The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

10 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Thursday, December 28, 1989 Coverage is premium free Employer Health Tax takes over in January Provincial Treasurer Robert Nixon announced in his May 1989 budget that health care premium revenue will be replaced by the Employer Health Tax on January 1, 1990. . During the transition to the Employer Health Tax, all Ontario - residents will be covered for the health services they need. All _ OHIP subscribers are expected to make their premium payments up to December 31, 1989. All existing Ontario health in- surance numbers remain un- changed, and subscribers should continue to use their current in- dentification. As long as they re- main residents of Ontario, their coverage will remain valid and premium free after December 31. The following provides answers to many of the questions of the new OHIP payments. QUESTIONS & ANSWERS Q: When will premium payments end? A: On Dec. 31, 1989. Q: Will my health coverage con- tinue after Dec. 31? - A: Yes. Q: What happens when I go to the doctor or the hospital? A: If you are a resident of On- tario, you will have the same ac- cess to the health care system " after the elimination of premiums as you did during the time when premiums were collected. Q: Why is the premium system being changed? A: The Government of Ontario - and committees such as the Social Assistance Review Committee have all recommended that the premium system be abolished. The Social Assistance Review Committee believed that the elimination of premiums was essential and would greatly im- prove access to health care for many low-income people. Premiums are a regressive form of taxation that hurts the poor, even though excellent 'assistance programs for help in paying premiums were available. Historically, the funding for health care has been shared by people and business. Each realizes benefits from Ontario's universal health care system. The introduction of the Employer Health Tax will ensure that all employers contribute a share of the financing of health care. This is a more reasonable approach than the current patchwork that has many employers paying all premiums for their employees, ang others contributing nothing at all. Q: How will I be covered if I'm unemployed? A: After the end of December, all Ontario residents, whether unemployed, employed, self- employed or retired, are eligible for coverage. The sole criterion for eligibility will be residency -- you must ordinarily be present in Ontario, entitled to remain in Canada, and make your home in Ontario. Q: I live in Ontario, but work in Detroit (Hull). How am I covered? : A: Health insurance coverage is based on residency in Ontario and - not on the place of employment. As long as you remain a resident of Ontario, you will continue to be eligible for insured health services. Q: I live in Detroit (Hull), but THANK YOU ... FROM THE ROTARY CLUB of PORT PERRY Operation Scugog helped 126 families have a better Ch cal businesses, schools, and individuals who donated me families. Pictured are Back Row(left to right):Barbara Carnegie co-ordinator, Louise Hart- ney, Sheryl Zuly. Front Row(left to right): Gavin Carnegle, ristmas this year, thanks to lo- als, money, or gifts for needy and Matthew Hill. work in Windsor (Ottawa). Will I be covered? A: If you are not a resident, you are not eligible. Q: What about Canadians moving to Ontario from other provinces? When will they be covered? A: Coverage will commence from the date their coverage under their previous provincial plan ex- pires. If their date of arrival in Ontario is prior to Jan. 1, 1990, they will be required to make premium payments. Q: Since premiums now paid by an employer are added to an employee's T-4 slip as a taxable benefit, will the employee no longer have to pay income tax on Father Freddy Grima - Donation of Imma kitchen facilities, equipment and caretaking; Jim Grieve & Staff of Port Perr and major portion of food served: Emiel Kroonenberg & Cathy Hoar of Emiel's Place - Preparation of the pervision, and organizing of all food servings; on and information re: recipients; entire dinner, kitchen su -Anne Wanninkhof - Supervisi Elizabeth Fulford - Scugog Community Care; Ron Mitchell - Assisting and obtaining permits; Bonnie Windsor - Scugog Handi-Transit, transportation; Everet Kerr - Kerr Bus Lines, transportation; Hank's Pastries - Providing cooking of turkeys; Port Perry Printing - Envelopes and Invitations; Marilyn Beacock - Arranging Mrs. Santa Claus' visit; Sargeant's Rentals, Oshawa On Monday evening; December 18, 1989, the Rotary Club of Port Perry hosted a Christmas Dinner for approximately 150 Seniors and Shut-ins. A special thank you to all of the following companies and persons for their contributions towards this successful evening: : - Our sincere thanks, ROTARY 'CLUB of PORT PERRY 0 Bryce Philp, Project Chairman, Jim Grieve, Co-Chairman culate Conception Hall, furnishings, y IGA - Donation of turkeys, stuffing, _- Table cloths, dinnerware, etc. Louise Hartney - Song leading and assistance as Master of Ceremonies; Best of Things - Corsages for the ladies; Port Perry Star - News releases; 'The Golden Slippers - Evening Entertainment; Mr. & Mrs. Alpers - Assistance wi Cathy Auotte - Sound Systems: Chris Duff, Philp Pontiac Buick L Several Rotarians and their ladies - Driving, serving. food preparation, organization. th Hall arrangements; td. - Snow removal; the amount of that benefit? A: The Employer Health Tax is not a taxable benefit; as of 1990 the employee will not be required to pay income tax on that amount. Q: Will the new system affect those over 65? A: The elimination of premiums means that persons turning 65 will no longer have to apply for ex- emption from premiums. However, they must still register at 65 for the Ontario Drug Benefit Plan. : Q: How will the new system affect company benefit plans that also include private and semi-private hospital benefits? . A: Private supplementary in- surance coverage won't be affected. by the elimination of premiums. MACKEY, BAILEY & KORB BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS Saturday Mornings - 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon - Oshawa Ra PORT PERRY 985-1391 SHARE YOUR HOLIDAY MEMORIES * Slide Developing 2nd SET FREE! « Full service on all your needs * Processing of all film brands * Reprints" « Enlargements Leave your film with us! Stedmans PORT PERRY PLAZA 985-3844 ie) Robinson Holder PO OO HIN HNC