Changes to your Extended Health Care Plan: What you need to know

The BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) and the K-12 Presidents’ Council and Support Staff Unions have negotiated improvements to the Standardized Provincial Extended Health Care Plan (Standard Plan). The effective date of the initial improvements will be based on the following:

1. For district’s and local unions currently participating in the Standard Plan:
   1^st of the month following a one month notice period once each district and support staff conclude local bargaining and ratify the Provincial Framework Agreement (PFA) as part of the collective agreement.
   
   
2. For district’s and local unions not currently participating in the Standard Plan:
   1^st of the month following a one month notice period once each district and support staff conclude local bargaining, ratify the Provincial Framework Agreement (PFA) as part of the collective agreement, and provide notification of a successful benefits plan improvement vote.

As shown in the attached plan summary, further benefit improvements will also be effective on July 1, 2020.

For information on the coverage provided through the Standard Plan, please review the Guide to the Unionized Support Staff Standardized Provincial Extended Health Care Plan PDF provided on this page.

While most members already have the same drug plan that is included in the Standard Plan, this will be a change for some members.

Below is a summary of what the Standard Plan drug plan includes:

• A pay direct drug card
• Drug coverage based on a managed formulary called BlueRx
• An integration requirement with BC PharmaCare’s Special Authority program for some medications
• Generic substitution, which is referred to as the Lowest Cost Alternative
• A maximum dispensing fee of $10 and a drug mark-up limit of 8% to 15% on most drugs*

If you are unsure whether your current plan already includes this drug plan, please contact your union local or school district benefits administrator for confirmation. For unionized support locals transitioning to the BlueRx prescription drug formulary, please refer to the following documents for more information:

• 2019 bulletin - Groups Implementing Blue RX
• 2019 bulletin - Groups that already have Blue RX
• What You Need to Know About BlueRx
• BlueRx Approval Forms

Price comparison tool

Pharmacy Compass is a free web-based tool that shows you the average cost per pill of brand name and generic equivalent prescription medications sold as tablets and capsules. It also shows dispensing fees at different pharmacies.

Preferred Pharmacy Network

Show your Pacific Blue Cross ID card at any PPN location in BC to take advantage of these savings.

• Lower prices on all prescription drugs
• Lower dispensing fees
• Assistance with high cost, Special Authority drug coverage
• Refill reminders

Visit Pacific Blue Cross' Preferred Pharmacy Network for more information.

*Pacific Blue Cross follows BC PharmaCare maximum pricing policies. Mark-up maximum is currently 8% for most drugs listed with BC PharmaCare drugs, 15% for most other non-PharmaCare listed drugs and 5% for select higher cost medications.