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Blue Cross Health

Assured Access

Our Assured Access plan lets you take your health benefits with you wherever you go—guaranteed for life.

Things change, but your health insurance doesn’t have to.

Having health insurance coverage today is crucial, but it doesn’t necessarily cover you forever. Group health benefits can be lost for multiple reasons, including career changes, a long-term disability, a leave of absence, or retirement, just to name a few. With Assured Access, you don’t have to worry about leaving your health coverage behind when you change jobs, leave jobs, or retire.

What Assured Access does is provide access to a comprehensive personal health plan in the event you no longer qualify for group benefits.

It takes a snapshot of your health situation today and guarantees your access to a personal health plan that would cover any new medical conditions that develop after that time. If you’re concerned about the loss of your group health benefits, Assured Access can provide long term security for you and for your family.

What Assured Access does is provide access to a comprehensive personal health plan in the event you no longer qualify for group benefits.

It takes a snapshot of your health situation today and guarantees your access to a personal health plan that would cover any new medical conditions that develop after that time. If you’re concerned about the loss of your group health benefits, Assured Access can provide long term security for you and for your family.

If you currently have employee health benefits but are retiring, losing your employment or changing jobs, your household can continue to enjoy lifetime access to health benefits.

Through your Assured Access coverage, you’ll have the opportunity to convert to a personal health plan. Best of all, there are no medical questions as long as you convert within 60 days of losing your group benefits.

If you currently have employee health benefits but are retiring, losing your employment or changing jobs, your household can continue to enjoy lifetime access to health benefits.

Through your Assured Access coverage, you’ll have the opportunity to convert to a personal health plan. Best of all, there are no medical questions as long as you convert within 60 days of losing your group benefits.

Did you know?

Provincial health care does not cover all your expenses and medical treatment can still leave you out of pocket thousands of dollars a year?

39 per cent of Canadian women and 45 per cent of men will develop cancer during their lifetimes? (Canadian Cancer Society)

Illness Annual Drug Cost

Pulmonary hypertension $53,029

Cancer $83,493

Psoriasis $21,164

Rheumatoid arthritis $22,091

Crohn’s disease $22,031

Osteoporosis $14,705

* Based on approximate drug costs in 2020 for a person with a moderate to severe case of the specified illness. Depending on the severity of the illness, the costs may be higher or lower than those listed.

Did you know?

Provincial health care does not cover all your expenses and medical treatment can still leave you out of pocket thousands of dollars a year?

39 per cent of Canadian women and 45 per cent of men will develop cancer during their lifetimes? (Canadian Cancer Society)

Illness Annual Drug Cost

Pulmonary hypertension $53,029

Cancer $83,493

Psoriasis $21,164

Rheumatoid arthritis $22,091

Crohn’s disease $22,031

Osteoporosis $14,705

* Based on approximate drug costs in 2020 for a person with a moderate to severe case of the specified illness. Depending on the severity of the illness, the costs may be higher or lower than those listed.

The perks of Assured Access

A full wellness program: Assured Access provides access to inConfidence, our full service, confidential, assistance program. inConfidence offers over the phone and in-person, one-on-one counselling and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for you and for your eligible dependents. You will also get access to well-being web resources that help you support you with life, health, family, work, or financial issues

Cash benefit: In the event that you or one of your eligible dependents suffers an accident resulting in accidental death or dismemberment, Assured Access will provide you with a cash benefit of up to $10,000, to be spent at your discretion.

Waive waiting periods: With Assured Access, waiting periods for health (e.g. vision care and hearing aids) and hospital benefits will be waived automatically. If you wish to have dental benefits and had dental coverage under your group plan, we can waive your dental waiting periods as well. A letter from your former employer stating you had dental coverage, may be required.

Charge premiums against your income tax or to your HSA: Premiums for Assured Access can be added to your other medical expenses when calculating tax credits and premiums can qualify towards your group Health Spending Account.

The perks of Assured Access

A full wellness program: Assured Access provides access to inConfidence, our full service, confidential, assistance program. inConfidence offers over the phone and in-person, one-on-one counselling and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for you and for your eligible dependents. You will also get access to well-being web resources that help you support you with life, health, family, work, or financial issues

Cash benefit: In the event that you or one of your eligible dependents suffers an accident resulting in accidental death or dismemberment, Assured Access will provide you with a cash benefit of up to $10,000, to be spent at your discretion.

Waive waiting periods: With Assured Access, waiting periods for health (e.g. vision care and hearing aids) and hospital benefits will be waived automatically. If you wish to have dental benefits and had dental coverage under your group plan, we can waive your dental waiting periods as well. A letter from your former employer stating you had dental coverage, may be required.

Charge premiums against your income tax or to your HSA: Premiums for Assured Access can be added to your other medical expenses when calculating tax credits and premiums can qualify towards your group Health Spending Account.

Illness can strike anyone — no matter what your age

At 29 years old, Mark began treatment for elevated cholesterol and suffered a shoulder injury while playing hockey. Without a health plan, he pays $2,000 a year out of his own pocket for lipid lowering and anti-inflammatory medications.

When applying for a personal health plan, he would have to qualify medically, and any expenses related to his pre-existing conditions would not be covered. Not only would he have to pay the $2,000 a year for medication, but the plan’s premiums as well.

This is why it’s so important to have lifetime access to health benefits.

Learn more about Assured Access

Any health conditions existing when you purchased Assured Access - also called pre-existing conditions - may not be covered. However, you will be protected should you develop new conditions.

That is why it’s important to apply while you are healthy and before developing new conditions.

At the time of purchase, you may choose single, couple or family coverage. If family members qualify medically, they can be covered. Children and a spouse can be added to your Assured Access plan later. A spouse can be added within 60 days of marriage, and children can also be added within 60 days of birth or adoption, without having to answer medical questions. Otherwise, you can still add a spouse or dependents to your Assured Access plan, but they will be required to answer medical questions.

Under most group benefit plans, children are no longer eligible for benefits once they become 21 years of age. Some plans cover children up to age 25 or 26 if they are attending a post-secondary institution full time.

Dependent children covered under your Assured Access plan would be eligible to get their own health plan coverage when they are no longer eligible under your group plan. If your child develops a medical condition after enrolling in Assured Access, upon loss of group health benefits, this new condition will be covered by his or her personal health plan. Many customers purchase Assured Access to protect their children.

You will have access to our most comprehensive and affordable personal health plan. Complete Health by Medavie Blue Cross allows you to mix and match your coverage by selecting various health, drug, and dental modules to design a plan to meet your needs and budget best.

Yes. You can opt to continue paying a reduced fee for Assured Access when you activate your personal health plan. This provides you with the ability to put your health plan on hold again should you gain group benefits. When you activate your personal health plan, it’s not necessary to continue payment of your Assured Access plan. However, it may be recommended. We encourage you to discuss your future plans with a Medavie Blue Cross Individual advisor to understand your options.

Yes. To be eligible for Assured Access you will have to answer medical questions and qualify medically. Your plan will be based on your health situation today even though you may not need to access a personal health plan for several years.

If you have Assured Access, you will not be required to answer further medical questions when you lose your group plan, so long as you activate your personal health plan within 60 days of losing group benefits.

Yes. When you switch your Assured Access plan to a personal health plan, you will begin to pay the current rates for the personal health plan. When you activate the personal health plan, you become eligible to claim reimbursements for expenses covered under the plan. The change in premium reflects this new coverage. Rates are based on age, number of dependents and benefits selected. Contact Medavie Blue Cross Individual Sales or check the online quote tool to see today’s rates. Premiums are reviewed and adjusted once a year.

Have more questions?

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