Workplace Wellbeing Newsletter | Fall 2026

No more “Where’s my ID card?”

Employees who manage their Pacific Blue Cross benefits through Member Profile can now add their member ID card to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet through the Pacific Blue Cross Mobile app. It’s an easy way to keep their card handy when they need care.
This feature is available to all Pacific Blue Cross plans that use Member Profile, including First Nations Health Authority clients, who can add their FNHA status card.

The feature is not yet available to members who use My PBC Benefits or plans that do not use Member Profile. We’re working to bring it to My PBC Benefits.

Share our step-by-step instructions for adding a card to a mobile wallet with eligible employees.

Supporting employee wellness through respiratory illness season

Fall brings cooler temperatures, and more time spent in shared indoor spaces, where respiratory illnesses can spread more easily. Flu and COVID-19 vaccines will be available in BC this fall. A few consistent workplace practices can help support your team’s health throughout the season.  

• Share vaccination information:  Direct employees to fall vaccination information. In BC, people registered with the Get Vaccinated system will receive a notification when it’s time to book if a flu or COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for them. In the Yukon, 2026–27 seasonal COVID-19 and flu vaccine bookings are expected to open in October.
• Support healthy shared spaces: Keep shared areas well-ventilated where possible, and stock hand sanitizers and tissues in common spaces like the cafeteria and meeting rooms.
• Support time to recover: Encourage employees to stay home when they’re unwell and ensure sick leave policies are clearly communicated.
• Lead by example: Reinforce that employees can take time to rest when they are ill, without feeling pressure to work remotely.
• Help employees understand their coverage: Encourage employees to review their coverage in Member Profile before purchasing a health product or service. Coverage varies by plan.

For information on workplace wellness sessions and resources, contact HealthAndWellness@pac.bluecross.ca.

Menopausal hormone therapy coverage: what to know in BC and Yukon

For employees navigating menopause, understanding prescription coverage is one less thing to figure out. Here’s what to know about menopausal hormone therapy, also called hormone replacement therapy or HRT.
 
In BC
Since March 1, 2026, BC PharmaCare’s National Pharmacare Plan, known as Plan NP, has covered eligible menopausal hormone therapies. BC residents enrolled in the Medical Services Plan are automatically eligible, with no separate application or deductible.
 
Not every HRT product is fully covered. Some medications are covered up to the cost of a lower-cost alternative. Depending on the employee’s benefits plan, Pacific Blue Cross may reimburse some or all of the remaining eligible cost. Learn more about BC’s coverage changes.
 
In Yukon
Yukon’s National Pharmacare Program covers eligible diabetes medications and contraceptives; it does not provide the same menopausal hormone therapy expansion as BC. Employees should check their existing public or workplace benefits for coverage of their specific HRT prescription. Explore Yukon’s program information.
 
A helpful reminder to share
Encourage employees to ask their pharmacist whether their prescribed medication is covered and whether any out-of-pocket costs apply. For questions about coverage through their Pacific Blue Cross plan, they can review their benefits information or contact us.

Staff spotlight

This December marks eight years with Pacific Blue Cross for Courtney Desmet. She joined as a Disability Case Manager and has since grown into her current role as Quality Assurance Advisor, where she reviews work for accuracy, consistency, and quality, all while supporting initiatives across the department. Her earlier experience in insurance, legal services, and youth corrections and detox facilities helped shape the steady, people-first approach she brings to her work today.
 
What keeps her motivated is simple: knowing her work matters. Whether she's supporting her team or helping make things a little easier for members, she finds meaning in learning something new and lending a hand where she can.
 
Outside of work, Courtney is kept on her toes by her young son and her nine-year-old rescue dog, who prefers a slower pace.  The eldest of four and the only girl in the family, she's happiest surrounded by the people she loves. When she has time to herself, you’ll often find her at the gym or on a soccer field.

Some employees may be missing out on easier access to their benefits

A simple reminder about Member Profile can help employees get more from their Pacific Blue Cross plan. Some employees may not be taking full advantage of their benefits because they have not registered for Member Profile or added their direct-deposit details.
 
For plans that use Member Profile, employees can securely review their coverage, submit claims online, and add direct deposit, where available, for eligible claim reimbursements.
 
As a plan sponsor, you can help by sharing a reminder through your employee newsletter, intranet, or other workplace communication channel. Registration takes only a few minutes.
 
Learn more or sign in at: pac.bluecross.ca/go-digital
 
Available to eligible plans with Member Profile access.