This article was updated May 5, 2022.
If you have more than one benefit plan, whether through a spouse, family member or a plan with another benefit provider, you can combine your coverage by using Coordination of Benefits (COB). COB is standard practice among benefit providers in Canada and allows people with more than one plan to maximize their coverage.
How does it work?
When you use COB, you submit claims to your primary benefit provider, whether that’s Alberta Blue Cross® or another organization, for payment according to your coverage and benefits. Once you have received a claims statement from that provider, you can submit a claim for the outstanding amount to your second plan.
How do I use my COB coverage?
When you submit a claim to Alberta Blue Cross® through our member site, you must indicate whether you have coverage through an external benefit carrier. Once your claim has been processed and paid out, you can submit any outstanding balance to your second plan.
Please note that even with COB, some claims may not be fully covered. For example, dental claims are only paid up to the dental fee guide referenced by your plan.
How long will it take to process my claim?
We do everything possible to process your claim quickly. For the quickest service, please ensure you’ve attached all your receipts by uploading them to the member site, indicate that you are coordinating benefits and include the plan ID numbers for all of your plans.
It is important to contact Alberta Blue Cross® if your spousal situation or second coverage changes.
COB may vary with each benefits plan and benefits carrier. Please consult your plan contract or your benefit provider for full details about your coverage and benefits.
Questions?
Read our Understanding Coordination of Benefits document to learn more about COB. Please call our Customer Services department toll free at 1-800-661-6995 for assistance with COB or any aspect of your benefits or contact us through our website.
How and if I can upgrade my coverage to Hospital Admission , dental , eyes and glasses ?
Hi Joyce, you can call our team at 1-800-394-1965 and choose option 3 to discuss this upgrade. Thanks!
Why cant or does it not show what is eligle other then stating
Dental
Medical
Prescription etc etc etc
Whats the point to log in or downlad app if there is no information pertaining to what it is your looking for????
Instead you have to call and wait 900 hrs to get an answer
Waste of time and money your site and app is
I agree with Brad, if you have any questions or want to upgrade coverage. You can read every tab available and the end result is always call service number. Only to be put on hold listening to horrible tinny sounding music that’s so painful in the ear most people just can’t stand it and hang up. I’ve sat one hold for four hours and forty eight minutes!! Only to be told I had the wrong person. She claimed to transfer me but hung up instead!! So instead of resolving my issues for over a year because I couldn’t get through to blue cross customer service!
Why can’t blue cross do what others have done and install a call ball service in stead of putting us on hold. Plus label the coverage titles in lay terminology that the customer can understand.
Can you please send me an updated package for Blue Cross Coverage. The one I have is from 2013. I feel I should increase my coverage
Thanks
Hi Deanna,
You can give our team a call at 1-800-394-1965 and choose option 3 to learn more about what’s available to you. They’ll be happy to help you out.
Hi Deanna, please note, to protect your privacy we edited your comment to remove your personal information. Thank you.
I have two plans with Blue Cross, coverage for seniors and a retiree plan. Appears some of my medication is not being covered, not even a portion.
Could you please have someone contact me so I can straighten this out.
An updated coverage package on the coverage for seniors and the retiree plan would also be helpful.
Hello Cliff, if you would like us to contact you please email us at connect@ab.bluecross.ca with your contact information. Or, you can reach us directly by calling 1-800-661-6995.
I am getting my teeth cleaned in a a few days. How much do you cover for this.
Hi Laurene, please give our customer service team a call at 1-800-661-6995 and they will be able to assist you with this question. Thank you!
Your article contained the information I had been searching for online for a few days. It’s a wonderful and priceless piece of information. I appreciate you providing us with this important information. Spousal support Canada.
How do i find out when my bill i sent will be paid
Hi Diane, you can check the status of claims by signing in to the member site or calling us directly at 1-800-661-6995.
I need to remove a provider as I no longer am employed with the company that offered the plan. It appears that I cannot do this on this site.
Hello Warren, please contact our team directly to help with this at 1-800-661-6995
Any other benefits other than prescription & dental?
I sent my bill in first part of December & still havent recieved my payment .When i phoned awhile ago i was reasurred it would be here by the end of the month & i have recieved nothing
How do I add my spouse/partner to my account?
Hi Jennifer, our team can help you out with this. Please call us directly at 1-800-394-1965 and choose option 3. Thanks!
how do I request a letter for income tax purposes for 2022 with the amount that I paid for my Blue Cross coverage for my plan. I would like it sent to my home address on file asap. Thank you.
Hi Karen, you can request tax documents with this how to guide here: https://www.ab.bluecross.ca/member/online-services/help/tax-receipt.php. If you still need support, please give us a call at 1-800-661-6995.
Please show me my upgraded benefit plan. I can not find any links to it
Thank you
Jurg Weber
Hello Jurg, we need a bit more information from you to help. Please give our team a call at 1-800-661-6995
How do I add dental and prescriptions to my online app? I only have vision and then my seniors plan to choose from and that doesn’t help me.
Good morning;
In 2021 I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea disorder level III. CPAP was recomemended in my case. Then, I had to acquired the device and its accesories to start my tratment, which was not covered by Blue Cross. However, I like to know if Blue Cross covers any cost to upgrade or purchase any new accesories for the device I am using in my tratment. Please, I apreciate your attention
Hi Maritza. We’d be happy to help. Please give our Customer Services team a call at 1-800-661-6995. Office hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. MT Monday through Friday.
When are CBD prescriptions going to be covered through Alberta Blue Cross?
Hi Sherril! Please give our Customer Services team a call at 1-800-661-6995 for more information about your coverage. Office hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. MT Monday through Friday.
I have two plans with Blue Cross, coverage for seniors and a retiree plan. Appears some of my medication costs are not being covered.
Could you please have someone contact me so I can straighten this out. Thanks
Hi Diana. We’d be happy to help. Please give our Customer Services team a call at 1-800-661-6995. Office hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. MT Monday through Friday.
My wife an both seniors. we live on our pensions. My wife gets ARTA pension plus old age and CPP which. I get just old and CPP which is a combined income of $65753.00. Now got a letter saying our income is to high for Dental and Optical eligibility. Why are you you penalize seniors who trying to live on there pensions. We have worked hard this money. My wife has taught school for 45 years plus years and this her reward for it.
Hi Larry. We’re sorry to hear about this. Please give our Customer Services team a call at 1-800-661-6995. Office hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. MT Monday through Friday.
Hi Larry, please note, to protect your privacy we edited your comment to remove your personal information. Thank you.
I was told by an AHS nurse at a diabetic clinic that testing gear was covered up to $2400 per year for seniors. Covers test strips, needles, and so on. I have never received any of my diabetic testing equipment paid by Blue Cross. What is this all about? Do you pay or not?
Hi Stew. Thanks for the comment. Coverage varies between plans, so we’d love to take a look at your plan further and assist you with any questions you might have. Please call us at 1-800-661-6995 so that our customer service team can help.
Sept 22/2023
Hello, My Doctor sent a note in quite awhile ago requesting I be allowed coverage for the Drug Jardiance because I’m on your Seniors Benefits and so am not covered for it. I had called a month ago and was told you didn’t have anything on line. So I contacted my doctor and they said they faxed it in but would relax it again. Have you received it yet? I have a claim to put in against it for this drug. Please advise. Thank you.
Hi Judy. Thanks for reaching out. Please give our customer service team a call at 1-800-661-6995 for more information about your plan. Thank you!
What an informative article! Here is another one where how is spousal support calculated in Alberta is described detailed and easily understandable way. I found their exploration of factors like the length of the marriage and the roles of each spouse within it to be particularly insightful.
How do I get reimbursed for my drug costs?
We submitted this at the pharmacy and Blue Cross only paid $14.12 and we had to pay out-of-pocket $6.05.
So why did we have to pay the 6.05, when we have a 100% coverage?
This is only 1 of 5 prescriptions in question.
Hi Gaylene. Thanks for the comment. Coverage varies between plans, so we’d love to take a look at your plan further and assist you with any questions you might have. Please call us at 1-800-661-6995 so that our customer service team can help.
Hi Gaylene, please note, to protect your privacy we edited your comment to remove your personal information. Thank you.
I am getting my teeth cleaned in a a few days. How much do you cover for this. Laurene Park