Musculoskeletal issues have a far-reaching impact on the mental, physical and emotional wellness of benefits plan members and their families — however, they also come at a cost to plan sponsors. According to Sun Life Assurance. Co.’s 2020 disability claims, 20 per cent were related to musculoskeletal health conditions and 30 per cent of these affected […]
While about a million Canadians live with psoriasis, one in three will go on to develop psoriatic arthritis, said Rachael Manion, executive director of the Canadian Association of Psoriasis Patients and the Canadian Skin Patient Alliance, during a session supported by UCB Canada Inc. at Benefits Canada‘s 2022 Chronic Disease at Work event in February. Psoriasis […]
While there’s a 2.5 per cent lifetime chance of having alopecia areata, the progression can be unpredictable and cause a lot of stress for patients, according to Dr. Lyn Guenther, professor of dermatology at Western University, during a webinar hosted by Benefits Canada and supported by Pfizer earlier this month. Alopecia areata is more than […]
The drug pipeline is full of new medications that may be more effective but may also be more expensive than existing treatments. Although they could significantly improve a benefits plan member’s health, they could also render a plan unaffordable. “Because drugs represent a significant portion of group insurance plan costs, plan sponsors are concerned about […]
The coronavirus pandemic and the changing environment have impacted pharmaceutical manufacturer-sponsored patient support programs. Manufacturers offer patient support programs to help individuals access their medication and navigate the health-care system, according to Sandra Anderson, senior vice-president of commercialization and strategy at Innomar Strategies, speaking during a session at Benefits Canada‘s Face to Face in Drug […]
A growing number of organizations are moving beyond compliance to foster diversity, equity and inclusion in their workplaces. According to research, companies that have embraced a DEI strategy improved their bottom line with a 53 per cent return on equity, a 42 per cent return on sales, in addition to being 70 per cent more […]
One in five Canadians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime and by age 40 about 50 per cent of the population will have or have had one. Mental illness includes conditions such as depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, which “can really affect the ability of an individual to function,” said Nida Mian, senior […]
In 2020, members of the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association spent $650 million on drugs for rare diseases for more than 13,000 patients. Rare diseases affect one in 12 Canadians and between 6,000 and 8,000 rare diseases are known globally. In addition, roughly 80 per cent of these diseases occur in children and only […]
The World Health Organization has designated diabetes as the only non-viral epidemic and diabetes drugs continue to be ranked as the second highest cost category for private drug plans, said Lisa Maks, clinical nurse specialist at Juravinski Hospital and St. Peter’s Hospital sites, during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2021 Mental Health Summit. Eight per cent […]
Pharmacogenetic testing has become a popular addition to employee benefits packages, primarily because of its ability to inform personalized drug treatment, especially in mental health where it can be challenging to find an appropriate treatment and dosage that’s effective without causing side-effects. Many patients end up trying multiple medications and dosages without achieving improved outcomes, […]