits. Employees should contact us to discuss the situation and how it will affect their benefits.
How to Access Personal Information
Employees have the right to know what Personal Information we have collected, used, and disclosed. If they wish to know what Personal Information we have, they can call our Client Service Centre at 1-866-432-8427.
How to Correct Personal Information
If an employee determines that the Personal Information we have collected and are using requires correction, he or she can contact our Client Service Centre at 1-866-432-8427. Our Client Service Centre will take the employee’s name and other information allowing us to make the appropriate corrections.
How to Challenge our Compliance With Privacy Legislation
If employees or employers have questions or concerns about privacy at Heath or how we have dealt with a request for information, please contact Heath’s Privacy Officer in writing as follows:
Privacy Officer
Heath Benefits Consulting Inc.
500-2025 W. Broadway,
Vancouver, BC V6J 1Z6
Email: privacyofficer@heath.ca
We will review the request and respond promptly with information on how we intend to address the concerns.
