Nearly all (86 per cent) U.S. employers are reporting an increase in cancer care costs through their benefits plan, with a median increase of 11 per cent since 2024, according to a new report by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. It found the most popular steerage techniques that organizations are using to mitigate […]
The Canadian Cancer Society estimates 30,500 women and 290 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025, with about 5,500 Canadians expected to die from the disease. For employers, the numbers show how often breast cancer intersects with the workplace and why clear, compassionate support is critical. At BDO Canada, support begins the moment […]
Canadian plan sponsors are consistently underestimating the share of their employees living with at least one chronic condition, according to the 2025 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey. While three in five (59 per cent) plan members reported having at least one chronic condition, plan sponsors estimated that an average 38.5 per cent of their workforce had […]
U.S. employer health-care costs are projected to climb 9.5 per cent in 2026, pushing average plan costs above US$17,000 per employee, according to a new report by Aon. The report draws on the firm’s health value initiative database, which tracks plan costs and designs for more than 1,000 employers covering 7.7 million employees and US$120 […]
The company’s director of corporate human resources services discusses a new women’s health initiative, the challenge presented by GLP-1 drugs and the Ukrainian art of pysanky. Q: What new programs or initiatives are you looking to implement? A: I’m really excited about a new women’s health initiative we’re going to be piloting with one of […]
Managers play an important role in supporting mental well-being, recognizing mental-health challenges and creating a supportive and caring environment for employees, said Carmen Bellows, registered psychologist and director of mental-health solutions at Sun Life Financial Inc., during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2025 Vancouver Benefits Summit. Individuals are facing a lot of uncertainty right now, […]
SPONSORED CONTENT Community pharmacies are becoming centres of timely, accessible health care with a growing number of health services as pharmacists’ scope of practice increases, something benefits plan sponsors can consider to improve health outcomes for employees. Ninety-five per cent of Canadians live within five to 10 kilometres of a community pharmacy, giving them another […]
When a plan member wants to lose weight but doesn’t know where to start or is unsure what their benefits plan covers, it can feel like a game of snakes and ladders, said Eveline Keable, strategic leader of health, wellness and disability for group benefits and retirement solutions at iA Financial Group, during Benefits Canada’s […]
For the past 10 years, Benefits Canada’s Chronic Disease at Work conference has examined the current trends in chronic disease in Canada and what they mean for plan sponsors. Hosted in a virtual format on Feb. 12, the 2025 conference explored several chronic diseases, as well as their impacts on the workplace and the role of employers […]
Chronic disease rates are rising and cases are becoming more complex, with a higher share of plan members experiencing multiple co-morbidities. This growing trend necessitates an approach to chronic disease management that promotes self-management and healthy lifestyle choices, as well as helps plan members better navigate the health-care landscape, said Jeffery Chan, assistant vice-president of […]