Quote Tool

Learn how to generate a Business Select quote by entering company details, employee census information, and benefit selection. This guide walks through each step, from plan selection and premium sharing to quote generation and email delivery of the final quote summary.

5 minutes

Bluecross

Start a New Quote

Access the Business Select digital tool through the Advisor Portal quick actions link.

A one-time password will be required before proceeding to the digital tool. ***Why are we asking to verify Advisor's identity again?***\ Business Select operates in a separate secure environment from the Advisor Portal, so an additional identity verification step is required.

Before starting, the user should gather the following information for each employee: - Age - Sex - Family status (Single, Couple or Family) - Annual salary ***Important:*** Complete employee census data is not required to get started. The Quote Tool can generate a quote using estimated employee information, allowing plan options and pricing to be explored early in the process. For the most accurate quote, complete and accurate census data should be used. This information will be required to complete the application.

Select Start Quote to begin.

Contact Information

Enter the company name and contact information.

Business Information

Complete the Business Information section by confirming: - The location of the company. - The company's business structure. - How long the company has been operating for. These initial responses are used to assess eligibility for Business Select and determine whether the quote can proceed through the standard digital process.

Select the **Company Description** that best match the business. The **Corresponding Industry** will auto populate from the Company Description. Use the search field to quickly filter and locate the appropriate options. ***Need help choosing?*** *If more than one option appears applicable, select the company description that best represent the employer's primary operations rather than occasional or secondary activities.* *If the corresponding industry does not match employer's primary operations select a different company description that would be more accurate.*

Complete the remaining Business Information fields by confirming: - The number of eligible employees. - For groups with **3-9 employees**, confirm their relationship status. - The types of employees. - If the plan will be replacing current life and disability coverage. **Tip:** Only include eligible full-time employees who work a minimum of 20 hours per week when determining employee count.

If the plan will be replacing current Life and Disability insurance coverage, additional Disability eligibility questions will be required to confirm: - If any employees have received Long-Term Disability benefits within the past three years. - The number of employees receiving Long-Term Disability benefits. - If any employees are currently receiving Long-Term Disability benefits.

After completing the required Business Information fields, select Next to continue.

🚩 **Manual Review Required** Companies that don’t qualify to continue through the digital quote will not be able to proceed. The submission will be reviewed by one of our specialists. There are a few reasons that lead to further qualification, including but not limited to: - Companies located outside of Saskatchewan - Companies that do not meet the employee eligibility requirements - Companies that identify as an Association, Union, or Other - Companies that have not been in business for a minimum of six months - Companies that may not meet the Life or Disability requirements.

Employee Information

Throughout the quote, progress can be saved and resumed by selecting **Save**. - This option is only available from the Employee Information page onwards. - Saved quotes are accessible **up to 30 days.** A valid email address must be provided and verified using a one-time password by email. Once validated, all information entered into the quote is saved automatically, allowing progress to be captured without selecting Save again.

On this page, first determine the employee class structure. Business Select supports a maximum of **two employee classes**. - **By default**, all eligible employees are assigned to a single class. - A second class can be created when different benefit selections are required for distinct employee groups, such as owners, managers, or executives. Once the employee class structure has been established, select the desired plan effective date. Available options are limited to: - **The first day of the next month** - **The first day of the second following month** **Important:** *Business Select effective dates must be the **first day of the month** and cannot be backdated. The quote tool only displays eligible effective date options.*

Before entering employee census information, review the Business Select participation requirements. **Important:** *All eligible employees must be included in the census. Employees with comparable coverage through a spouse or partner may waive Health and Dental coverage; however, Life and AD&D coverage remain mandatory. **This additional information will be captured during the application process.***

Employee census information must be provided for all eligible employees. Employee information can be entered in one of two ways: - Downloading an Excel template, completing, and uploading it to the quote; or - Manually entering employee details in the required onscreen fields **(Best suited for smaller groups, typically 3 to 6 employees)**

**Important:** *Estimated employee information can be used to generate a quote. However, precise and complete employee census data is required to produce the most accurate quote and to complete the application process. Employee information may affect pricing, eligibility assessments, and final plan details.*

The number of employees entered or uploaded in the Employee Census must match the number of employees previously entered on the **Business Information** page. If a discrepancy is identified, the quote tool will display a notification advising that the employee count does not match the number of employees indicated earlier in the quote process. \ \ The quote cannot proceed until the discrepancy is resolved.

Enter the required employee information for each eligible employee in the provided Employee Census table fields or in the Excel template: - **First Name** - **Age** - **Sex** - **Family Status** - **Annual Salary** - **Employee Class** (if two classes have been established) If the template is completed and uploaded, the Employee Census table will automatically populate using the information provided in the spreadsheet.

After completing all required Employee Information fields, select Next to proceed to plan selection.

Plan Selection

The next page of the quote tool will present the available Business Select benefit options and coverage levels. For each benefit, a high-level summary of the coverage available under each plan level will be provided, allowing users to compare options and select the coverage that best meets their organization's needs. To learn more about a specific benefit, select **Full Benefit Details** to view additional information, including a complete listing of covered benefits, reimbursement levels, maximums, and plan-specific features. **Important:** *Health, Dental, and Life/AD&D are required core benefits and must be included in every Business Select plan. Optional benefits can be added based on the employer's needs and budget.*

Benefit options can be compared by selecting the different coverage levels for each corresponding benefit. As benefit selections are changed, the **Estimated Premium Per Month** displayed at the bottom of the page will automatically recalculate to reflect the updated plan design and employee census information. **Important:** *The premium displayed is an estimate based on the information entered during the quote process. Final rates are subject to eligibility validation, underwriting requirements, and the accuracy of the employee census data provided.*

If two employee classes have been selected on the previous page of the quote tool, certain benefits may be configured with different coverage levels for each class. Where permitted, the quote tool will allow separate benefit level selections for each class. **Important:** *Class flexibility varies based on group size. For groups with **3-19 employees**, Life and Disability benefits must be the same across both classes. Health, Dental, and HSA benefits may differ between classes. For groups with **20-49 employees**, Life and Disability benefits may also differ by class.*

If the group has **11 or more eligible employees**, [**Protection Plus Benefits**](https://www.protectionplusbenefits.ca/) will be automatically included as part of the quote at no additional cost. Protection Plus Benefits provides eligible employees with the option to purchase portable Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, and Critical Illness insurance coverage beyond the employer-sponsored plan, providing greater flexibility and choice without increasing plan costs for the employer.

Optional benefits can be added or removed by selecting the desired benefit and corresponding coverage level. Business Select offers the following optional benefits: - **Short Term Disability (STD)** - **Long Term Disability (LTD)** - **Critical Illness (CI)** - **Health Spending Account (HSA)** As optional benefits are added, removed, or adjusted, the **Estimated Premium Per Month** will automatically update to reflect the revised plan design and employee census information. **Important:** *Optional benefits are not required; however, eligibility requirements and product rules may impact the availability of certain coverages, particularly Disability benefits.*

Additional information about a benefit, coverage option, or plan feature can be viewed by selecting the **?** tooltip icon beside the corresponding benefit.

If the **Health Spending Account (HSA)** benefit is selected, additional information will be required. - **HSA amount per employee** - The HSA allocation must be entered as **whole-dollar amount** in **$100 increments**. - Eligible amounts range from **$100 to $10,000 per employee**. - The quote tool will display a warning if an amount outside these parameters is entered. - **Employee class assignment** - If the plan has **one class**, the HSA allocation will automatically apply to that class. - If the plan has **two classes**, which class the HSA allocation applies to must be selected. - A different HSA allocation can be added for the second class, if desired.

Once the desired benefits have been selected, define the **Cost Sharing Preferences** by indicating how premiums will be shared between the employer and employees. The contribution percentages can be adjusted using the **-** and **+** buttons in the **Employer Contribution** section. As the employer contribution is updated, the **Employee Contribution** percentage will automatically adjust to ensure the total contribution equals 100%. **Important:** *Business Select requires a minimum employer contribution of **30% of the total aggregate premium**. Contribution levels can be customized by benefit, provided the overall minimum employer contribution requirement is met.*

If the selected **Cost Sharing Preferences** result in the employer contributing less than the required minimum, the quote tool will display a validation message and prevent the quote from proceeding. Adjust the employer and employee contribution percentages until the minimum employer contribution requirement is met before continuing with the quote.

If a Cost Sharing Preference has been selected for **Short Term Disability (STD)** or **Long Term Disability (LTD)** benefits, a confirmation message will be presented outlining the potential tax implications associated with the contribution arrangement. The user must review and acknowledged before continuing. **Important:** *If an employer pays any portion of the STD or LTD premium, disability benefits paid during a claim may be taxable to the employee. Employers should carefully consider the tax implications when determining their cost-sharing preferences.*

Before proceeding, confirm: - The information entered throughout the quote is complete and accurate. - The user is authorized to submit the information on behalf of the business.

After completing all required **Plan Selection** fields, select **Next** to continue. Before proceeding, ensure all selections that have made are accurate and complete.

Quote Summary

The **Quote Summary** page displays a summary of the selected benefits, coverage levels, employee census information, cost-sharing preferences, and estimated premium, along with the company details entered throughout the quote process. Review the information carefully to ensure it accurately reflects the desired plan design and employee information. If changes are required, select **Edit** and navigate back to the applicable section of the quote to make updates. The updated quote information will replace any previously saved quote details.

After reviewing the **Quote Summary**, select **Submit** to finalize the quote submission.

The quote is not considered active or valid until the Quote Proposal has been issued.

The complete quote summary email will be sent to the email addressed used to access the Advisor Portal. Select **Confirm** to send the email. **Important:** *The quote summary can only be sent to **the email address listed**.*

A copy of the **Quote Proposal** is attached to the quote summary email and is to be reviewed in detail, as it is more comprehensive than the quote summary provided through the quote tool. The Quote Proposal provides a comprehensive overview of the quote, including: - Detailed breakdown of selected benefits and coverage levels - Premium and cost-sharing information - Copy of company information and responses provided at time of quote - Additional plan and coverage details

If changes are made to an existing quote, the updated quote information will replace any previously saved quote details. Submission is required to activate the most recent quote details and issue a revised Quote Proposal.

Quotes remain valid for **30 days** from the date they are generated. - Rates are guaranteed throughout the 30-day validity period, provided there are no changes to the information used to generate the quote. - Changes may include updates to employee demographics, plan design selections, eligibility information, or other factors that impact pricing. - If a change occurs, a new quote will be generated, and rates will be recalculated based on the updated information.

When the user is ready to proceed from quote to application, they can do so directly from the quote confirmation page of the digital tool or using a link provided in the quote summary email. **Important:** *The application will be generated using the most recently submitted quote. If changes to the plan design are required, a new quote should be generated before proceeding to the application.*