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Montreal, March 17, 2022. — On March 16, the Canassurance Hospital Service Association (Blue Cross Canassurance), operating under the brands Québec Blue Cross and Ontario Blue Cross, held its annual general meeting and welcomed the appointment of two new individuals to head up its board of directors: Jean Laurin, partner, president and CEO of Avison Young Québec (Devencore), is appointed chair of the board, and certified corporate director and management consultant Michèle Desjardins is appointed vice-chair.
Blue Cross Canassurance president and CEO Sylvain Charbonneau, noting that Jean Laurin and Michèle Desjardins had been on the board for several years, said “It is an honour and a privilege to be able to count on the expertise and experience of Michèle and Jean. They complement each other so well, having both contributed to our new strategic plan and both being known for their thoughtful and conscientious approach to our organization, our clients, and our business partners. Their dedication and hard work will be key to helping us achieve our vision.”

“They are following in the footsteps of two other towering figures. Allow me to salute the contributions of Louis Gosselin and Guy Tremblay, the outgoing chair and vice-chair, for their unwavering commitment to Blue Cross Canassurance over the years,” added Sylvain Charbonneau.

As president and board chair of widely admired Quebec companies and organizations, Jean Laurin is known for his leadership and agility in steering organizations though complex environments. Michèle Desjardins is a certified management consultant, member of the Ordre des administrateurs agréés du Québec and certified corporate director. A proven leader, she excels in corporate management thanks to her deep understanding of organizational and strategic issues.

They will be supported in their work by experienced directors, as well as three new board members: Jacques Gagnier, Pierre Moreau, and Richard Fortier. Their expertise in governance, law, finance, and actuarial science will complement that of our other board members.

These changes have been in effect since March 16, 2022.

About the Canassurance Hospital Service Association (Blue Cross Canassurance)

A trusted health and wellness partner for over 80 years, the Canassurance Hospital Service Association (Blue Cross Canassurance), which includes Québec Blue Cross and Ontario Blue Cross, is a leader in travel, health and life insurance. As a member of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans, a not-for-profit network, the organization has contributed to the development of health insurance as we know it in Quebec and Ontario. Blue Cross Canassurance remains the go-to provider of individual and group insurance through products and services tailored to the ever-changing needs of clients. In keeping with its tradition of community involvement, the organization invests to benefit the communities it serves in order to make wellness accessible to as many people as possible.

Notice of appointment - Head of the Board of Directors

MONTREAL, March 2, 2022 – Ontario Blue Cross and the members of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans have come together to donate $200,000 in support of populations affected by the war in Ukraine. 

“The health and safety of all is at the heart of our concerns. We  support humanitarian efforts with this initiative. As always, we offer support to our customers and communities which is at the core of Blue Cross’ values and mission’’.  Sylvain Charbonneau, President and CEO of Blue Cross Canassurance 

Blue Cross Canassurance customers and employees who wish to contribute can donate on the Canadian Red Cross website (redcross.ca). 

About Ontario Blue Cross 

Serving the public for almost 80 years, the Ontario Blue Cross name is synonymous with quality and accessibility in individual health and travel insurance. A member of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross® Plans, the organization helped lay the foundations for health insurance in Ontario and remains the benchmark in individual insurance, thanks to products and services adapted to the constantly changing needs of its clients. A partner of its communities, Ontario Blue Cross is also committed to investing its resources in the interests of the communities it serves to make wellness accessible to as many people as possible. 

Toronto, November 19, 2020 – In anticipation of the holiday season, government authorities are issuing clear recommendations to encourage Canadian residents to avoid non-essential travel and limit gatherings.

People who are still planning to travel should exercise caution and be well-informed. Ontario Blue Cross has made different tools and reminders available to make sure travellers have all the facts when making a decision.

Ontario Blue Cross^® has not added specific coverage for COVID-19 to their contracts. This condition was already covered under the Emergency Medical Care insurance, in the same way as any sudden illness that would occur on a trip. The same conditions, reductions of coverage and limitations apply.

As with most travel insurers, Ontario Blue Cross Emergency Medical Care insurance can cover emergency repatriation if this service is considered necessary and safe by the travel assistance medical team and the attending physician at the destination. Decisions are based on several factors, including the medical condition of the insured. At all times, the assistance service is dependent on the availability of care and services needed to return home.

Anyone planning to travel abroad should take the time to properly assess the essential nature of their trip before making any plans. We encourage clients to contact us to get more clarity on the applicable conditions, if necessary.

TORONTO, june 11, 2020 – As a result of a new partnership agreement with EQ Care, Ontario Blue Cross is among the first insurance providers to offer virtual health care services to clients holding individual health insurance policies.

The health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted more than ever the need to facilitate access to health professionals, which this new service provides. Most of Ontario Blue Cross clients holding health care and disability benefits will be eligible to access a variety of health services from a mobile device or a computer. No matter where they are in Canada, they will have access to doctors and health specialists and, among other things, obtain recommendations, receive mental health support, renew prescriptions or obtain advice relating to a chronic illness. Services are offered in both official languages and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

This initiative is part of the mission of Ontario Blue Cross to be a trusted partner in the health and wellness of its clients and reflects the organization’s desire to consistently offer innovative services that stand out in the market. “In a world where access to health care is an undeniable challenge, we believe that virtual health care is essential to maintaining an unparalleled level of support for our clients. We are particularly proud to be one of the first individual health insurance providers to offer this service free of charge to our clients,” explained Sylvain Charbonneau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ontario Blue Cross. “We sincerely hope that this service will encourage our clients to find the support they need to maintain their wellness, while staying safe.”

A partnership based on a tradition of common excellence

EQ Care’s approach combines the use of innovative and secure technology with the good judgment and empathy of a multidisciplinary team of experts to optimize the patient experience. At all times, its dedicated professionals and administrators strive to provide services based on active listening and compassion. The culture of the organization is also centred on the development of national networks to allow patients to communicate quickly with doctors, health professionals and mental health specialists, and thus contribute to unclogging the public health system, which is becoming increasingly overloaded.

“The EQ Care team is proud to be associated with an institution that has been rooted in health care for almost 80 years. In this period of great need, Ontario Blue Cross clients can expect exemplary health care, in accordance with the rigorous standards of quality established by the organization, as well as our own commitment to offering health solutions that are reliable, professional and compassionate,” said Daniel Martz, President and CEO of EQ Care.

About Ontario Blue Cross

Serving the public for almost 80 years, the Ontario Blue Cross name is synonymous with quality and accessibility in individual health and travel insurance. A member of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross® Plans, the organization helped lay the foundations for health insurance in Ontario and remains the benchmark in individual insurance, thanks to products and services adapted to the constantly changing needs of its clients. A partner of its communities, Ontario Blue Cross is also committed to investing its resources in the interests of the communities it serves to make wellness accessible to as many people as possible.

About EQ Care

EQ Care offers patients bilingual online access, nationally, at all times. Their team specializing in mental health and health care, offers comprehensive and personalized treatment options from any device connected to the Internet. The EQ Care mission is to remain at the forefront of patient care and to ensure that its patients receive the highest quality service possible, thanks to their exclusive virtual health technology platform. A leader in the Canadian virtual care market with over 30 years of experience in the health sector, holding ISO 9001: 2015 certification and having managed more than 500,000 virtual medical consultations to date, EQ Care continues to innovate in order to offer patients cutting-edge mobile approaches and tools.

More information on EQ Care virtual health care services is available at on.bluecross.ca/virtual-health-care

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SOURCE: Ontario Blue Cross
Information (for media only, no access to client files):
Josiane Cousineau, Josiane.Cousineau@ ont.bluecross.ca, 647-345-4299 or +1 888-279-4584

Results from Leger’s 2020 survey on Canada’s Top 100 Brands show that the hard work and dedication of our employees and their commitment to our clients have helped to position Blue Cross® as the highest ranked health benefits provider in Canada!

“The Blue Cross brand is one of our most valuable assets and we are proud to stand with our employees behind this brand and to be recognized by Canadians as the highest ranking benefits provider in Canada” says Josiane Cousineau, VP of Marketing and Public Relations.

Every year Leger, Canada’s largest market research and analytics company, tap into which brands are resonating and connecting with Canadians. The 2020 results show Blue Cross ranking at number 71.

Today and into the future, we will continue to put our client’s health and wellness first.

The digital program offers free guidance from leading team of psychologists, to support the emotional well-being of Canadians during the pandemic.

May 4, 2020 . - To promote mental well-being through the COVID-19 crisis, Ontario Blue Cross® has joined as a sponsor of Stronger Minds by BEACON® – a free digital program available for all Canadians.

For more than 75 years, Ontario Blue Cross has been dedicated to caring for its communities and improving the well-being of Canadians. They recognize this has been a challenging situation for so many Canadians, and hope that this sponsorship of Stronger Minds will help provide mental health guidance and emotional support to people across the Country.

“We are empathetic to the psychological distress our clients may be experiencing”, says Sylvain Charbonneau, president and CEO of Ontario Blue Cross. “The current situation can be anxiety-provoking, and we believe that caring for our mental health is of primary importance in dealing with the impact of COVID-19 on our daily lives. As a proud sponsor of this program, we demonstrate once more our commitment to the health and well-being of our communities.”

Through the BEACON digital platform, Stronger Minds offers resources focused on resilience building, videos, and quick reads from mental health experts. The program provides participants the opportunity to engage as much or as little as they wish to access guidance that addresses their challenges; however, unlike one-to-one therapy, there is no clinical assessment required to participate.

“With our team of clinical psychologists, along with trusted national health and wellness advocates, our organization is dedicated to helping people strengthen their resiliency and manage through unique emotional challenges stirred by the pandemic crisis,” says Sam Duboc, Chair and CEO of MindBeacon Group. “Canada is in this together, and we’re wholeheartedly committed to helping Canadians protect their mental wellbeing so they can successfully face every day as it comes.”

In addition to guidance from the BEACON team of clinical psychologists, Stronger Minds presents personal perspectives from beloved Canadian Olympic rower Silken Laumann, TSN sports commentator Michael Landsberg, Montreal radio host Marie-Christine Proulx, as well as guidance on physical activity from GoodLife Fitness.

Topics covered continuously evolve based on participants’ requests and include overcoming worry, isolation, and parenting. Stronger Minds will be offered indefinitely, in recognition this crisis has an uncertain timeline.

Information on Stronger Minds by BEACON is available at mindbeacon.com/strongerminds

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About Ontario Blue Cross

Ontario Blue Cross contributed to introducing health and travel insurance to Ontario. Founded over 75 years ago, the organization is built on a solid foundation of excellence and continues to be the standard of reference for individual insurance and assistance, thanks to services that continually adapt to the changing needs of its clients.

About MindBeacon Group

The MindBeacon Group of companies is dedicated to helping Canadians improve their mental well-being to live their best lives. MindBeacon provides evidence-based therapy that is affordable and easy-to-access through BEACON®, the guided digital therapy service (iCBT) which has helped thousands of Canadians struggling with depression, anxiety, insomnia and posttraumatic stress injury (PTSI/PTSD). MindBeacon provides in-person and video therapy through CBT Associates, a leading psychology clinic network.

Media Contact
Ontario Blue Cross
Josiane Cousineau, Josiane.Cousineau@ont.bluecross.ca, 514 738-4985 / 1 888-279-458

MindBeacon Group
647.317.4171 ext.1617
media@mindbeacon.com

Toronto, April 27, 2020. - In an additional effort to support its clients during the pandemic, Ontario Blue Cross® announces that it will offer a reduction in individual health insurance premiums for dental and health care benefits. The reduction corresponds to 50% of the cost of dental care and 20% of the cost of the extended health care insurance benefit, and will automatically apply to its clients' accounts for three months, starting May 1, 2020.

"The situation we're in is exceptional, but it doesn't change our commitment to continually support the people who trust us. Our individual health insurance clients are mainly entrepreneurs, self-employed workers, small business owners and employees who do not have access to group insurance, as well as retirees and members of associations. We are therefore taking exceptional measures to reduce their financial burden in this time of crisis," said Sylvain Charbonneau, President and CEO of Ontario Blue Cross.

Greater flexibility thanks to virtual consultations with some health professionals

This targeted reduction in premiums is in addition to various measures aimed at making life easier and encouraging the wellness of Ontario Blue Cross insureds, whose coverage now includes access to virtual consultations with a variety of healthcare professionals, including dietitians or nutritionists, speech therapists and psychologists, depending on the services included in each contract.

About Ontario Blue Cross

Ontario Blue Cross contributed to introducing health and travel insurance to Ontario. Founded over 75 years ago, the organization is built on a solid foundation of excellence and continues to be the standard of reference for individual insurance and assistance, thanks to services that continually adapt to the changing needs of its clients.

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Source : Ontario Blue Cross
Information for media only (no access to customer records) :
Josiane Cousineau, Josiane.Cousineau@qc.croixbleue.ca, 514 738-4985 / +1 888-279-4584
Related links: https://on.bluecross.ca/

Toronto, March 18, 2020   –  Ontario Blue Cross announces that it will immediately stop selling individual travel insurance products for the entire Ontario market, until further notice.

This exceptional measure was undertaken in the context of efforts by public health authorities, both in Canada and abroad, to limit, the movements of individuals as much as possible, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Ontario Blue Cross believes that, in such circumstances, limiting travel to the fullest extent possible and encouraging the population to follow the recommendations of public health authorities is inseparable of its mission to be a partner in health and wellness.

People who are currently traveling are, of course insured in accordance with their contracts. However, it is imperative that travelers currently outside the country make every effort to return immediately to Canada, as Ontario Blue Cross may be unable to assist them due to the scale of the crisis and the limited availability of medical resources abroad.

Ontario Blue Cross will reassess the situation on an ongoing basis in light of information and recommendations communicated by health and government authorities in the coming weeks.

Ontario Blue Cross customers are invited to consult on.bluecross.ca should they have any questions.

About Ontario Blue Cross

Ontario Blue Cross contributed to introducing health and travel insurance to Ontario. Founded over 75 years ago, the organization is built on a solid foundation of excellence and continues to be the standard of reference for individual insurance and assistance, thanks to services that continually adapt to the changing needs of its clients.

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Source : Ontario Blue Cross
Information for media only (no access to customer records) :
Josiane Cousineau, Josiane.Cousineau@qc.croixbleue.ca, 514 738-4985 / +1 888-279-4584

Canadian Association of Blue Cross^® Plans confirms change pertaining to Coronavirus (COVID-19) policy for trip cancellation effective March 12, 2020.

March 11, 2020 — Canadian Association of Blue Cross^® Plans are advising eligibility restrictions for trip cancellation coverage provided through its travel insurance policies regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. They confirm that the pandemic of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is now considered a “known issue”. Effective March 12, 2020 the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is no longer an unknown risk when customers purchase trip cancellation with their travel insurance. This information applies to individual personal policies ONLY and does not apply to group employer policies.

Travel insurance including trip cancellation coverage purchased prior to this date covers cancellations due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic for destinations that were not already excluded, as it was an unknown risk at the time of purchase.

In just a few weeks, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic became a major public health issue across the globe. Blue Cross sympathizes with and understands the concern of the general population and of travellers, as we count a growing number of cases and increasingly restrictive preventive measures. Customers who planned and paid for their travel arrangements before this situation became a “known issue” can be reassured that their coverage remains in place and that they will be provided the assistance they require, as part of their policy.

As coverage and exclusions vary across these types of plans, the Association recommends customers to review their policy booklet and take note of the plan and travel benefit exclusions.

Tips for travellers protected by an individual Blue Cross trip cancellation or interruption insurance:
 

• In general, trip cancellation or interruption insurance does not cover risks related to destinations covered by a Canadian government advisory to “avoid all travel” or “avoid non-essential travel” at the time of purchase. This includes specific regions or the recent warnings about cruises. It means that customers who purchased a trip and an insurance policy before such official warning are covered but those who purchased their trip after are not.
• Travel insurance that includes trip cancellation coverage purchased with Blue Cross on March 11, 2020 or earlier still covers cancellations for any future advisories regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19), for the destinations that were not already excluded (part of an “avoid all travel” or “avoid non-essential travel” advisory).
• Travel insurance that includes trip cancellation coverage purchased with Blue Cross as of March 12, 2020 or after does not cover cancellations due to the pandemic of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) even if an advisory was not in place at the time of purchase.
• For annual travel insurance policies including trip cancellation, only trips purchased and paid for until March 11, 2020 will be covered.
   

Now, more than ever, customers should consider purchasing travel insurance and verify the terms and conditions of coverage as insurance excludes known situations or conditions. Although Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a known situation, purchasing travel insurance including emergency medical, cancellation and interruption still provides valuable protection for other unknown risks.

For more information, see our FAQ on the COVID-19.

About Blue Cross

As Canada’s leading benefit provider, Blue Cross delivers health and travel coverage to more than seven million Canadians. The members of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans are the 6 independent Blue Cross plans operating in all regions across the country.

Contact: Josiane Cousineau, Vice-President of Marketing and Public Relations, cell: 514-267-3526, email: Josiane.Cousineau@qc.croixbleue.ca

Montreal, December 5, 2019 – The Canassurance Hospital Service Association (Blue Cross^® Canassurance™) and Blue Cross Life Insurance Company of Canada will enter into a Canada-wide alliance as of January 2, 2020. Blue Cross Canassurance will become a shareholder of Blue Cross Life, in alignment with the other members of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans.

“Blue Cross Canassurance is very pleased to join Blue Cross Life together with the other Blue Cross member plans. This alliance will contribute to strengthening the collaboration between the various Blue Cross plans across Canada, thus reinforcing our ability to provide excellent products and services to our customers and business partners”, stated Sylvain Charbonneau, President and CEO of Blue Cross Canassurance.

The Blue Cross plans always favored working collaboratively to optimize their individual and shared strengths in order to offer customers solutions that support improved health and wellness. This important agreement will enable Blue Cross Canassurance to ensure that it meets the evolving needs of its customers.

“This alliance marks an important step in achieving our strategy of operating on a truly national level; it strengthens our business while improving our capacity to work with the Blue Cross plans throughout Canada”, stated Marie-Josée Martin, President and CEO of Blue Cross Life.

As this alliance is subject to approval by regulatory authorities, a submission has been filed with Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI).

About Blue Cross Canassurance

The Canassurance Hospital Service Association (Blue Cross Canassurance) contributed to introducing health and travel insurance to Quebec and Ontario. Founded over 75 years ago, the organization is built on solid foundation of excellence and continues to be the reference standard for individual insurance and assistance, thanks to services that continually adapt to the changing needs of its clients. It operates under the names Québec Blue Cross^® and Ontario Blue Cross^® and provides assistance through its subsidiary CanAssistance Inc.

About Blue Cross Life Insurance Company of Canada

Blue Cross Life is a federally-licensed company with operations located in several provinces. The Company is owned by four shareholders, operating as Alberta Blue Cross, Saskatchewan Blue Cross, Manitoba Blue Cross, Medavie Blue Cross. It specializes in life and living benefits insurance to supplement the portfolio of health and dental products distributed by its shareholder Blue Cross plans.

For more information, please contact:
Blue Cross Canassurance
Josiane Cousineau
514-286-8429

Blue Cross Life
Jennifer Taylor
902-496-7045

Publication date: 2018-10-05

Ontario Blue Cross is proud to announce the launch of Serenity Service, in partnership with BLINK, an Insurtech firm specializing in data-based digital travel disruption insurance solutions.

Serenity Service is automatically available at no extra cost to Blue Cross travel insurance customers.

Comfort for our clients

Serenity Service provides insured travellers whose flights are delayed exclusive advantages to ensure their comfort. Depending on the length of the delay, the service offers privileged access either to an airport lounge or a nearby hotel room.

All a traveller has to do is create an account on SerenityService.ca and then register their flight information and Ontario Blue Cross policy number. All flights are tracked in real-time and the traveller is automatically informed, by text message or email, the moment the flight posts a delay of at least three hours.

A first in North America

“New technologies enable us to be there for our clients, from the moment their trip begins, when situations beyond their control, such as a delayed flight, can bring on a lot of stress,” stated Sylvain Charbonneau, President and CEO of the company. “We’re very proud to be the first insurer in North America to provide travellers with this type of real-time service.”

Blue Cross^® was voted Most Trust Brand™ in travel insurance by Canadian consumers in 2017 and 2018.

Mégane Tardif, 17, talks about battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma. A story about a young woman’s dreams for her future.

Thank you to all our travel agent partners for voting for us! Blue Cross has been voted #3 in the Baxter Travel Media’s 2017 Agent’s Choice Awards. We strive to bring our travel agents the best service and products for their clients. Our team is dedicated to supporting our travel agent partners in providing Canadians with the highest quality travel insurance coverage available. We are honoured to be voted one of Canada’s top three insurance providers in the insurance category.

In its first year in the Leger ranking of Canada’s most reputable companies, Blue Cross has debuted as the #1 health benefits provider in the insurance sector—ahead of other established benefits providers. Blue Cross also ranked in the top third of the most reputable brands in Canada.

Blue Cross was measured across a number of reputational categories and scored highest among health benefit providers for corporate citizenship, quality, honesty and transparency. The brand also earned a high awareness rating of 89 per cent.

Of the 230 brand reputations assessed through the survey, which includes retail and consumer brands, Blue Cross ranks within the top 100 brands in Canada at #75 on the top 100 list.

The Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans is comprised of seven regional, not-for-profit health benefits providers that collectively serve more than 7 million Canadians. Each operates independently to provide health, dental, life, disability and travel coverage for workplaces and individuals from coast to coast. The Association is affiliated with the worldwide Blue Cross Blue Shield network. The Blue Cross ranking in the Canadian study reaffirms Blue Cross as the most recognized and trusted health care brand in the world.

Leger polled more than 25,000 Canadians for the survey of 230 companies in January 2016. Results are published in Marketing Magazine.

Blue Cross has been made aware of “mystery shopper” and “lottery” scams that include counterfeit cheques with a facsimile of the Blue Cross logo. Be advised that all such documents are fraudulent and are not related to or sanctioned by Blue Cross in any way.

We never participate in gaming activities and do not issue cheques like these.

We are monitoring the situation and have security measures in place to ensure fraudulent cheques are not processed.

Your privacy and the security of your assets is of the utmost importance to us. If you have received one of these letters and/or cheques, please keep a copy and advise us immediately.  If you have any questions, please contact us.

Advisors could play key role in helping clients prepare for major health risks