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

Northern Affairs - by JANE E. GREER The following column, written by the Ministry of Consumer and Com-; mercial Relations should be of interest to all consumers who are con- templating the purchase of Disability Insurance Policies: "You get what you pay for', is a good phrase to keep in mind when buying a disability policy," says Murray Thompson, Superin- tendent of Insurance at the Ontario Ministry of Insurance at the Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Rela- tions. The ministry has re- cently received a. flood of complaints from con- sumers who purchased low-cost disability in- surance sold door-to door, through newspap- er advertisements or by mail throughout On- tario and Canada. These consumers later disco- vered that the policies offered only very limited coverage. "But we can't say the policies shouldn't be sold," says Thompson. "They do provide some protection and a few people who are unem- ployed or in high risk jobs would not be able to buy any other accident protection. These _poli- cies don't provide cov- erage for disability res- ulting from illness," he also stated. Generally, these poli- cies provide full- pay-outs only for disabil- ity resulting from acci- dents of a restricted or unusual nature, such as a public transit mis- hap. In the case of pri- vate vehicle accidents the policies pay out only a fraction of their full worth. Coverage is of- fered for as low as $9 for six months. 'The impressive look- ing list of coverages may, on close inspect- ion, include some cover- ages which seem ar- chaic or are not really relevant to most resi- dents of Ontario," Mr. Thompson says. Disabi- lity policies better suited to the needs. of many people can be obtained through a workplace group, or as individual policies directly from an insurance company. They offer lump sum or regular payments to claimants if they become unable to work be- cause of accident or illness. Rates paid in group coverage vary de- pending on the employ- er and the type of plan. Coverage outside a group plan varies in price according to the age and occupation of the policyholder. Pre- miums will also be lower if the purchaser ag- rees to a waiting period of three to six months before payments be- gin. Mr. Thompson says he is concerned about restricted benefit, low- cost policies because their limited coverages provide a lot of scope for consumer misunder- standing and in many cases consumers could buy policies better suit- ed to their needs. Consumers who wish to purchase a disability policy should watch for: e Pre-existing condi- tion clauses: Nearly all policies have them. Don't expect coverage from a policy taken out a week before having your gall bladder removed if you planned to have the operation before pur- chasing the policy. If you have a disorder be- fore purchasing the policy you will not be covered for disabilities related to this dis- order. ¢ Look for guaranteed renewable clauses: The policy may be useless to you if the insurance company refuses to re- new it after six months. e Look for non-cancel- lation clauses: it is bet- ter to have a policy which states that the company cannot cancel the policy or restricts the company's right to can- cel. © Look for restrictions on insurer's right to alter the premium clause: from time to time, insur- ance companies may have to raise their pre- miums. However, make certain that any ad- justment to your pre- miums applies to all policyholders. Terrace Bay Fire Dept. Report - April by ROLLY MOQUIN Deputy Fire Chief The Tezrace Bay Fire Department responded to eight call-outs during the month of April 'as follows: April 11, 7:10 p.m. - False alarm at Birch- wood Terrace. April 16, 3:10° p.m. - Grass fire at the top of Hydro Hill. April 17, 2:20 p.m. - Brush and refuse fire at the Town Dump April 19, 6:45 p.m. A grass fire behind the High School. » April 20, 3:55 p.m. grease fire at the Red Dog Inn. April 21, 12:00 p.m. rubbish fire behind Ter- race Bay High School. April 29, 12:30 p.m. - Gas motor caught fire at 23 East Grove Crescent. The Terrace Bay Fire Department held its regular drills in April with the second half of the Department finish- ing their First Aid course. © Look for own employ- ment clause: it is pre- ferable to have a policy that pays when you are unable to perform your own job. If the policy Says any job, it means the company can expect you to take a job other than your own. © Look for coverage for sickness disability: the policy should cover the holder for disability re- Terrace Bay-Schreiber News, Wednesday, May 9, 1984, page 3 sulting from diseases as well as accidents. ¢ Check for benefit inte- gration clauses: some policies offset sickness or disability benefits paid by U.I.C. or C.P.P. from the amount pay- able by the insurer and this can reduce the cost. However, a very low wage earner might end up with no benefits pay- able from the insurer until U.I.C. sickness benefits run out. e. Look for "waiting periods' clause: these can lower your premium cost by cutting out short duration claims for periods when you are covered by employer or U.I.C. but you cannot claim until the waiting of three or six months has expired following the commencement of your Caution when buying disability policies disability. For further informa- tion on this and other government related topics or programmes you may contact your nearest Northern Af- fairs Office, located on the lower floor, Penin- sula Building, Mara- thon. Phone 229-1153 or for areas outside of Marathon, call Zenith 33160. participate. society or not. (4 Please appreciated. special beds and the (2) A competition "Ontario in Bloom" for front Order from: Chery! Hodgins 825-9369 Iris Lindberg 825-9353 (1) Public planting of a White Pine and another Flowering Crab tree. Elizabeth Mackay 825-3338 Daphne Monks 825-8361 (evenings and weekends only) The Terrace Bay Horticultural Society SPECIAL NOTICE This year, 1984, is Ontario's Bicentennial Year and also Terrace Bay's 25th Anniversary Year. To honour these events the Terrace Bay Horticultural Society will be promoting the following in the town: jardens only. A special flower bed. consisting of a bicentennial or historic theme -- props are allowed (i.e. old machinery or other applicable to the display). An award will be presented from the Ontario government and the Terrace Bay society will be awarding a cash prize of $25.00 to go along with this award. Businesses are also encouraged to Entry forms will be available when we sell plants, or in advance so that you can see suggestions for the lants suitable for the display and include them in your order. Entry forms and competition rules available from Cheryl Hodgins, 825-9369 and Daphne Monks, 825-9361. (3) The Home Beautification Program will change in definition this year. ALL HOMES in Terrace Bay will be judged in one category (instead of the two categories used over the last few years), and there will be tour prizes starting at a slightly higher value instead ot' the six given over the two categories. Home Beautification covers the whole appearance of the et: including garden, house, and use made ot the garden and yard area. No entry is required for this as all homes are judged whether a member of the ORDERS for bedding plants, vegetables, tree, etc. can be phoned in to the following members of the Hort. Society during the month of May and delivery will probably be the first weekend in June, i.e. June 2/3. these competitions this year. Let us make Terrace Bay the most beautiful town on the North Shore. We have done it before, so let's do it again. YOUR support and participation in the "Ontario in Bloom" competition, the Home Beautification Program and our Membership Drive (now on - this year we are not giving individual premiums but will be holding a draw for a flowering crab tree from all memberships received by June 11, 1984) is needed at this time. If any of our businesses would be willing to support us with a cash donation this year this would also be much The Ontario Youth Employment Program pays $1.25 per hour towards Shawn's salary. Need help this summer? Ontario business people and farmers who hire youth to do extra work, can get help in paying wages...through the ONTARIO YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, EMPLOYERS MUST: ¢ create new work, in addition to the reqular and seasonal employment normally provided during the program period. ¢ be able to provide 25-40 hours of supervised employment a week for between 8 and 20 consecutive weeks. e have actively operated a business or farm in Ontario for at least one year prior to April 16, 1984. EMPLOYEES MUST: e be 15 to 24 years old e reside and be eligible to work in Ontario e not.be related to the employer THIS YEAR OYEP RUNS FROM APRIL 16 TO OCTOBER 20. OYEP is a popular program. Apply now. Deadline for application is June 8, 1984, or earlier if all funds have been allocated. To find out if your business is eligible, call 1-800-387-1290. Ontario Youth Employment Program 1-800-387129 Ontario, Helping You Hire the Help You Need. Ministry of ONTARIO YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM Municipal Affairs Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing And Housing Subsidies Branch, i Claude Bennett, Minister Queen's Park Toronto, Ontario M5G 2E5 William Davis, Premier Ontario