Retiree plans
Congratulations on your retirement! Continue to enjoy quality coverage and have peace of mind after you leave the workplace. Apply within 60 days of termination of your group benefit plan and no medical review is required.
To be eligible, you must be between the ages of 55 and 70 at the time of application and retired from a group benefit plan within the past six months.
Plans comparison
Not the best fit?
- If you've been retired more than six months, learn about our individual and family plans.
- If you’ve recently left a group benefits plan, learn more about our conversion plan.
- If you’re looking for a plan without dental coverage, contact an advisor.
- If you’re looking for a basic plan with ambulance and hospital coverage, learn about our accident plan.
Plan details
Retiree Basic
A comprehensive plan that includes coverage for your basic health needs that are not covered by Manitoba Health, including ambulance, dental, prescription drugs and some practitioner services.
Coverage of 80% for prescription drugs up to $1,000 per year. Includes a pay direct drug card so you do not have to pay upfront for prescriptions.
Coverage of 80% (up to $35 per visit) to a combined total of $300 per year for a treatment or service by an athletic therapist, chiropractor, foot care nurse (maximum $25 per visit), occupational therapist, physiotherapist and podiatrist, and (up to $50 per visit) for a treatment or service by a registered clinical psychologist, counsellor or social worker with an MSW or RSW.
Coverage of 80% up to $500 every five years.
Coverage of 80% for breathing equipment (e.g. CPAP), crutches, splints, casts, hospital beds, special equipment, walkers, wheelchairs and wigs.
Coverage of 80% for accidental dental, artificial limbs/eyes, assisted care, braces, cervical collars, elastic stockings, compression garments, breast prostheses, surgical bras, cardiac rehabilitation, day surgery assisted care, orthopedic shoes, orthotics and private duty nursing.
Coverage of 80% up to $500 for standard checkups, cleanings, fillings, extractions, root canals, denture relines
and surgery.
Coverage of 100% for emergency ambulance services within Manitoba including treatment with no transport, medical transfer up to $500 per five years and emergency air ambulance up to $5,000 per trip ($10,000 per person per year), and out-of-province ambulance up to $500 per trip.
Coverage of 100% for semi-private room or $20 per day in lieu if one is not available (up to 30 days) and hostel accommodation when medical treatment/diagnostic testing is required in a hospital more than 60 kilometres from the participant’s home.
Virtual access to a wide network of medical professionals 24/7, including condition-specific care, prescription management, private consultation and referrals to specialists or for diagnostic testing.
Coverage for travel within Canada up to $5 million lifetime (no trip length maximum).
Coverage of $15,000 in the event of the accidental death, loss of limb or sight of a participant.
Blue Cross members are also eligible for savings through our Blue Advantage® discount program. Save on medical and vision products and services and more from participating providers across Canada, both in-person and online. Learn more about our Blue Advantage program.
Retiree Standard
Our most popular retiree plan option that enhances the health and dental coverage in our basic plan with higher coverage maximums and additional coverage including international travel, massage therapy, vision and restorative dental.
Coverage of 80% for prescription drugs up to $2,000 per year. Includes a pay direct drug card so you do not have to pay upfront for prescriptions.
Coverage of 80% (up to $35 per visit) to a combined total of $450 per year for a treatment or service by an athletic therapist, chiropractor, occupational therapist, physiotherapist and podiatrist, and (up to $50 per visit) for a treatment or service by a registered clinical psychologist, counsellor or social worker with an MSW or RSW.
Coverage of 80% (up to $35 per visit) to a combined total of $300 per year for a treatment or service by an acupuncturist, foot care nurse (maximum $25 per visit), homeopath, naturopath, nutritional counsellor, osteopath or registered massage therapist.
Coverage of 80% up to $500 every five years.
Coverage of 80% for breathing equipment (e.g. CPAP), crutches, splints, casts, hospital beds, special equipment, walkers, wheelchairs and wigs.
Coverage of 80% for accidental dental, artificial limbs/eyes, assisted care, braces, cervical collars, elastic stockings, compression garments, breast prostheses, surgical bras, cardiac rehabilitation, day surgery assisted care, orthopedic shoes, orthotics and private duty nursing.
Coverage of 80% up to $1,000 per year (combined with restorative) for standard checkups, cleanings, fillings, extractions, root canals, denture relines and surgery, and$1,000 for each subsequent year (combined total with restorative total).
Coverage of 50% up to $1,000 per year (combined with preventative) for extensive restorations (e.g. dentures, crowns, inlays, bridges).
Coverage of $150 combined every two years towards an eye exam, the purchase or repair of frames and/or lenses, including contact lenses.
Coverage of 100% for emergency ambulance services within Manitoba including treatment with no transport, medical transfer up to $500 per five years and emergency air ambulance up to $5,000 per trip ($10,000 per person per year), and out-of-province ambulance up to $500 per trip.
Coverage of 100% for semi-private room or $20 per day in lieu if one is not available (up to 30 days) and hostel accommodation when medical treatment/diagnostic testing is required in a hospital more than 60 kilometres from the participant’s home.
Virtual access to a wide network of medical professionals 24/7, including condition-specific care, prescription management, private consultation and referrals to specialists or for diagnostic testing.
Coverage for travel within Canada up to $5 million lifetime (no trip length maximum) and up to $5 million lifetime outside of Canada (60-day trip maximum with a 90-day stable period), including access to travel assistance. (Travel outside of Canada is only covered up to age 75.)
Coverage of $20,000 in the event of the accidental death, loss of limb or sight of a participant.
Coverage for six counselling sessions per year through qualified clinicians and access to internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT).
Blue Cross members are also eligible for savings through our Blue Advantage® discount program. Save on medical and vision products and services and more from participating providers across Canada, both in-person and online. Learn more about our Blue Advantage program.
Get answers to your questions before buying a plan. Have a question about an existing plan? Find more FAQs here or contact us.
You are eligible to apply if you are between the ages of 55 and 70 and are coming off of an employer/group sponsored benefit plan. This application age is based solely on the age of the applicant. There are no age restrictions for a spouse or any dependents provided that the applicant is eligible for the plan. You must apply within 60 days of termination from your group benefit plan. You must also be a Manitoba resident, registered with and entitled to benefits from Manitoba Health or be a resident of Nunavut.
If you apply within 60 days of the termination of your group benefit plan, a medical review is not required. Coverage will be effective the first of the month following the group plan end date.
If you apply for coverage from 61 to 182 days after leaving your group plan, medical information for each participant is required to determine acceptance.
After 182 days of leaving your group plan you will not be eligible to enroll on the retiree plan.
A couple or family rate does not apply for this plan, as all rates are per plan participant.
If your plan includes a spouse or dependents, rates for each additional plan participant are determined using the rates specified within their age bracket at the coverage level you've chosen. The monthly premium is calculated as the sum of all rates for each of the plan participants included on the plan. These rates will change as each plan participant reaches a new age bracket or upon changes to the overall rate by Manitoba Blue Cross.
The effective date of your retiree plan can be the first of the month following the termination of your employer-sponsored group plan or it can be backdated to the first of the month in which your employer-sponsored group plan ended.
A member can transfer from a Retiree Standard plan to a Retiree Basic plan at any time. When enrolled on a Retiree Basic plan, a member cannot transfer to a Retiree Standard plan unless the request is made within 182 days of their termination from an employer/group sponsored benefit plan. Medical information may be required.
The plan does not have a termination age. However, travel coverage outside of Canada, which is included as part of the Retiree Standard plan, terminates at age 75, based on the age of the individual plan participant. For example, when you turn 75, your outside-of-Canada travel coverage will terminate, but your spouse's will remain active until he or she turns 75. Travel coverage within Canada, but outside Manitoba, does not have an age restriction.
Yes, as long as you maintain your status according to the requirements of your Manitoba Health plan, you can remain on the retiree plan. Note that Manitoba has rules for individuals maintaining their health care coverage, and you should review the rules. Please refer to the Province of Manitoba website: https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/mhsip/leavingtemporarily.html#section-one
Our retiree plan provides coverage for our customers outside of Manitoba for a period of up to three months. However, all Blue Cross plans across Canada have reciprocal agreements with each other for individual plan transfers. If you move to another province, you should contact the Blue Cross office in that province to enroll in one of their plans.
The 90-day stability clause applies at time of claim and is calculated back from your trip departure date. Manitoba Blue Cross will determine if the claim relates to a medical condition, symptom or illness that you experienced 90 days prior to your trip departure date.
Yes, every travel plan you purchase or have through a group benefit plan includes specific limitations and exclusions. It is important and your responsibility to carefully read and understand your travel plan benefits, eligibility, exclusions and limitations.
Your travel benefit contains limitations and exclusions that could affect your coverage. Some exclusions include the following:
- medical conditions that are not stable;
- participation in high-risk activities or extreme sports;
- seeking treatment, medical consultation or a second medical opinion while travelling;
- travelling against medical advice; or
- travelling after your receipt of a terminal prognosis
No, there are differences between the travel coverage you had with your group benefit plan and your individual retiree plan. The most important difference is the stability clause that applies to the retiree plan. This states that a claim will not be paid for services related to a medical condition that was not deemed stable 90 days prior to your trip departure date.
Yes, being deemed medically stable to travel in a doctor’s opinion is not the same thing as meeting our definition of stable as it relates to coverage of a medical condition. Your medical condition may be considered stable from a medical point of view; however, due to the timing of the most recent change in symptoms, medications, treatment, requisition or recommendation for a test or procedure, that does not necessarily mean you’ll be covered in the event of an emergency relating to that condition.
If a pre-existing medical condition was directly or indirectly related to the need for emergency medical care during your trip, we will access your medical records to confirm whether the medical condition in question met our definition of the 90-day stability period.
With the Retiree Standard plan, if you are not yet 75 years of age or older and are travelling outside of Canada, you must purchase top-up coverage prior to the 61st day of the trip, if it exceeds 60 days. Contact us for more information.
Even though outside-of-Canada travel benefits are no longer available for you on the Retiree Standard plan upon turning age 75, you are still eligible for a retiree plan travel discount of 10 per cent when you purchase travel coverage from Manitoba Blue Cross. You will continue to have travel coverage within Canada and outside of Manitoba.
Yes, we have personal health plans available that do noti nclude dental coverage, including plans for individuals, families and retirees. For more details, please contact an advisor.
To help make dental care more affordable for many Canadians, the Canadian Dental Care Plan from the Government of Canada is available for eligible individuals and families who do not have dental coverage (excluding accidental dental). To ensure qualified Manitobans are still able to receive this assistance while also maintaining benefits for their overall health, Manitoba Blue Cross offers robust benefit plans with no dental coverage. For more details about our plans without dental, please contact an advisor.
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) from the Government of Canada is for those who have no dental insurance, excluding accidental dental benefits. If you only have accidental dental benefits through your individual or employer’s health benefits plan, you may still be eligible for the CDCP. You can learn more about the CDCP eligibility criteria on the Government of Canada’s website.
Learn more about the Canadian Dental Care Plan and eligibility criteria on the Government of Canada’s website.
This information provides an overview of plans offered by Manitoba Blue Cross. This is not a contract or a complete listing of benefits. For more information, call 204.788.6858 or toll-free 1.800.873.2583.
Why choose Manitoba Blue Cross?
Join your local health benefits provider.
- You are our priority. As a not-for-profit, we prioritize you, not the bottom line. Every dollar we make is reinvested back into our products and services, as well as our communities and people.
- Your mental health is important to us. Mental health is an intrinsic part of health and well-being, as much as dental and vision care. That’s why we support you with mental health coverage in several of our plans, including professional counselling.
- You get comprehensive, specialized coverage. With a Manitoba Blue Cross plan, you get the coverage you need, including specialized offerings, such as foot care nurse, athletic therapy coverage, hostel care and treat-no-transport ambulance coverage. We also offer paramedical benefits such as homeopathy, osteopathy and nutritional counselling.
- You’re part of the renowned Blue Cross network: We offer products from the most recognized and trusted name in health coverage in Canada.
- We are a local business. With a walk-in customer service centre conveniently located in Winnipeg, excellent relationships with your health care practitioners and a focus on our community, being a Manitoba business is about more than just our postal code.
- You can access services your way. From our award-winning call centre and walk-in customer service centre to 24/7 access to claim and benefit information online and through our mobile app, you can find information, assistance and resources quickly and easily.
- Your convenience is key. With direct billing, your health care costs can often be paid directly to the service providers, so you are not out of pocket while you wait for reimbursement.