In Canada, the year-over-year cost increase for claims under a medical plan on a per-person basis is projected to reach 8.6 per cent this year, up from eight per cent in 2021, according to a new report by Mercer Canada. The report, which analyzed responses from 210 insurers across 59 countries, found the year-over-year cost […]
To say the coronavirus pandemic has had an unimaginable impact on Canadian life is an immense understatement — it has literally reshaped the way we work, interact socially and access health care. To that end, the pandemic has — and continues to — carve a path for a range of health-care innovations now supported by […]
Employer-sponsored health benefits cost trends are expected to increase 8.1 per cent on average globally in 2022, according to a new survey by Willis Towers Watson. The survey, which polled medical insurers across various geographic regions, found cost trends are expected to be as high as 14.2 per cent in Latin America, followed by 10.6 […]
The coronavirus pandemic has increased health-care costs in the U.S., while shifting how and where employees access care, according to a new report by PricewaterhouseCoopers. It projected that the costs of medical treatment in the U.S. will increase by 6.5 per cent in 2022, slightly lower than this year (seven per cent). “The pandemic’s long […]
Sun Life Financial Inc. has completed its acquisition of PinnacleCare International Inc., a U.S. health-care navigation and medical intelligence provider. Based in Maryland, PinnacleCare has more than 170 employees and 20 years of experience helping people navigate their care options when facing a serious medical condition. It will become part of Sun Life’s U.S. stop-loss and […]
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 […]
Canadians’ current retirement savings aren’t likely to withstand the costs of long-term health care later in life, according to a new survey by Edward D. Jones & Co. It found 23 per cent of respondents said they believe their retirement savings will last them less than 10 years, including 21 per cent of those age […]
Canada Life Assurance Co. is partnering with HumanisRx to provide medication reviews for plan members on disability leave. Through the MedCheckUp program, HumanisRx pharmacists provide one-on-one support to Canada Life plan members on disability to help them better achieve intended health outcomes, minimize side effects and return to work faster, according to a press release. Read: Canada Life […]
The year 2020 tested the mettle of entrepreneurs and small business owners like none other in recent history. And private equity firms operating in the small- and medium-sized business space were called upon like never before to help manage through the pandemic. For many business owners, 2020 has been about survival and making it through […]
The most powerful and durable investment themes are those where ingenuity sparks innovation to address imbalances in the world, said David Docherty, investment director for thematics at Schroders, when speaking at the Canadian Investment Review’s Investment Innovation Conference in November. He pointed to imbalance between population and resources as an example, and themes related to […]