As an aging workforce submit more claims, is your organization considering benefit plan changes to reduce costs? And if it is, is a total plan redesign necessary or can you simply make a few tweaks here and there?
Toromont Industries Ltd. in Concord, Ont., for example, has completely revamped its benefits offering, with a tiered plan, preferred pharmacy providers and mandatory generics. And insurers play a role as well. Last month, Jean-Michel Lavoie, assistant vice-president of product development at Sun Life, told Benefits Canada that clients must now opt out of — rather than opt into — features such as prior authorization and mandatory generics.
Read: Drug Plan Trends Report: Alarm about cost sparks ‘monumental shift’
But on the other hand, some employers are expanding their plans. Shoppers Drug Mart and Loblaw Companies Ltd., for example, announced they would offer limited coverage for medical marijuana benefit last month and in January, Manulife boosted its mental-health benefit to $10,000.
What do you think? Are you looking to make changes on your benefits plan to keep costs in check? Have you already done so? Or are your costs already sustainable? Have your say in this week’s online poll.
Read: Toromont’s story of continued drug plan redesign
As for last week’s poll, it asked whether childcare is an employer’s responsibility. Just 17.5 per cent of respondents said employers have a role in helping staff members access childcare, since it can help them concentrate better at work. A quarter (25 per cent) said childcare is the government’s responsibility and politicians should be working to make it more accessible. The majority (57.5 per cent) said childcare is primarily an employee’s responsibility.
