more about your benefits

For the members of the UNITE HERE LOCAL 75

Benefits Plans

UNITE HERE was formed in 2004 with the amalgamation of the UNITE and HERE International unions.
Across North America, UNITE HERE has over 400,000 members, with over 50,000 in Canada.

Local 75 of the former HERE has over six thousand members in Southern Ontario.
Members work in all aspects of the service industry (Hotels, Restaurants, Casinos,
Racetracks). Many major hotels in the Toronto area are represented by UNITE HERE Local 75.

MORE Upgraded benefitS !

Effective September 1st, 2026 your UNITE HERE Health & Welfare Plan will be upgraded : 

WEEKLY INDEMNITY (SHORT TERM DISABILITY)

For claims starting after September 1st, 2026, the maximum weekly short term disability payment will increase to $729 per week.   The previous maximum was $638 per week.

MATERNITY TOP UP BENEFIT

For maternity or parental leaves which begin after September 1st, 2026, the top up to the Employment Insurance benefit will be up to $150 per week for 30 weeks.   The previous benefit was up to $100 per week for 25 weeks.

Your total benefit can not be more than your regular weekly earnings.

Effective October 1st, 2026 your UNITE HERE Health & Welfare Plan will be upgraded : 

INCREASED DISPENSING FEE CAP

Effective October 1st, 2026, the maximum your Plan will pay for a prescription drug dispensing fee will increase to $6 per prescription.  The previous maximum was $5 per prescription.

NEW DRUG CARD !

Check your mail ! Your new UNITE HERE Health & Welfare Plan is on its way.

We are pleased to inform you that, beginning in January 2026, there will be a new system for accessing your medical and drug benefits from the UNITE HERE Health & Welfare Plan.

You will be able to : set up an online profile with Telus Health to :

  • submit medical claims,
  • see your online claim history,
  • set up direct deposit for your medical claims,
  • add your drug card to your Apple Wallet and Google Pay Wallet.

Your benefits are not changing; however, you will now have more options to submit medical claims, receive payment and see your claim history.  Please visit unitehere75.onlineclaimsaccess.netto set up your online profile with Telus Health after you have received your new benefits card.

Your short-term disability (weekly indemnity) claims must still be submitted directly to Soben.

You may still submit claims to Soben Management Ltd, either by regular mail or through the Plan’s online portal at claims.uniteherebenefits.ca.  The choice is yours.

Please watch out for new benefit booklets in early 2026.

If you have any questions about your new card, your benefits, your claims, or your eligibility please continue to contact Soben Management Ltd. at 416-498-8338 or benefits@soben.ca

Upgraded MEDICAL benefitS !

Effective June 1st, 2025 your UNITE HERE Health & Welfare Plan will be upgraded : 

VISION CARE

Your Vision Care benefit maximum will increase to $500 per person.  The vision care benefit frequency will increase to every calendar year, regardless of age.

Previously your Vision Care benefit was $400 per person over a rolling 18-month period, for members over age 18.

PARAMEDICAL COVERAGE

Your Paramedical Benefit will increase to a combined maximum (for all covered paramedical services and procedures) of $1,800 per person per calendar year.

Previously your benefits was a combined maximum of $1,500 per person per calendar year for paramedical treatment.

DENTAL IMPLANTS AT THE UNITE HERE WELLNESS AND DENTAL CENTRE

The patient payment for dental implants provided at the UNITE HERE Wellness and Dental Centre will decrease to $1,000 per implant, inclusive of all costs (including laboratory fees and CT scans).

PHYSICIAN’S NOTES FOR MEDICAL CLAIMS

The Plan will no longer require a physician’s diagnosis and recommendation for medical claims, unless requested by Soben.  (Please note that if Soben does request a physician’s diagnosis and recommendation for any reason, your claim will not be paid until it is provided.  Physician’s statements for disability claims are unchanged.)

HOSPITAL BENEFIT

The benefit for semi-private rooms at acute care hospitals will increase to a maximum of $400 per day.

Previously, your hospital benefit for a semi-private room was a maximum of $300 per day.

BENEFITS FOR DEPENDANTS OF DECEASED MEMBERS

Dependants of deceased members will be entitled to six months of benefits from the member’s date of death, regardless of the deceased member’s hour bank balance.

Previously, coverage depended on the deceased member’s hour bank balance.

ONlInE CLAIM SUBMISION !

Effective January1st, 2025 all your claims may be submitted electronically.

File my claim online now !

Upgraded MEDICAL benefitS !

Effective May 1st, 2023 your UNITE HERE Health & Welfare Plan will be upgraded : 

The maximum Vision Care benefits for member over age 18 will be $400 every 18 months (previously every 24 months).

Paramedical Benefits will be payable at 95% (up from 80%).  The combined paramedical calendar year maximum remains at $1,500 per person.

The annual family Medical Deductible of $25 has been eliminated.

Medical Benefits Change May 1st, 2023 – Standard Plan

Medical Benefits Change May 1st, 2023 – Enhanced Plan

MORE Upgraded weekly indemnity benefit !

Effective May 1st, 2023 your UNITE HERE Health & Welfare Plan will be upgraded : 

The maximum disability payment for the first four weeks of disability will increase to $638 per week (or $127.60 per day) from $524 per week.

Weekly Indemnity Change May 1st, 2023 – Standard Plan

PART-TIME ELIGIBILITY & Benefit improvementS !

Effective May 1st, 2023 your UNITE HERE Health & Welfare Plan will be upgraded : 

The Hour Bank Deduction for part time members will be 60 hours per month (down from 64 hours per month).

The maximum Vision Care benefits will be $400 every 18 months (previously every 24 months).

Part-time Plan Change May 1st, 2023

Benefit improvements !

Effective October 1st, 2022 your UNITE HERE Health & Welfare Plan will be upgraded : 

Orthodontic benefits for eligible dependents will be covered up to age 21 at the time of the treatment (previously up to age 18).

Your Plan will also cover the services of a Registered Dietician. This benefit is included under your annual paramedical maximum.

Upgraded weekly indemnity benefit !

Effective June 1st, 2022 your UNITE HERE Health & Welfare Plan will be upgraded.

Weekly Indemnity Change June 1st, 2022 – Standard Plan

Weekly Indemnity Change June 1st, 2022 – Enhanced Plan

TRANSITION TO REOPENING !

Effective April 1st, 2020 your UNITE HERE Health & Welfare Plan will begin returning to the hour bank eligibility rules described in you Plan booklet.

June 28th, 2021 – Newsletter

Protecting Our Families
Through the Pandemic!

UNITE HERE Local 75 is pleased to announce that all Health & Welfare Benefits
have been extended for UNITE HERE Local 75 active members and their dependents
until July 31th, 2021. An active member is a UNITE HERE Plan member who worked at a participating
employer anytime during January, February or March, 2020, and who continues to be laid off.

The UNITE HERE Health & Welfare Plan is one of the best plans in the country.
As a member of UNITE HERE Local 75, you are one of the only hospitality and
food service workers in the country with full coverage for you and your family
16 months into the Covid-19 pandemic!

When COVID-19 devastated the Canadian hospitality industry,
UNITE HERE Local 75 never stopped fighting for workers and their families.

DID YOU KNOW?

•  YOUR UNITE HERE Local 75 Health & Welfare Plan has continued to provide dental and
medical benefits for laid-off members and their families since March 2020.

• YOUR UNITE HERE Wellness and Dental Centre is still providing dental, optometry
and chiropody benefits to active and laid off members and their families,
while following strict COVID-19 prevention protocols

• YOUR money in the UNITE HERE Pension Plan earned more than 4% return in 2020!
Look for your annual pension benefits statement this Spring!
Laid-off UNITE HERE Local 75 members still have their pension plan money
invested with the UNITE HERE Pension Plan.

UNITE HERE WELLNESS AND DENTAL CENTRE
UPDATED COVID Protocols

Dear Patients,

Many of you will have experienced the changes we have introduced to keep you and our team safe from COVID-19. For those of you who we have yet to see let us refresh you on what changes you will experience when we see you next:

Two Business Days before your appointment 

  • You will be required via TEXT OR EMAIL to complete a full COVID-19 screening questionnaire and consent form. This screening can also be submitted by visiting our website: http://www.uniteherebenefits.ca/dental-centre/
  • Please note, that if we DO NOT receive this screening by 1pm the day before you visit we will NOT be able to keep your appointment time.

Upon your arrival at the Dental Centre

  • Please wait in the lobby of the building until your scheduled appointment time. Call or text us to let us know that you have arrived.
  • Please wear a face mask to the clinic: while you use public transportation; wait in the lobby; ride the elevator etc. We ask that you do this for your safety and that of others around you.
  • The clinic will call or text you when we are ready to see you and carry out, your in-person-screening.
  • We will be taking your temperature with an infrared, touchless thermometer and your screening will be reviewed once more, as soon as you enter the clinic.
  • You may see that our reception area will no longer offer magazines, children’s toys and so forth, since those items are very difficult to clean and disinfect.
  • We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use when you enter the office. You will also find some in the reception area and other places in the office for you to use as needed.
  • ONLY scheduled patients will be allowed entry into the clinic.
  • Patients must visit the clinic unaccompanied. Parents/guardians and other family members of the patient will be asked to wait outside whenever possible.
  • The reception area chairs will be spaced apart to allow for 2 meters or 6 feet of social distancing.
  • We will ask that you continue to practice social distancing measures in common areas of the clinic at all times.
  • There will be no physical contact with patients with the exception of treatment.
  • Note: Any patients showing signs or symptoms of possible COVID-19 illness will be asked to reschedule their appointment.

Your treatment

  • Operatories in which aerosol generating procedures will be performed (operatories in which we will use dental drills) will be equipped with high-volume air filtration and purification units. These operatories have been sealed to prevent the contamination of surrounding areas. We follow the CDC guidelines and allow the appropriate fallow time(clearing the air of aerosol) between patients. For that reason, you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.
  • Before, during and after patient care, our team will STRICTLY follow Infection Prevention and Control guidelines set forth by CDC, Public Health of Ontario and our dental governing bodies. This includes sterilization of dental instruments, disinfection of operatories and the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • We have added additional measures such as plexiglass or glass panels in all reception/front desk countertops.

Checking Out After Your Appointment

  • We will ask you to call us 14 days after your appointment to let us know how you are doing and to report whether you have any signs or symptoms of COVID-19.
  • We are proceeding with an abundance of caution, but we want you to feel as confident as we do that any visit you make to our clinic will be a safe one. We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our Dental Centres.

We are looking forward to seeing you again soon!

The UNITE HERE Wellness & Dental Centre Team