Announcement: Upcoming Changes to your MRBT Extended Health Benefits Plan

Learn about extended health benefits plan changes effective January 1, 2027

This message contains important Information about your Municipal Retiree Benefit Trust (MRBT) Health Benefits plan.

The MRBT Board of Trustees has approved changes to the extended health benefits plan coming into effect on January 1, 2027.

Following the 2025 valuation, the MRBT plan’s funding status is able to support several positive changes to the MRBT health benefits plan while maintaining the Trust’s focus on long-term sustainability for both current and future retired members.

Benefit type Your MRBT plan currently covers Starting January 1, 2027,
your MRBT plan will cover
Extended health
lifetime maximum		 $200,000 $250,000
Psychologist, clinical counsellor,
and online cognitive
behavioural therapy		 $500 per calendar year
combined		 $1,000 per calendar year
combined
Hearing aids $700 per ear
Every 4 calendar years for adults
Every 2 calendar years for
dependent child(ren)		 $1,000 per ear
Every 4 calendar years for adults
Every 2 calendar years for
dependent child(ren)
Vision care $250 every 2 calendar years for adults
$150 per calendar year for
dependent child(ren)		 $300 every 2 calendar years for
adults and dependent child(ren)
Eye exam $75 every 2 calendar years $75 per calendar year
Vaccines Herpes zoster and shingles PBC list of covered vaccines*
Continuous Glucose Monitors Not covered $4,000 per calendar year
*Please refer to the full list in the FAQ section

For additional information related to the above changes, please review the Frequently asked questions (FAQ) below.

Please visit the MRBT Portal for the updated benefits at a glance, benefits brochure, and benefits booklet, along with helpful information and resources such as the MRBT educational videos, Retiree Guide, and more.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Vision care

The vision care benefit limit increase will apply to purchases dated on or after January 1, 2027.

It is recommended that you log in to your PBC Member Profile to review your coverage and benefit eligibility prior to purchasing.

If I purchase a pair of eyeglasses in December 2026 and was reimbursed the $250 limit, can I resubmit the claim for the difference in January 2027?

No, the higher limit only applies to claims for purchases dated on or after January 1, 2027.

If I purchase a pair of eyeglasses in December 2026 and was reimbursed the $250 limit, if I purchase another pair of eyeglasses in January 2027, can I submit this claim even though the purchase is within 2 calendar years of the last claim?

Yes, but you will only be reimbursed the difference between the new limit and the prior limit.

Hearing aids

The hearing aids benefit limit will apply to purchases dated on or after January 1, 2027.

It is recommended that you log in to your PBC Member Profile to review your coverage and benefit eligibility prior to purchasing.

If I purchased hearing aids in December 2026 and was reimbursed the $700 limit, can I resubmit the claim for the difference in January 2027?

No, the higher limit only applies to claims for purchases dated on or after January 1, 2027.

If I purchase hearing aids in December 2026 and was reimbursed the $700 limit, if I purchase hearing aids again in January 2027, can I submit this claim even though the purchase is within 4 years of the last claim?

Yes, but you will only be reimbursed the difference between the new limit and the prior limit.

Preventative vaccines

PBC’s list of covered vaccines is added starting January 1, 2027.

How do I find out what vaccines are covered under the MRBT plan?

PBC’s list of covered vaccines is as follows:

  • Cholera
  • Diptheria combinations
  • Encephalitis
  • Hepatitis A and B (and combinations, i.e. Twinrix)
  • Hemophilus Influenzae B, combinations
  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
  • Influenza (Flu)
  • Measles, combinations with Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
  • Meningococcus
  • Pertussis (Whooping cough)
  • Pneumococcus (Pneumonia)
  • Rabies
  • Rota Virus
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
  • Shingrix
  • Tetanus
  • Typhoid
  • Varicella (Chicken Pox and Shingles)
  • Yellow Fever

Please note that this list could evolve over time. It is recommended that you log in to your PBC Member Profile and use the Drug Lookup Tool to review your coverage and benefit eligibility prior to purchasing.

Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM)

Coverage for Continuous Glucose Monitors is added starting January 1, 2027.

It is recommended that you log in to your PBC Member Profile to review your coverage and benefit eligibility prior to purchasing.

What devices are covered starting January 1, 2027?

Devices eligible under BC PharmaCare such as Dexcom (G6 and G7) are covered. To view coverage details, log in to your PBC Member Profile and click on Health View Details under Your Coverage. Select the individual seeking coverage and scroll down to Medical Equipment & Supplies and then Diabetic & Heart Patient Devices.

What is the process to submit a claim for a purchase made on or after January 1, 2027?

As CGMs such as Dexcom are covered under the BC PharmaCare program for diabetic patients, please follow the steps below:

  1. Have your Prescriber or Diabetes Specialist complete the BC PharmaCare Special Authority request form and apply directly to BC PharmaCare on your behalf.
    NOTE: For members residing outside of BC, please have your Prescriber or Diabetes Specialist complete the Dexcom G6/G7, FreeStyle Libre 2/3 Plus request form.
  2. Once you have obtained Special Authorization from the BC PharmaCare program, submit a copy of PharmaCare's approval and the official paid receipt to Pacific Blue Cross through Member Profile.
  3. Pacific Blue Cross will notify you directly of the claim approval or the denial.

If approved, initial coverage is valid for 1 year from the approval date and renewals are valid for 5 years.

Lifetime maximum

I reached the prior lifetime maximum of $200,000 and my extended health coverage ended. Can I now be reinstated for coverage starting January 1, 2027?

Once you reach the lifetime maximum for extended health, you are terminated from the plan and would not be reinstated later if future limits are increased.

General

Will my monthly premium rates change?

Each fall, the MRBT reviews the premiums and announces any changes to the monthly rates that will be effective on February 1st of the following year. Anytime there are plan changes, there will be a cost implication to the plan which can impact the unsubsidized portion of the extended health premium rates that members pay. The subsidized portion will be funded by the MRBT.

What are Reasonable and Customary Limits?

Reasonable and customary (R&C) limits are the range of usual fees for comparable medical services in a geographic area. Like other benefit providers, Pacific Blue Cross uses these limits to determine the maximum eligible amounts for health care services and supplies covered by your MRBT plan. Please visit the PBC website, Understanding Reasonable and Customary Limits for more information. You can also log in to your PBC Member Profile.

Who can I contact for questions?

If you have questions about:

Eligibility, enrolment, or premium

Sign in to My Account and use the Message Centre https://myaccount.pensionsbc.ca/web/my-account

Coverage, claims, or reimbursement

For all other inquiries, please email contact@bcmrbt.ca

Stay informed

  • Ensure your email contact information with the Municipal Pension Plan (MPP) is current. If you wish to change your email address for future correspondence from the MRBT, log in to My Account to update it directly
  • You are automatically subscribed to receive communications from the MRBT unless you choose to opt out
  • If you have opted out in the past, please visit Municipal Retiree Benefit Trust to subscribe
  • Check your email regularly
  • Please make sure the following email is not a blocked sender: no-reply@bcmrbt.ca
  • Regularly visit the MRBT Portal
  • Log in to your PBC Member Profile

Please note that this is for information purposes only. All official terms will be pursuant to the benefit booklet and the MRBT Group Contract with Pacific Blue Cross for Policy 88000.