Gary Sawatzky | Chief Operating Officer, ARTA
ARTA is proud to offer one of the most comprehensive benefit plans in the country for retirees, including several connected services and products.
Covered members make use of each of the benefits to their fullest extent — the plan paid out a record amount of claims last year.
The most widely used benefit, in terms of paid claims, is the Extended Health Care (EHC) Plan. Last year ARTA members claimed almost $50 million in EHC benefits. The most prevalent benefit claimed under the EHC plan was prescription drugs — $22 million was paid in prescription drug benefits in 2024. The next highest claims were for paramedical practitioner services, such as massage therapist, chiropractor, and physiotherapist services; these practitioners accounted for $16 million in claims in 2024.
Emergency Travel benefits are connected directly to our EHC plans — the travel insurance is not available as a “stand-alone” benefit, only as a component of certain EHC benefit plans. The Emergency Travel plan continues to be one of the best travel insurance plans available to retirees. It does not include a stability clause for pre-existing conditions, and it includes trip cancellation, interruption, and delay insurance, so you don’t need to purchase this coverage separately.
Dental Care coverage is automatically included in ARTA’s Comprehensive plans — available to members under 65 years of age — or as an option or stand-alone benefit for ARTA members covered under ARTA’s Build-Your-Own plans. In 2024, Dental Care benefits accounted for $32 million in claims paid.
To better support our members in the submission of both their EHC and dental claims, ARTA worked with our claims adjudicator to develop an online claims portal called MyARTA Health Hub. The hub also allows members to connect directly to the additional benefits that are included with all of ARTA’s EHC plans: telemedicine and counselling. Selecting Telemedicine within the MyARTA Health Hub connects members directly to a licensed physician within their province of residence and who has access to view their personal health records. Members can also use the Counselling selection within MyARTA Health Hub to speak to a counsellor or a legal, financial, or health coaching adviser.
ARTA provides its members with all the information about what is covered under the ARTA Benefit Plans, allowing members to select the plan that makes the most sense for them and their eligible family members. To find information on any plan, they just need to connect to ARTA’s dedicated benefits website, located at artabenefits.net/benefit-booklets. This website allows members and prospective members to download the booklet for each of the benefit plans, compare them, and even enrol.
Finally, ARTA makes it easy to connect with a live person, if they wish. Members can call the ARTA office at:
855-444-ARTA (2782); drop in or make an appointment to speak in person with a Member Services Representative at either our Calgary or Edmonton office; or connect with them over Zoom. Appointments can be made for in-person or virtual meetings on arta.net or by calling the office.
By using these ARTA tools, members can stay connected with the information they need in a timely manner.
After working in group benefits consulting for twenty years, Gary joined ARTA to serve as Chief Operations Officer in November 2017. Gary has his certified Employee Benefits Specialist designation.