COVID-19: see our FAQ for quick answers to your questions. Home / About us / News / Publications COVID-19: see our FAQ for quick answers to your questions. News / Publications Facebook Twitter Share News Recent links: Québec Blue Cross® partners with Lucilab to promote cognitive health by focusing on healthy lifestyle habits Montreal, May 4, 2021 – Québec Blue Cross® is engaged in the prevention of cognitive decline by partnering with Lucilab and its mobile app Luci. Based on scientific knowledge in the prevention of cognitive decline as well as on behavioural change theories, this application targets three factors recognized to promote brain health: physical activity, good nutrition and intellectual stimulation. Awareness campaign and employees and client pilot project The first phase of the partnership between Québec Blue Cross and Lucilab will focus on raising awareness of factors that contribute to brain health and to conduct a pilot project with Québec Blue Cross employees and clients. Starting this week, content created by Lucilab’s team of healthcare professionals and neuroscience experts will be posted on Québec Blue Cross platforms. Through articles and multimedia publications, this content will allow the public to find out more about cognitive health and to learn simple steps to take care of their brain and their overall health. As part of a pilot project, Québec Blue Cross employees and clients aged 45 and over will have the opportunity to participate in Luci’s 12-week virtual coaching program. Through confidential video and chat meetings, participants will have the support of a healthy lifestyle advisor and motivational expert. The counselors will help participants define their personal goals and develop a realistic action plan to adopt better behaviors. They will also have access to exclusive educational content to help them in their journey. This pilot project will allow Québec Blue Cross employees and clients to assess the program and it will allow us to collect data to improve it based on what we learn during the clinical validation process of the application. Common mission and long-term vision Québec Blue Cross is a natural partner for Lucilab, whose goal is to make the Luci application accessible to as many people as possible to support the community in developing healthy lifestyle habits. “The opportunity to validate the impact of our behavior change initiatives with Québec Blue Cross employees and clients is of immense value,” explains Marc-André Chagnon, President of Lucilab. For Québec Blue Cross, participating in this pilot project is part of a broader initiative of innovation, continuous improvement and support for its clients, which are among the cornerstones of its commitment as a socially responsible organization. “Partnering with a company that works to maintain cognitive health is directly linked to our mission to promote the health and wellness of our clients and communities,” says Sylvain Charbonneau, President and CEO of Québec Blue Cross. About Québec Blue Cross Serving the population for nearly 80 years, Québec Blue Cross is synonymous with high quality individual health and travel insurance. A member of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans, the organization has helped lay the foundations for health insurance in Quebec and remains the standard in individual insurance thanks to products and services adapted to the constantly changing needs of its clients. A partner of its communities, Québec Blue Cross is also involved with local organizations to make wellness accessible to as many people as possible. For more information, contact: Josiane Cousineau, Vice-President, Marketing and Public Relations Josiane.Cousineau@qc.croixbleue.ca 514-738-4985 or 1-888-279-4584 About Lucilab Founded in Montreal in 2020 by the Chagnon family, Lucilab is a healthcare technology company. Its societal mission is to prevent the cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s disease through Luci, a science-based digital application supported by a team of certified multidisciplinary advisers. Through virtual meetings, Luci aims to promote the adoption of healthy habits that foster more resilient brains. For more information, visit luciandme.ca, or contact: Sophie Geoffrion, Marketing Manager sgeoffrion@lucilab.org 514-996-7260 — 30 — Details on our travel insurance products during the COVID-19 pandemic Montreal, November 19, 2020 – In anticipation of the holiday season, government authorities are issuing clear recommendations to encourage Canadian residents to avoid non-essential travel and limit gatherings. People who are still planning to travel should exercise caution and be well-informed. Québec Blue Cross has made different tools and reminders available to make sure travellers have all the facts when making a decision. Québec Blue Cross® has not added specific coverage for COVID-19 to their contracts. This condition was already covered under the Emergency Medical Care insurance, in the same way as any sudden illness that would occur on a trip. The same conditions, reductions of coverage and limitations apply. As with most travel insurers, Québec Blue Cross Emergency Medical Care insurance can cover emergency repatriation if this service is considered necessary and safe by the travel assistance medical team and the attending physician at the destination. Decisions are based on several factors, including the medical condition of the insured. At all times, the assistance service is dependent on the availability of care and services needed to return home. Anyone planning to travel abroad should take the time to properly assess the essential nature of their trip before making any plans. We encourage their clients to contact us to get more clarity on the applicable conditions, if necessary. Québec Blue Cross ® adds free EQ Care virtual health care services to individual health insurance coverage for clients MONTREAL, june 11, 2020 – As a result of a new partnership agreement with EQ Care, Québec Blue Cross is among the first insurance providers to offer virtual health care services to clients holding individual health insurance policies. The health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted more than ever the need to facilitate access to health professionals, which this new service provides. Most Québec Blue Cross clients holding health care and disability benefits will be eligible to access a variety of health services from a mobile device or a computer. No matter where they are in Canada, they will have access to doctors and health specialists and, among other things, obtain recommendations, receive mental health support, renew prescriptions or obtain advice relating to chronic illness. Services are offered in both official languages and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This initiative is part of the mission of Québec Blue Cross to be a trusted partner in the health and wellness of its clients and reflects the organization’s desire to consistently offer innovative services that stand out in the market. “In a world where access to health care is an undeniable challenge, we believe that virtual health care is essential to maintaining an unparalleled level of support for our clients. We are particularly proud to be one of the first individual health insurance providers to offer this service free of charge to our clients,” explained Sylvain Charbonneau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Québec Blue Cross. “We sincerely hope that this service will encourage our clients to find the support they need to maintain their wellness, while staying safe.” A partnership based on a tradition of common excellence EQ Care’s approach combines the use of innovative and secure technology with the good judgment and empathy of a multidisciplinary team of experts to optimize the patient experience. At all times, its dedicated professionals and administrators strive to provide services based on active listening and compassion. The culture of the organization is also centred on the development of national networks to allow patients to communicate quickly with doctors, health professionals and mental health specialists, and thus contribute to unclogging the public health system, which is becoming increasingly overloaded. “The EQ Care team is proud to be associated with an institution that has been rooted in health care for almost 80 years. In this period of great need, Québec Blue Cross clients can expect exemplary health care, in accordance with the rigorous standards of quality established by the organization, as well as our own commitment to offering health solutions that are reliable, professional and compassionate,” said Daniel Martz, President and CEO of EQ Care. About Québec Blue Cross Serving the public for almost 80 years, the Québec Blue Cross name is synonymous with quality and accessibility in individual health and travel insurance. A member of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans, the organization helped lay the foundations for health insurance in Québec and remains the benchmark in individual insurance, thanks to products and services adapted to the constantly changing needs of its clients. A partner of its communities, Québec Blue Cross is also committed to investing its resources in the interests of the communities it serves to make wellness accessible to as many people as possible. About EQ Care EQ Care offers patients bilingual online access, nationally, at all times. Their team specializing in mental health and health care, offers comprehensive and personalized treatment options from any device connected to the Internet. The EQ Care mission is to remain at the forefront of patient care and to ensure that its patients receive the highest quality service possible, thanks to their exclusive virtual health technology platform. A leader in the Canadian virtual care market with over 30 years of experience in the health sector, holding ISO 9001: 2015 certification and having managed more than 500,000 virtual medical consultations to date, EQ Care continues to innovate in order to offer patients cutting-edge mobile approaches and tools. Information on EQ Care virtual health care services is available at qc.bluecross.ca/telemedicine — 30 — SOURCE: Québec Blue Cross Information (for media only, no access to client files): Josiane Cousineau, Josiane.Cousineau@qc.bluecross.ca, 514 738-4985 or +1 888-279-4584 For almost 80 years, Québec Blue Cross® has been committed to putting our clients first. Blue Cross®: Canada Top Ranked Benefits Provider Results from Leger’s 2020 survey on Canada’s Top 100 Brands show that the hard work and dedication of our employees and their commitment to our clients have helped to position Blue Cross® as the highest ranked health benefits provider in Canada! “The Blue Cross brand is one of our most valuable assets and we are proud to stand with our employees behind this brand and to be recognized by Canadians as the highest-ranking benefits provider in Canada” says Josiane Cousineau, VP of Marketing and Public Relations. Every year Leger, Canada’s largest market research and analytics company, tap into which brands are resonating and connecting with Canadians. The 2020 results show Blue Cross ranking at number 71. Today and into the future, we will continue to put our client’s health and wellness first. Québec Blue Cross® supports Canadians with free access to mental health program Stronger Minds by BEACON® through the COVID-19 crisis The digital program offers free guidance from leading team of psychologists, to support the emotional well-being of Canadians during the pandemic. May 4, 2020 . To promote mental well-being through the COVID-19 crisis, Québec Blue Cross® has joined as a sponsor of Stronger Minds by BEACON® – a free digital program available for all Canadians. For more than 75 years, Québec Blue Cross has been dedicated to caring for its communities and improving the well-being of Canadians. They recognize this has been a challenging situation for so many Canadians, and hope that this sponsorship of Stronger Minds will help provide mental health guidance and emotional support to people across the Country. “We are empathetic to the psychological distress our clients may be experiencing”, says Sylvain Charbonneau, president and CEO of Québec Blue Cross. “The current situation can be anxiety-provoking, and we believe that caring for our mental health is of primary importance in dealing with the impact of COVID-19 on our daily lives. As a proud sponsor of this program, we demonstrate once more our commitment to the health and wellbeing of our communities.” Through the BEACON digital platform, Stronger Minds offers resources focused on resilience building, videos, and quick reads from mental health experts. The program provides participants the opportunity to engage as much or as little as they wish to access guidance that addresses their challenges; however, unlike one-to-one therapy, there is no clinical assessment required to participate. “With our team of clinical psychologists, along with trusted national health and wellness advocates, our organization is dedicated to helping people strengthen their resiliency and manage through unique emotional challenges stirred by the pandemic crisis,” says Sam Duboc, Chair and CEO of MindBeacon Group. “Canada is in this together, and we’re wholeheartedly committed to helping Canadians protect their mental wellbeing so they can successfully face every day as it comes.” In addition to guidance from the BEACON team of clinical psychologists, Stronger Minds presents personal perspectives from beloved Canadian Olympic rower Silken Laumann, TSN sports commentator Michael Landsberg, Montreal radio host Marie-Christine Proulx, as well as guidance on physical activity from GoodLife Fitness. Topics covered continuously evolve based on participants’ requests and include overcoming worry, isolation, and parenting. Stronger Minds will be offered indefinitely, in recognition this crisis has an uncertain timeline. Information on Stronger Minds by BEACON is available at mindbeacon.com/strongerminds — 30 — About Québec Blue Cross Québec Blue Cross contributed to introducing health and travel insurance to Quebec. Founded over 75 years ago, the organization is built on a solid foundation of excellence and continues to be the standard of reference for individual insurance and assistance, thanks to services that continually adapt to the changing needs of its clients. About MindBeacon Group The MindBeacon Group of companies is dedicated to helping Canadians improve their mental well-being to live their best lives. MindBeacon provides evidence-based therapy that is affordable and easy-to-access through BEACON®, the guided digital therapy service (iCBT) which has helped thousands of Canadians struggling with depression, anxiety, insomnia and posttraumatic stress injury (PTSI/PTSD). MindBeacon provides in-person and video therapy through CBT Associates, a leading psychology clinic network. Media Contact Quebec Blue Cross Josiane Cousineau, Josiane.Cousineau@qc.bluecross.ca, 514 738-4985 / 1 888-279-4584 MindBeacon Group 647.317.4171 ext.1617 media@mindbeacon.com Quebec Blue Cross supports its clients by offering a reduction in Health Insurance Premiums Montreal, April 27, 2020. - In an additional effort to support its clients during the pandemic, Quebec Blue Cross® announces that it will offer a reduction in individual health insurance premiums for dental and health care benefits. The reduction corresponds to 50% of the cost of dental care and 20% of the cost of the extended health care insurance benefit, and will automatically apply to its clients' accounts for three months, starting May 1, 2020. "The situation we're in is exceptional, but it doesn't change our commitment to continually support the people who trust us. Our individual health insurance clients are mainly entrepreneurs, self-employed workers, small business owners and employees who do not have access to group insurance, as well as retirees and members of associations. We are therefore taking exceptional measures to reduce their financial burden in this time of crisis. We are particularly proud to be the first to do so in individual health insurance in Quebec," said Sylvain Charbonneau, President and CEO of Quebec Blue Cross. Greater flexibility thanks to virtual consultations with some health professionals This targeted reduction in premiums is in addition to various measures aimed at making life easier and encouraging the wellness of Quebec Blue Cross insureds, whose coverage now includes access to virtual consultations with a variety of healthcare professionals, including dietitians or nutritionists, speech therapists and psychologists, depending on the services included in each contract. About Quebec Blue Cross Quebec Blue Cross contributed to introducing health and travel insurance to Quebec. Founded over 75 years ago, the organization is built on a solid foundation of excellence and continues to be the standard of reference for individual insurance and assistance, thanks to services that continually adapt to the changing needs of its clients. — 30 — Source : Quebec Blue Cross Information for media only (no access to customer records) : Josiane Cousineau, Josiane.Cousineau@qc.croixbleue.ca, 514 738-4985 / +1 888-279-4584 Related links: https://qc.bluecross.ca/ Quebec Blue Cross suspends the sale of individual travel insurance products Montreal, March 18, 2020 – Quebec Blue Cross announces that it will immediately stop selling individual travel insurance products for the entire Quebec market, until further notice. This exceptional measure was undertaken in the context of efforts by public health authorities, both in Canada and abroad, to limit the movement of individuals as much as possible, due to the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic. Quebec Blue Cross believes that, in such circumstances, limiting travel to the fullest extent possible and encouraging the population to follow the recommendations of public health authorities is inseparable from its mission to be a partner in health and wellness. People who are currently traveling are, of course, insured in accordance with their contract. However, it is imperative that travelers currently outside the country make every effort to return immediately to Canada, as Quebec Blue Cross may be unable to assist them due to the scale of the crisis and the limited availability of medical resources abroad. Quebec Blue Cross will reassess the situation on an ongoing basis in light of information and recommendations communicated by health and government authorities in the coming weeks. Quebec Blue Cross customers are invited to consult qc.bluecross.ca qc.croixbleue.ca should they have any questions. About Quebec Blue Cross Quebec Blue Cross contributed to introducing health and travel insurance to Quebec. Founded over 75 years ago, the organization is built on a solid foundation of excellence and continues to be the standard of reference for individual insurance and assistance, thanks to services that continually adapt to the changing needs of its clients. — 30 — Source : Quebec Blue Cross Information for media only (no access to customer records) : Josiane Cousineau, Josiane.Cousineau@qc.croixbleue.ca, 514 738-4985 / +1 888-279-4584 Coronavirus (COVID-19) now considered a “known issue” by an increasing number of travel insurers Canadian Association of Blue CrossR Plans confirms change pertaining to Coronavirus (COVID-19) policy for trip cancellation effective March 12, 2020. March 11, 2020 — Canadian Association of Blue Cross® Plans are advising eligibility restrictions for trip cancellation coverage provided through its travel insurance policies regarding the Coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic. They confirm that the pandemic of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is now considered a “known issue”. Effective March 12, 2020 the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is no longer an unknown risk when customers purchase trip cancellation with their travel insurance. This information applies to individual personal policies ONLY and does not apply to group employer policies. Travel insurance including trip cancellation coverage purchased prior to this date covers cancellations due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic for destinations that were not already excluded, as it was an unknown risk at the time of purchase. In just a few weeks, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic became a major public health issue across the globe. Blue Cross sympathizes with and understands the concern of the general population and of travellers, as we count a growing number of cases and increasingly restrictive preventive measures. Customers who planned and paid for their travel arrangements before this situation became a “known issue” can be reassured that their coverage remains in place and that they will be provided the assistance they require, as part of their policy. As coverage and exclusions vary across these types of plans, the Association recommends customers to review their policy booklet and take note of the plan and travel benefit exclusions. Tips for travellers protected by an individual Blue Cross trip cancellation or interruption insurance: In general, trip cancellation or interruption insurance does not cover risks related to destinations covered by a Canadian government advisory to “avoid all travel” or “avoid non-essential travel” at the time of purchase. This includes specific regions or the recent warnings about cruises. It means that customers who purchased a trip and an insurance policy before such official warning are covered but those who purchased their trip after are not. Travel insurance that includes trip cancellation coverage purchased with Blue Cross on March 11, 2020 or earlier still covers cancellations for any future advisories regarding the Coronavirus (COVID 19), for the destinations that were not already excluded (part of an “avoid all travel” or “avoid non-essential travel” advisory). Travel insurance that includes trip cancellation coverage purchased with Blue Cross as of March 12, 2020 or after does not cover cancellations due to the pandemic of the Coronavirus (COVID 19) even if an advisory was not in place at the time of purchase. For annual travel insurance policies including trip cancellation, only trips purchased and paid for until March 11, 2020 will be covered. Now, more than ever, customers should consider purchasing travel insurance and verify the terms and conditions of coverage as insurance excludes known situations or conditions. Although Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a known situation, purchasing travel insurance including emergency medical, cancellation and interruption still provides valuable protection for other unknown risks. About Blue Cross As Canada’s leading benefit provider, Blue Cross delivers health and travel coverage to more than seven million Canadians. The members of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans are the 6 independent Blue Cross plans operating in all regions across the country. — 30 — Blue Cross voted #3 in Baxter Travel Media’s 2017 Agents’ Choice Awards! Thank you to all our travel agent partners for voting for us! Blue Cross has been voted #3 in the Baxter Travel Media’s 2017 Agent’s Choic BLUE CROSS® CANASSURANCETM FORMS A NATIONAL ALLIANCE WITH BLUE CROSS LIFE. Montreal, December 5, 2019 – The Canassurance Hospital Service Association (Blue Cross® Canassurance™) and Blue Cross Life Insurance Company of Canada will enter into a Canada-wide alliance as of January 2, 2020. Blue Cross Canassurance will become a shareholder of Blue Cross Life, in alignment with the other members of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans. “Blue Cross Canassurance is very pleased to join Blue Cross Life together with the other Blue Cross member plans. This alliance will contribute to strengthening the collaboration between the various Blue Cross plans across Canada, thus reinforcing our ability to provide excellent products and services to our customers and business partners”, stated Sylvain Charbonneau, President and CEO of Blue Cross Canassurance. The Blue Cross plans always favored working collaboratively to optimize their individual and shared strengths in order to offer customers solutions that support improved health and wellness. This important agreement will enable Blue Cross Canassurance to ensure that it meets the evolving needs of its customers. “This alliance marks an important step in achieving our strategy of operating on a truly national level; it strengthens our business while improving our capacity to work with the Blue Cross plans throughout Canada”, stated Marie-Josée Martin, President and CEO of Blue Cross Life. As this alliance is subject to approval by regulatory authorities, a submission has been filed with Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI). About Blue Cross Canassurance The Canassurance Hospital Service Association (Blue Cross Canassurance) contributed to introducing health and travel insurance to Quebec and Ontario. Founded over 75 years ago, the organization is built on solid foundation of excellence and continues to be the reference standard for individual insurance and assistance, thanks to services that continually adapt to the changing needs of its clients. It operates under the names Québec Blue Cross® and Ontario Blue Cross® and provides assistance through its subsidiary CanAssistance Inc. About Blue Cross Life Insurance Company of Canada Blue Cross Life is a federally-licensed company with operations located in several provinces. The Company is owned by four shareholders, operating as Alberta Blue Cross, Saskatchewan Blue Cross, Manitoba Blue Cross, Medavie Blue Cross. It specializes in life and living benefits insurance to supplement the portfolio of health and dental products distributed by its shareholder Blue Cross plans. For more information, please contact: Blue Cross Canassurance Josiane Cousineau 514-286-8429 Blue Cross Life Jennifer Taylor 902-496-7045 Ontario Blue Cross® breaks new ground in travel insurance with a first in North America: Serenity ServiceTM. Launch of Québec Blue Cross® mentoring program in palliative homecare Québec Blue Cross and Medavie Blue Cross strengthen their support for the Dr. Clown Foundation Montreal, April 30, 2020 . Québec Blue Cross® and Medavie Blue Cross® are strengthening their financial support to the Dr. Clown Foundation to help them continue their activities during the COVID-19 crisis. “In this time of physical distancing, we believe that the creativity the Dr. Clown Foundation shown is absolutely admirable. We are honoured to support an organization who, against all odds, is committed to brighten the life of those who are among the most affected by this crisis. » explains Sylvain Charbonneau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Quebec Blue Cross. "The interventions of therapeutic artists are aimed at creating relationships that bring joy and support mental health through difficult times. With the unprecedented crisis we are facing, the role of therapeutic clown artists is even more crucial and we are pleased to see that the Dr Clown Foundation has created an innovative solution to reach and engage children and elders while respecting social distancing." added Eric Laberge, President of Medavie Blue Cross. A shared commitment to improve the health and wellness of the communities For many years, Québec Blue Cross and Medavie Blue Cross have been providing financial support for the mental health initiatives of clowns trained in therapeutic child psychiatry. “Québec Blue Cross and Medavie Blue Cross exemplify commendable leaders in corporate philanthropy. These two companies seek the creation of an optimal social impact, they are attentive to our innovative ideas and have played a major role in our Dr. Clown child psychiatry program. Thanks to them, we help hundreds of children struggling with mental health challenges. The Dr. Clown Foundation is extremely grateful for their support!” says Martin Goyette, Executive Director of the Dr. Clown Foundation. Dr. Clown Foundation initiatives in response to the COVID-19 pandemic The mission of the Dr. Clown Foundation is to bring joy to hospitalized children, students in specialized schools, patients of all ages in general hospitals and seniors in care facilities. Interactions with therapeutic clowns can, among other things, reduce the anxiety and stress caused by the separation of parents and family, as well as the fear of treatments and interventions. As a response to the physical distancing measures in place, and due to the limited access to health facilities, the Dr. Clown Foundation, together with its 55 artists, has shown creativity and adjustment by turning to technology to pursue its actions with the most vulnerable. Nose to Nose meetings: The Dr. Clown Foundation offers children the opportunity to enjoy personalized virtual meetings of 10 to 15 minutes with an artist duo by videoconference. It is a true therapeutic and shared experience that brings them joy, laughter and benevolence. La Belle Visite: A program set up to help counter the isolation of vulnerable seniors. La Belle Visite program is of utmost importance in this lockdown period as it is intended for all CHSLDs and public or private residences for seniors, all over Quebec. Many Facebook live sessions also take place every week to maintain the therapeutic bond with the children as well as offer them comfort in this difficult situation. Related links 1. Dr Clown se tourne vers le monde virtuel – La Presse article — 30 — About the Dr. Clown Foundation The Dr. Clown Foundation works daily to create relationships that bring joy and are marked by benevolence and respect through the intervention of therapeutic clowns with children, adults and the elderly to bring a breath of lightness and joy into the establishments visited. About Québec Blue Cross Québec Blue Cross helped lay the foundation for health and travel insurance in Quebec. Founded over 75 years ago, it has a strong tradition of excellence and remains the benchmark in individual health and travel insurance as well as assistance thanks to services adapted to the evolving needs of its clients. About Medavie Blue Cross Medavie Blue Cross is a premier all-in-one carrier that provides health, dental, travel, life and disability benefits as well as administer various government-sponsored health programs on behalf of provincial and federal governments. Together with Medavie Health Services, Medavie Blue Cross is part of Medavie, a healthcare solutions company committed to improving the health of Canadians. Contacts Quebec Blue Cross Josiane Cousineau, Vice-President, Marketing and Public Relations Josiane.Cousineau@qc.bluecross.ca Medavie Blue Cross Geneviève Cyrenne, Team Leader and Senior Communications Advisor genevieve.cyrenne@medavie.croixbleue.ca Quebec Blue Cross supports its clients by offering a reduction in Health Insurance Premiums Montreal, April 27, 2020. - In an additional effort to support its clients during the pandemic, Quebec Blue Cross® announces that it will offer a reduction in individual health insurance premiums for dental and health care benefits. The reduction corresponds to 50% of the cost of dental care and 20% of the cost of the extended health care insurance benefit, and will automatically apply to its clients' accounts for three months, starting May 1, 2020. "The situation we're in is exceptional, but it doesn't change our commitment to continually support the people who trust us. Our individual health insurance clients are mainly entrepreneurs, self-employed workers, small business owners and employees who do not have access to group insurance, as well as retirees and members of associations. We are therefore taking exceptional measures to reduce their financial burden in this time of crisis. We are particularly proud to be the first to do so in individual health insurance in Quebec," said Sylvain Charbonneau, President and CEO of Quebec Blue Cross. Greater flexibility thanks to virtual consultations with some health professionals This targeted reduction in premiums is in addition to various measures aimed at making life easier and encouraging the wellness of Quebec Blue Cross insureds, whose coverage now includes access to virtual consultations with a variety of healthcare professionals, including dietitians or nutritionists, speech therapists and psychologists, depending on the services included in each contract. About Quebec Blue Cross Quebec Blue Cross contributed to introducing health and travel insurance to Quebec. Founded over 75 years ago, the organization is built on a solid foundation of excellence and continues to be the standard of reference for individual insurance and assistance, thanks to services that continually adapt to the changing needs of its clients. — 30 — Source : Quebec Blue Cross Information for media only (no access to customer records) : Josiane Cousineau, Josiane.Cousineau@qc.croixbleue.ca, 514 738-4985 / +1 888-279-4584 Related links: https://qc.bluecross.ca/ Quebec Blue Cross suspends the sale of individual travel insurance products Montreal, March 18, 2020 – Quebec Blue Cross announces that it will immediately stop selling individual travel insurance products for the entire Quebec market, until further notice. This exceptional measure was undertaken in the context of efforts by public health authorities, both in Canada and abroad, to limit the movement of individuals as much as possible, due to the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic. Quebec Blue Cross believes that, in such circumstances, limiting travel to the fullest extent possible and encouraging the population to follow the recommendations of public health authorities is inseparable from its mission to be a partner in health and wellness. People who are currently traveling are, of course, insured in accordance with their contract. However, it is imperative that travelers currently outside the country make every effort to return immediately to Canada, as Quebec Blue Cross may be unable to assist them due to the scale of the crisis and the limited availability of medical resources abroad. Quebec Blue Cross will reassess the situation on an ongoing basis in light of information and recommendations communicated by health and government authorities in the coming weeks. Quebec Blue Cross customers are invited to consult qc.bluecross.ca qc.croixbleue.ca should they have any questions. About Quebec Blue Cross Quebec Blue Cross contributed to introducing health and travel insurance to Quebec. Founded over 75 years ago, the organization is built on a solid foundation of excellence and continues to be the standard of reference for individual insurance and assistance, thanks to services that continually adapt to the changing needs of its clients. — 30 — Source : Quebec Blue Cross Information for media only (no access to customer records) : Josiane Cousineau, Josiane.Cousineau@qc.croixbleue.ca, 514 738-4985 / +1 888-279-4584 Coronavirus (COVID-19) now considered a “known issue” by an increasing number of travel insurers Canadian Association of Blue CrossR Plans confirms change pertaining to Coronavirus (COVID-19) policy for trip cancellation effective March 12, 2020. March 11, 2020 — Canadian Association of Blue Cross® Plans are advising eligibility restrictions for trip cancellation coverage provided through its travel insurance policies regarding the Coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic. They confirm that the pandemic of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is now considered a “known issue”. Effective March 12, 2020 the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is no longer an unknown risk when customers purchase trip cancellation with their travel insurance. This information applies to individual personal policies ONLY and does not apply to group employer policies. Travel insurance including trip cancellation coverage purchased prior to this date covers cancellations due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic for destinations that were not already excluded, as it was an unknown risk at the time of purchase. In just a few weeks, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic became a major public health issue across the globe. Blue Cross sympathizes with and understands the concern of the general population and of travellers, as we count a growing number of cases and increasingly restrictive preventive measures. Customers who planned and paid for their travel arrangements before this situation became a “known issue” can be reassured that their coverage remains in place and that they will be provided the assistance they require, as part of their policy. As coverage and exclusions vary across these types of plans, the Association recommends customers to review their policy booklet and take note of the plan and travel benefit exclusions. Tips for travellers protected by an individual Blue Cross trip cancellation or interruption insurance: In general, trip cancellation or interruption insurance does not cover risks related to destinations covered by a Canadian government advisory to “avoid all travel” or “avoid non-essential travel” at the time of purchase. This includes specific regions or the recent warnings about cruises. It means that customers who purchased a trip and an insurance policy before such official warning are covered but those who purchased their trip after are not. Travel insurance that includes trip cancellation coverage purchased with Blue Cross on March 11, 2020 or earlier still covers cancellations for any future advisories regarding the Coronavirus (COVID 19), for the destinations that were not already excluded (part of an “avoid all travel” or “avoid non-essential travel” advisory). Travel insurance that includes trip cancellation coverage purchased with Blue Cross as of March 12, 2020 or after does not cover cancellations due to the pandemic of the Coronavirus (COVID 19) even if an advisory was not in place at the time of purchase. For annual travel insurance policies including trip cancellation, only trips purchased and paid for until March 11, 2020 will be covered. Now, more than ever, customers should consider purchasing travel insurance and verify the terms and conditions of coverage as insurance excludes known situations or conditions. Although Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a known situation, purchasing travel insurance including emergency medical, cancellation and interruption still provides valuable protection for other unknown risks. About Blue Cross As Canada’s leading benefit provider, Blue Cross delivers health and travel coverage to more than seven million Canadians. The members of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans are the 6 independent Blue Cross plans operating in all regions across the country. — 30 — Blue Cross voted #3 in Baxter Travel Media’s 2017 Agents’ Choice Awards! Thank you to all our travel agent partners for voting for us! Blue Cross has been voted #3 in the Baxter Travel Media’s 2017 Agent’s Choic BLUE CROSS® CANASSURANCETM FORMS A NATIONAL ALLIANCE WITH BLUE CROSS LIFE. Montreal, December 5, 2019 – The Canassurance Hospital Service Association (Blue Cross® Canassurance™) and Blue Cross Life Insurance Company of Canada will enter into a Canada-wide alliance as of January 2, 2020. Blue Cross Canassurance will become a shareholder of Blue Cross Life, in alignment with the other members of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans. “Blue Cross Canassurance is very pleased to join Blue Cross Life together with the other Blue Cross member plans. This alliance will contribute to strengthening the collaboration between the various Blue Cross plans across Canada, thus reinforcing our ability to provide excellent products and services to our customers and business partners”, stated Sylvain Charbonneau, President and CEO of Blue Cross Canassurance. The Blue Cross plans always favored working collaboratively to optimize their individual and shared strengths in order to offer customers solutions that support improved health and wellness. This important agreement will enable Blue Cross Canassurance to ensure that it meets the evolving needs of its customers. “This alliance marks an important step in achieving our strategy of operating on a truly national level; it strengthens our business while improving our capacity to work with the Blue Cross plans throughout Canada”, stated Marie-Josée Martin, President and CEO of Blue Cross Life. As this alliance is subject to approval by regulatory authorities, a submission has been filed with Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI). About Blue Cross Canassurance The Canassurance Hospital Service Association (Blue Cross Canassurance) contributed to introducing health and travel insurance to Quebec and Ontario. Founded over 75 years ago, the organization is built on solid foundation of excellence and continues to be the reference standard for individual insurance and assistance, thanks to services that continually adapt to the changing needs of its clients. It operates under the names Québec Blue Cross® and Ontario Blue Cross® and provides assistance through its subsidiary CanAssistance Inc. About Blue Cross Life Insurance Company of Canada Blue Cross Life is a federally-licensed company with operations located in several provinces. The Company is owned by four shareholders, operating as Alberta Blue Cross, Saskatchewan Blue Cross, Manitoba Blue Cross, Medavie Blue Cross. It specializes in life and living benefits insurance to supplement the portfolio of health and dental products distributed by its shareholder Blue Cross plans. For more information, please contact: Blue Cross Canassurance Josiane Cousineau 514-286-8429 Blue Cross Life Jennifer Taylor 902-496-7045 Ontario Blue Cross® breaks new ground in travel insurance with a first in North America: Serenity ServiceTM. Launch of Québec Blue Cross® mentoring program in palliative homecare May 9, 2019 Québec Blue Cross is proud to join NOVA Montréal in launching the Québec Blue Cross mentoring program in palliative homecare. This initiative is aligned with our commitment to contribute to the wellbeing of our communities by supporting organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life for people in need. Improved end-of-life homecare More and more people express the desire to live out their final days at home. To ensure that these patients get the right treatment for their specific needs, it is important that professional health care providers acquire skills appropriate to palliative homecare. This program is unique in Québec in offering free, accredited training to palliative homecare nurses in local community service centres (CLSC) across the province. It will be rolled out over a period of five years and offer the following training options: Theory courses (in-person or videoconference) Clinical mentoring for nurses who wish to accompany NOVA nurses on homecare visits Telephone support for immediate assistance from NOVA Montréal specialists With this program, NOVA Montréal will help more end of life patients receive the care they need in the setting they have chosen for this critical stage. About NOVA Montréal NOVA Montréal is a not-for-profit community-based organization whose mission is to provide personalized homecare to patients who are ill or nearing the end of life. Their services include support for adults and children with chronic illness and palliative homecare. We feel very privileged to support an organization whose work has a vital impact on the lives of people whose health is compromised and those facing end of life, as well as their caregivers. The healing power of humour Dr. Clown Foundation is receiving $160,000 over four years in support of mental health initiatives associated with therapeutic clowning for paediatric patients. The multi-year funding commitment from Blue Cross will support ongoing programing and program sustainability. Dr. Clown is an innovative arts-in-healthcare organization that seeks to improve the quality of life for hospitalized children and youth through clowning that combines social interaction, games and imagination. Their trained clowns offer free and spontaneous interventions, engaging and empowering patients while creating a safe space for emotional expression. Quick Facts • Hospital clowns have been shown to reduce anxiety and help paediatric patients with stressors such as separation from their parents/families and fear of treatments/ procedures, while helping them adapt to their hospital environment.1 • Therapeutic clowning can stimulate laughter, foster creativity and self-expression, serve as a distraction from the situation at-hand, and create social connections.1 • Laughter is known to reduce pain, strengthen the body’s immune function and decrease stress. About Dr. Clown Every day, the Dr. Clown Foundation works hard to create joyful relationships with children, adults and seniors in institutions through the visits of our therapeutic clowns. These encounters are coloured with caring and respect as we infuse the institutions we visit with humour and joy. Associated Links 1Clowning as a supportive measure in paediatrics - a survey of clowns, parents and nursing staff. Québec Blue Cross® breaks new ground in travel insurance with a first in North America: Serenity ServiceTM. Québec Blue Cross is proud to announce the launch of Serenity Service, in partnership with BLINK, an Insurtech firm specializing in data-based digital travel disruption insurance solutions. Serenity Service is automatically available at no extra cost to Blue Cross travel insurance customers. Comfort for our clients Serenity Service provides insured travellers whose flights are delayed exclusive advantages to ensure their comfort. Depending on the length of the delay, the service offers privileged access either to an airport lounge or a nearby hotel room. All a traveller has to do is create an account on SerenityService.ca and then register their flight information and Québec Blue Cross policy number. All flights are tracked in real-time and the traveller is automatically informed, by text message or email, the moment the flight posts a delay of at least three hours. A first in North America “New technologies enable us to be there for our clients, from the moment their trip begins, when situations beyond their control, such as a delayed flight, can bring on a lot of stress,” stated Sylvain Charbonneau, President and CEO of the company. “We’re very proud to be the first insurer in North America to provide travellers with this type of real-time service.” Blue Cross® was voted Most Trust Brand™ in travel insurance by Canadian consumers in 2017 and 2018. Mégane saw her dream trip come true, thanks to Children’s Wish and Blue Cross®. Mégane Tardif, 17, talks about battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma. A story about a young woman’s dreams for her future. Blue Cross voted #3 in Baxter Travel Media’s 2017 Agents’ Choice Awards! Thank you to all our travel agent partners for voting for us! Blue Cross has been voted #3 in the Baxter Travel Media’s 2017 Agent’s Choice Awards. We strive to bring our travel agents the best service and products for their clients. Our team is dedicated to supporting our travel agent partners in providing Canadians with the highest quality travel insurance coverage available. We are honoured to be voted one of Canada’s top three insurance providers in the insurance category. Canadians rank Blue Cross as Canada’s most reputable health insurance brand In its first year in the Leger ranking of Canada’s most reputable companies, Blue Cross has debuted as the #1 health benefits provider in the insurance sector—ahead of other established benefits providers. Blue Cross also ranked in the top third of the most reputable brands in Canada. Blue Cross was measured across a number of reputational categories and scored highest among health benefit providers for corporate citizenship, quality, honesty and transparency. The brand also earned a high awareness rating of 89 per cent. Of the 230 brand reputations assessed through the survey, which includes retail and consumer brands, Blue Cross ranks within the top 100 brands in Canada at #75 on the top 100 list. The Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans is comprised of seven regional, not-for-profit health benefits providers that collectively serve more than 7 million Canadians. Each operates independently to provide health, dental, life, disability and travel coverage for workplaces and individuals from coast to coast. The Association is affiliated with the worldwide Blue Cross Blue Shield network. The Blue Cross ranking in the Canadian study reaffirms Blue Cross as the most recognized and trusted health care brand in the world. Leger polled more than 25,000 Canadians for the survey of 230 companies in January 2016. Results are published in Marketing Magazine. Mystery Shopping and Lottery Scam Notice Blue Cross has been made aware of “mystery shopper” and “lottery” scams that include counterfeit cheques with a facsimile of the Blue Cross logo. Be advised that all such documents are fraudulent and are not related to or sanctioned by Blue Cross in any way. We never participate in gaming activities and do not issue cheques like these. We are monitoring the situation and have security measures in place to ensure fraudulent cheques are not processed. Your privacy and the security of your assets is of the utmost importance to us. If you have received one of these letters and/or cheques, please keep a copy and advise us immediately. If you have any questions, please contact us. Publications Blue Cross’s expertise in travel and health insurance is reflected in various publications that attest to its international leadership as well as its proactive and caring approach to customers. White papers Blue Cross offers white papers that provide relevant information on a variety of subjects related to travel and health care. 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