Every Ontarian deserves and needs a dignified and healthy retirement.
ONA members have the benefit of a number of pension plans that serve them. This section of the ONA website lists these plans and information about them.
Pension Plans
Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) serves ONA members working in the hospital sector. It is fully funded and its investments are outperforming many others.
Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) serves ONA members working for municipalities. It is a defined-benefits plan that ensures a secure retirement.
Nursing Homes and Related Industry Pension Plan (NHRIPP) also ensures a secure retirement for ONA members working in the nursing homes sector.
Canadian Blood Services Pension Plan (CBSPP) is the pension plan for ONA members working in CBS and its clinics.
Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Pension Plan serves ONA members working in this sector, which provides home care and other services to Ontarians.
OHA Dental Plan for ONA Early Retirees
The Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) offers the OHA Dental Plan for ONA Early Retirees. Administered by Desjardins Insurance, the plan provides comprehensive dental care coverage to retired nurses aged between 60 and 64, and their eligible dependents.
News and Updates
OMERS launches podcast series, The Pension Blueprint!
Each episode explores different aspects of the pension landscape across Ontario and provides pension education to help listeners learn about the OMERS Plan and kick-start their retirement planning.
The podcast features in-depth conversations led by members of the OMERS Pensions team. The episodes are packed with educational content about the OMERS Plan – everything from factors to consider when choosing the best time to retire to ways to maximize monthly retirement income. Some episodes take a deeper dive into the latest buzzworthy topics around pensions and retirement.
Learn more about your OMERS pension
Information Sessions and Webinars:
OMERS offers education events throughout the year (both in-person and online), they can be found posted here: Events (omers.com).
Virtual One-on-Ones:
- Have you started planning for your retirement? Do you have questions about your OMERS pension? Members can register online for a secure, one-on-one conversation that’s tailored to them.
- Sessions are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis and are 30 minutes long.
- Members can register here: Virtual One-on-Ones (omers.com).
Join The Pension Collective (HOOPP)
Are you interested in retirement security and want to learn more about pension issues that impact Canadians? Join The Pension Collective, for access to easy-to-understand news and resources and opportunities to attend exclusive events.
The Value of HOOPP
Learn more about how HOOPP secures your future.
NHRIPP – Stay Connected!
Are you part of the Nursing Homes and Related Industries Pension Plan (NHRIPP)? If so, make sure you stay connected and in the know. Keep your contact and beneficiary information up to date using the My InSite member portal. Visit the Plan’s website at www.nhripp.ca to Sign In or Set Up an Account.
Commuted Value (CV) Changes – HOOPP (Dec. 21, 2020)
Following the recent announcements about changes to Commuted Value (CV) calculations being implemented by the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (CIA) and HOOPP, our members may have some questions or concerns.
Please note: These changes impact some individuals, such as those who take their lump-sum CV out of the Plan instead of retiring with a monthly pension. If you are currently contributing to the Plan or have kept your pension with HOOPP after leaving your employer, these changes will not impact you.
More information on these changes can be found on the following websites:
HOOPP’s Member Services team is available to answer any questions unique to an individual member’s circumstances. They can be reached at 416-646-6445 or toll-free at 1-877-43HOOPP (46677), Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern Time.
Defined Benefit Pension Plans (e.g. HOOPP and OMERS), Income Tax and Commuted Value (Dec. 12, 2020)
There is inaccurate and false information about pension plans and income tax circulating. It is governments, not pensions, that tax income.
What has happened is this – the Canadian Institute for Actuaries (CIA) has changed how commuted value is calculated for all defined benefit pension plans in Canada, including HOOPP. Commuted value is the lump sum you receive if you decide to pull out of the pension plan, e.g. after you resign. The changes by CIA took effect December 1 and may result in this lump sum being smaller than it would have been before.
HOOPP advises that “These changes have absolutely no effect on the pension payments you receive if you stay in the plan and collect pension cheques from HOOPP – now or in the future.”
There may be financial advisors who are using this change to try to get you to resign from your job and take your lump sum/commuted value – and give it to them to invest. While ONA knows this may be tempting, please know there are financial risks to this. It may cost you more in taxes than you realize, and it means you lose the guaranteed pension for life that HOOPP provides.
If you are thinking about taking your commuted value, ONA strongly urges you to call HOOPP’s member services to understand your options as they have a fiduciary duty to help you. You can reach them at 1-877-43-HOOPP (46677).
It is also important to know that if you resign in order to access your commuted value pension, you lose all your seniority and service with your employer. That means you lose access to your benefit plan, life insurance, paid vacation, and more.
You should always understand the full implications of your decision prior to making a significant life change. You should call your Bargaining Unit President if you have any questions or would like more information to understand advice you may be getting from others.
