Participation requirement

The minimum share of eligible employees who must enrol.

Carriers require a minimum proportion of eligible employees to participate before they will issue or maintain a plan — commonly high for employer-paid core benefits and lower for voluntary ones.

Falling below the threshold can trigger re-rating or, in some cases, termination of the coverage.

What this means for a BC plan

Employers with high part-time or seasonal headcount in BC should confirm how eligibility is defined before assuming they meet the threshold. Definitions of 'eligible' vary meaningfully between carriers.

Related terms

  • Anti-selection — Those most likely to claim are those most likely to enrol.
  • Waiting period — Service time before a new hire becomes eligible.

Where this comes up

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