Starting January 1, 2026, Joint Facilities Benefits Trust (JFBT) members will be eligible for a permanent suite of improved vision, hearing, preventative vaccine and other extended care benefits, along with renewed access to a pilot project for mental health and wellness support.
“This latest round of improvements to the trust that oversees the benefits for the Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA) means lower costs, improved quality of life and better health care outcomes for 67,500 members,” says Lynn Bueckert, HEU secretary-business manager and lead spokesperson for the FBA.
“Please also note, since 2017, the FBA no longer negotiates extended health care benefits for members,” says Bueckert. “The only way your Pacific Blue Cross plan is determined is through the trust, with input from your union trustees, just as we are seeing today with these improvements.”
Enhanced extended care benefits
“Starting January 1, members can access expanded coverage for vision care, eye exams, hearing aids, and custom-made orthopedic shoes and orthotics,” says Bueckert. “Plus, new to the FBA extended benefits package, the trust is providing the funds for several preventative vaccines that were previously not covered.”
See the table below for the suite of changes coming into effect for FBA members’ extended care benefits on January 1, 2026.
Benefit Type | Current Coverage | 2026 Coverage |
Vision care | $350 every 24 months | $500 every 24 months |
Eye exam | $100 per calendar year | One eye exam per calendar year |
Hearing aids | $600 every 48 months | $2,000 every 48 months |
Custom-made | One pair per lifetime combined limit | One pair every three calendar years |
Preventative vaccines | Not covered | Pacific Blue Cross list of covered vaccines* |
*See the JFBT bulletin here for more details on how to access the list of vaccines.
Renewed mental health and wellness program
“The pilot program for mental health and wellness benefits is extended until December 31, 2027,” says Bueckert. “Launched in October 2024, the benefit covers a wide-range of registered counselling services in person or online.”
The following service providers and services are eligible for the program:
• Registered psychologist
• Online cognitive behavioral therapy
• Registered clinical counsellor
• Registered social worker
• Marriage and family therapist
The combined limit for each person covered by the plan will continue to be $1,500 per person per calendar year. Members who access this trial benefit are reimbursed up to the limit outlined in the extended health plan.
About the Joint Facilities Benefits Trust
The JFBT was established under the terms of the 2014-2019 Facilities Collective Agreement. It is responsible for administering extended health and dental, group life, accidental death and dismemberment (ADD), and long-term disability (LTD) benefits.
“The JFBT is governed by a jointly-trusteed board with equal representation by unions and employers,” says Bueckert. “That means, when there are savings made by the trust, trustees can enhance FBA benefits for all members and their families.” Since the FBA ended bargaining for member benefits and shifted management to the JFBT in 2017, there have been successive rounds of improvements.
In 2022, the trust eliminated the $100 deductible, reimbursed annual eye exams for members and dependents up to $100 per calendar year, and reimbursed contraceptives included in the BC Pharmacare formulary. In 2024, the trust, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, established the mental health and wellness pilot program.
To learn more about the fund, please visit their website at https://www.jfbt.ca/