November 10, 2021
We live in a diverse society – diverse in its culture, its languages, ethnicities and genders. Today, as part of its ongoing efforts to support our diverse Canadian workforce, Medavie Blue Cross will be expanding its benefits offering to include a Gender Affirmation Benefit.
“Supporting members and their families in their gender transition is one example of the actions we are taking to update our benefit plans to better reflect the people we serve,” said Marc Avaria, Vice President, Product and Disability Management at Medavie Blue Cross. “Adding the Gender Affirmation Benefit to our offering allows plans to increase access and provide financial support to plan members throughout their transitioning process.”
Qualifying Medavie Blue Cross members of groups that offer the benefit will have access to coverage across a wide range of potential procedures that are supplemental to government-funded programs. The benefit builds on the organization’s recent work to adopt more inclusive language, a process that includes a review of all member tools and communications to ensure materials, conversations with clients, communications and its private business forms are inclusive.
“We are always working to identify opportunities where we can become a more inclusive health solutions partner,” said Avaria. “The Gender Affirmation Benefit and the updating of our language are great examples of this, as we ultimately want to ensure we provide members with inclusive choices and inclusive language for accessing their benefits. We also want to foster a culture where our employees feel they can bring their true selves to work.”
In recent years, as a society, our understanding and acceptance of the differences between gender (how an individual identifies) and sex (how an individual is biologically identified at birth) has evolved. Given this, Medavie Blue Cross has begun updating its business forms and letters to use more inclusive language and options. Among the updates made to the forms is to remove all references to gender and adopt the use of more gender-neutral language. Employees also received the necessary training and tools to ensure all client and member communications reflect a more inclusive approach.
To help guide its DEI journey, Medavie has partnered with the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) – a progressive social organization that helps its partners to be more inclusive, free of prejudice and discrimination, and recognize diversity as an asset and not an obstacle.
“Progressive employer partners, like Medavie, play an important role in creating a more inclusive society,” said Michael Bach, Founder of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion. “We applaud any organization that is always searching to adopt forward-looking initiatives to meet the diverse needs of its employees and clients.”
About Medavie Blue Cross
Medavie Blue Cross is a premier all-in-one carrier that provides health, dental, travel, life and disability benefits, and administers various federal and provincial government-sponsored health programs. Together with Medavie Health Services, we are part of Medavie, a health solutions partner committed to improving the wellbeing of Canadians.
We are one of Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures and recognized as an Imagine Canada Caring Company. As a not-for-profit organization, we are proud to commit an annual social dividend to the Medavie Health Foundation to support programs and initiatives aimed at addressing some of our country's most pressing physical and mental health care challenges.
Media Contact
For further information:
Eric McLean
Senior Communications Advisor
Medavie Blue Cross
416-801-6219
[email protected]