While Canada's provincial health insurance is a fantastic service, it's common for families to have to search for extra coverage.
Whether you don't have additional coverage through work or you're just trying to cover the costs of prescription drugs, you might find yourself looking for private health insurance.
Luckily, there are lots of options available. Blue Cross Canada is a popular provider, ensuring millions of Canadians and becoming one of the most admired companies in the country.
In this guide, we'll walk you through how to get health insurance with Blue Cross Canada. Read on to find the answers to some common questions.
Disclaimer:
All, or some of the products featured on this page are from our affiliated partners who may compensate us for actions and or sales completed as a result of the user navigating the links or images within the content. How we present the information may be influenced by that, but it in no way impacts the quality and accuracy of the research we have conducted at the time we published the article. Users may choose to visit the actual company website for more information.
About Blue Cross
Blue Cross was first established in the northwestern United States and made its way to Canada in the late 1930s. Manitoba was the first province to establish a Blue Cross plan, but it expanded pretty quickly to other provinces. Now, no matter where you are in Canada, Blue Cross has you covered.
The company is still linked with the branch in the United States, but all provincial plans are associated with the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans. They offer group and individual health insurance, travel insurance, and dental/vision plans for Canadians across the country.
Why Should I Get Health Insurance with Blue Cross?
So why should you get health insurance with Blue Cross?
One big reason is if you're looking to supplement your provincial plan. If you'd like just a bit more peace of mind when it comes to your health care, Blue Cross offers a variety of flexible plans to suit any need or budget.
This also comes into play if you don't have a group plan through your job. Many companies or workplaces will help to cover the costs of private insurance, but this isn't the case for everyone. However, that doesn't mean you have to go without.
Blue Cross offers plans that you can purchase on your own without an employer that can help you pay for additional costs like prescription drugs or hospital stays.
Finally, everyone likes saving money on their necessities. Blue Cross' Blue Advantage program offers policy-holders ways to save on everything from gym memberships at Anytime Fitness to Costco memberships.
Talk about perks.
What Kind of Coverage Is Offered?
Now that you know why Blue Cross can be a great option, what kind of coverage can you look for?
The three main categories of insurance that we'll cover are personal health insurance, travel health insurance, and critical illness insurance. Whether you're a recent university grad or nearing retirement, you can find a plan that suits your unique needs.
Read on to learn more about each one.
Personal Health Insurance
This is by far the most common and popular reason to get health insurance with Blue Cross. There are plenty of options for your personal health insurance needs.
Coverage will vary depending on the province, but for the most part, there are four different levels of personal health insurance plans that you can decide to purchase.
Basic Blue Choice
Anyone from the ages of 16 to 74 can apply for the Basic Blue Choice plan. If you're looking for a cost-effective package deal that saves you from having to wonder if you're covered or not, this would be an excellent choice.
The plan covers things like ambulance rides, nursing care, and prescription drugs. Hospital stay coverage isn't automatically included in this package, but you can choose to add it if you want the extra peace of mind. Vision care isn't included in this package, but you can receive up to $245 a year in dental coverage.
Basic Plus
Basic Plus is available to everyone ages 16 and older, so the age restriction from Basic Blue Choice is lifted. This makes it a great option for older citizens who are looking for additional healthcare coverage.
Basic Plus includes all of the benefits of Basic Blue Choice with some additional coverage available. Hospital stays are automatically included in this package, as are eye exams for people age 20-65. This plan will also subsidize more of your prescription drug costs, notable if that's something you're looking for.
Blue Choice Balance
Like Basic Plus, Blue Choice Balance is available to anyone over the age of 16. The main difference between the two is the amounts of coverage that you'd receive.
While the Basic Plus plan will cover 80% of your prescription drug costs for as much as $750 in a year, the Balance plan will cover 70% of your costs for up to $5000 in a calendar year. This makes it a great option for those with high prescription drug costs.
You'll see similarly increased coverage for your vision care, though the dental benefits stay the same.
Blue Choice
Finally, the Blue Choice plan is a way to get the a la carte version of the three plans above. Instead of coming in a package deal, you can choose only the benefits that you need.
Don't need hospital coverage? Don't pay for it. Have 20/20 vision? Reduce the amount you pay.
With this plan, it's up to you.
Travel Health Insurance
What if you travel out of your province and get sick or have an accident? What happens then?
Blue Cross has you covered in that case, too. Their travel health insurance will help offset the costs of emergency medical care, pay for you to return home to receive medical care, and even cover follow-up medical costs once you're back.
You don't have to be hurt to reap the benefits of this insurance. It'll even help you out if your baggage gets lost or your flight is canceled.
Critical Illness Insurance
Serious illnesses like cancer, heart attacks, or strokes are already bound to take a toll on you and your family. Treating and recovering from these illnesses is taxing on your emotions, your body, and your finances.
You shouldn't have to worry about how you pay for your care when you're focusing on getting better. Critical illness insurance provides you with financial support so that you can give all of your attention to what matters. Whether that's rent payments, in-home support, or even just grocery costs, this plan makes sure you have one less worry on your mind.
How to Sign Up
So now you know what's offered - how do you enroll in health insurance with Blue Cross?
Luckily, it's as easy as comparing your options, getting a quote, and signing up for the coverage you deserve. Request a quote now to get started.
