Latest news in Legal issues

Expert panel: How national dental care could impact group benefits plans

While the 2022 federal budget proposed funding for national dental care, the plan, as currently understood, lacks universality, would disrupt existing public and private dental…

How the overturning of Roe v. Wade could affect U.S. employer-sponsored benefits plans

When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, it triggered a flurry of questions — and some confusion — from employers on how they…

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Top 5 HR, benefits and pension stories of the week

An article on a ruling against the Blue Cross Life Insurance Co. of Canada and how it could affect long-term disability premiums was the most-read…

  • By: Staff
  • August 5, 2022 August 5, 2022
  • 09:00
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Ruling against Blue Cross Life Insurance could affect LTD premiums: lawyer

A recent court ruling that awarded a plaintiff $1.5 million in punitive damages against the Blue Cross Life Insurance Co. of Canada — in connection…

A quarter of U.S. employers considering expansion of abortion services coverage: survey

A quarter (26 per cent) of U.S. employers are considering expanding the abortion services they cover, according to a new pulse survey by the International…

  • By: Staff
  • July 18, 2022 July 15, 2022
  • 09:00

Employers facing hurdles covering abortion travel costs

After the U.S. Supreme Court revoked the federal right to an abortion that’s been in place for half a century, companies like Amazon.com Inc., Apple…

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U.S. abortion ruling thrusts employers into divisive arena

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to end the nation’s constitutional protections for abortion has catapulted employers of all types into the most divisive corner of…

Employers can expect surge of claims linked to long-haul coronavirus, remote work injuries: lawyers

As the pandemic winds down, employers can expect to see an increase in disability claims related to long-haul coronavirus infections and compensation claims resulting from…

U.S. FTC plans inquiry into pharmacy benefits manager practices

The Federal Trade Commission is launching an inquiry into the operations of pharmacy benefits managers that control access to prescription drugs for millions of Americans.…

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Top 5 HR, benefits and pension stories of the week

A decision by a British Columbia labour arbitrator on how a drug cost-control program violated a collective agreement was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com over…

  • By: Staff
  • May 20, 2022 May 20, 2022
  • 09:00

Implementation of drug cost-control program violated collective agreement: arbitrator

A British Columbia labour arbitration decision is providing insight on how a block level implementation of a benefits provider’s drug cost-control program violated a collective…

Key stakeholders highlighting value of private payer health care amid plans for dental, pharmacare programs

Amid plans by the federal government to introduce national dental and pharmacare programs, key stakeholders in the private payer health-care sector should highlight the value…

What’s in the federal budget for employers, employees?

The federal government’s 2022 budget, which set out $56 billion in new spending on Thursday, has a few offerings that could impact employers and employees.…

  • By: Staff
  • April 8, 2022 April 8, 2022
  • 09:00
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Quebec biosimilars policy could cut drug costs for plan sponsors: expert

Changes to Quebec’s policy on the use of biosimilars in its public drug plan could result in savings for private benefits plans, says one expert.…

Yale University settles lawsuit over employee wellness program

Yale University and some of its employees have settled a class-action lawsuit over the university’s employee wellness program for US$1.29 million net of lawyers’ fees.…

An update on Canada’s national strategy for drugs for rare diseases

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…

Benefits, pension plan administrators face bevy of challenges in 2022: webinar

The shift to hybrid and remote work models during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic is one of several issues impacting pension plan and group benefits administrators…

Most coronavirus vaccine refusers won’t get federal pandemic benefits: minister

The federal minister in charge of aid to the unemployed says jobless Canadians who refuse to get vaccinated may find themselves blocked from benefits so…

Liberals eye easing access to maternity, parental leave in EI review: minister

The minister in charge of Canada’s federal social safety net for workers says the government is looking at removing rules that make it difficult for…

Liberals once again delay PMPRB changes to lower price of medicines in Canada

Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos has put a six-month pause on new regulations designed to lower the cost of patented medicines in Canada. Health Canada…

Sounding Board: Legal issues for employers dealing with coronavirus vaccine exemption requests

Employers have had to navigate many unique legal issues this year, including how to deal with the issue of coronavirus vaccines and employees. One question…

CDIPC estimates 34% rise in high-cost drug burden for Canadians since 2016

The Canadian Drug Insurance Pooling Corp.’s high-cost drug framework provided coverage to almost 28,000 Canadians and their families where drug costs exceeded $10,000 annually in…

  • By: Staff
  • December 22, 2021 December 21, 2021
  • 09:00

Share transfers to executives, employees are income not capital gains: appeal court

A Federal Court of Appeal ruling will make it very difficult for executives and employees to treat share transfers from their companies as capital gains…

Road to returning to office filled with legal potholes for employers

Angry mobs of anti-vaccination protestors holding up handmade signs with messages like “freedom not fear” have been popping up across the country and around the…

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Ontario recommending introduction of new portable benefits program

A new report by the Ontario government’s advisory committee on the future of work is recommending the introduction of a new portable benefits program. The…

  • By: Staff
  • December 10, 2021 December 9, 2021
  • 09:00