Though many plan sponsors are still using step therapy to manage drug plan costs, pharmacogenetic testing is receiving attention as more providers enter the market, lower the cost and familiarize employers and insurers with the technology. As it becomes more sophisticated, there’s more information about how pharmacogentic testing works, says Sandra Ventin, associate vice-president at […]
Bruce Power Ltd. Partnership’s manager of human resources and total rewards shares her view on optimizing the benefits plan, enjoying the great outdoors and employee assistance programs. Q. What are the top challenges you face in your role? A. Getting employees to be active participants in the benefits plan. We’re trying to encourage individuals to […]
Buy-in and buyout annuity sales hit their highest level in Canadian history in 2018, reaching $4.5 billion, an increase of $800 million over 2017, according to data from Eckler Ltd. The purchases represent a 20 per cent increase in the volume of group annuities bought by Canadian pension plans, year over year. Buy-in annuities, which made up more than […]
British Columbia’s College Pension Plan board of trustees selection panel has appointed Bita Jenab as its director of research and analysis for the college and public service pension plans. Jenab has more than 30 years of consulting experience and extensive experience as a consulting actuary working with jointly sponsored pension boards. She will provide the board with strategic […]
A significant disconnect exists between the degree of mental-health problems facing Canadians today, the costs of workplace mental health and the solutions in place to address and reduce those costs. Organizations are doing more than ever before around workplace mental health, said Georgia Pomaki, leader of Manulife’s mental-health specialists team, at the 2018 Mental Health Summit Vancouver […]
For employees who have been away from the workplace due to mental illness, providing treatment, reducing stigma and getting employees back to work comes down to workplace culture. “Very simply put, employees who feel valued and supported by their employers return to work,” said Michelle Harper, director of national best practices, wellness, disability and life at […]
Aon has partnered with six Canadian insurance providers to offer traditional and flexible benefits through its Aon Choice platform. The new partnership includes Sun Life Financial Inc., Manulife Financial Corp., Great-West Life Assurance Co., Desjardins Insurance, SSQ Life Insurance Co. and Green Shield Canada. The companies comprise 82 per cent of the Canadian group benefits […]
Medavie Blue Cross has appointed Marc Avaria as vice-president of product and disability management. In the new role, Avaria will lead the development of new products for the insurer’s group and individual businesses with a focus on digital options and pharmacy benefit management functions. He will also help advance Medavie Blue Cross’ disability management business and […]
There was a lot of news to share from the pension, investment, benefits and human resources industries in October. Here are the 10 most popular online stories on BenefitsCanada.com: 1. Is loneliness the next employee wellness frontier? 2. A look at four benefits plan models for covering medical marijuana 3. Manulife lowers STD claims with mental-health benefits boost […]
The Co-operators Life Insurance Co. is introducing optional medical cannabis coverage for its largest group plan sponsors. While the coverage can be added as an optional provision under an extended health-care plan, it requires prior authorization and is subject to an annual maximum. The insurer will consider cannabis an eligible expense under a health-care spending account, as long […]