drugs – Benefits Canada.com https://www.benefitscanada.com Canada's most influential pension and benefits publication for decision-makers Tue, 07 May 2024 20:29:28 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8 Diabetes medications remain leading drug category for eligible claims in 2023: report https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/diabetes-medications-remain-leading-drug-category-for-eligible-claims-in-2023-report/ Wed, 24 Apr 2024 13:00:23 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=154574 In 2023, diabetes medications remained the leading drug category for eligible private insurance claims for the second consecutive year, according to Telus Health’s annual drug trends report. The report, based on claims data from more than 15 million plan members in 2023, found the growing prevalence of diabetes, along with expanded heart failure treatment indications and […]

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]]> Highest-cost drugs reimbursed by Canadian public plans in 2021/22 were rare disease treatments: report https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/highest-cost-drugs-reimbursed-by-canadian-public-plans-in-2021-22-were-rare-disease-treatments-report/ Tue, 09 Jan 2024 14:00:15 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=149971 The 10 highest-cost drugs reimbursed by public drug plans in Canada in the 2021/22 fiscal year were all rare disease treatments with annual treatment costs of more than $250,000, according to a new report by the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board. It found the increased use of high-cost drugs continued to be the main factor […]

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]]> Survey finds a quarter of U.S. employers provide coverage of diabetes management drugs for weight loss https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/a-quarter-of-u-s-employers-providing-coverage-of-diabetes-management-drugs-for-weight-loss-survey/ Mon, 20 Nov 2023 14:00:49 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=147372 While three-quarters (76 per cent) of U.S. employers say they provide coverage of glucagon-like peptide-1 drugs for diabetes management, about a quarter (27 per cent) provide coverage of these drugs for weight loss, according to a new survey by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. The survey, which polled more than 200 U.S. benefits […]

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]]> 54% of benefits plan members currently live with at least one chronic condition: survey https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-wellness/54-of-benefits-plan-members-currently-live-with-at-least-one-chronic-condition-survey/ Tue, 19 Sep 2023 13:00:35 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=143610 More than half (54 per cent) of Canadian benefits plan members currently live with at least one diagnosed chronic health condition, according to the 2023 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey. It found the top current diagnoses were a mental-health condition such as depression or anxiety (18 per cent), high cholesterol (12 per cent), arthritis (12 per […]

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]]> Gene, cell therapies raising questions of drug cost responsibilities: expert https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/gene-cell-therapies-raising-questions-of-drug-cost-responsibilities-expert/ Fri, 21 Jul 2023 13:00:30 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=141260 The growth of gene and cell therapies are raising significant questions among private payers about who bears the responsibility for the costs of these treatments, says Tim Clarke, president at TC Health Consulting Inc. “One issue is whether this is going to be paid for by public health or if it’s an employer health issue. […]

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]]> Specialty drugs accounting for smaller portion of total eligible claims amount: report https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/specialty-drugs-accounting-for-smaller-portion-of-total-eligible-claims-amount-report/ Wed, 14 Jun 2023 19:00:17 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=139815 Specialty drugs are accounting for a slightly smaller portion of the total eligible amount for all drug claims, declining from 33.6 per cent in 2021 to 33.1 per cent in 2022, according to Telus Health’s annual drug trends report. The report, based on claims data from more than 4.6 million plan members in 2022, found the […]

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]]> Annual spend per private drug plan member up 6.3% in 2022: report https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/annual-spend-per-private-drug-plan-member-up-6-3-in-2022-report/ Thu, 20 Apr 2023 13:00:23 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=136809 The annual spend per private drug plan member increased by 6.3 per cent in 2022, according to Express Scripts Canada’s annual drug trends report. Across both traditional and specialty drugs, the increase was primarily driven by a 5.4 per cent rise in plan members making a claim, which reversed the trend seen in 2020 and […]

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]]> Top 5 HR, pension and benefits stories of the week https://www.benefitscanada.com/news/bencan/top-5-hr-pension-and-benefits-stories-of-the-week-25/ Fri, 01 Apr 2022 13:00:10 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=119033 The Ontario Liberals’ election promise of portable drug, dental and mental-health services was the most read article over the past week on BenefitsCanada.com. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. Ontario Liberals promising portable drug, dental and mental-health services 2. Employees rank remote work, salary as top elements of benefits packages: survey 3. Employers pausing […]

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]]> Plan sponsors, members embracing virtual health-care services: survey https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/plan-sponsors-members-embracing-virtual-health-care-services-survey/ Thu, 28 Oct 2021 13:00:53 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=110406 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 […]

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]]> Half of Canadians increasing use of virtual health care amid pandemic: survey https://www.benefitscanada.com/news/bencan/half-of-canadians-increasing-use-of-virtual-health-care-amid-pandemic-survey/ Wed, 26 May 2021 19:00:13 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=101157 Half of Canadians said they’ve increased their use of virtual health care since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new survey by consulting firm Calian Group Ltd. It also found, while 49 per cent of respondents said they intend to continue using virtual care after the pandemic is over and safety precautions […]

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