Extending temporary premium reductions to support our customers

This post was originally published on April 21, 2020, and has been updated for accuracy and reliability.

For more than 70 years, Alberta Blue Cross^® has been part of our customers’ lives and communities. Together we’ve been through natural disasters, tragedies, economic downturns—and now a pandemic. We know this is a difficult time for many people and businesses. If your financial wellness has been affected by the pandemic, there are a number of relief options available to you.

We recognize that many customers are experiencing financial difficulty and at the same time have been unable to use their coverage as they traditionally would due to current social distancing guidelines and health service provider availability. While many health service providers have transitioned to virtual appointments during the pandemic and benefits such as prescription drugs continue to be accessed without disruption, plan member use of dental benefits and some other extended health care benefits has declined during the pandemic.

Alberta Blue Cross^® has expanded our commitment to supporting its customers through COVID-19 by temporarily reducing plan premiums for all our individual health and insured group plan customers during the pandemic.

• For Alberta Blue Cross^® individual health plan members, a 25 per cent premium reduction was been applied across all plans.
• For Alberta Blue Cross^® insured employer group plans, a premium reduction was applied, which included
  • a 50 per cent reduction to dental benefit premiums,
  • a 25 per cent reduction to vision care benefits, and
  • a 25 per cent reduction to non-drug related extended health benefit premiums.

As many businesses have now reopened, including dental offices and regulated health service providers, you are now able to access most of your benefits again. Based on this information and our ongoing assessment of the health environment, individual health plan premiums returned to regular rates effective August 1, 2020.

The temporary premium reductions are not a deferral. Alberta Blue Cross^® will not be looking to recover these premium reductions in the future.

More information about financial relief options, along with mental wellness support and important benefit updates, are available on our COVID-19 resource page.

We are all in this together. Each of us has a role in taking precautionary measures to help protect our families, friends and neighbours. As an organization with a strong commitment to the communities we serve, we believe in leading by example. We urge you to join us in doing what you can to help limit the spread of COVID-19 and to extend support and compassion to those in need.