PIPEWRENCH —Your Communication Pipeline
WINTER EDITION
A Message from the Board of Trustees
Dear Members,
The new year is off to a flying start, and we’re here with your first newsletter of 2026. In this Winter edition, we are sharing important updates on GreenShield’s new claims submission process, your Health Care Spending Account, the innoviCares card, and the recent completion of Trustees’ certification.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all members who attended the 2025 membership meeting last October. It was wonderful to see the room filled with both new and familiar faces. The meeting is an excellent opportunity to stay informed and ask questions about the Welfare and Pension Plans. Thank you for helping make it such a successful event!
We had the following speakers present:
- Anthony Guindon from Koskie Minsky talked about the duties of the Board of Trustees and the New Ontario Framework for Multi-Employer Pension Plans;
- Domenic Barbiero from Eckler discussed the Plan funding and valuations;
- Kieron Hayes from RBC Wealth Management reviewed the portfolio performance and commented on the economic landscape;
- Krista Tartaglia from BDO presented the results of their independent auditor report including the Statement of Financial position and the increase/decrease in assets of the Welfare, SUB and Pension Plans; and
- Bruna Pimenta from UA Local 67 Benefits offered a quick tour on their new website.
A video recording of the meeting is available at ua67benefits.ca, and you can also scan the QR code on the newsletter pdf file to watch it.
Warmest wishes to you and your family for a safe and happy winter.
Steve Foffano, Chairman
Ross French, Secretary
Frank Benincasa
Nathan Bergstrand
Nathan Bergstrand
Les Ellerker
Dave Marcus
Bill Stanger
Candidate Trustee
Braedan McIntryre
GreenShield Updates
Claim submission changes
As of March 2026, plan members are required to upload their receipt with all claim submissions in GreenShield+. Rather than keeping it for future audits, you have to upload it during your claim submission. This change is part of GreenShield’s digital transformation efforts, aimed at improving the member experience by making claims more efficient, transparent, and secure.
You can submit your claims online through greenshieldplus.ca or the GreenShield+ app, which is the fastest and most convenient option. Alternatively, you may mail a completed claim form along with the original receipts to the address indicated on the form. For more information on submitting claims, visit ua67benefits.ca/welfare/claims or contact UA Local 67 Benefits for assistance.
Health Care Spending Account
Your Health Care Spending Account was reset on January 1st. You can use the amount of $750 towards any medical expense under the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) Income Tax Guidelines. Please note that any unused portion of the maximum amount granted in the HCSA will not roll forward to the next calendar year.
innoviCares Card
The innoviCares card is a free prescription savings card available to all Canadians and funded by participating pharmaceutical manufacturers. It provides financial assistance on dozens of original brand-name medications prescribed by your physician, including OZEMPIC®.
Signing up is quick, easy, and completely free. Once registered, you can download, print, or add the card to your Apple Wallet for immediate use. You can also opt to receive a plastic card by mail.
For information on how to register and to view the full list of covered medications, visit innovicares.ca or scan the QR code on the left.
Trustee Continuing Education
As part of the Trustees’ commitment to continuing education, Frank Benincasa, Dave Marcus, and Barrington Price attended the 58th Annual Canadian Employee Benefits Conference last November in Vancouver, BC. To further broaden their knowledge, they also completed the following certifications:
- Frank Benincasa & Barrington Price: Advanced Trust Management Standards B
- Dave Marcus: Master of Trust Management Standards B
Their ongoing dedication ensures the Fund continues to be managed with the highest level of expertise and care.
UA Local 67 Benefits
195 Dartnall Road, Suite 102 – Hamilton ON
905-387-5861
info@ua67benefits.ca (previously local67@reliableadmin.com)
Office hours:
Monday – Thursday 9 am to 5 pm | Friday 9 am to 4pm