U.S. employers say they’re expecting their total health benefits plan costs to rise by an average of 5.4 per cent per employee in 2024, according to a new survey by Mercer. The survey, which polled more than 1,900 employers, found the projected increase comes after more than a decade of annual cost increases typically averaging […]
U.S. employers are expecting health benefits costs to increase by an average of 8.5 per cent to more than $15,000 per employee in 2024, according to a new survey by Aon. The survey, which polled 800 U.S. employers, found the projected increase is nearly double the budgeted amount that employers experienced from 2022 to 2023 (4.5 per cent). […]
An announcement regarding long-awaited amendments to the Patented Medicines Review Board regulations was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com over the last week. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. PMPRB drug pricing regulations officially coming into effect this July 2. Key stakeholders highlighting value of private payer health care amid plans for […]
With two of Ontario’s government parties promising to develop portable benefits plans, it’s important to remember that plan sponsors need the freedom to design and price their benefits packages, as well as stability in terms of government processes, says one expert. “Plan sponsors are already delivering programs to a large proportion of the workforce and […]
About three-quarters (78 per cent) of U.S. employers said they’re more focused on the quality of health care over cost management when making decisions about their benefits plan amid the current war for talent acquisition and retention, according to a new survey by Artemis Health Inc. The survey, which polled more than 300 U.S. human […]
The shift to hybrid and remote work models during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic is one of several issues impacting pension plan and group benefits administrators in 2022, said Michael Wolpert, a pensions and benefits lawyer at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, during a webinar on Jan. 13 hosted by the Canadian Pension & Benefits Institute. Specifically, […]
More than a third (38 per cent) of plan sponsors are planning to update their benefits plan design by the end of this year, on par with those that did so in 2020 (39 per cent), according to a survey by Arthur J. Gallagher Canada Ltd. The survey, which polled more than 500 Canadian plan […]
Roughly two-fifths (41 per cent) of plan sponsors reported offering virtual health-care services through their benefits plan, according to the 2021 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey. Among these plan sponsors, 33 per cent said they paid extra to add virtual care to their plan, while 67 per cent said it was part of their standard plan at […]
By integrating their benefits and pension plans, employers can fulfill their plan objectives while creating a better experience for plan members, said Christine van Staden, regional vice-president of group customer and national accounts at Canada Life Assurance Co., during Benefits Canada’s 2021 Benefits & Pension Summit. “This is a trend we’re seeing more of in […]