PBC Health Benefits Society, dba Pacific Blue Cross, and its wholly owned subsidiary, PacBlue Life Services Ltd., dba Pacific Blue Cross Agency, are committed to providing their members and clients with full disclosure and transparency on all insurance-related transactions, processes, and procedures.

There are several parties involved in an application for insurance coverage:

• The applicant – you
• The policy holder – you, the member
• The insurer(s) or underwriter(s) of the coverage – see “Underwriters” section below for details
• The agency – Pacific Blue Cross Agency, and where applicable, an Intermediary (defined below).

Pacific Blue Cross Agency is responsible for facilitating sales transactions between the applicant and the insurer. This role is carried out via e-commerce through a quote/purchase option on Pacific Blue Cross’ website, or by a licensed insurance agent who is a salaried employee of the agency and does not receive commission. All licensed insurance agents hold the appropriate insurance license to complete the transaction as required by the Insurance Council of British Columbia.

Applicants may also choose to apply for insurance coverage through a Broker, Advisor or Consultant (“Intermediary” or collectively “Intermediaries”) authorized by the insurer, and who must hold the appropriate insurance license to complete the transaction as required by the Insurance Council of British Columbia. If the applicant chooses to apply for insurance coverage and complete the transaction through an Intermediary, the Intermediary is then compensated by payment of a commission.

If the insurance product purchased contains a combination of coverages from various insurers, the insurance policy is underwritten by multiple insurers.

Pacific Blue Cross Agency is compensated by each insurer as follows:

• For insurance underwritten by Pacific Blue Cross, for facilitating insurance sales transactions, compensation is by way of a management fee paid by Pacific Blue Cross.
• For insurance underwritten by Blue Cross Life Insurance Company of Canada (“Blue Cross Life”), for facilitating insurance sales transactions, administration and case management, compensation is by way of a sales and service fee paid by Blue Cross Life.
• For insurance underwritten by The Canassurance Insurance Company Inc. (“Canassurance”), for facilitating insurance sales transactions, administration and claims management compensation is by way of a sales and service fee paid by Canassurance.

In some cases, Pacific Blue Cross may also pay a referral fee to a party unrelated to the transaction.

After the insurance transaction is complete, the insurance contract (policy) is between the policy holder (member) and the insurer(s).

For more information on the requirements of this Disclosure Statement, refer to the Financial Products Disclosure Regulation of the Financial Institutions Act and the Insurance Council of BC Code of Conduct.

Underwriters

The following is a list of underwriters covering the range of health benefits and insurance products and services provided by Pacific Blue Cross:

Group Health Benefits

Insured group health, dental and out-of-country travel benefits are underwritten by Pacific Blue Cross.

Insured group life, disability and accidental death & dismemberment benefits are underwritten by Blue Cross Life.

Some benefit plans are managed by Pacific Blue Cross on an Administration Services Only (ASO) basis. For details on the underwriter of these plans, please contact the plan administrator directly.

Personal Health Insurance and Travel Medical Insurance

Health, dental and travel insurance plans purchased by individuals are underwritten by Pacific Blue Cross.

Air Flight Accident benefit and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance

Air Flight Accident and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) benefits are underwritten by Blue Cross Life.

Trip Protection Insurance

Trip cancellation, interruption, airline delays and baggage loss, damage or delay benefits are underwritten by Canassurance.

Critical Illness Insurance

Individually purchased critical illness insurance benefits are underwritten by Blue Cross Life.

Individual Life Insurance

Purchased after August 1, 2024:
Individually purchased term life insurance benefits and any additional riders added to the member’s policy are underwritten by Blue Cross Life.

Purchased before August 1, 2024:
Individually purchased term life insurance benefits and any additional riders added to the member’s policy are underwritten by Assumption Mutual Life Insurance Company.

Underwriter and Regulator Information

Pacific Blue Cross
4250 Canada Way, Burnaby, British Columbia V5G 4W6

Pacific Blue Cross is regulated by the British Columbia Financial Services Authority (BCFSA)

Blue Cross Life Insurance Company of Canada
644 Main Street, Moncton, New Brunswick E1C 8L3 

Blue Cross Life is regulated by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI).

Canassurance Insurance Company
1981, avenue McGill College, bureau 105 Montréal, Québec H3A 0H6

Canassurance is regulated by the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF).

Assumption Mutual Life Insurance Company
770 Main Street, PO Box 160, Moncton, NB E1C 8L1

Assumption Life is regulated by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI).

Trademarks

Pacific Blue Cross is a registered trademark of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans and a registered tradename of PBC Health Benefits Society, an independent licensee of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans.

Blue Shield is a registered trademark of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

Pacific Blue Cross Agency is a registered trademark of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans and a registered tradename of PacBlue Life Services Ltd., a licensed insurance agency and wholly owned subsidiary of PBC Health Benefits Society.