RETIREE DRUG ASSISTANCE FUND

The Retiree Drug Assistance Fund (RDAF) as another safety net created by your union (USW Local 5795/6731) to help retirees with the cost of prescription drugs after their main insurance runs out.

What Is It For?

When you are an active employee, your health care plan has a lifetime maximum coverage amount (for retirees after March 1, 2023, this is either what's left of your original $45,000 limit or $15,000, whichever is more). Once you've spent that amount on medical expenses, your company insurance stops paying.

This is where the RDAF steps in. It's a fund specifically designed to help retired members and their families pay for prescription drugs after they have used up their lifetime maximum from the company's insurance provider (like Manulife).

How Do I Qualify and Apply for Help?

To get assistance from the fund, you need to follow a few steps:

1. Prove Your Main Insurance is Maxed Out: The most important step is to show the union that you have reached your lifetime maximum for drug coverage. 

   • You will be asked to get an official letter from Manulife (or your alternate insurer) confirming this. To get this letter, you can call Manulife at 1-800-268-6195.

2. Fill Out the Application: You need to complete the "USW Local 5795/6731 Retiree Drug Assistance Program Application for Assistance". This form asks for:

   • Personal and family information.

   • Details about your monthly drug costs.

   • Information about any other public or private drug insurance you might have.

3. Give Consent: You must sign a declaration form that allows the RDAF committee to verify your eligibility and access certain information from your former employer (IOC or Orica Canada Inc.).

4. Submit Everything: Mail or email your completed application, the confirmation letter from Manulife, and your first set of drug receipts to the RDAF committee.

How Do I Get Paid?

The fund reimburses you for your drug costs on a quarterly schedule. Here’s how it works:

• 1st Quarter (Jan, Feb, Mar): Submit receipts by April 15th. You get paid in the 2nd week of May.

• 2nd Quarter (Apr, May, Jun): Submit receipts by July 15th. You get paid in the 2nd week of August.

• 3rd Quarter (Jul, Aug, Sep): Submit receipts by October 15th. You get paid in the 2nd week of November.

• 4th Quarter (Oct, Nov, Dec): Submit receipts by January 15th. You get paid in the 2nd week of February.

Important notes on getting reimbursed:

• Use Official Receipts: You must submit the original "Official Prescription Receipt" for every prescription. These are the detailed printouts from the pharmacy, not just the cash register tape. The receipt must clearly show the Drug Identification Number (DIN) and the date of pickup.

• Payment Method: The fund now prefers to pay via direct deposit to save costs. To set this up, you need to provide a void cheque or a direct deposit form from your bank with your receipts. If you prefer to receive a cheque, you can let the committee know.

Who Can I Contact for Help?

If you have any questions about the fund, the application, or the reimbursement process, you can contact any of the RDAF committee members listed in the enrolment package.

Committee Chair: Daniel Janes

USW MAIN HALL: 709-944-2255