For over sixty years, Group Medical Services has been safeguarding personal information about our valued members. We want you to know that protecting your privacy is important to us.

Why do we collect your information?
When you first join Group Medical Services as a member or dependant under a group or individual plan we ask for some information about you. We use this information to:

• establish your identification
• verify your eligibility for benefits and services
• help us to process and pay claims submitted by you
• understand your needs and preferences
• provide you with offers which may interest you

We do not collect any information that is not provided to us voluntarily and knowingly by you (or, in the case of a dependant under a group plan or individual plan, by your representative).

It is important to note that during the application process for one or more of our products or services, you (or, in the case of a dependant under a group or individual plan, your representative) may have provided us with written consent respecting the collection, use or disclosure of your information. This privacy statement is intended to supplement, and does not replace or modify, any such written consent.

As part of our ongoing relationship with you, we collect, keep and use additional information about you that is needed to provide the products and services you request as well as to evaluate risk and manage claims.  We collect information from you (or, in the case of a dependant under a group or individual plan, from your representative) either directly or through our representatives and agents.  We may also collect information about you from sources such as hospitals, doctors and other health care providers, the government (including your provincial health insurance plan) and other governmental agencies, other insurance companies, benefit carriers or other organizations under which you are covered, and your current or former employer(s).

We use your information to communicate with you, to help us understand and appropriately respond to your current and future needs and to market products to you. We may use the information internally to compile statistics about our plans, which helps us understand the needs of our customers and our business.

When do we disclose information?
In the event one of our members, or their dependants, is covered by a benefit plan with another benefit carrier, we may disclose his/her relevant information to the benefit carrier when we are coordinating benefit payments between our organizations. This is in accordance with our contractual obligations.

We may disclose a member or dependant's information to a person who seeks the information as an authorized representative of the member or dependant with the member’s permission (e.g., lawyer, power of attorney, etc.).

We may disclose a member or dependant's information when required or permitted by law. When required by law to disclose information, we limit the information that we release to only what is required by the relevant law.

How do we protect your information?
Unless we otherwise have your consent, we will not collect, use or disclose your information for any purposes other than what we've listed here.

We limit access to your information to only employees in our organization, subcontracted employees or our travel assistance firm who require access to the information in the performance of their job duties.

We will take all reasonable steps to ensure that your information is accurate and current. It is important that you, or your benefit administrator, contact us with any changes to your information.

The choice is yours
We will continue to collect, use and disclose information for the purposes described in this document. However, subject to legal or contractual restrictions, you may (upon reasonable notice to us), choose to withdraw your consent to the collection, use and disclosure of such information. It is important to note that if your consent is withdrawn, you may restrict our ability to serve you. Further, if you withdraw your consent, we may not be able to offer you our products and services and you may limit our ability to pay your claims.

Privacy-related inquires
We will respect your request for access to the information about you that we hold. If we have information that is not correct, you can correct your information so that it is complete and accurate. To correct or update your personal information, please contact one of our Customer Service Representatives at (306) 352-7638, or toll-free at 1-800-667-3699, and they would be pleased to assist you.

If you have a specific request or question about our privacy practice, please send this to us in writing. In your correspondence please describe your questions in as much detail as possible. We will respond to your concern as promptly and accurately as possible.

Write to:

Group Medical Services
Attn: Chief Privacy Officer
2055 Albert Street
PO Box 1949
Regina, SK  S4P 0E3