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Our History
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"Pacific Blue Cross was formed to ensure the
future of the not-for-profit healthcare model in British Columbia"
Medical Services Association (MSA), founded in
1940, and CU&C Health Services Society (CU&C), founded in
1946, were initially created to establish basic medical-hospital plans
that would provide prepaid health benefits at the lowest possible
cost, including a free choice of doctor.
Extended health benefits plans (prescription drugs, special nursing, ambulance service, etc.) and dental plans were introduced in the 1960's. That decade also saw the introduction of government health services under the Medical Services Plan of British Columbia (MSP). CU&C and MSA became "licensed carriers" for the Medical Services Commission of British Columbia.
In 1975 the government centralized administration of MSP and both MSA and CU&C transferred hundreds of thousands of files to Victoria. However, demand for services outside the government plan continued to grow, and both organizations continued to expand.
The MSA Travel Protection Plan was launched to offer protection for pre-planned business and holiday trips. MSA also founded BC Life and Casualty, a wholly owned subsidiary, to provide insurance plans for Group Life, Optional Life, Dependant Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, and Long Term Disability. CU&C introduced a Psychological Services Benefit Plan in response to the increasing psychological demands placed on today's families. The 1990's saw the introduction of individual benefit products to meet the needs of those not covered by group plans.
In the 1990's unprecedented and rapid change transformed the healthcare delivery system in North America. As huge numbers of post-World-War II baby boomers reached their 50's, they created greater cost pressure, more demand, and therefore, more opportunity in the health benefits and services industry. The profit-driven insurance companies, financial institutions, and specialist healthcare delivery corporations continue to seize the opportunity they perceive to deliver comprehensive benefits and services.
The Directors of MSA and CU&C believed that combining the resources of the two organizations would guarantee the future of the not-for-profit healthcare model in British Columbia. In November 1997, CU&C and MSA officially merged and became Pacific Blue Cross.
In November 1998, both of the Pacific Blue Cross offices moved into the new Pacific Blue Cross building on Canada Way and Gilmore in Burnaby, British Columbia.
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