Bluecross
In the context of Canadian hearing care, Bluecross refers to a group of not-for-profit health benefits organizations that administer extended health insurance plans for individuals, families, and group benefit members. In Ontario and federally, Medavie Blue Cross administers several government-funded programs alongside private benefit plans. Other provincial Bluecross organizations operate in different regions of Canada.
Many Bluecross extended health plans include coverage for hearing aids, with specific dollar maximums per device or per ear within a set renewal period (commonly every three to five years). Coverage amounts and eligibility criteria vary significantly between group plans and individual plans. Some plans require a prescription from a registered audiologist before processing a claim. Claims may be submitted directly by the hearing care provider or reimbursed to the patient after purchase.
Medavie Blue Cross also administers the federal Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) on behalf of the Government of Canada, providing health coverage including hearing aids to eligible refugee claimants and certain other newcomers. Audiologists billing under any Bluecross program should confirm the specific plan details before treatment, as benefits differ between federal programs and private plan contracts.
