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Our story

Over 75 years of caring

Medavie Blue Cross is a premier all-in-one carrier that provides health, dental, travel, life and disability benefits to individuals and organizations nation-wide.

Founded in 1943, we also administer various government-sponsored health programs on behalf of provincial and federal governments, including Veterans Affairs Canada, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Our not-for-profit organization is a member of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross plans that collectively provide coverage to over seven million Canadians.

Together with Medavie Health Services, the largest private provider of emergency medical services in Canada, we are part of Medavie, a health organization that employs more than 8,000 Canadians.

What's in a name?

Med-a-vie: our name combines the English word medical with the French words for to life (à vie), reflecting the scope of our coverage.


Our History

​1943
​1943

Maritime Hospital Service Association commences operations in Nova Scotia

1944
1944

Maritime Hospital Service Association is incorporated in New Brunswick and PEI

1949
1949

Maritime Hospital Service Association is incorporated in Newfoundland

1954
1954

We become known as the Maritime Blue Cross–Blue Shield Association

1986
1986

The Maritime Blue Cross–Blue Shield Association is renamed Blue Cross of Atlantic Canada

1997
1997

Emergency Medical Care (EMC), a subsidiary of Maritime Medical Care, is incorporated to provide ambulance services to Nova Scotia.

1999
1999

Maritime Medical Care and Blue Cross of Atlantic Canada join operations under the trade name Atlantic Blue Cross Care.

2001
2001

Atlantic Blue Cross Care assumes responsibility for marketing group benefits in Ontario and Quebec.

2003
2003

A new corporate entity called Medavie Inc. is formed

2005
2005

The name Medavie Blue Cross is adopted across all markets

2006
2006

Medavie EMS Group of Companies is formed; EMC is governed under this new entity. Inception of province-wide system in PEI leads to creation of Island EMS

2007
2007

New Brunswick EMS commences operations with the creation of a new province-wide system

2009
2009

Medavie EMS Ontario begins providing service in the Muskoka region

2010
2010

Medavie Foundation is launched. Medacom Atlantic created to consolidate 911 service in PEI

2011
2011

Medavie HealthworX is launched to develop innovative and cost-effective health care solutions

2012
2012

Medavie EMS Ontario adds Chatham-Kent to its service regions. Operations in Alberta established through Prairie EMS; operations in Massachusetts established through EasCare Ambulance

2017
2017

Medavie EMS becomes Medavie Health Services