Disclosure Statement

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

  • PacBlue Life Services Ltd. is a Life and General licensed insurance agency which sells, distributes, and administers products underwritten by multiple insurers.
  • PBC Health Benefits Society is the underwriter of Health, Dental and Travel Medical Insurance coverages and is regulated by the British Columbia Financial Services Authority (BCFSA).
  • Blue Cross Life Insurance Company of Canada (“Blue Cross Life”) is the underwriter of Life Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Disability Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance, and Air Flight Accident Benefit coverages and is regulated by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI).
  • The Canassurance Insurance Company Inc. (“Canassurance”) is the underwriter of Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption and Baggage Insurance coverages and is regulated by the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF).

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

  • The applicant – you, the member
  • The insurer – being one of PBC Health Benefits Society, Blue Cross Life Insurance Company of Canada and/or The Canassurance Insurance Company Inc.
  • The Agency – PacBlue Life Services Ltd., and where applicable, an Intermediary (defined below).

PacBlue Life Services Ltd. 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 online on Pacific Blue Cross’ website, or by a licensed insurance agent who is a salaried employee of PacBlue Life Services Ltd. 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 the insurers noted above, the insurance policy is underwritten by multiple insurers.

PacBlue Life Services Ltd. is compensated by each insurer as follows:

  • For insurance underwritten by PBC Health Benefits Society, for facilitating insurance sales transactions, compensation is by way of a management fee paid by PBC Health Benefits Society.
  • For insurance underwritten by Blue Cross Life Insurance Company of Canada, 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., 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, PBC Health Benefits Society 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 you and the underwriter(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.

 

To reach the underwriter:

PBC Health Benefits Society dba Pacific Blue Cross
4250 Canada Way, Burnaby, British Columbia V5G 4W6

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

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