General Information

The Joint Health Science Benefits Trust (JHSBT) is an Employee Life & Health Trust (ELHT) that was established April 1, 2017 to provide employee benefits to members of the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) and their dependents. The Trust is governed by a Trust Agreement.

The JHSBT Plan replaced the Healthcare Benefit Trust (HBT) Plan, effective April 1, 2017. Employees who were approved for Long Term Disability benefits before April 1, 2017 remain with HBT. Employees who are approved for LTD benefits after that date are covered by the JHSBT Plan.

HBT acts as the Third Party Administrator on behalf of the JHSBT, providing services to the Trust and acting under the direction of the Trustees to carry out the tasks of liaison with and coordination of the activities of the Claims Paying Agents on behalf of the Board, as well as other responsibilities, including financial accounting and liaison with the auditors.

The Trust receives negotiated funding from employers and some contributions from employees, which it holds in the Trust fund for the purpose of providing group health and insurance benefits to eligible employees, their eligible dependents and beneficiaries.

These benefits include:

  1. Extended Health
  2. Dental
  3. Life Insurance
  4. Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
  5. Long Term Disability Insurance

For more information, check out Learn About Your Benefits.

About 56 employers currently participate in the JHSBT. More than 15,000 members participate in Group Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, long term disability (LTD) and Dental and Extended Health coverage (EHC.) Approximately 20,000 dependents have Dental and EHC coverage.

The JHSBT is governed by a Jointly-Trusteed Board (Trustees) with equal representation by unions and employers participating in the JHSBT. The Trustees have a fiduciary responsibility to act for the benefit of JHSBT and its Beneficiaries. The Trustees administer the JHSBT Plan (Plan) which provides the above-listed Benefits.

The Trustees work to ensure that the benefit plans are administered fairly, equitably, effectively and in a cost-efficient manner.