Knock on wood

Knock on wood.

For a little over a year now, as your Vice-President of US Productions, I've been listening to you, responding to you, and reaching out. I'm getting to know you better, understanding you better. And I knock on wood.

During the thirty years I had the pleasure of working as alighting technician alongside you, I rarely had to worry about the status of my group insurance plan.

Aside from my daughters' dental care, my own dental care, my physiotherapist bills, my osteopath's, and the less cheerful but equally important ones from my acupuncturist, I never really had to be concerned about the health of my plan with Blue Cross.

I was part of that easy majority—meaning no significant medical history (knocking on wood again)—the kind insurers love. But it's precisely these situations that challenge a group insurance plan, forcing us to re-evaluate our choices and sometimes questioning our ability to continue in our profession.

I wouldn't wish that on anyone, though I know some of you are already living it daily.

Now that I've been in this role for just over a year, I'm starting to get a more comprehensive picture of our association's members. I'm realizing that not everything is rosy, even if, in my own little bubble, everything is going (relatively) very well.

So, I urge you to take the time to familiarize yourselves with your group insurance plans, whether it's Blue Cross or Canada Life. Life's path is full of twists and turns, and some hold surprises... not always pleasant ones.

Even after just over a year in this position, I've too often been approached by people who had no idea what resources were available to them, who were unaware of all the coverage their plan offered. A health insurance plan can seem boring when everything is going well. It's when everything falls apart that it truly makes sense.

These plans are there to allow you to take care of yourselves and your loved ones, before troubles arise. And if those obstacles never come, all the better. But it's wise to pay attention to them before you truly need them.

Until then, knock on wood.