Latest news in Health benefits

The workplace effects of cancer as a chronic illness

The workplace effects of cancer as a chronic illness

Rising survival rates are making cancer one of Canada’s fastest-growing chronic diseases. Dina Linardos, the nursing director at CAREpath Inc., explained to attendees at the…

How employers can better support workers suffering from migraines

How employers can better support workers suffering from migraines

Workplace accommodations and new targeted medications promise to transform the experience of migraine sufferers after decades of neglect, a speaker told participants at a recent…

Ontario government to become second payer under OHIP+ changes

Ontario government to become second payer under OHIP+ changes

Ontario’s new Conservative government has announced changes to the province’s youth pharmacare program to make it second payer for Ontarians under age 25 who have…

A roundup of benefits, HR and legal considerations around legalized marijuana

A roundup of benefits, HR and legal considerations around legalized marijuana

While the federal government has pushed forward the initial target date of July 1 for legalizing recreational cannabis to Oct. 17, employers will still be busy trying…

  • By: Staff
  • July 1, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:00
A pot primer for plan sponsors

A pot primer for plan sponsors

When it instituted random drug testing last year, the Toronto Transit Commission was eager to ensure its employees knew what it expected of them. To…

Is nudging biologic patients towards biosimilars a good choice?

Is nudging biologic patients towards biosimilars a good choice?

A recent study examining the potential savings determined that, based on the uptake of available biosimilars in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, Canada…

Have your say: Are incentives for orthotics claims a concern for benefits plans?

Have your say: Are incentives for orthotics claims a concern for benefits plans?

A red flag goes up for Dan Mead whenever an orthotics customer comes into his clinic asking about getting free shoes. “Clearly, we do see…

Orphan drugs hit 42% of new pharmaceuticals in Canada in 2016

Orphan drugs hit 42% of new pharmaceuticals in Canada in 2016

Orphan drugs represent a significant and growing share of new pharmaceutical entrants in Canada, according to a new report from the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board.…

  • By: Staff
  • June 27, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 15:53
Unionized Bombardier staff secure pension, dental benefits improvements

Unionized Bombardier staff secure pension, dental benefits improvements

Bombardier Inc.’s 2,100 production and office workers operating in Toronto will see improvements to their pension and dental benefits, as well as the introduction of a retirement…

Feds announce members of national pharmacare advisory council

Feds announce members of national pharmacare advisory council

The federal government has announced the appointment of the remaining members of its advisory council on the implementation of national pharmacare. Besides former Ontario health…

  • By: Staff
  • June 20, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 16:00
Canadian employers concerned about implications of cannabis legalization

Canadian employers concerned about implications of cannabis legalization

More than half (52 per cent) of Canadian employers said they’re concerned or very concerned about the implications of legalized marijuana on the workplace, according to a report by…

  • By: Staff
  • June 19, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 15:30
National pharmacare the wrong solution: think-tank

National pharmacare the wrong solution: think-tank

Advocates for national pharmacare have misdiagnosed the nature of gaps in prescription drug plan coverage in Canada and have proposed the wrong solution, according to a new…

  • By: Staff
  • June 19, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 10:12
Conference coverage: Calgary Benefits Summit

Conference coverage: Calgary Benefits Summit

From pharmacare to analytics, plan sponsors heard about the big issues on the horizon for their benefits plans at Benefits Canada‘s Calgary Benefits Summit. Presenters…

  • By: Staff
  • June 18, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 12:00
Assessing pharmacare’s impact on private drug plans

Assessing pharmacare’s impact on private drug plans

With a national pharmacare program potentially on the horizon, many plan sponsors will be wondering about the impact on their benefits plans. At Benefits Canada‘s…

Taking big data to next level key to boosting employee health promotion

Taking big data to next level key to boosting employee health promotion

By taking the use of data to the next level, employers and insurers can improve their ability to promote better health through benefits plans. That…

Rising biosimilar uptake touted amid ‘continuously evolving’ evidence for safety, efficacy

Rising biosimilar uptake touted amid ‘continuously evolving’ evidence for safety, efficacy

Canada could save an estimated $280 million a year in drug costs if biosimilar uptake here reached the levels seen in Norway, a speaker told…

The role of convenience, personalization in a changing health-care landscape

The role of convenience, personalization in a changing health-care landscape

With the workplace changing rapidly, the health-care landscape will be evolving along with it, a speaker told the audience at Benefits Canada‘s Calgary Benefits Summit…

Markers Financial introducing group medical cannabis product

Markers Financial introducing group medical cannabis product

Markers Financial Inc. is launching a group insurance product that covers medical cannabis on Aug. 15. The company, which is a division of Toronto-based Evergreen Pacific…

  • By: Staff
  • June 15, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:15
Great-West Life, Morneau Shepell partner for online cognitive behavioural therapy

Great-West Life, Morneau Shepell partner for online cognitive behavioural therapy

The Great-West Life Assurance Co. has partnered with Morneau Shepell Ltd. to offer web-based cognitive behavioural therapy to plan members receiving disability benefits for a…

  • By: Staff
  • June 13, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 15:15
Have your say: Did human rights tribunal get it right in decision on ending benefits at 65?

Have your say: Did human rights tribunal get it right in decision on ending benefits at 65?

The Ontario Human Rights Tribunal’s recent ruling that it’s unconstitutional for plan sponsors to discontinue benefits for employees after the age of 65 represents a…

Employee satisfaction with benefits plans on the rise in 2018: Sanofi survey

Employee satisfaction with benefits plans on the rise in 2018: Sanofi survey

Canadian employees and plan sponsors are on the same page when it comes to the quality of their health benefits plans, according to the 2018…

  • By: Staff
  • June 13, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 11:07
Sanofi survey finds plan sponsors split on issue of medical cannabis

Sanofi survey finds plan sponsors split on issue of medical cannabis

There’s an almost even split among plan sponsors on whether to cover medical marijuana in their health benefits plans, according to the 2018 Sanofi Canada…

  • By: Staff
  • June 13, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 11:06
Data key in helping employees with chronic disease, survey finds

Data key in helping employees with chronic disease, survey finds

While chronic disease is a persistent problem in the workplace, employers are missing key data illustrating how employees’ conditions are affecting their work, according to the 2018 Sanofi…

  • By: Staff
  • June 13, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 11:03
Sanofi survey finds 85% of plan members used drug plans last year

Sanofi survey finds 85% of plan members used drug plans last year

The majority (85 per cent) of Canadian plan members used their drug plan at least once in the past year, according to the 2018 Sanofi Canada…

  • By: Staff
  • June 13, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 11:02
Benefits plan sponsors continuing to focus on cost management: Sanofi survey

Benefits plan sponsors continuing to focus on cost management: Sanofi survey

The majority (81 per cent) of plan sponsors said they have a philosophy or long-term view that defines why they offer benefits plans and that…

  • By: Staff
  • June 13, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 11:01