Vancity and Pacific Blue Cross collaborate on innovative health benefits plan for small businesses and the self-employed

COAST SALISH TERRITORY and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Starting today, Vancity members can access a new kind of health benefits plan aimed at meeting the needs of entrepreneurs, small businesses and independent workers across British Columbia.

Thousands of people who are part of this growing segment of the workforce would like extended benefits, but don't have access to them. The Vancity Member Health Benefits Plan provided by Pacific Blue Cross offers a flexible, convenient and affordable health care solution.

"Our members have clearly told us that there is a lack of health coverage options for small businesses and self-employed workers," says Eric Bulmash, Vancity manager of community business and investment. "In today's economy, more and more people are working independently or in a small business environment and often they don't have a group benefits plan to rely on. This new plan, available to our members from Pacific Blue Cross, gives them some much-needed options."  

The Vancity Member Health Benefits Plan offers:

• dental care coverage
• extended health care benefits
• accidental death and dismemberment coverage
• critical illness coverage
• life insurance protection
• income support coverage
• and access to 24/7 counselling, coaching and support.

"Pacific Blue Cross is proud to offer Vancity members new, unique, ?big company style' health benefits where they have not traditionally been available, levelling the playing field for entrepreneurs, small businesses and independent workers, who form the backbone of business here in B.C.," says Heidi Worthington, Pacific Blue Cross senior vice president and chief revenue officer. "This partnership provides smaller employers with more flexible coverage than traditional business plans with more robust coverage than individual plans. We hope that this innovation will improve the health and well-being of many British Columbians now and in the future."   

The plan has been through an extensive pilot program and will continue to evolve as members provide feedback about their needs. It features various levels of coverage ranging from basic to comprehensive, and coverage is portable so gig workers can take it with them from contract to contract.

Vancity is arranging for a percentage of the net profits from the plan to be invested directly into education, advocacy and community that supports small businesses and self-employed individuals.

Additional information
Vancity Member Health Benefits Plan Webpage

About Vancity
Vancity is a values-based financial co-operative serving the needs of its more than 525,000 member-owners and their communities in the Coast Salish and Kwakwaka'wakw territories, with 59 branches in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Victoria, Squamish and Alert Bay. With $26.4 billion in assets plus assets under administration, Vancity is Canada's largest community credit union. Vancity uses its assets to help improve the financial well-being of its members while at the same time helping to develop healthy communities that are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.

About Pacific Blue Cross
Pacific Blue Cross is British Columbia's number one health benefits provider. Based in Burnaby, B.C., the not-for-profit organization provides health, dental, life, disability and travel coverage for 1 in 3 British Columbians through group benefits and individual plans. As part of its mission to improve health and wellbeing in B.C., Pacific Blue Cross proactively supports charitable organizations across the province working to improve health outcomes.

For more information:
Brent Shearer | Vancity
T: 778-837-0394
[email protected]

Nick Sywulych | Pacific Blue Cross
T: 604-419-2056
[email protected]