Providing employees with a complete, affordable benefit plan has never been easier…
Blue Chip is an affordable, ready to go package plan. It's designed for small business
employers to meet the essential coverage needs of their employees. In today's competitive
job market, employers look for ways to attract and retain the best and brightest
workforce. Providing your employees with a good benefit plan is a solid investment
toward achieving this goal. Blue Chip enables you to offer complete coverage without
compromising your budget.
It's easy to get started. Pacific Blue Cross offers assistance with everything from
enrollment to claiming procedures. And all claims are handled right here in British
Columbia.
Blue Chip is the ideal starter solution for small business owners with four or more
employees. And when you're ready for more options, it's easy to upgrade to
Blue Chip Plus.
Benefits for Employers:
- A complete, solid benefit plan to help attract and retain the best employees
- Easy to understand plan administration kit and forms package
- Access to benefit knowledge and plan design consultation
- Convenient monthly payment plans with pre-authorized debit
Benefit for Members:
- Convenient pay-direct drugs
- Direct deposit for claim reimbursement
- 24/7 access to claim and benefit information through CARESnet®, our easy to
use self-service website
- Award winning call centre and walk-in customer service centre
- Up to 25% savings on medical and vision care products through our Blue Advantage
program
- Individual conversion plans if group coverage ends
- Peace of mind knowing they have the most recognized health coverage in the world
Your solution for a complete, affordable benefit plan
The Blue Chip basic package provides all the essential elements you need in a health plan. It provides coverage for many health care products and services where the provincial government health plan falls short. And with features like our BLUEnet® pay direct drug card and direct deposit, your employees minimize their out-of-pocket costs while enjoying the convenience of electronic claim reimbursement.
With Blue Chip your employees enjoy unlimited health coverage, basic dental benefits, life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment protection from the world's most recognized and trusted name in health insurance.
Plan Highlights:
After a three-month no claims waiting period, there is no overall lifetime maximum*
on the extended health plan once a $200 per calendar year deductible has been satisfied.
The extended health plan provides up to 70% coverage for many health care products
and services not covered by the provincial government health plan.
*Certain benefits may include lifetime limits.
Plan Package Detail
- Prescription Drugs: Pays 70% of prescription drugs that are included
in the provincial government's PharmaCare formulary.
- Bluenet Pay Direct Drug Card: Your pharmacist submits your claim
electronically. PBC pays the pharmacy 80% of the prescription cost, and you pay
the pharmacist the remaining 20%. There is no need to submit a paper claim.
- Registered Therapists and Health Practitioners: Covers $25 per
visit to a maximum of $300 per person per calendar year for registered massage therapists,
physiotherapists, chiropractors, naturopaths, chiropodists, podiatrists, osteopaths,
speech pathologists, psychologists, registered dieticians and acupuncturists.
- Hospital Accommodation: Covers the cost for a semi-private or private
hospital room up to $100 per day.
- Local Ambulance: Coverage for the cost of ambulance. Includes air
ambulance and payment for Treat No Transport charges (when an ambulance is called
but transport to hospital is not required).
- Private Duty Care Nursing: Covers private duty nursing care in
your home with a Registered Nurse, following the discharge of an acutely ill patient
from hospital up to $10,000 per person per calendar year. There is a $25,000 lifetime
maximum on this benefit.
- Medical Services and Supplies: Covers items like casts, crutches,
oxygen and oxygen supplies, wheelchairs, hearing aids blood pressure monitors and
more.
- Hearing Aids: Benefit covers $500 per person per 5 calendar years.
- Employee and Family Assistance Program: Benefit provides toll-free
telephone access to confidential short-term counseling, advisory and information
service provided by Shepell-fgi for a wide range of personal and work/life issues
to employees and dependent family members 24hours a day/7 days a week.
- Second Opinion® Medical Consultation: When diagnosed with a serious
health condition, this benefit provides access to a second opinion from specialists
at the McGill University Health Centre, one of the largest and most advanced medical
campuses in North America.
- Dental: Covers 70% to a maximum of $1,000 per person per calendar
year including 1 recall examination every 9 months, diagnostic expenses, preventive
and basic restorative treatments, periodontal cleaning and prosthodontic services.
- Life Insurance: Principal sum up to $15,000.
- Dependent Life Insurance: Principal sum up to $2,000 for spouse
and $1,000 per dependent child.
- Accidental death and dismemberment: Principal sum up to $15,000.
Eligibility / Enrollment Requirements
- Your business must have been operating for at least one year.
- The proportion of employees that are related to each other should not exceed 50%.
- A minimum of four participating employees.
- For 4 to 9 lives, 100% enrollment is required
- For 10 to 24 lives, 90% enrollment is required.
- Employees must work a minimum of 20 hours per week to be eligible for benefits.
- Retirees and individuals employed on a part time, seasonal, casual or contract basis
are not eligible.
- Eligibility for coverage is on the first of the month following a three month no
claims waiting period.
Exceptional Service is included
With a Blue Cross health plan, you're covered by the world's most recognized and trusted health insurance brand. Our people are committed to delivering the Blue Cross service standard that is expected by our members.
We continually look for ways to improve service. Whether it's in person, on the phone or online self-service via CARESnet, our member self-service portal, we deliver service you can be proud of.
Blue Cross members have an advantage
The Blue Advantage program allows Blue Cross members to save on medical, vision care and many other products and services offered by participating providers across Canada.
The program is unique because it provides savings at point of sale on the total cost of products and services from participating providers, regardless if the item is covered under your benefit plan. Simply present your Blue Cross identification card to the participating provider and mention the Blue Advantage program. Know more. Save more.