Latest news in Health benefits

Conference coverage: Face to Face in Drug Plan Management Forum Vancouver

Conference coverage: Face to Face in Drug Plan Management Forum Vancouver

What can plan sponsors do about the rising costs of their drug plans? Participants at the Face to Face in Drug Plan Management Forum in…

A look at the prevalence of cost-control measures in private drug plans

A look at the prevalence of cost-control measures in private drug plans

With big escalations in drug plan costs year after year, many plan sponsors want to get a better grip on spending. But how can drug…

Panel explores solutions to boost adherence

Panel explores solutions to boost adherence

Non-compliance with prescription medications is a huge concern for drug plan sponsors who worry about wasting money and worsened outcomes for their members. A panel…

What’s the impact of medical marijuana on patients, drug plans?

What’s the impact of medical marijuana on patients, drug plans?

With increasing use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes and legalization pending for recreational use, many employers are wondering about the implications for their drug plans…

Tackling common myths in drug plan management

Tackling common myths in drug plan management

What are some of the common myths and misconceptions in drug plan management? Panellists explored the issues during the recent Face to Face in Drug…

Feds propose regulatory changes to reduce costs of prescription drugs

Feds propose regulatory changes to reduce costs of prescription drugs

The federal government has proposed amendments to the patented medicines regulations to reduce the costs of prescription drugs in Canada. “This is a consultation process, so what…

Sounding Board: Employers fear WSIB mental-health claims will put them out of business

Sounding Board: Employers fear WSIB mental-health claims will put them out of business

A controller of a food producing operation asked me recently, “What do you think is the next trend in group benefits affecting employers?” One issue came…

Canadian health benefit costs to jump 9.4% this year: survey

Canadian health benefit costs to jump 9.4% this year: survey

The cost of health benefits for Canadian employers will increase by 9.4 per cent in 2017, according to Willis Towers Watson’s annual global medical trends…

  • By: Staff
  • May 12, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 08:50
Sounding Board: ASO plans among the big beneficiaries of Ontario youth pharmacare

Sounding Board: ASO plans among the big beneficiaries of Ontario youth pharmacare

In Canada, about half of prescription drug costs are privately funded. As drug costs rise between eight and 10 per cent each year, governments are…

Toronto restaurant introduces surcharge to cover benefits plan

Toronto restaurant introduces surcharge to cover benefits plan

Starting on Thursday, a Toronto restaurant will add a three per cent surcharge to each bill in order to cover its new employee benefits program. “We needed to bring…

Plan sponsors bracing for onset of new orphan drugs

Plan sponsors bracing for onset of new orphan drugs

A year ago, the Association of Ontario Midwives Benefits Trust received its highest drug claim ever at $55,000 for a 12-week treatment of Harvoni, which…

  • By: Jann Lee
  • May 9, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 08:56
How to create a culture that welcomes employees back from disability leave

How to create a culture that welcomes employees back from disability leave

With complex situations a challenge when it comes to return-to-work planning, an active commitment to accommodation is important, according to a speaker at Benefits Canada’s…

The merits of assessing ‘benefit plan hygiene’

The merits of assessing ‘benefit plan hygiene’

While plan sponsors face significant pressures from rising drug costs, it’s important to consider the full range of tools available that will allow them to…

A look at employers’ role in the battle against insomnia

A look at employers’ role in the battle against insomnia

Between trouble falling asleep and chronic insomnia, 40 per cent of adults in Canada experience sleep issues, according to information presented at Benefits Canada’s Calgary…

Collaborative approach to disability management urged

Collaborative approach to disability management urged

Canadian employers face a range of obligations around helping employees with disabilities to return to work. What are some of the ways they can meet…

How can pharmacy help with drug plan sustainability?

How can pharmacy help with drug plan sustainability?

Given the challenges that plan sponsors and the benefits industry are facing, it’s time for the various players to embrace innovation, according to Mark Rolnick,…

Cost of inflammatory bowel disease ‘immeasurable’

Cost of inflammatory bowel disease ‘immeasurable’

Inflammatory bowel disease is among the fastest-growing conditions in Canada, affecting one in 150 Canadians. According to a recent study, the direct cost of inflammatory…

Conference coverage: 2017 Calgary Benefits Summit

Conference coverage: 2017 Calgary Benefits Summit

After two years of recession, economists are predicting a modest return to growth in Alberta this year. But companies still face fiscal constraints that can…

Days of ‘gravy train’ approach to drug plans at an end, says prof

Days of ‘gravy train’ approach to drug plans at an end, says prof

The benefits industry often talks about the need for organizations to change the design of their drug plans, but how many of them are actually…

Plan members need help with co-ordinating care: report

Plan members need help with co-ordinating care: report

The number of high-cost drugs and patients with multiple chronic conditions continues to rise, according to Express Scripts Canada’s drug trend report for 2016. While…

  • By: Jann Lee
  • May 3, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 08:43
Have your say: Should other provinces follow Ontario’s pharmacare plan?

Have your say: Should other provinces follow Ontario’s pharmacare plan?

As Benefits Canada reported last week, the Ontario government announced in its 2017 budget that it will begin offering universal pharmacare to youth under the age…

  • By: Staff
  • May 2, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 10:31
Change to benefits plans urgent as cost pressures ‘only going to get worse’

Change to benefits plans urgent as cost pressures ‘only going to get worse’

Plan sponsors that have been hoping the recent trend of quickly rising drugs costs will end soon should realize “it’s only going to get worse”…

Salaried employees, retirees approve Stelco’s restructuring plan

Salaried employees, retirees approve Stelco’s restructuring plan

The majority of salaried retirees and employees, along with unsecured creditors, voted in favour of Stelco Inc.’s restructuring plan in meetings on Thursday afternoon. Under…

  • By: Jann Lee
  • April 28, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 09:45
Ontario pharmacare program provides some relief to plan sponsors

Ontario pharmacare program provides some relief to plan sponsors

Ontario is introducing a pharmacare program for all residents aged 24 and under, Finance Minister Charles Sousa announced Thursday as he tabled the province’s 2017…

Ontario NDP puts forward universal pharmacare proposal

Ontario NDP puts forward universal pharmacare proposal

As Ontarians wait to see what’s in the provincial budget today, the Ontario New Democratic Party is getting ahead of the debate with its promise…