Latest news in Health benefits

Ontario unveils new drug, dental coverage for people without workplace benefits

Ontario unveils new drug, dental coverage for people without workplace benefits

While Wednesday’s provincial budget in Ontario offered details on the inclusion of seniors in the government’s pharmacare program, Ontarians over age 65 aren’t the only cohort set to…

Ontario Trillium program sees rise in young users, spend on high-cost drugs

Ontario Trillium program sees rise in young users, spend on high-cost drugs

The number of Ontarians using the Trillium drug program increased threefold between the beginning of 2000 and the end of 2016, according to a new…

  • By: Staff
  • March 27, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 16:30
Have your say: Is benefits fraud a widespread problem?

Have your say: Is benefits fraud a widespread problem?

With fraud prevention month underway, just how big of a problem is the issue for plan sponsors? “As an industry, we estimate that benefits fraud…

Lower generic prices not a cure for drug cost pressures

Lower generic prices not a cure for drug cost pressures

The announcement in late January that 70 of the most commonly prescribed drugs will see their prices fall by as much as 40 per cent on April 1…

  • March 26, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 16:14
Manager in Sudbury benefits fraud case ordered to pay $20M to former employer

Manager in Sudbury benefits fraud case ordered to pay $20M to former employer

A former Atlas Copco Canada Inc. manager sentenced to jail time for his part in a benefits kickback scheme now faces a $20-million bill from his…

Canadian employers expect rise in medical leaves due to mental health: survey

Canadian employers expect rise in medical leaves due to mental health: survey

Forty-two per cent of Canadian employers are anticipating an increase in medical leaves related to mental-health concerns and illnesses, according to a report by the Conference Board…

  • By: Staff
  • March 22, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 17:34
Tilray seeks to become preferred medical marijuana supplier to Pharmasave

Tilray seeks to become preferred medical marijuana supplier to Pharmasave

Medical marijuana producer Tilray Canada Ltd. is entering into a letter of intent to become the preferred supplier for Pharmasave. Subject to federal regulations legalizing marijuana, Tilray…

  • By: Staff
  • March 22, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 16:00
Lung cancer ‘not one big disease’

Lung cancer ‘not one big disease’

The vast amount of variation in a disease such as lung cancer often signals different treatment options for patients. At the Employers Cancer Care Summit…

Conference coverage: Employers Cancer Care Summit

Conference coverage: Employers Cancer Care Summit

With all of the new cancer treatments emerging, how can employers better manage issues related to the disease from a workplace perspective? With a roster of…

  • March 20, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 13:36
A look at best practices for managing cancer in the workplace

A look at best practices for managing cancer in the workplace

After reviewing, summarizing and translating more than 40 academic studies on cancer in the workplace, Chris Bonnett, principal consultant at H3 Consulting, found no lack…

Options for supporting employees in the return to work

Options for supporting employees in the return to work

Many employers want to do everything they can to support employees dealing with cancer. But what are some of the most effective ways of offering…

A primer on the role of drug access navigators

A primer on the role of drug access navigators

Among the sessions at the 2018 Employers Cancer Care Summit was a primer on the role and services of a drug access navigator in allowing…

One woman’s journey through the cancer treatment system

One woman’s journey through the cancer treatment system

What’s the actual experience of dealing with the workplace while undergoing cancer treatment? At the 2018 Employers Cancer Care Summit, one woman told her story,…

Ontario Liberals to expand OHIP+ program to seniors

Ontario’s political parties are busy making promises about key benefits issues as they prepare for this June’s election campaign, with the governing Liberals announcing a plan expand…

Insurers stepping up fight against benefits fraud with analytics, big data

Insurers stepping up fight against benefits fraud with analytics, big data

According to estimates from the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association, benefits fraud results in the loss of two to 10 per cent of health-care dollars.…

Ontario NDP platform to include pharmacare, dental benefits for all workers

Ontario NDP platform to include pharmacare, dental benefits for all workers

Ontario’s New Democratic leader unveiled parts of her platform at a campaign event on Saturday, saying the party will offer universal pharmacare and dental care…

Managing benefits costs top concern for U.S. employers in 2018: survey

Managing benefits costs top concern for U.S. employers in 2018: survey

Managing costs is the top benefits priority for American employers in 2018, according to an annual survey by global insurance brokerage Hub International Ltd. The survey, which polled…

  • By: Staff
  • March 16, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 16:20

Learn how legal marijuana will affect the workplace at the Benefits and Pension Summit

With the impending legalization of marijuana in Canada, what do plan sponsors need to consider? How will the workplace be affected by both recreational and medical…

Co-operators acquires full ownership in Cumis

Co-operators acquires full ownership in Cumis

The Co-operators Group Ltd. is acquiring full ownership of the Cumis Group Ltd. from its co-owner Central 1 Credit Union. Since 2009, Central 1 has shared ownership…

  • By: Staff
  • March 16, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:10
Editorial: Benefits, bullying and the minimum wage

Editorial: Benefits, bullying and the minimum wage

The issue of benefits changes at some Tim Hortons outlets in response to Ontario’s boost to the minimum wage to $14 per hour is a…

How changing public coverage could affect the pharmaceuticals industry

Drug Plan Trends Report: A snapshot of what’s coming down the pike

The hepatitis C hump is over. Since 2014, Health Canada has approved several promising medications for the disease. While the direct-acting antivirals offer cure rates…

TTC fraud update: More than 220 employees fired or have resigned, retired

TTC fraud update: More than 220 employees fired or have resigned, retired

Some 223 Toronto Transit Commission employees have been dismissed or have resigned or retired to avoid dismissal as part of an ongoing investigation into benefits fraud,…

  • By: Staff
  • March 15, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 10:01
B.C. expands hep C coverage, adds new drug to formulary

B.C. expands hep C coverage, adds new drug to formulary

British Columbia is expanding treatment coverage for chronic hepatitis C to everyone in the province and has added a new drug to the province’s PharmaCare formulary. “In…

  • By: Staff
  • March 13, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 16:00
Sun Life adds virtual health-care services to group, individual plans

Sun Life adds virtual health-care services to group, individual plans

Sun Life Financial Canada is adding virtual health-care services to its group and individual insurance plans. Its virtual care referral networking will initially include three third-party providers: Toronto-based…

  • By: Staff
  • March 8, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 15:00
Cigna acquires Express Scripts for $67 billion

Cigna acquires Express Scripts for $67 billion

Global health service provider Cigna Corp. is acquiring Express Scripts Holding Co. in a deal valued at $67 billion. The stock and cash transaction includes…

  • By: Staff
  • March 8, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:00