Health Canada has approved two generic versions of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist medication Ozempic, a move that could ease cost pressures for employer-sponsored benefits plans. The introduction of generics is a key lever for controlling drug costs in both private and public plans, says Philippe Laplante, a principal at Eckler Ltd. “As a rule of […]
A new generation of ultra-high-cost therapies is reshaping benefits plan risk, while the arrival of generic glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist medications is set to shift one of the largest drug categories, according to Telus Health’s annual drug report. The report found weight-management climbed six positions to rank No. 11 among all drug categories. The category […]
Weight management drugs and high-cost specialty treatments are expected to have the biggest impact on private drug plans this year, according to Telus Health’s annual drug pipeline report. It found spending on weight management drugs has more than quadrupled since 2021. In 2024, the category doubled in size following the launch of Wegovy (semaglutide) in […]
Rising rates of chronic illness among younger people and women are changing the picture of chronic disease in Canada, according to Sun Life data. Forty-five per cent of Canadians now live with a chronic disease, said Alexandra Dalkie, the insurer’s director of ePharmacy, during Benefits Canada’s 2026 Chronic Disease at Work conference. While older Canadians […]
As the drug plan landscape evolves, the nuanced tension between cost management and the imperative to support employee health continues, according to a panel of experts discussing Benefits Canada’s inaugural Drug Plan Opinion Survey during the 2025 Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum. The survey, which polled 124 Canadian plan sponsors with at least […]
As Canada navigates the evolving drug coverage landscape, private drug plans remain a cornerstone of access, innovation and economic growth. Indeed, private drug plans are more than just a benefit for employees; they’re a critical driver for the Canadian health-care system and the economy, according to Joe Farago, executive director of market access and interim […]
An article on changes to Newfoundland and Labrador’s employee leave legislation was the most-read benefits story on BenefitsCanada.com this year. Here are the top 10 benefits stories of 2025: 1. What Newfoundland and Labrador-based employers need to know about changes to employee leave legislation 2. How national health-care legislation could impact benefits plan sponsors’ virtual […]
While Health Canada’s approval of the first drug to specifically treat postpartum depression represents a clinical milestone in women’s mental health, one benefits expert says its impact on employer-sponsored drug plans is likely to be limited. Zuranolone, sold under the brand name Zurzuvae, is a 14-day oral treatment designed to provide rapid symptom relief for […]
An article on Ontario’s proposed changes to preferred pharmacy network agreements was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. How Ontario’s proposed changes to preferred pharmacy networks could reshape drug plan costs 2. How predictability in the […]
Ontario’s signal that it may restrict or eliminate preferred pharmacy networks has created urgency for plan sponsors that rely on these arrangements to manage drug plan costs and access. Preferred pharmacy networks have been used in private drug plans for more than a decade. A PPN is a group of pharmacies selected because they offer […]