Health Benefits Program – Public Service Health Care Plan (VAC PPU 520)

Description: This bank describes information that is used in support of establishing eligibility for the Health Benefits Program - Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP). The personal information may include name; contact information; biographical information; date of birth; date of death; financial information; other identification numbers; physical attributes; gender; signature; social insurance number (SIN); language; client identifier information; military service information; prior benefit coverage; indicator of coverage under the Service Income Security Insurance Plan - Long Term Disability (SISIP); information pertaining to service related rehabilitation need; dependent children information; marital status; spouse/common law information; coverage information.

Note: Revised in 2019. Information may be stored in Veterans Affairs Canada’s (VAC's) physical and electronic systems including: Client Services Delivery Network (CSDN) and/or GCCase, which may include client initiated actions and responses made through My VAC Account, and/or, VAC staff/ contracted resource initiated actions and responses made through Benefit and Health Services On-line (BHSOL).

Some documents received in VAC, from the Department of National Defence (DND) may reference the Social Insurance Number (SIN) as DND personnel were required to use the SIN as their personal identification number between 1960 and 1990.

Class of Individuals: Individuals who have been designated as members of the PSHCP effective April 1, 2006, and individuals who do not otherwise have PSHCP eligibility – Veterans and former members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), spouses/common-law partners, dependants, survivors, and/or representatives.

Purpose: The personal information is used to administer the Health Benefits Program. Personal information is collected pursuant to section 66 of the Veterans Well-being Act and Veterans Health Care Regulations. The Social Insurance Number of Quebec residents is collected pursuant to the Income Tax Act and are used for income tax reporting purposes.

Consistent Uses: Information may be used and disclosed for planning, research, development, evaluation and/or reporting of programs, policies and services. The use and disclosure is limited to VAC areas that are involved in the identified program, service and policy. Such information may also be shared with senior management.

Personal information may be shared with other VAC programs, including programs covered by the application waiver provision under sections 80.1 of the Pension Act and/or 78.1 of the Veterans Well-being Act, for the purpose of determining eligibility for additional benefits, assessments, case management, mental health initiatives, and/or commemorative activities, where applicable.

Name, contact information, and eligibility status is shared with the PSHCP Administrative Authority and subsequently with the third party administrator of the PSHCP for the purpose of enrolling the VAC client group into the Health Benefits Program - PSHCP. The effective date of coverage for the PSHCP is shared with the DND SISIP Long-term Disability Program and Major Medical Program [DND PPE 808, Insurance - Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP)] to avoid duplication of coverage.

Personal information may be obtained by PSPC in accordance with an established Memorandum of Agreement for the purpose of creating a digital image of the record for use by VAC (Refer to PSPC institution specific personal information bank, PWGSC PCU 709 - Document Imaging Solutions). Public Services and Procurement Canada will not use the personal information for the purposes of making administrative decisions.

Personal information such as name, contact information, service information, health and financial information may be shared with an authorized and approved third party, in accordance with an established Service Level Agreement for the purpose of printing and mailing services. The approved third party will not use the personal information for the purposes of making administrative decisions.

Veterans Affairs Canada has contracted an authorized and approved third party, located in Canada, to provide transportation, storage, maintenance retrieval, delivery, and destruction services of VAC records, where applicable.

Retention and Disposal Standards: Regardless of the format, as part of the client record, the retention period is 7 years after the date of death of the applicant. If the date is not known, the retention period is 110 years after the date of birth provided there are no known dependents, no outstanding claims against the crown, no actions involving the estate, no indication on file of the legal status of a dependent, and no activity of any kind.