Trend factors and, more specifically, health trend factors, use an organization’s experience with historical claims to forecast future healthcare benefits costs. Insurers apply these trends…
Watch this video The introduction of biologics to benefits plans is a double-edged sword: while biologics can significantly increase health outcomes for employees, they can…
With many details of U.S. healthcare reform still unknown, organizations are struggling to develop a long-term healthcare strategy, says a recent survey by Towers Watson.…
Canadian benefits plan sponsors are becoming more involved in assessing their drug plan designs. This has been a positive step forward in terms of helping…
With healthcare costs rising, employees are expected to be more accountable for maintaining their own health and monitoring their expenses, says Aon Hewitt. According to…
Some insurance companies now provide online claiming for non-drug benefits (electronic adjudication of drug claims has been around for years). But how has this increase…
Time and tools are the key factors in an effective benefits education program, according to research from Unum, a benefits services provider for the U.S.…
While healthcare costs are projected to increase at a lower rate in 2012 compared with 2011, the average cost per employee is expected to surpass…
You’ve undoubtedly read about the youngest group in your workplace: the 17- to 28-year-olds, known as generation Y. While Statistics Canada data from 2010 show…
If you want to reduce benefits costs and get the best ROI from your employee wellness program, implement participation incentives and automation. That’s the finding…
Watch this video For benefits plan sponsors worried about the increasing costs of their plans, the legislation regarding generic drug price reductions (currently implemented in…
Early responses from a Mercer survey suggest the average growth in U.S. health benefits costs will slow to 5.4% in 2012, the smallest increase since…
Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) will save U.S. consumers and payers almost $2 trillion in prescription drug costs—a 35% savings—over the next decade, according to new…
Watch this video Too often, benefits plan administration and costs take up a plan sponsor’s focus—leaving communication efforts to suffer, says Sarah Beech, region director,…
There has been tremendous focus in recent years on advancements in insurer technology in areas such as employee self-service, online reporting, e-claims and Web-based administration…
Employee morale is down, but benefits education can be an effective way to boost workplace satisfaction, says a recent survey by U.S.-based benefits provider Unum.…
More than 100 people attended the 11th annual Solutions in Drug Plan Management conference presented by Drugstore Canada and Benefits Canada yesterday in Toronto. Pharmacists,…
American employers are shifting costs to employees, consolidating plan choices, emphasizing account-based plans and requiring employees to do more in order to receive incentives, according…
One of the biggest potential upsides to containing costs through an optimally designed plan is that plan sponsors then have the budget to ensure better…
Watch this video Mike Sullivan, president of Cubic Health, talks about his unique experience working with State Farm Insurance, as the organization set out to…
It’s hard to believe the wave of drug reforms swept past only a year ago. Judging from early insights, it doesn’t appear the landscape has…
Novus Health has announced the opening of a new contact centre in Montreal. Like its contact centre in Toronto, the new one will be staffed…
Traditional approaches to drug plans need to be revisited, but the industry needs to move toward a properly designed flexible benefits program that fosters better…
From the state of the economy to the implementation of drug reform legislation and prolific genericization of branded products, there has been much speculation about…
Watch this video According to research from the Sun Life Financial health index, more than 80% of Canadians realize they have the opportunity to manage…