Medavie Blue Cross is one of the leading employee benefits providers in Canada, serving employers across the country through a strong Blue Cross network. Known for its not-for-profit structure, financial stability, and nationwide coverage, Medavie delivers group benefits solutions designed to support both employers and employees.
This review tells employers about Medavie’s benefits. It looks at the company, benefit plans, administration, and reputation. The goal is a full view of a top Canadian benefits carrier for organizations improving benefits.
Medavie Blue Cross Company Overview
Medavie Blue Cross is a leading not-for-profit health solutions company in Canada, serving over 3.5 million individual and group members. Through its Blue Cross network, Medavie provides group health, dental, vision, disability, life, and travel benefits, along with specialty administration services.
Founded in 1943 as the Maritime Hospital Service Association, Medavie has grown into a national organization headquartered in Moncton, New Brunswick. Today, the organization employs thousands of Canadians and operates across multiple provinces through several business units, including Medavie Blue Cross, Medavie Travel Services, Medavie Health Services, Medavie ProCert, and Medavie EMS.
Medavie Blue Cross partners with professional associations, financial institutions and insurance brokers/advisors to deliver benefit solutions. They serve all industry segments, including healthcare, education, government, food services, manufacturing, oil and gas, construction, consulting and non-profit.
As a not-for-profit organization, Medavie reinvests its earnings into service quality, technology, and innovation rather than shareholder dividends, reinforcing its long-term focus on member outcomes and sustainable benefits delivery.
Medavie Blue Cross Employee Benefits Offerings
Medavie Blue Cross provides complete group benefits offerings and support covering all major categories:
Medavie Blue Cross Health Benefits
Medavie Blue Cross offers extensive health benefits, including prescription drugs, dental insurance, vision care, hospital, paramedical practitioners, medical supplies and more. They have partnered with many healthcare providers to ensure access across Canada. Here are some details on their significant offerings:
Medavie Blue Cross Prescription Drugs
Medavie Blue Cross drug plans are designed to balance access and cost sustainability. Depending on plan design, coverage may include:
- Covered items include insulin, diabetic supplies, iron supplements, allergy serums, etc.
- Support for high-cost specialty drugs like Enbrel, Humira, etc.
- Generic drug substitution policies to control costs
- Multiple plan choices – deductibles, co-insurance levels, annual caps
- Maintenance drug lists to lower copays on specific chronic medications
These features allow employers to manage rising drug costs while maintaining access to essential therapies.
Medavie Blue Cross Hospital Benefits
Hospital coverage supplements provincial plans by providing options such as:
- Private, semi-private or ward-level accommodation
- Convalescent care coverage post-hospitalization
- Cash allowance benefits are also offered
- Pre-approval programs to determine appropriateness
Hospital benefits are subject to medical necessity and plan provisions.
Medavie Blue Cross Paramedical Services
Extended health plans may include coverage for a range of licensed practitioners, such as:
- Acupuncturists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, osteopaths, etc.
- Individual and combined benefit maximums
- Additional coverage for mental health counselling
- Direct billing arrangements with many practitioners
Direct billing is available with many providers across Canada, helping reduce out-of-pocket expenses for employees.
Medavie Blue Cross Medical Supplies and Prosthetics
Coverage may extend to medically necessary supplies and equipment, including:
- Mobility aids, braces, wheelchairs, CPAP machines, etc.
- Artificial eyes/limbs, breast prosthetics after mastectomy
- Wigs for chemotherapy patients
- Blood glucose monitors for diabetics
Eligibility and reimbursement levels vary by plan design and medical requirements.
Medavie Blue Cross Vision Care
Vision benefits can be added to extended health plans to cover:
- Eye exams and diagnostic tests
- Prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses
- Corrective laser eye surgery
- Visual therapy, low vision aids
Overall, Medavie Blue Cross offers one of the more complete group benefits frameworks available in Canada, particularly for employers requiring broad health coverage and customization flexibility.
They integrate wellness options like dietitian services, which help enhance productivity and health. Employers can craft programs for different cohorts based on demographics and need analysis.
Medavie Blue Cross Dental Benefits
Medavie Blue Cross offers flexible dental plans ranging from basic preventive care to more comprehensive coverage.
Dental plan options may include:
- Basic dental care: exams, cleanings, x-rays, fillings, extractions, and root canals
- Enhanced dental coverage: crowns, bridges, periodontal treatments, and orthodontics for children or adults
- Reimbursement based on fee guides or percentage coverage
- Annual maximums with optional carryover features
- Electronic claims processing and direct payment to participating dental providers
Medavie Blue Cross works with a broad national dental network, ensuring convenient access to care for plan members.
Medavie Blue Cross Group Life and Disability Insurance
Medavie Blue Cross offers a rounded suite of life, accident and disability insurance options:
- Essential and optional life insurance
- Dependent and family life insurance
- Short and long-term disability (own occupation/any occupation definitions)
- Accidental death and dismemberment
- Advance payment options for terminal illnesses
- Survivor benefits for spouses
- Workplace modification and rehabilitation
- Employee assistance and mental health supports
- Waiver of premium for approved disabilities
Medavie Blue Cross takes an empathetic approach and has nurses, case workers, and specialists for disability case management. Its focus is on helping employees safely return to work.
Medavie Blue Cross Group Critical Illness Insurance
Medavie Blue Cross covers over 25 critical conditions under its critical illness plans. The main categories include:
- Cancer
- Heart conditions – attack, bypass surgery, etc.
- Strokes
- Major organ failure – kidney, lungs, etc.
- Neurological conditions – MS, Parkinson’s, dementia
- Loss of sight, hearing or speech
- Paralysis
Benefits are paid out as lump sums and can be used towards treatment, recovery and living costs. Employees have flexibility in how they utilize funds. Critical insurance also incentivizes early screening and lifestyle change.
Medavie Blue Cross Group Travel Insurance
Medavie Blue Cross provides emergency out-of-country medical coverage through Blue Cross Travel. Travel insurance is designed to complement provincial healthcare coverage and typically includes:
- Inpatient and outpatient hospitalization
- Medical and surgical treatment
- Emergency transportation
- Private nursing and ambulance
- Prescription drugs
- Accidental dental care
- Medical equipment – crutches, splints, canes
- Return of deceased remains
- Worldwide travel assistance for emergencies
This travel medical insurance integrates well with provincial plans and can supplement gaps in out-of-country coverage. It delivers essential financial protection and responsive service for employees while travelling.
Other Offerings
In addition to traditional group benefits, Medavie Blue Cross offers a range of other programs and services:
- Retiree health benefits
- Health spending accounts
- Employee assistance and wellness programs
- Personal accident insurance
- Business travel accident solutions
- Credit protection plans
The core advantages are the flexibility and range of offerings Medavie Blue Cross provides. They can customize company programs based on specific worker profiles, risks and occupations. Their benefits specialists and consultants work with employers to design optimal plans.
Medavie Blue Cross offers a broad and flexible employee benefits framework well-suited to organizations that value coverage depth, plan sustainability, and long-term service stability.
Its strengths lie in national reach, customization options, and integrated health and disability management rather than ultra-low-cost, minimal benefit designs. Employers seeking a stable, not-for-profit carrier with complete capabilities may find Medavie Blue Cross a strong long-term benefits partner.
Medavie Blue Cross Costs and Pricing
Medavie Blue Cross offers many tools and capabilities to optimize benefits spending:
- Claims audits and cost driver analysis, identifying savings opportunities.
- Generic drug policies – most of the scripts are filled with generics.
- Member pays portion for premiums – share accountability and control.
- Copay increases for expensive medications and treatment.
- Improved chronic disease prevention and management.
- Integration with public and government programs to reduce redundancies.
- Packaged pricing – risk charges plus fixed administration fees.
- ASO arrangements – pay claims but avoid premium taxes. Allow control over surpluses.
- Ancillary carriers for things like travel and tuition programs.
- Stop-loss protection is available for self-insured funds.
For jumbo groups with higher enrollment, national insurers may offer slightly lower rates due to greater scale and risk pooling. However, they often lack localized service capabilities.
Pros and Cons of Medavie Blue Cross Employee Benefits
Medavie Blue Cross offers a range of employee benefits, each with its own pros and cons to consider.
Pros of Medavie Blue Cross Employee Benefits
Medavie Blue Cross offers several strengths that appeal to employers seeking a stable, long-term benefits partner:
- Established not-for-profit organization: With decades of experience in group benefits, Medavie operates with a sustainability-focused model that reinvests earnings into service, technology, and member support rather than shareholder returns.
- National reach and consistency: Employers with employees across multiple provinces benefit from consistent plan administration and access to a broad national provider network.
- Flexible, advisor-led plan design: Benefits programs can be customized through deductibles, coinsurance levels, managed drug strategies, and optional spending accounts.
- Integrated disability and claims management: Dedicated case management, rehabilitation support, and return-to-work programs help reduce disruption for both employers and employees.
- Digital self-service tools: Online portals and mobile access simplify enrollment, claims submission, and ongoing plan administration for HR teams and employees.
Cons and Potential Limitations
Despite its strengths, Medavie Blue Cross may not be the right fit for every organization:
- Not always the lowest-cost provider: Employers focused primarily on minimal premiums or stripped-down coverage may find more basic options elsewhere.
- Advisor-led model adds complexity for micro-groups: Very small employers seeking instant, off-the-shelf benefits may find the planning process more involved than expected.
- Implementation timelines vary: Custom plan design and onboarding can take longer for complex groups compared to fully standardized benefits platforms.
- Digital experience is evolving: While functional and improving, Medavie’s digital tools may feel less consumer-style than those offered by niche health-tech startups.
- Breadth of offerings requires guidance: The wide range of programs can be overwhelming without proactive advisor or account management support.
The bottom line
After a thorough evaluation across criteria like offerings, administration, reputation and pricing, Medavie Blue Cross delivers a competitive employee benefits proposition for companies ranging from midsize to national enterprises.
Medavie Blue Cross may not be the best for basic benefits, but it adds value for complex needs. It combines digital convenience with human care. This blend of data and heart stands out.
Healthcare in Canada is changing. Medavie Blue Cross can help employers adapt benefits. Their investments in virtual care and analytics fit as personalized wellness grows.
Medavie Blue Cross could unite the fragmented benefits market and be the top national partner. An integrated experience. Employers with these goals can benefit from exploring Medavie’s capabilities.
Finding the right employee benefits provider is an important decision for any business in Canada. With a range of options to choose from, it’s helpful to understand the landscape of top providers across the country. Some of the leading employee benefits providers in Canada include:
- Assumption Life Employee Benefits in Canada
- Pacific Blue Cross Employee Benefits
- Equitable Life of Canada Employee Benefits
- Beneva Employee Benefits
- IA Financial Group Employee Benefits
