Customized group health plans

Included as part of Extended Health benefits

Every Extended Health benefits plan includes access to the Employee Family Assistance Program (EFAP) and Virtual Care, in collaboration with Homewood Health and Cleveland Clinic Canada.

Employee Family Assistance Program (EFAP)

Coverage provides access to a variety of mental health and wellness supports. Homewood Health’s EFAP provides confidential, professional services for a broad range of personal and family challenges by telephone, in person and online.

Virtual Care

Coverage provides access to virtual care services through Cleveland Clinic Express Care Online (ECO). ECO connects you with a Cleveland Clinic Canada nurse practitioner to receive a diagnosis and/or prescription for non-emergency medical conditions. You can seek virtual care support as often as needed.

Support oral health with basic dental services like cleanings and checkups while providing protection for employees needing more major treatment like bridges, crowns or dentures.

Dental plans can be customized to meet the specific needs of your employees to ensure they’re sustainable for your business. With the option of Pay Direct for Dentists, your plan members only pay for any amount not covered under their plan.

• Basic Dental Services
• Major Dental Services
• Orthodontic Services

Help take care of the health of your employees’ eyes with coverage for regular eye examinations and corrective eyewear.

• Glasses, contact lenses and/or visual training/remedial eye exercises

Protect employees against unexpected medical expenses for prescription drugs so they can live healthy and productive lives, whether it’s temporary antibiotics for strep throat or long-term medication to help regulate blood pressure. Plan sustainability is essential and Saskatchewan Blue Cross is committed to providing you with comprehensive, customizable and affordable options that work for your business.

Less up-front costs mean less out-of-pocket expenses. Our service model includes the option of Pay Direct for Pharmacists. The pharmacist knows immediately whether a particular drug is covered and how much the plan pays. Members only pay for any amount not covered under the plan.

• Saskatchewan Prescription Drug Plan Formulary drugs and/or non-Formulary drugs
• Client Reimbursement Card or Pay Direct Card

Travel insurance coverage includes up to $5,000,000 in Emergency Medical Care benefits, so your team can take meaningful time away without worrying about unexpected medical expenses.

• Ambulance services
• Dental services
• Hospital accommodation
• Meals and accommodation
• Medical appliances
• Health practitioners
• Nursing services
• Prescription drugs
• Referrals outside of Canada
• Return home as a result of illness
• Repatriation
• Transportation to visit the insured

Give your employees the security of knowing that if they’re faced with tragic circumstances, financial support will be available for their family. Employee Life coverage is automatically included, with optional coverage benefits and enhancements available on an individual member basis. Empathy is a core value at Saskatchewan Blue Cross, and our teams ensure that there is open, authentic communication and care throughout these life moments.

Employee Insurance

Allow your employees the security of knowing that in the event of their death, financial support will be available for their families. Money paid to beneficiaries will allow them to cover funeral costs and any outstanding debts.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment

Accidents can happen at any moment. Our accidental death and dismemberment coverage provides financial security when an employee and their family are faced with such tragic circumstances. This coverage provides coverage for:

• An accidental death
• The accidental dismemberment of part or all of a limb
• Loss of sight, hearing or speech
• Fractions of the principal sum are payable for other losses

Dependent Life (from 28 weeks gestation)

Life insurance is also an option for children and/or spouses that are included in the plan.

Providing your employees with flexibility and choice is invaluable. Your employees can take advantage of lower group rates and tailored coverage amounts specific to their needs with Optional Employee Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D).

An employee-paid benefit, Optional Group Life and Optional AD&D provide protection over and above basic coverage amounts in the event of an untimely death or an accident that results in a death or serious injury respectively.

Optional Employee Life and Optional Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage are each available in units of $10,000 to a maximum of $250,000 or $500,000.

Financial security for your employees and your business is critical. Disability insurance replaces a portion of your employee’s income if they become disabled and are unable to work. Partnership and accessibility are key factors for success and Saskatchewan Blue Cross offers a holistic and proactive approach to managing and coordinating the many resources available to assist a disabled employee, including access to specialists to address the challenges encountered in today’s changing work environment. With a return-to-work focus, caring and communicative approach, active claims management and local presence, our Disability Management team offers best-in class support.

• Weekly Indemnity Insurance provides weekly benefits for up to 6 months
• Long-term Disability Insurance provides monthly benefits for disabilities lasting 4 months or longer
• Top-up Coverage may be purchased by eligible employees to enhance an employer’s disability coverage

Disability Management

People-First Approach

Through personalized service and open communication, we work collaboratively to ensure the best possible outcome for claimants and your organization. We believe that partnership and accessibility are key factors for success in what can be a challenging area of benefits management.

Safe and Sustainable Returns to Work

Our philosophy is focused on ability, return to health and return to work. The Case Management team at Saskatchewan Blue Cross provides a holistic and proactive approach to manage and coordinate the many resources that can be utilized to assist a disabled employee in their effort to regain productivity.

A key part of this proactive approach is to ensure a strong working relationship with your Plan Administrators to minimize the impact of productivity loss by providing regular status updates and recommendations.

Employees can apply for Optional Enhanced Critical Illness Insurance, available in units of $10,000 to a maximum of $250,000 (in combination with standard Enhanced Critical Illness.) This benefit is available for groups with 500+ members.

Unlike disability insurance that provides monthly installments to replace a portion of an employee’s income, critical illness insurance provides a lump sum cash payment. The benefit is paid regardless of the employee’s ability to work or of expenses incurred.

Your employees may use the payment in any way – there are no restrictions on how the money is spent. For example, they may choose to use the money to:

• Pay for the costs of bringing home friends or family members in his/her time of need
• Pay off outstanding debts
• Help with home renovations required to accommodate new physical limitations
• Provides a lump sum cash payment to help with the financial impact of an unexpected critical illness

Supplement your existing group plan in the most cost-effective way. With Cost Plus, your employee pays for their medical expenses with personal funds. As an employer, the benefits of cost plus include:

• Flexibility — Help cover costs that are limited or not included in your current plan.
• Tax-deductible expenses — Eligible expenses and administration fees may be considered as a business expense
• Human resources strategy — Attract and retain the best employees
• Convenience — You pay no monthly premiums
• Cost effective — You provide tax-free benefits to your employees at a lower cost than other plans.

Easy to use

Available to all employees of your organization who are covered by a Blue Cross health and dental plan, Cost Plus allows employees to be reimbursed for expenses that are partially covered. It’s a simple claim process, and means your employees get their money back faster.

Employee Family Assistance Program (EFAP)

Mental illness is a leading cause of disability in Canada. EFAP directly supports employee mental health through short-term, confidential counseling services. To deliver high quality and individualized support, we’ve partnered with Homewood Health—a Canadian leader in mental health and addiction services. Support is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week. EFAP helps employees by:

• Improving personal wellbeing
• Managing relationships and family
• Addressing workplace challenges
• Taking financial and legal control in life

Health Spending Accounts

Health Spending Accounts (HSA) reimburse health expenses not covered by your Workplace Benefits Plan or government programs, and help with co-insurance payments, deductibles, and amounts in excess of health and dental plan limits. An HSA allows you to address specific individual health needs by delivering greater choice to your employees while maintaining cost control and limiting your financial liability. You specify the amount of pre-tax credit to be deposited into an account administered by Saskatchewan Blue Cross. Your employees use the credits toward medical expenses that meet the eligibility criteria of the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA).

Personal Wellness Accounts

Personal Wellness Accounts (PWA) address employee health and wellness needs at a holistic level, providing support for physical health, mental and emotional health, career health, and quality of life. You choose eight of the following categories, available in any combination:

• Health & Wellness Support
• Fitness & Sports Activities & Equipment
• Insurance Premiums
• Family Care
• Other Medical
• Supplements & Meal Replacement
• Green Living
• General Lifestyle
• Alternative Health Treatments
• Recreation & Leisure
• Personal Development
• Productivity

You determine the amount of credit to be allocated to the employee’s account. Your employees use the credits toward expenses related to maintaining and enhancing health and wellness. The CRA defines the majority of PWA expenses as taxable benefits.

Second Opinion

Ensure your employees receive the right care, at the right time. Second Opinion is a valuable service that broadens care and treatment options for your employees. Completely confidential, it allows eligible plan members and dependents with qualifying medical conditions access to an independent medical review done by top specialists in the world.