Green Shield Canada will offer plan sponsors more options for including medical marijuana in their group benefits plans in early 2018.
The insurer said its new offering has a much greater level of oversight than is currently available through health-care spending accounts.
Read: Key questions for plan sponsors as marijuana legalization approaches
There will be benefit maximums put in place, noted Green Shield Canada. However, it has yet to determine the limits, so the entire pricing impact will be available for consideration in the new year.
The coverage will be available to claimants who go through an authorization process based on criteria related to specific health conditions. At product launch, the only conditions covered will be chronic neuropathic pain, spasticity due to multiple sclerosis and nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy.
The decision about which conditions will meet coverage eligibility were based on the strongest research currently at its disposal, according to Green Shield Canada. It noted it’s likely to include more conditions as more research and evidence become available.
Read: No medical condition limitations for OPSEU’s new marijuana coverage