A think tank is urging the federal government to abandon plans for a single-payer pharmacare program in the face of tariff-related fiscal uncertainty. Rosalie Wyonch, associate director of research at the C.D. Howe Institute, says in a new report released Thursday that the government should instead look to fill existing gaps in coverage. Ottawa should […]
Amazon.com says it’s investing more than a US$1 billion to raise wages and lower the cost of health-care plans for its U.S. fulfillment and transportation workers. The Seattle-based company said the average pay is increasing to more than $23 per hour. Some of its most tenured employees will see an increase between $1.10 and $1.90 […]
U.S. employers are anticipating a median health benefits cost trend of nine per cent in 2026, which could be offset to 7.6 per cent with changes to plan design, according to a new survey by Business Group on Health. The survey, which polled more than 120 employers representing 11.6 million plan members, found, on a […]
Half (51 per cent) of U.S. employers with 500 or more employees say they’re likely or very likely to make plan design changes in 2026 that would shift more costs to employees, such as raising deductibles or out-of-pocket maximums, according to a new survey by Mercer. The survey, which polled more than 500 large-sized companies, […]
Canadian employees who are on long-term disability leave are two-times more likely to claim for a chronic disease medication related to a secondary condition and three-times more likely to claim for medication treating two or more symptoms than those who aren’t on LTD, according to a new report by Sun Life Financial Inc. The report […]
As the role of pharmacists in the Canadian health-care landscape continues to evolve, there are opportunities for plan sponsors to integrate these professionals into their health benefits offerings, says Martin Belanger, senior vice-president of payer and provider solutions at Telus Health. While a fifth (22 per cent) of Canadians don’t have access to a family […]
Three-quarters (75 per cent) of women say they want or need benefits that specifically support women’s health, including services for fertility and menopause, according to a new survey by RBC Insurance. The survey, which polled 1,000 working Canadians between the ages of 18 and 65, also found women were more likely than men to report […]
Weight management medications emerged as the fastest growing drug category in 2024, with claims for these drugs surging by 90.6 per cent since 2023, according to Telus Health’s annual drug report. The report, which is based on claims data from more than 15 million plan members in 2024, found the increase in claims was driven […]
While two-thirds (67 per cent) of U.K. employers say their benefits package has had a positive impact on the overall well-being of employees, fewer than a third (31 per cent) of employees agree that their benefits package has allowed them to proactively look after their health and well-being, according to a new survey by consultancy […]
Manitoba has become the first province to officially join Ottawa’s pharmacare program, giving it access to federal funding to cover the cost of birth control and diabetes medications as well as hormone replacement therapy for menopause. “This is the beginning of a journey that cannot end,” said Health Minister Mark Holland. “There’s no room for […]