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Mental Health Resources for Group Insurance

Research shows that employers who invest in benefits that promote wellness of both mind and body see returns in the form of reduced health care costs, increased productivity, and the recruitment and retention of top talent.

We are committed to helping employers build mentally healthy workplaces in Canada.

Mental Health Resources for Group Insurance

Research shows that employers who invest in benefits that promote wellness of both mind and body see returns in the form of reduced health care costs, increased productivity, and the recruitment and retention of top talent.

We are committed to helping employers build mentally healthy workplaces in Canada.

Be a leader for mental health - The time to act is now


With approximately 1 in 5 members of Canada’s working-age population living with a mental health issue or illness, mental health is now the leading cause of disability claims.


Remove the barriers to accessing mental health care

As a not-for-profit benefits provider and Pharmacy Benefit Manager, we provide coverage that transcends the financial, geographical, and educational barriers around mental health.

Empower wellness with diversity, equity and inclusion

Be committed to delivering effective and accessible mental health support that meets the diverse needs of our members at every health stage.

Promote productivity and overall support

Build a culture around trust and sustainability. We can help you deliver targeted mental health benefits to improve health outcomes and reduce work-related absences.

Solutions for mental health and wellness


Our mental health resources are built to address member needs right from the preventive to the chronic stages so they can seek the support they need and bring their best to work with the help of key benefits.

The following benefit solutions enable you to be proactive and positively impact your employees’ mental health and wellness.

Access to Care

Our integrated health benefits work to deliver holistic care focused on continuity and completeness for members who require mental health support.

Self-help and Wellness

Members can use a range of counselling, self-development, and health management tools that are available to all plans.

Disability and Mental Health Support

Our group disability plans promote active disability management through early Psychiatric Intervention, which minimizes or prevents time away from work and enables positive member outcomes.

Benefits Integration


We make it easier for plan members to get and stay healthy by expanding access and improving equity in healthcare. Our Benefits Integration approach creates connectivity in coverage to enhance the member experience. This means we provide more member options, and improve claims coordination and payment models, enabling sustainable plan management and positive outcomes.

Note: Medavie Blue Cross benefit plans address the unique needs of its plan sponsors and members with standard coverage recommendations. Benefits Integration will be based on the plan design and coverage eligibility as per the plan sponsor’s objectives and philosophy

Benefits Integration


We make it easier for plan members to get and stay healthy by expanding access and improving equity in healthcare. Our Benefits Integration approach creates connectivity in coverage to enhance the member experience. This means we provide more member options, and improve claims coordination and payment models, enabling sustainable plan management and positive outcomes.

Note: Medavie Blue Cross benefit plans address the unique needs of its plan sponsors and members with standard coverage recommendations. Benefits Integration will be based on the plan design and coverage eligibility as per the plan sponsor’s objectives and philosophy

Access to Care

As part of our commitment to remove barriers to treatment, our standard offering includes enhanced mental health benefits. This includes higher maximum options and access to the services of a broader range of health practitioners such as psychologists, social workers, counselling therapists, psychotherapists and psychoeducators. Digital therapy is available on our Connected Care platform and virtual services received from eligible mental health practitioners can be claimed under this benefit category. With benefits integration, we accept drug prescriptions from authorized practitioners.

Learn more about our Group Benefit Solutions

More than 60% of people with mental health issues won’t seek expert care because of cost, stigma, or access to qualified mental health professionals. Our members can use Connected Care to access to access many services including:

Internet-enabled Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT)

This structured form of psychotherapy lets plan members access clinically proven treatment for mild to moderate anxiety and/or depression from a computer or mobile device. Members receive support and guidance from a dedicated therapist and a personalized treatment plan that includes educational materials and videos.

Live (video) therapy

Just like in-person therapy, live therapy consists of scheduled video counselling sessions with a licensed therapist of the member’s choosing. It goes beyond physical boundaries, reaching them through their computer or mobile device.

Text therapy

Members can reach out — as easily as sending a text message to a friend. Text therapy through a licensed therapist can address the same issues as one in a more traditional counselling modality.

Connected Care

Our strength as a benefits provider and pharmacy benefit manager ensures members receive access to relevant and broad evidence-based medication for their mental health treatment while providing plan affordability and sustainability to sponsors. With our benefits integration, we allow holistic coverage for mental health issues that combines psychology and pharmacy therapies to optimize member outcomes.

Learn more about our Drug Solutions

Approximately 50% of all medications are not taken as prescribed. Through our Blue Cross Mobile app, plan members can activate the medication management feature, which allows them to receive reminders to take their medications, refill their prescriptions, and learn more about the importance of following their treatment plan. Members can also learn more about their medication through our Health Connected wellness portal.

Learn more about our Medication Management Feature

Pharmacogenetic testing is a new tool in personalized medicine that predetermines the safest and most effective drug therapies and dosages, based on the plan member’s unique genetic profile. Mental health is an area which has long been known to be challenging to get the right medication and dosage the first time. The predictive insights of pharmacogenetic testing can help treating physicians identify the right medications and doses for members’ optimal health outcomes. We have partnered with Pillcheck, a leader in pharmacogenetics testing, to offer this service, exclusively to plan members, at preferred rates.

Plan members can use their computer or mobile device to avoid waiting in line and connect with a Canadian General Practitioner (Physician or Nurse Practitioner) in minutes, for consultation and treatment wherever and whenever they need it. We have partnered with Maple, one of Canada’s leading virtual healthcare providers, to offer this service, exclusively to plan members, at preferred rates.

Learn more about Online Doctors

Self-help and Wellness

Our EFAP program, inConfidence, offers plan members confidential counselling and education services to deal with a wide range of issues they may face at home or on the job. This comprehensive program provides direct access to expert care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Support is available in person, by telephone or online.

Learn more about EFAP

Connected Care

Enjoy member-exclusive access and preferred pricing for innovative, convenient health care options.

Learn more about Connected Care

Use your mobile device or computer to access training programs and guided meditations from a global network of experts.

Login to Access Mindfulness

Our wellness portal allows members to create their profiles for customized advice, information and tips, including self-care resources for mental well-being. Health Connected features a health assessment tool that helps members get an overall snapshot of their health, identify risk factors, and create personalized wellness strategies.

Learn more about Health Connected

Disability and Mental Health Support

Medavie Blue Cross was one of the first insurers in Canada to offer early-stage psychiatric assessment and care for short-term disability claimants with a mental health diagnosis. Our early intervention services are delivered in partnership with Medaca, Health Group, and is resulting in shorter wait times for treatment and shorter absences from work. In fact, we have seen a 28% increase in the number of mental health claimants returning to work before the end of the short-term disability period.

Learn more about our Disability Management approach

We take a fully integrated, multi-disciplinary approach to disability case management that seamlessly guides claimants through their treatment and recovery without any obstacles to their care access —every step of the way. We have an in-house team of over 130 professionals to handle all aspects of case management – from a full assessment of a claimant’s level of function to a thorough analysis of workplace programs and accommodations.

Learn more about our Disability Management approach

Our goal is to return claimants with a mental health diagnosis back to health and work, safely where they can feel equally respected, valued, and included in their role as they transition from their disability leave. Our qualified and reliable case managers, ensure a safe and thoughtful return-to-work planning with consistent communication where the member is consulted and supported.

See how we are creating a caring culture

Diversity, equity and inclusion


Our goal is to foster an inclusive environment and support the health concerns of members of diverse backgrounds. We believe that when people can feel their best with positive mental health states, they can deliver their best selves at work. We continue to expand our benefits offering and help plan sponsors remove barriers with progressive and inclusive mental health coverage along with comprehensive member wellness and assistance programs.

See how we are creating a caring culture

Diversity, equity and inclusion


Our goal is to foster an inclusive environment and support the health concerns of members of diverse backgrounds. We believe that when people can feel their best with positive mental health states, they can deliver their best selves at work. We continue to expand our benefits offering and help plan sponsors remove barriers with progressive and inclusive mental health coverage along with comprehensive member wellness and assistance programs.

See how we are creating a caring culture

Reasons to choose Medavie


As a not-for-profit, we've spent over 75 years investing in integrated, forward looking benefits to help Canadians.

Have any questions? Get in touch with us


Are you ready to create a strong mental health and wellness framework for your employees?

Contact your advisor to find out how our holistic approach to care can make a difference.


Atlantic and Ontario

1-855-633-2843

Monday to Friday
9:00 am to 5:00 pm AST

Quebec

1-888-588-1212

Monday to Friday
8:00 am to 8:00 pm EST