generic drugs – Benefits Canada.com https://www.benefitscanada.com Canada's most influential pension and benefits publication for decision-makers Fri, 26 Apr 2024 20:02:31 +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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]]> Zayo, Unifor agreement includes pension, benefits gains https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/zayo-unifor-agreement-includes-pension-benefits-gains/ Tue, 02 Apr 2024 13:00:07 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=153782 The union representing 120 employees working across Canada for U.S. telecommunications company Zayo Group has ratified a four-year collective agreement that includes pension and benefits gains. Unifor Local 2000A was able to protect and maintain the company’s defined benefit pension plan; however, the employee contribution will increase from three per cent to 4.5 per cent. […]

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]]> Public sector benefits plan changes include $75k for gender affirmation coverage https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/public-sector-benefits-plan-changes-include-75k-for-gender-affirmation-coverage/ Thu, 27 Jul 2023 13:00:19 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=141385 Changes to the Public Service Health Care Plan, which took effect on July 1, include $75,000 for certain gender affirming procedures not covered by provincial or territorial health-care programs. Other new benefits include: $300 per year each for a registered dietician, occupational therapist and lactation consultant; $200 per year for batteries for hearing aids; $600 per […]

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]]> Four drug plan management strategies to help bend the cost curve https://www.benefitscanada.com/events/conference-coverage/how-drug-plan-management-strategies-can-bend-the-cost-curve/ Mon, 23 Jan 2023 12:55:23 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=132535 With the cost of drug claims continuing to rise in 2021, benefits plan sponsors can enable certain drug programs to curb costs, keeping their plans sustainable and offering the benefits that members highly value, said Lavina Viegas, director of pharmacy operations at Telus Health, during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2022 Face to Face Drug […]

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]]> High-cost medicines driving drug costs for public, private plans: report https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/high-cost-medicines-driving-drug-costs-for-public-private-plans-report/ Fri, 25 Nov 2022 14:00:14 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=130310 The increasing use of high-cost medicines is the primary cost driver for all Canadian drug plans, according to a new report by the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board. It found drug costs for public plans rose by 5.3 per cent in 2019/20, with high-cost medicines accounting for 6.3 per cent of the increase. Among private […]

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]]> Metro, Unifor agreement includes drug plan for part-time workers https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/metro-unifor-agreement-includes-drug-plan-for-part-time-workers/ Mon, 06 Jun 2022 13:00:57 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=122290 The union representing 225 part-time workers at Metro Inc. warehouses in Etobicoke, Ont. has ratified a three-year agreement that includes multiple benefits gains. Unifor members voted overwhelmingly in favour of a collective agreement that includes a prescription drug plan for all eligible part-time workers. The plan offers single coverage with a three-year maximum of $6,000, […]

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]]> Prescription drug costs in public plans hit $12.5BN in 2019/20: report https://www.benefitscanada.com/news/bencan/prescription-drug-costs-for-canadian-plans-hit-12-5bn-in-2019-20-report/ Fri, 12 Nov 2021 14:00:34 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=111464 Prescription drug costs for public drug plans rose to $12.5 billion in 2019/20, a 3.7 per cent rise in spending since 2017/18, driven primarily by increases in the use of higher-cost drugs, according to a report by the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board. The report, which reviewed data from the National Prescription Drug Utilization Information […]

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]]> Vale mine workers ending strike after winning pension, benefits increases https://www.benefitscanada.com/pensions/defined-benefit-pensions/vale-mine-workers-ending-strike-after-winning-benefits-pension-increases/ Mon, 09 Aug 2021 13:00:19 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=105230 The first strike at Vale Canada in more than a decade is drawing to a close after unionized workers at the Sudbury, Ont., mine ratified a collective agreement that includes improved pension and health benefits. Through the agreement — which expires May 31, 2026 — the monthly pre-age 65 defined benefit pension will increase by $50 to […]

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]]> How plan sponsors can contain rising drug costs in 2021 https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/key-steps-for-plan-sponsors-trying-to-contain-rising-drug-costs/ https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/key-steps-for-plan-sponsors-trying-to-contain-rising-drug-costs/#respond Fri, 18 Dec 2020 05:03:22 +0000 https://cumulus.benefitscanada.com/uncategorized/key-steps-for-plan-sponsors-trying-to-contain-rising-drug-costs/ With drug costs for plan sponsors steadily rising in recent years, keeping budgets down is top of mind as they plan for 2021. “The biggest concern for plan sponsors is sustainability,” said Shawn O’Brien, principal of data enablement and drug, health, dental product roadmap for Telus Health, in a press release. “They have to find a […]

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]]> https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/key-steps-for-plan-sponsors-trying-to-contain-rising-drug-costs/feed/ 0 A legislative update on provincial biosimilar policies https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/a-legislative-update-on-provincial-biosimilar-policies/ https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/a-legislative-update-on-provincial-biosimilar-policies/#respond Fri, 18 Dec 2020 04:55:07 +0000 https://cumulus.benefitscanada.com/uncategorized/a-legislative-update-on-provincial-biosimilar-policies/ When the City of Toronto switched benefits plan insurers in 2017, it changed its coverage for biologics and biosimilars. Under its previous plan, the City reimbursed employees for the drugs their doctors recommended and prescribed; now, it follows its new insurer’s mandatory biosimilars policy, while grandfathering any plan member who was already taking a biologic […]

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