Explore coverage for a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace
What is DEI in the workplace
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are essential to creating a positive and productive workplace culture. Through DEI programs, policies and strategies, an organization can create and sustain an environment that both respects and accommodates every employee’s needs.
Our commitment to DEI
Pacific Blue Cross is committed to promoting and protecting the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) of its employees and members. As BC’s largest Health Benefits Society, we also understand that DEI is a journey of continual learning and improvement, not a singular destination. We will continue to update our offerings to be more inclusive, engage in dialogue and diversity education for our staff, and inform ourselves on ongoing learnings about the impact of cultural identifiers on health.
As a proud sponsor of the Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council with the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, a member of the Canadian Centre of Diversity Inclusion, and through our partnership with Pride at Work, Pacific Blue Cross is continuously learning and assessing our culture, products, and processes to ensure our growth in the principles of DEI.
When DEI is celebrated, everyone wins
As a plan sponsor, your commitment to DEI can:
- Give your employees freedom to express themselves authentically and improve their wellbeing.
- Create an innovative environment where employees are comfortable sharing their ideas and speaking up.
- Help your employees be more productive, committed and happier at work.
- Attract and retain top talent within the organization.
As a plan member, access to inclusive coverage can:
- Ensure that your healthcare benefits are flexible and tailored to your unique needs.
- Help to alleviate financial barriers to care and reduce stress.
- Enable equitable access to the highest quality healthcare.
Support we provide
Gender-Affirming Care
Coverage for treatment and care that supports plan members in aligning their physical body to their authentic gender identity.
Family Planning
Financial support for individuals or couples affected by fertility issues in their family planning journey.
Gender-Affirming Care
We recognize the uniqueness of gender-affirming journeys and understand that the path to living authentically varies for each person. While some individuals may choose gender-affirming care and treatment as a means to align with their true selves, the associated expenses can pose challenges.
Our Gender-Affirming Care benefit aims to alleviate financial barriers, offering support to members undergoing the transitioning process so they feel confident in living as their identified gender.
Gender-Affirming Care offers members and their dependents coverage for surgeries and procedures that are not covered by their provincial/territorial health care plan. Our approach includes flexible coverage options, ensuring your employees receive support during their gender transitioning journey.
57% of trans Canadians report not having sufficient access to gender-affirming care
In a 2021 survey by Statistics Canada, 57% of respondents who identified as transgender, gender diverse, non-binary/agender, Two-Spirit or intersex, shared that they do not have access to or don’t know if they have access to gender-affirming health services and related products.
Only half of Canadian employers offer gender affirmation coverage
Only 50 per cent of Canada’s group benefits providers include gender affirmation coverage. By offering these benefits employers can attract a wider talent pool.
Trans and non-binary people face health disparity
Trans and non-binary people are three times more likely to be in a low-income bracket and five times more likely to have unmet health needs than that of the rest of the population. They also experience nine times higher suicide rates.
(Source: James et al 2016; Statistics Canada 2023; Trans Pulse Canada 2020a,b [N=538 in BC])
Eligibility and coverage options
Eligibility
All Gender-Affirming Care benefits require a diagnosis of gender dysphoria or gender incongruence. The diagnosis can be made by a:
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- Medical Doctor
- Nurse Practitioner
- Clinical Social Worker
- Psychologist
All procedures must be performed by a practitioner, provider, or physician approved by PBC.
In addition to a diagnosis, all surgeries require pre-approval and a surgical recommendation.
Core coverage
Offer your plan members coverage for surgeries, gender-affirming products and procedures not covered under their provincial or territorial health care plan, or existing extended health plan.
Care and treatments
Up to Reasonable and Customary limits, plan deductible and co-insurance applies.
Maximum lifetime amounts
Amount per insured person at the policyholder’s choice, starting at $10,000, in increments of $5,000
Surgeries
- Breast Construction
- Chest construction surgeries. Includes mastectomy and contouring
- Hysterectomy. Includes salpingo-oophorectomy
- Penis construction – includes erectile tissue release, metoidioplasty, phalloplasty, vaginectomy, scrotoplasty
- Tracheal shaving
- Vagina construction. Includes vulvoplasty, vaginoplasty, clitoroplasty, labiaplasty penectomy and orchiectomy
- Vocal surgery
Gender-affirming products and support procedures
- Brassiere for bra inserts
- Bra inserts
- Lower body gaff
- Packer - phallus, securement, with Stand to Pee device
- Upper body binder
- Vaginal Dilator
- Electrolysis or laser hair removal – face, chest or pre-surgical (in preparation of phalloplasty or vaginoplasty surgeries).
Core + Enhanced coverage
Add Enhanced coverage to Core coverage to increase your plan members’ access to additional gender-affirming reconstructive surgeries.
Includes everything under Core, plus:
- Cheek surgery. Includes submalar/malar implants, buccal lipectomy
- Chest implant surgery. Includes pectoral and breast implant surgery
- Eyelid lift. Includes blepharoplasty
- Face lift. Includes rhytidectomy
- Forehead lift. Includes brow bone reduction, brow lift
- Gluteal lift. Includes gluteal implant surgery
- Hair transplant. Includes FUE, FUT, hair transplantation, tissue expansion, flap surgery, scalp reduction
- Jawbone surgery
- Lipofilling
- Liposuction. Includes lipoplasty
- Nose surgery. Includes rhinoplasty
Family Planning
Our Family Planning benefit covers fertility treatment and adoption services, reducing the financial stress associated with individuals and couples looking to start or expand their families.
Our coverage has been developed in partnership with the BC Women’s Health Foundation, who provided valuable insights to women’s health and helped us design benefits that actively promote DEI. Together, we’re working to ensure that all women and families have equitable access to the highest quality healthcare when, where and how they need it.
One in six Canadian couples experience infertility
Roughly one in six couples in Canada experience infertility. The average cost in Canada for one round of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments is between $10,000 and $20,000. Depending on age, the success rate can vary from 44% for those under the age of 35, and 33% for those over the age of 38.
Less than half of Canadian employers offer fertility benefits
Only 47% of employers in Canada offer fertility benefits. Of these, less than 2% cover both drugs and treatment costs. By offering these benefits employers can attract a wider talent pool.
Family planning coverage boosts employee retention
77% of people said that they would stay longer at their company if they were offered fertility benefits. 88% said that they would consider changing employer if these benefits were offered.
Eligibility and coverage options
Eligibility
Available to employees whose plan sponsor has included this benefit as part of their extended health care benefits.
- Fertility Services must be completed at a Fertility Centre in Canada, by a Physician with the credentials of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, and Obstetrics and Gynecology.
- Adoption Services must be provided by a licensed Adoption agency in Canada.
Fertility drugs
If your current Pacific Blue Cross plan does not include supplementary coverage for fertility drugs, this plan option offers your plan members coverage for fertility-related prescription drugs not covered under their provincial or territorial health care plan.
Care and treatments
Up to Reasonable and Customary limits, plan deductible and co-insurance applies.
Maximum lifetime amounts
Amount per insured person at the policyholder’s choice, in $5,000 increments
Eligible expenses
Fertility drugs
Family Planning Benefit bundle
Provide your plan members with all the same benefits under Fertility drugs, plus the addition of fertility treatment and adoption coverage.
Care and treatments
All the care and treatments under Fertility drugs, plus:
Fertility coverage
- In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Cycle
- Egg Freezing Cycle
- Sperm extraction procedures
- Sperm Freezing Cycle
- Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
- Embryo Transfer
- Storage Fees (eggs, embryo, sperm)
- Embryo Freezing
- Fertility Testing
Adoption coverage
- Legal fees
- Agency fees
- Criminal record checks