This theme celebrates the power of women’s lived experiences and the impact of shared stories in shaping a more equitable future. One critical area where women’s voices need to be heard is in health research and care, particularly in understanding women’s changing health needs at every stage of life.

HER-BC Study: Amplifying women’s health stories in British Columbia

In 2024, Pacific Blue Cross was incredibly proud to partner with the Women’s Health Research Institute and the BC Women’s Health Foundation to uncover the health needs of midlife women in BC through the HER-BC study. Menopause is a natural transition that will affect around half of the population – yet its impacts, ranging from debilitating daily symptoms to longer-term health risks, are often misunderstood or dismissed.

As one study participant shared: “It’s like hitting a brick wall and not coming out the same person at the other side. And nobody prepares you for it quite the way it happens.”

By gathering data from women across the province and providing a platform for women to share their stories with the clinical community and broader public, HER-BC is helping to shape better health care and workplace policies, while building awareness of the treatments and resources that are available to women so that they can live healthy lives without disruption.

With additional support from Shirley Weir, founder of Menopause Chicks, we’ve made a commitment to support better menopause visibility in the workplace by developing an e-learning module built around stories of women at each stage of the menopause transition. This module is freely available to the public, so that they too can advance menopause education in the workplace.

YWCA Women of Distinction Awards: Recognizing outstanding workplaces

Pacific Blue Cross is honoured to be nominated for a YWCA Women of Distinction Award in the Outstanding Workplace category, recognizing organizations that foster inclusive workplace cultures and support employees in balancing career and personal growth.

This nomination reflects our commitment to equity, wellbeing, and professional development through initiatives such as enhanced paid leave for gender-affirming care and employees experiencing domestic violence, a free onsite gym, annual scholarships for employees’ children, tuition reimbursement, and a multipurpose serenity room for nursing, meditation, reflection, or prayer.

We also support women’s leadership through programs like Learning as Leaders, a year-long development opportunity for emerging leaders. We are proud to be recognized for creating a workplace where people feel supported, included, and empowered to succeed.

Building on past research: In Her Words

In 2019 the In Her Words report, again rooted in the stories of women from across our province, uncovered some of the stark realities of the health care system and how this has historically disadvantaged women, leading to poorer health outcomes.

The report, produced by the BC Women’s Health Foundation in partnership with Pacific Blue Cross, highlights gender gaps in health care and barriers that women face in accessing medical support. It revealed that many women feel unheard and underserved when it comes to their health concerns, particularly in areas like reproductive health and chronic pain.

As one participant stated: “I knew what I was experiencing wasn’t normal […] I felt dismissed, like it was all in my head.”

By continuing to expand and build on women’s health research specific to British Columbia, we can drive meaningful change, ensuring that real women’s stories shape the future of health services in our province.

The role of health benefits providers in addressing health inequities

Health plan design is powerful way for benefits providers to contribute towards tackling health inequities. By developing plans with women’s unique needs at top of mind, we can ensure that they are offered comprehensive, affordable access to the care they need. Our mission at Pacific Blue Cross is to improve health and wellbeing for British Columbians, and this drives us in our work to promote equitable access to care that addresses health realities for women.

In 2023, as a result of our ongoing partnership work with the BC Women’s Health Foundation, we launched a first-of-its-kind Personal Health Insurance plan that includes family planning benefits, incorporating fertility drugs, fertility treatments and adoptions costs. We also developed plans offering a “new parent boost” for additional physiotherapy and mental health support for new and expecting parents. We are committed to ongoing innovation work, as we look for ways that our plans can continue to better support women at work and beyond.

Celebrating strength in every story

This International Women’s Day let’s honour the resilience and strength in every woman’s health story. By amplifying women’s health experiences and supporting research, we can pave the way for better healthcare solutions, greater awareness, and a more inclusive future.

Read more about our commitment to improving health and wellbeing for women in British Columbia.