Legal issues – Benefits Canada.com https://www.benefitscanada.com Canada's most influential pension and benefits publication for decision-makers Wed, 01 May 2024 19:25:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8 Top 5 HR, benefits, pensions and investment stories of the week https://www.benefitscanada.com/news/bencan/top-5-hr-benefits-pensions-and-investment-stories-of-the-week/ Fri, 09 Feb 2024 14:00:22 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=151793 An article on the Ontario Court of Appeal’s affirmation of a $1.5 million punitive damages award was the most-read article on BenefitsCanada.com this week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pensions and investment articles of the past week: 1. Court of Appeal upholds $1.5 million punitive damages award in LTD claims case 2. N.B. transferring 5 public […]

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]]> Court of Appeal upholds $1.5 million punitive damages award in LTD claims case https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/benefits-law/court-of-appeal-upholds-1-5-million-punitive-damages-award-in-ltd-claims-case/ Fri, 02 Feb 2024 14:00:43 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=151475 The Ontario Court of Appeal’s affirmation of a $1.5 million punitive damages award — reportedly the largest award of its kind in a Canadian long-term disability case — may signal greater exposure for employers and insurers that fail in their duty to treat such claims in good faith. “The court had no problem with the […]

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]]> Manulife, Loblaw deal to deliver specialty drugs sparks access, competition concerns https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/manulife-loblaw-deal-to-deliver-specialty-drugs-sparks-access-competition-concerns/ Wed, 31 Jan 2024 14:00:44 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=151370 Some pharmacare policy experts are raising concerns about competition and patient access to much-needed medication after Manulife Financial Corp. announced its coverage of certain prescription drugs will only apply at Loblaw Cos. Ltd. pharmacies. The new arrangement, details of which were shared with plan holders earlier this month, affects around 260 medications under the insurance […]

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]]> Georgia to pay for gender affirmation care for public employees https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/georgia-to-pay-for-gender-affirmation-care-for-public-employees/ Mon, 23 Oct 2023 19:00:43 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=145724 The state of Georgia will start paying for gender affirmation care for state employees, public school teachers and former employees covered by a state health insurance plan, settling the latest lawsuit aimed at forcing state agencies to pay for surgery and other procedures. The plaintiffs moved to dismiss their case last Thursday in Atlanta federal […]

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]]> National pharmacare program will cost $40BN annually with shift of $14BN in private insurance https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/national-pharmacare-program-will-cost-40bn-annually-with-shift-of-14bn-in-private-insurance/ Wed, 18 Oct 2023 13:00:45 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=145468 The Parliamentary Budget Office is confirming the insurance industry’s projection that a single-payer model of national pharmacare program will cost $40 billion annually as a result of shifting more than $14 billion in private insurance coverage onto the government’s books. In a new report, the PBO estimated the cost of a single-payer universal drug plan to […]

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]]> Top 5 HR, benefits, pension and investment stories of the week https://www.benefitscanada.com/news/bencan/top-5-hr-benefits-pension-and-investment-stories-of-the-week-51/ Fri, 08 Sep 2023 13:00:25 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=143124 An article announcing the finalists in Benefits Canada‘s 2023 Workplace Benefits Awards was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com over the last week. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. Who are the finalists of the 2023 Workplace Benefits Awards? 2. How employers can help prevent post-vacation burnout 3. AI tools helping insurers manage plan costs by […]

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]]> AI tools helping insurers manage plan costs by weeding out instances of benefits fraud https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/ai-tools-helping-insurers-manage-plan-costs-by-weeding-out-instances-of-benefits-fraud/ Wed, 06 Sep 2023 13:00:31 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=142721 In 2022, Beneva Inc.’s fraud management department noticed unusual activity under a plan member’s account. The insurer’s artificial intelligence tool, used to analyze millions of benefits claims, flagged that a plan member and the person’s dependant had used up all their maximum coverages within a short period of time. When the plan coverage rolled over […]

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]]> ChatGPT a game-changer for benefits communication, but risks remain with full automation: expert https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/benefits-communication/chatgpt-a-game-changer-for-benefits-communication-but-risks-remain-with-full-automation-expert/ Fri, 11 Aug 2023 13:00:07 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=141767 While ChatGPT is helping benefits communications become more efficient, detailed and reliable, the risks may outweigh the rewards when it comes to full automation, says Tom Milne, a principal at Normandin Beaudry. The possibilities for generative artificial intelligence in the benefits space are infinite, he says, noting the algorithms are helping expedite the research and […]

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]]> Ontario court overturns $249K judgment against employer that denied worker LTD benefits https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/benefits-law/ontario-court-overturns-249k-judgment-against-employer-that-denied-worker-ltd-benefits/ Thu, 25 May 2023 13:00:44 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=138711 The Ontario Court of Appeal has overturned a $248,931 judgment against an employer that denied long-term disability benefits to an employee, citing the trial judge’s misinterpretation of eligibility requirements. “The employee’s position was that he was on temporary medical leave, but he had been working until the day he left and the medical evidence clearly […]

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]]> McCarthy Tétrault appointing Susan Nickerson as head of pensions, benefits, executive compensation https://www.benefitscanada.com/notice/appointment-notice/mccarthy-tetrault-appointing-susan-nickerson-as-head-of-pensions-benefits-executive-compensation/ Wed, 19 Apr 2023 13:00:54 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=136672 McCarthy Tétrault LLP is appointing Susan Nickerson as partner and head of its pensions, benefits and executive compensation group. Prior to joining McCarthy Tétrault, she was a partner in Torys LLP’s pension and employee benefits law division for nearly 10 years. She’s also a past chair of the Association of Canadian Pension Management and its […]

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