Pacific Blue Cross (PBC) has been British Columbia's leading benefits provider for over 80 years. We are an independent, not-for-profit society with strong roots in BC’s health care system. We provide health, dental, life, disability, and travel coverage to 1 in 3 British Columbians through employee group plans and individual plans.

We are fueled by a commitment to keep health care sustainable for all British Columbians. Through our PBC Health Foundation, we fund projects that improve health outcomes directly related to mental health and wellbeing as well as the prevention and/or management of chronic disease. We are interested in finding people who want to make a difference and who are looking to grow their career with us.

Perks

• Work-life balance with flexible working hours of 7 hours per day, Monday to Friday (i.e., 35 hours per week).
• Paid vacation starts at 3 weeks per year, and increases with years of service.
• Hybrid work environment (i.e., a combination of work from office and work from home days).
• Generous benefits, including extended health, dental, and life insurance; these benefit premiums are 100% paid by PBC.
• Company pension contributions after 1 year of service.  
• Education allowance up to $1,000 per calendar year.
• Onsite gym, cafeteria, and access to virtual doctors/counsellors 24/7 via our Employee Family Assistance Program!

About the Position

• We are searching for 1 Level 3 Underwriter to join our Underwriting team.
• This position is unionized and part of the CUPE 1816 Bargaining Unit. This position is paid at hourly rates and receives wage increases in accordance with the Collective Agreement. The starting wage for this position is: $40.33 per hour.

Job Summary

Under the broad managerial direction of the Assistant Manager, Underwriting, reviews new business opportunities, renewal requests and contract amendments for potential and existing brokerage and major clients who fit within established Level 3 parameters for group, premium size, and underwriting method such as fully insured, Administrative Services Only (with deposit and rates) and refund accounting; responsible for the interpretation and intent of contracts by assessing the eligibility and risks based on multiple underwriting considerations, identifies declines, calculates rates and prepares proposal and renewal package documentation; participates in inter-departmental quote rate review process; reviews New Group Set Up packages; prepares customized reports for brokerage and major clients and identifies underwriting options for containing client costs; responsible for analysis and negotiation by providing the analytics and rationales to support Group Business in their ability support PBC’s position on quotes, pricing considerations, and exceptions; handle large case renewals and quotes as a project, attends client and broker meetings as needed to provide support to group business; as a member of the Underwriting Team, identifies opportunities to improve underwriting processes and tools, and provides input and recommendations to enhance efficiency, effectiveness and customer service.

Job Duties

Customer, Client, and Member Service: Prospective New Clients

1. As a member of the Underwriting team, reviews new business opportunities of potential clients who fit within established Level 3 parameters for group, premium size, and underwriting method such as fully insured, Administrative Services Only in arrear and budgeted and refund accounting by:

• analyzing Requests to Quote to assess eligibility and degree of risk including reviewing the industry type, years in business, existing benefits, family content, occupations to be covered, dates of hire, location, salary levels, participation, age distribution, benefit levels, classing criteria, non-standard ownership and collective agreement impacts if in a unionized environment and attend related meetings.
• identifying factors which result in decline of opportunities to quote.
• manage large case quotes as a project.  Assign work, request information, and interface with Underwriting, Work and Wellness, Group Business, Finance, Group Services, and other internal departments, as well as other external stakeholders as needed.
• assessing incumbent carrier experience. 
• evaluating degree of risk associated with non-standard policy provision, practices, and procedures.
• calculating rates for benefits based on results of analysis.
• consulting with Managers, Group Business and other internal stakeholders to develop quote strategies for large and complex groups with multiple benefit lines and complex risk factors and to explore alterations in plan design to accommodate group situations while still remaining competitive.
• participating in inter-departmental quote rate review process for new business opportuniteis involving large groups and high-risk impacts.
• responding to general inquiries related to underwriting products and services provided.
• generate and distribute the proposal and financial documents to group business proposal manager for completion and distribution.   
• providing the analytics, and rationales to support Group Business in their ability support PBC’s position on quotes, pricing considerations, and exceptions.

2. Reviews New Group Set Up packages to assess impact of any changes occurring in group risk assessment factors since the original quote was made; determines the need for medical underwriting to confirm evidence of good health; introduces non-evidence limits if required and identifies potential for grandfathering of previous benefits situations; re-calculates pricing if required and consults with Account Managers/Executives to determine appropriate action in the event of rate changes; prepares group history summaries, volume reports, rate breakdowns for benefit type, target loss ratios, stop loss rates and other system entry and documentation requirements associated with new group set up and forwards to Group Business for completion and distribution.

3. Responsible for the interpretation and intent of contracts by assessing the eligibility and risks based on multiple underwriting considerations, identifies declines, calculates rates, and prepares proposal and renewal package documentation.

Customer, Client, and Member Service: Group Renewal and Retention of Existing Clients

4. Reviews renewals and requests for benefit changes in group contracts and clarifies contract wording for existing clients who fit within established Level 3 parameters, assesses risk, and determines renewal rates or rate changes by:

• analyzing claims experience, credibility, group size, industry and economic influences, rating method and other factors which could potentially influence pricing or ability to renew and attend related meetings.
• assessing requested amendments to plan design to determine impact.
• identifying and pursuing upselling opportunities.
• manage large case quotes as a project.  Assign work, request information, and interface with Underwriting, Work and Wellness, Group Business, Finance, Group Services, and other internal departments, as well as other external stakeholders as needed.
• calculating rates and benefits based on results of analysis.
• consulting with Account Executive, Account Managers, Group Business, and other stakeholders to determine degree of leeway present for negotiating alternate pricing or plan alterations to preservce existing relationships while managing costs, or to mitigate the impact of extreme rate changes.
• preparing financial statements for refund and Administrative Service Only accounting clients to determine balance remaining in client account, implementing strategies to recover deficits or on an occasional basis, declining to renew.
• generating a renewal package including all required support documentation and forwarding to Group Business for processing.
• following underwriting authority guidelines, contract authority limits and company standards.
• providing the analytics, and rationales to support Group Business in their ability support PBC's position on quotes, pricing considerations, and exceptions.

5. In partnership with Group Business and other team members, prepares customized reports for clients on claims, premiums paid, transfers, disability and other financial or client experience data; compiles, balances and reconciles client expenses and other financial statements; on an ongoing basis, identifies underwriting options for containing client costs, particularly in the areas of plan design, and pursues creative solutions that balance client needs against PBC’s ability to deliver on commitments.

6. Responsible for the interpretation and intent of contracts by assessing the eligibility and risks based on multiple underwriting considerations, identifies declines, calculates rates and prepares proposal, and renewal package documentation.

7. Preparing worksheet for robotic process automation (RPA), manually keying rates, and comparing verified sold to required rates and charge inputs in ACES. Reporting incorrect, inconsistent or non-standard rate issues to Group Business for clarification with client.

8. Services clients by:

• invoicing for deposits/floats.
• checking days to payment of ASO invoices.
• calculating reinsurance for third party administrators and self-administrators.
• reconciling accounts for final financial position (i.e., final accounting).
• calculating reconciliation at termination for ASO and refund clients.

General Team and Department Support

9. Consults with other Underwriters on underwriting decisions falling within Level 3 authority limits and approves new business quotations, financial refund requests, renewals and amendments. Conducts peer reviews for renewals, quotes and amendments for Level 3 Underwriters, Level 2 Underwriters, and Level 1 Underwriters.

10. As a member of the Underwriting Team, identifies opportunities to improve underwriting processes and tools, and provides input and recommendations to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and customer service.

11. Using the intermediate features of spreadsheet software, creates, edits and formats worksheets including entering and editing data, and creating formulas to automate multiple manual calculations relating to underwriting rates or the creation of customized client reports.

12. On a one to one or team basis, supports employees team members by demonstrating the execution of specific tasks and duties, and sharing knowledge and experience on request.

13. Maintains up-to-date knowledge of underwriting practices, policies and procedures, system requirements and other information related to the provision of underwriting through continuous learning initiatives; in consultation with more senior underwriters, may participate in learning enrichment activities associated with underwriting for larger and/or more complex groups as opportunities arise.

14. As needed, performs the duties of a Level 2 Underwriter, Level 1 Underwriter, and/or Underwriting Assistant.

15. Performs other assigned duties related to the provision of underwriting and administrative support which do not affect the rating of the job.

 
Qualifications

• 6 years of previous related group underwriting experience, including a minimum of 2 years in a Level 2 Underwriter, Intermediate Underwriter, or equivalent position.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related quantitative field such as business, economics, finance, actuarial, mathematics, or equivalent.
• CEBS designation (180 hours) or the full 10-course FMLI program (160 hours), or equivalent.
• Demonstrated proficiency with advanced Excel and intermediate Word.
• Completion of an advanced Excel course (36 hours), or equivalent.
• Completion of an intermediate Word course (18 hours), or equivalent.

If you’re excited about taking on this opportunity, we invite you to apply today and start the conversation with us about this position.

Please apply via our website this week at http://www.pbchbs.com/company/careers/

While we thank all applicants for their interest, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

PBC is an Indigenous Works employer of choice, an Insurance Business Canada Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion award winner, one of Canada’s Greenest employers, a Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) employer partner, and a Pride at Work partner.

We strive to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and employees feel empowered to freely participate and contribute regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, education level, parental status, or socioeconomic status. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all qualified candidates. 

To request an accommodation in completing this job application, testing, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to careers@pac.bluecross.ca. These accommodation requests will be reviewed confidentially and, on a case-by-case basis by Human Resources.