Benefits enrollment season is only a few weeks away for many organizations. At this point, employers are thinking about what they need to tell their…
If employers left their employee medical plans static in 2010, they would see costs rise by nearly 9%. However, with more than half of all…
There is more talk about the links between organizational health, productivity and employee well-being as awareness of the return on investment of such initiatives spreads.…
It might come as a surprise to most plan sponsors how much the abuse and diversion of narcotics and controlled drugs can be an issue…
Third-party administrators (TPAs) have been around for decades. In terms of numbers, the Third Party Administrators’ Association of Canada (TPAAC) estimates that its members oversee…
The H1N1 pandemic isn’t behaving the way many business leaders expected it to, and the window of opportunity for organizations to manage the second wave…
The recent “Strategies for Managing Health Plans through a Challenging Economy” webinar presented by the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans outlined several strategies plan…
A majority of U.S. employers support a phased-in approach to national healthcare reform, according to a recent Mercer survey of 329 employers. Sixty-seven per cent…
Establishing sound work/life balance policies now as part of your pandemic planning may save your business in the future. Recent concerns about Influenza A(N1H1)…
Hard times can take a toll on employees’ mental health. What can employers do to help? While she can now talk about it with a…
It is said that “the medium is the message” and that expression certainly holds true with respect to online benefits administration. No longer are providers…
The Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) has revised the financial parameters of the basic drug plan to reflect the rising costs of the…
U.S. companies still see healthcare benefits as an integral part of their attraction and retention strategy and are recruiting staff in the effort to improve…
Until recently, generic drugs have been an afterthought when it comes to looking at ways to contain drug costs in private plans. Expensive biological drugs…
The country’s preeminent life and health insurance association says Canada’s public healthcare system is in trouble and should work closely with private industry to solve…
G&K Services, a uniform supplier, ranked No. 15 on our Employees’ Choice: Top 30 Benefits and Pension Plan list. Deen Maharaj, director of HR, Canada,…
Many drug plan sponsors find it hard to believe that they can save 4% to 8% of their current spending simply by optimizing their existing…
Many drug plan sponsors find it hard to believe that they can save 4% to 8% of their current spending simply by optimizing their existing…
Let’s start with the good news. ESI Canada’s annual drug trend analysis found that private drug spend increased by 5% nationally in 2008 (an increase…
Biologic drugs represent a relatively new wave of medications that has come to market and is dramatically changing both the lives of patients and the…
Health benefit costs may be a tempting target for employers looking to trim expenses, but doing so amid a recession risks alienating employees and killing…
Advances in technology have brought significant improvements to the group insurance industry over the last five years, making processes and procedures easier and more efficient.…
Approximately 120 medical conditions can be detected through a simple oral health exam. If employees are visiting their dentist or dental hygienist regularly, some conditions…
Many companies are scaling back on the benefits offered to new hires, but current retirees are also feeling the pinch, according to research by Towers…
With Influenza A H1N1 making headlines and fears of a pandemic lurking in the background, it’s paramount that companies have a business continuity plan in…