Frequently asked questions
Have questions? We’re happy to help!
Employees must apply for coverage if they
- Are employed on a permanent basis and
- Work the minimum number of hours per week as stated in the group contract
Alberta Blue Cross® must receive employee benefit applications for all eligible employees and their dependents within 31 days of their effective date of coverage following the plan waiting period (probation period). This ensures the new employee is not administered as a late applicant, which could delay the benefit effective date.
New employees can be enrolled through the plan administrator site.
Employees must provide proof of other coverage upon waiving and proof of coverage termination upon rejoining benefit plan. Eligible employees with dependents must apply for family coverage.
For groups with Life and Disability benefits:
- Employees who waive either Life or Disability benefits must opt out from entire life and disability coverage—not just select benefits.
- A non-evidence limit (NEL) refers to the amount of coverage available for Life, AD&D, Weekly Indemnity and Long-Term Disability without submitting a medical evidence questionnaire.
- If a Statement of Health or other medical evidence forms are required, Alberta Blue Cross® will request them.
- If employees do not submit applications within 31 days of their eligibility date, they may be asked to undergo a medical examination and complete a Statement of Health. Late applications will result in either a Request for Medical Evidence of Insurability or premiums being charged retroactively (depending on Life Contract).
- To avoid delays in processing applications, make sure that all submitted forms are completed in full and signed.
- Remember that submitting an application does not guarantee coverage and that the applicant is responsible for the cost of obtaining any additional information for a late application.
A plan waiting period, or a probation period, is the period of continuous permanent active employment that must be completed by employees prior to becoming eligible for group coverage.
Waiting period examples
An employee becomes eligible for coverage first day of the month following three months of continuous permanent active employment or three months from the exact date of hire.
Note: If the first working day of the month falls on a day other than the first day of the month, that month will be calculated toward the plan waiting period.
When does an employee become eligible?
Date of hire
Eligibility date
First day of the month following three months of continuous permanent active employment
June 15
October 1
First day of the month following three months of continuous permanent active employment
July 3 (first working day of the month)
October 1
Three months from the exact date of hire (rates will be deducted as of December 1)
August 15
November 15
Note: Any employee changing from part-time to full-time employment must complete the waiting period once full-time employment begins.
1-866-513-2555 or contact your Alberta Blue Cross® representative directly
Claim, benefit detail or member site inquiries
Life and disability claims
LifeandDisabilityClaimsInquiries@ab.bluecross.ca
Individual plans
Supplementary travel insurance
When an employee leaves your company, inform Alberta Blue Cross® immediately by terminating them through the plan administrator site. Alternatively, you can submit an Employee Benefits Termination form.
Let the terminated employees know when their Alberta Blue Cross® benefits will expire and advise the employees that any use of an invalid identification card is a fraudulent act.
Your Alberta Blue Cross® benefit plan is a prepaid program. Your payment is due the first day of the month in which your group is being billed. If your payment has not been received by the payment due date, any claims incurred/submitted will not be processed.
- Additions, terminations and/or changes will be processed when Alberta Blue Cross® receives the appropriate form, and adjustments will appear on a future Statement of Account.
- If paying by cheque, you must forward the perforated portion of page one of your monthly Statement of Account along with your payment.
- If you wish, you can sign up to have your monthly rates withdrawn from your bank account as a pre-authorized debit.
- We can not accept credit card payments.
Report any of the following changes in an employee’s status:
- Employee terminations
- Marriage or common-law relationships*
- Legal separation or divorce*
- Section changes
- Benefit status changes
- Waiving coverage
- Employee address change, name and/or employee number changes
- Reinstatements
- Adding or deleting dependents*
*Remember to complete a Beneficiary Designation form in addition to an a Health, Dental and Life and Disability Benefit Change form, when applicable. Whenever possible, complete your forms through the plan administrator sitel—it’s the fastest and easiest option. The only exception is the Beneficiary Designation form, which must be completed as a physical form.
For groups with life and income replacement benefits:
- Salary changes
- Occupation changes
- Change of beneficiary*
*Any changes to the original application form related to beneficiary designation must be completed using a physical Beneficiary Designation Form. Any other changes to the original application form can be completed and submitted through the plan administrator site using the using the Health, Dental and Life and Disability Benefit Change Form.To report changes, log in to the plan administrator site and submit the applicable changes to the member’s profile or complete an Employee Benefit Change form and submit the form to Alberta Blue Cross® within 31 days of the of the requested effective date of change.
Employees must apply for coverage if they
- Are employed on a permanent basis and
- Work the minimum number of hours per week as stated in the group contract
Alberta Blue Cross® must receive employee benefit applications for all eligible employees and their dependents within 31 days of their effective date of coverage following the plan waiting period (probation period). This ensures the new employee is not administered as a late applicant, which could delay the benefit effective date.
New employees can be enrolled through the plan administrator site.
Employees must provide proof of other coverage upon waiving and proof of coverage termination upon rejoining benefit plan. Eligible employees with dependents must apply for family coverage.
For groups with Life and Disability benefits:
- Employees who waive either Life or Disability benefits must opt out from entire life and disability coverage—not just select benefits.
- A non-evidence limit (NEL) refers to the amount of coverage available for Life, AD&D, Weekly Indemnity and Long-Term Disability without submitting a medical evidence questionnaire.
- If a Statement of Health or other medical evidence forms are required, Alberta Blue Cross® will request them.
- If employees do not submit applications within 31 days of their eligibility date, they may be asked to undergo a medical examination and complete a Statement of Health. Late applications will result in either a Request for Medical Evidence of Insurability or premiums being charged retroactively (depending on Life Contract).
- To avoid delays in processing applications, make sure that all submitted forms are completed in full and signed.
- Remember that submitting an application does not guarantee coverage and that the applicant is responsible for the cost of obtaining any additional information for a late application.
A plan waiting period, or a probation period, is the period of continuous permanent active employment that must be completed by employees prior to becoming eligible for group coverage.
Waiting period examples
An employee becomes eligible for coverage first day of the month following three months of continuous permanent active employment or three months from the exact date of hire.
Note: If the first working day of the month falls on a day other than the first day of the month, that month will be calculated toward the plan waiting period.
| When does an employee become eligible? | Date of hire | Eligibility date |
|---|---|---|
| First day of the month following three months of continuous permanent active employment | June 15 | October 1 |
| First day of the month following three months of continuous permanent active employment | July 3 (first working day of the month) | October 1 |
| Three months from the exact date of hire (rates will be deducted as of December 1) | August 15 | November 15 |
Note: Any employee changing from part-time to full-time employment must complete the waiting period once full-time employment begins.
1-866-513-2555 or contact your Alberta Blue Cross® representative directly
Claim, benefit detail or member site inquiries
Life and disability claims
LifeandDisabilityClaimsInquiries@ab.bluecross.ca
Individual plans
Supplementary travel insurance
When an employee leaves your company, inform Alberta Blue Cross® immediately by terminating them through the plan administrator site. Alternatively, you can submit an Employee Benefits Termination form.
Let the terminated employees know when their Alberta Blue Cross® benefits will expire and advise the employees that any use of an invalid identification card is a fraudulent act.
Your Alberta Blue Cross® benefit plan is a prepaid program. Your payment is due the first day of the month in which your group is being billed. If your payment has not been received by the payment due date, any claims incurred/submitted will not be processed.
- Additions, terminations and/or changes will be processed when Alberta Blue Cross® receives the appropriate form, and adjustments will appear on a future Statement of Account.
- If paying by cheque, you must forward the perforated portion of page one of your monthly Statement of Account along with your payment.
- If you wish, you can sign up to have your monthly rates withdrawn from your bank account as a pre-authorized debit.
- We can not accept credit card payments.
Report any of the following changes in an employee’s status:
- Employee terminations
- Marriage or common-law relationships*
- Legal separation or divorce*
- Section changes
- Benefit status changes
- Waiving coverage
- Employee address change, name and/or employee number changes
- Reinstatements
- Adding or deleting dependents*
*Remember to complete a Beneficiary Designation form in addition to an a Health, Dental and Life and Disability Benefit Change form, when applicable. Whenever possible, complete your forms through the plan administrator sitel—it’s the fastest and easiest option. The only exception is the Beneficiary Designation form, which must be completed as a physical form.
For groups with life and income replacement benefits:
- Salary changes
- Occupation changes
- Change of beneficiary*
*Any changes to the original application form related to beneficiary designation must be completed using a physical Beneficiary Designation Form. Any other changes to the original application form can be completed and submitted through the plan administrator site using the using the Health, Dental and Life and Disability Benefit Change Form.To report changes, log in to the plan administrator site and submit the applicable changes to the member’s profile or complete an Employee Benefit Change form and submit the form to Alberta Blue Cross® within 31 days of the of the requested effective date of change.