Group benefits vary from plan to plan.  For details visit your Pacific Blue Cross Member Profile

If you have travel insurance provided by your employer through your group extended health plan, be sure to check your benefits and coverage limitations, as well as the government travel advisories for your destination(s) before you travel. Your plan includes a pre-travel service through Medi-Assist which can help provide information on Government Advisories and recommended vaccinations for your destinations. Call 1-888-699-9333 (toll-free within Canada or the US) to learn more.

If you have questions about your prescription(s) please reach out to your pharmacist.

Stocking up on larger quantities of medicines can create challenges for others. Your pharmacist will work with you to determine your best options for early refills and prescription quantities. They will use their best judgment to ensure that everyone gets the medicines they need to support overall health and wellness.

Pacific Blue Cross supports the recommendations put forth by the British Columbia College of Pharmacists determining best practices for Early Refills and Emergency Supplies.

The BC Pharmacy Association has created an information sheet for patients to help you understand the regulations around prescription renewals and emergency refills.

Pacific Blue Cross has a robust Preferred Pharmacy Network to support affordable  access for your medications.

Pacific Blue Cross recognizes the importance of ensuring members have access to the medications they need, when they need them. We’re also cognizant of abiding by public health officials who are asking us to remain in place and minimize non-essential doctor visits to free up our medical professionals for urgent health care needs.

Pacific Blue Cross is supporting this by providing a temporary extension on coverage for medications that are due for prior approval (special authorization) renewal, and by relaxing criteria that may involve members having to visit a laboratory for non-urgent needs. We are following BC PharmaCare’s lead in this regard. Members submitting new requests for prior approval will still need to meet other criteria on the form.

Some authorizations through the BC PharmaCare Special Authority program that expire between March 19^th and July 1^st, 2020 will be extended to October 1, 2020. Pacific Blue Cross will honour these extensions automatically. This extension also applies for some drugs requiring Pacific Blue Cross prior approval.

Automatic extensions mean there is no need for members or physicians to submit additional documentation to Pacific Blue Cross.

• Here is a list of special authority drugs that BC PharmaCare has extended authorizations to October 1^st.
• Here is a list of drugs requiring Pacific Blue Cross prior approval that have been extended to October 1^st.

If you don’t see your drug listed here and have questions about drug coverage, please contact your pharmacist or Pacific Blue Cross to discuss your options.

Prior approval criteria that requires members to attend a lab for non-essential bloodwork may be waived, or previous lab results accepted, in order to enable better adherence to social distancing requirements. Patients will still need to meet other clinical criteria as per the individual drug or device.

The accepted timeframe for lab tests will be relaxed for initial approvals for the following drugs:

• Alirocumab (Praluent®)
• Benralizumab (Fasenra®)
• Evolocumab (Repatha®)
• Mepolizumab (Nucala®)
• Omalizumab (Xolair®)
• Reslizumab (Cinquair®)

For Blue RX members, Pacific Blue Cross will align with PharmaCare to modify the criteria for initial coverage of the following anticoagulants so that a prior trial of warfarin therapy and subsequent lab tests will no longer be required. Affected drugs include:

• Rivaroxaban (Xarelto®)
• Apixaban (Eliquis®)
• Edoxaban (Lixiana®)
• Dabigatran (Pradaxa®)

For further details, please refer to BC PharmaCare Newsletter Edition 20-006: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/health-drug-coverage/pharmacare/newsletters/news20-006.pdf

Claims with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis will be processed and paid based on the regular guidelines.  The elimination period will be waived.

If you have been advised to self-monitor for symptoms because you may have been exposed to someone who is infected but don’t have any symptoms yourself, you will not be eligible for disability benefits. We suggest that you contact the HR department within your organization or apply for EI benefits.

If your organization decides to suspend operations temporarily and you are asymptomatic, you will not be eligible for benefits.  You will need to speak to your organization to discuss payment options.   

If you are already out of country when you become ill and are hospitalized for treatment that is medically necessary, the terms of the policy would be met.  While the policy may already have 0-day elimination for hospitalization, as an industry, we have agreed to waive the elimination period for eligible COVID-19 claims.  If the claim is allowed, the elimination period will be waived but the maximal period considered would be 14 days, subject to the other provisions of the policy.

As quarantine is the medically necessary treatment for diagnosis of COVID-19, as an industry, we have determined that we will assess self-quarantine claims and consider up to the 14-day maximum.  While you are out of country, you would be following instructions of physicians; therefore, this would meet the terms of the policy.  If the claim is allowed, the elimination period will be waived, but the maximal period considered would be 14 days, subject to the other provisions of the policy. In this case, the fact that the diagnosis has been made implies that the quarantine has been medically directed (vs. self-quarantine which is not medically directed).

An STD claim for quarantine and mild symptoms with no positive COVID-19 test does not meet the definition of disability under the policy and does not qualify for disability benefits. The claim will be denied, and the individual will be redirected to EI.

An STD claim for a quarantine with no positive COVID-19 test does not qualify for disability benefits.  The claim will be denied, and you will be redirected to EI.

An STD claim for a directed quarantine with no symptoms is not payable. You should be referred to EI for benefits.

If you file a Short Term Disability claim for flu-like symptoms but have not been tested for COVID-19, the case will be processed as a normal STD claim. The waiting period applies.   We will accept the updated Plan Member Confirmation of Illness Form (coming soon).

Important COVID-19 Travel Insurance information

The Government of Canada has issued an official global advisory to avoid non-essential travel (Level 3) outside of the country to limit the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). As a result, coverage related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) will be affected:

Travel Medical Insurance
For trips that depart on or after March 13, 2020, Coronavirus (COVID-19) related illness will not be covered. You can learn more about how Government travel advisories impact coverage in our Travel Insurance FAQs.

Trip Protection Insurance (Cancellations/Interruptions)
Effective March 12, 2020, we are considering Coronavirus (COVID-19) to be a known event for individually purchased Trip Protection. Travel insurance is intended to cover losses arising from sudden and unforeseeable circumstances. Any claims resulting from events known to a policyholder at time purchasing the trip are not covered.

These conditions will remain in effect until the advisory is lifted or otherwise stated by Pacific Blue Cross.

If you purchased a Trip Protection plan prior to March 12, 2020 you will be covered for trip cancellation or interruption claims related to COVID-19.

When the Canadian government issues an advisory to "avoid all travel" or "avoid non-essential travel" to your destination, that is considered an unexpected situation and is therefore eligible for Trip Protection (cancellation or interruption) benefits. However, your trip must have been purchased PRIOR TO the government issued advisory.

Government Advisory Level	TRAVEL MEDICAL PLAN Purchased as a stand-alone plan or part of a Package plan, Travel Medical provides coverage for: Emergency medical Hospitalization Ambulance fees Repatriation costs		TRIP PROTECTION PLAN Purchased as a stand-alone plan or part of a Package plan, Trip Protection provides coverage for: Trip cancellation, interruption, delay Baggage Air flight accident Accidental death & dismemberment
LVL 1 & 2	NO IMPACT TO COVERAGE
LVL 3 & 4	Advisory BEFORE DEPARTURE Travel Medical NOT COVERED	Advisory AFTER DEPARTURE Travel Medical COVERED	Advisory BEFORE TRIP PURCHASE Trip cancellation, interruption, delay NOT COVERED	Advisory AFTER TRIP PURCHASE Trip cancellation, interruption, delay COVERED
Choosing to travel against a Government of Canada Level 3 or 4 advisory invalidates all coverage This is for illustrative purposes only and does not form part of your contract. Full details are found in the Travel Policy.

Travel Insurance is intended to protect consumers from sudden and unforeseen events that arise and leave them with out of pocket expenses that they did not expect to incur.

When a Level 3 or 4 advisory is issued by the Government of Canada, they are stating that Canadians can expect to experience health or safety concerns and so should not travel.

For any Trip Cancellation benefits, this means that a trip purchased after a Level 3 or 4 advisory is issued cannot be cancelled for the reason of this advisory. This is an expected event.

For any Travel Medical or Interruption/Delay benefits, if you choose to depart on your trip after the Government of Canada has issued a Level 3 or 4 advisory, then all benefits on your plan are invalidated. You are not covered because it is expected that you could experience an issue causing a claim.

When there are Regional Advisories — some parts of your trip are Level 1 and 2, but some parts are 3 or 4 — if you choose to travel to the Level 3 or 4 Advisory region, then none of your benefits will apply. It is expected that you could experience a claim — it is a known event.

When Travel Advisories remain Level 1 or 2, all of your benefits are in force and applied according to the contract. This would include contracting COVID19 during your travel, or being delayed because of quarantine.

This information applies to all of our plans, single trip or annual, stand alone or packaged.

We always recommend that you read your travel policy booklet and check the Government of Canada website prior to any travel, especially when world conditions are changing rapidly.

For any pre-travel trip destination questions such as travel advisory, shots, visas or safety concerns, please contact Medi-Assist who have the most up to date information for your destination.

As always, our customer service representatives are here to help.

A quarantine might happen to an individual who is ill or who has been exposed to someone who is ill, or it may be mandated by geographic region regardless of exposure to an ill person. Quarantines for COVID-19 are not restricted to China; many countries are currently imposing quarantine restrictions.

If you or a travelling companion are quarantined as a result of COVID-19 while you are travelling outside of British Columbia, and your return home is delayed as a result, an exception has been made to the way we provide benefits to assist with commercial accommodation and meals. These benefits may be reduced by any benefits or compensation that you receive from the country of quarantine, or the Government of Canada. To see if you qualify, please confirm with our Medi-Assist team collect at 604-419-4487.

If your travel plan is due to expire while your quarantine is in effect, you must notify us in order to extend your travel dates.  For extensions, please call the PBC call centre collect at 604-419-2000 or email us at inhealth@pac.bluecross.ca before your expiry date.

Remember, as with any other medical incident, you are obligated to call Medi-Assist as soon as possible to report your quarantine so that we can support you through the process.

We recommend that all travelling Canadians sign up with Registration of Canadians Abroad  to stay connected with the Government of Canada to receive the most up-to-date information on any emergencies abroad or at home.

Please download the following form for more information and/or to make a claim - Trip Cancellation/Baggage Claim Form.

If you have one or more of the above symptoms, start by contacting our medical assistance service, Medi-Assist.  They can be reached by calling collect to 1-604-419-4487 or 1 888 699-9333 (toll-free) in Canada and the US.

Medi-Assist will assess the symptoms you describe and direct you as needed to a hospital or clinic for the appropriate care. Depending on your situation and needs, they may also:

• Provide simultaneous interpretation to help you communicate with health care personnel
• Advance funds to a service provider if you are required to pay for care up front
• Plan emergency repatriation to your home province if you are hospitalized
• Monitor your case closely until you’ve recovered

During your consultation, inform the physician if you have visited any high-risk areas (a farm, a public market, etc.) or been in contact with any animals or persons who showed symptoms associated with coronavirus.

If you develop symptoms and have travelled to the province of Hubei in China or have been in contact with someone who has:

• Stay at home and avoid contact with others
• Follow up with your health care professional

If you develop fever, cough or difficulty breathing in the next 14 days:

• Call your health care provider or local public health authority.
• Tell them your symptoms and that you were travelling in the province of Hubei, China.
• Let them know whether you have had direct contact with animals or a sick person, especially if they have had symptoms.

If you are ill and must visit a health care professional:

• Call ahead or tell them when you arrive that you have a respiratory illness.
• You may be asked to wear a mask while waiting for or receiving treatment to prevent the spread of the illness.

If you feel sick during travel to Canada or upon arrival:

• Inform the flight attendant, cruise staff or a Canadian border services officer.
• They will decide whether you need further medical assessment by a quarantine officer.

Yes and no.

It is very important to note that you are not covered for expenses incurred for a medical condition resulting from an infectious disease or illness for which there is a travel advisory or health warning by the Canadian government and published or broadcast in the media prior to the your departure date. As of March 13, 2020 the Canadian government has issued a warning to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada due to Coronavirus (COVID-19).

If you choose to travel despite this, individually purchased travel medical insurance will continue to cover you for emergency medical care that is not part of a Canadian government travel advisory. Also, if you are sick before your departure, that illness may not be covered by your insurance policy. If you develop symptoms associated with COVID-19 before your vacation, it may be wiser to avoid travelling altogether. For more information, read the clauses about preexisting conditions in your insurance policy closely or contact your insurer.

If you have travel insurance provided by your employer through your extended health plan, be sure to check your benefits and coverage limitations before you travel.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are typically associated with mild illness, similar to the common cold.  COVID-19 is a new disease that has not been previously identified in humans. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people, and more rarely, these can then spread from person to person through close contact. For details visit the Canadian Government website on Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Frequently asked questions (FAQ).

Those who are infected with COVID-19 may have little to no symptoms. You may not know you have symptoms of COVID-19 because they are similar to a cold or flu.

Symptoms may take from 2 to 14 days to appear after exposure to COVID-19. This is the longest known infectious period for this disease.

Symptoms have included:

• Fever
• Cough
• Difficulty breathing
• Pneumonia in both lungs

Most people develop only mild symptoms. But some people, usually those with other medical complications, may develop more severe symptoms, which can be fatal.

There are currently no vaccines available to protect you against COVID-19. In general, the following advice can help reduce the risk of infection or spreading infection to others:

• stay home if you are sick
• when coughing or sneezing:
• cover your mouth and nose with your arm to reduce the spread of germs
• dispose of any tissues you have used as soon as possible and wash your hands afterwards
• wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
• avoid visiting people in hospitals or long-term care centres if you are sick

If you want to know more visit Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Prevention and risks.