NOTICE: As of June 2, ASEBP will be closing the third-floor reception area to the public permanently. This means ASEBP will no longer be accepting walk-ins or in-person appointments. Covered members will still be able to meet with ASEBP virtually or over the phone through the online booking process. To book a meeting, please visit the Contact Us page.

Contact Us

Governance

As an Employee Life and Health Trust, ASEBP is different from traditional insurance providers and operates as a not-for-profit organization. For more than 55 years, ASEBP has worked to continually improve and develop innovative solutions to best serve your needs and balance affordability and stability.

What is an Employee Life and Health Trust?

An Employee Life and Health Trust (ELHT) is an arrangement that allows an employer to make contributions to a trust that will provide benefits under a group sickness or accident insurance plan, a private health services plan, or group term life insurance. This structure is different from traditional insurance arrangements as any profits gained from premiums or investment funds are reinvested into the Plan to benefit covered members.

ASEBP is not accountable to shareholders or driven by corporate profits, so our Trustees can focus their attention and ASEBP’s efforts on the needs of Alberta’s school employees.

ASEBP was created in 1968 by both the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA) and the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA).

  • ASEBP is governed by 10 Trustees split evenly between ASEBP’s two founding organizations, five appointed by the ASBA and five appointed by the ATA.
  • Trustees set ASEBP’s mission, values, and strategic direction, create and make changes to benefit plans, set premium rates, establish adequate reserves, and invest the funds of the Trust.
  • All decisions require a two-thirds majority of voting Trustees. This requires seven Trustees to vote in favour of motions, so Trustees appointed by both the ASBA and the ATA must agree.
    • ASEBP’s chief executive officer, who is appointed by the Trustees, along with the rest of ASEBP’s executive team, operationalize these decisions and create health initiatives, products, and services, which demonstrate a high value for covered members and their dependants.

History

The Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan (ASEBP) has been a part of Alberta’s educational landscape for more than 55 years. It began in 1968 when the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA) and Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) came together to jointly sponsor a new, province-wide group insurance program—the Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan.

  1. 1970s: The Early Years

    ASEBP began by providing Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment and Extended Disability Benefits, but soon added Extended Health Care, Dental Care, and Vision Care in the mid-70s. Our first few years were mainly transaction-based services—very simply put, ASEBP was paying your claims.

  2. 1980s: Up, Up and Away

    By this time, ASEBP began self-funding some of our benefits and were investing our dollars accordingly to keep the plan financially stable. As a result, ASEBP gained the flexibility needed to tailor our benefits to the public education sector more effectively.

    At the same time, a Deed of Trust was drafted and ASEBP was transformed into a health and welfare trust. ASEBP continued to be governed equally by the ASBA and ATA, just as it had been since 1968.

  3. 1990s: Bigger Picture, Better Benefits

    In the late 90s, ASEBP began to look at managing claims from a holistic perspective and took a more active role in health. ASEBP collaborated with the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Education to better understand aspects of teacher health. ASEBP also explored organizational health initiatives with school jurisdictions to identify factors that impact our members’ individual and workplace health.

  4. 2000s: Hard Work Pays Off

    ASEBP’s holistic approach gained traction in the 2000s, and complementary health programs and services were integrated into the Plan. ASEBP continued to enhance our services and, as a result, were able to increase and improve communication with our members. ASEBP expanded employer supports and began to administer Health Spending Accounts for our employer groups.

  5. Present: From Benefits Provider to Health Organization

    ASEBP is continually refining our approach to improve, maintain and protect our covered members’ overall wellness. ASEBP reinvests plan dollars in proactive health benefits and services, and focus on fostering healthy lifestyles and healthy workplaces through innovative offerings and partnerships.

    ASEBP is always adapting and looking for new ways to reach and support our covered members, and use evidence to inform our progressive plan design and case management practices, and programming.