Latest news in Health benefits

The role of convenience, personalization in a changing health-care landscape

The role of convenience, personalization in a changing health-care landscape

With the workplace changing rapidly, the health-care landscape will be evolving along with it, a speaker told the audience at Benefits Canada‘s Calgary Benefits Summit…

Markers Financial introducing group medical cannabis product

Markers Financial introducing group medical cannabis product

Markers Financial Inc. is launching a group insurance product that covers medical cannabis on Aug. 15. The company, which is a division of Toronto-based Evergreen Pacific…

  • By: Staff
  • June 15, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:15
Great-West Life, Morneau Shepell partner for online cognitive behavioural therapy

Great-West Life, Morneau Shepell partner for online cognitive behavioural therapy

The Great-West Life Assurance Co. has partnered with Morneau Shepell Ltd. to offer web-based cognitive behavioural therapy to plan members receiving disability benefits for a…

  • By: Staff
  • June 13, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 15:15
Have your say: Did human rights tribunal get it right in decision on ending benefits at 65?

Have your say: Did human rights tribunal get it right in decision on ending benefits at 65?

The Ontario Human Rights Tribunal’s recent ruling that it’s unconstitutional for plan sponsors to discontinue benefits for employees after the age of 65 represents a…

Employee satisfaction with benefits plans on the rise in 2018: Sanofi survey

Employee satisfaction with benefits plans on the rise in 2018: Sanofi survey

Canadian employees and plan sponsors are on the same page when it comes to the quality of their health benefits plans, according to the 2018…

  • By: Staff
  • June 13, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 11:07
Sanofi survey finds plan sponsors split on issue of medical cannabis

Sanofi survey finds plan sponsors split on issue of medical cannabis

There’s an almost even split among plan sponsors on whether to cover medical marijuana in their health benefits plans, according to the 2018 Sanofi Canada…

  • By: Staff
  • June 13, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 11:06
Data key in helping employees with chronic disease, survey finds

Data key in helping employees with chronic disease, survey finds

While chronic disease is a persistent problem in the workplace, employers are missing key data illustrating how employees’ conditions are affecting their work, according to the 2018 Sanofi…

  • By: Staff
  • June 13, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 11:03
Sanofi survey finds 85% of plan members used drug plans last year

Sanofi survey finds 85% of plan members used drug plans last year

The majority (85 per cent) of Canadian plan members used their drug plan at least once in the past year, according to the 2018 Sanofi Canada…

  • By: Staff
  • June 13, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 11:02
Benefits plan sponsors continuing to focus on cost management: Sanofi survey

Benefits plan sponsors continuing to focus on cost management: Sanofi survey

The majority (81 per cent) of plan sponsors said they have a philosophy or long-term view that defines why they offer benefits plans and that…

  • By: Staff
  • June 13, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 11:01
Quebec passes bill eliminating disparities in pension, benefits plans

Quebec passes bill eliminating disparities in pension, benefits plans

Quebec has passed its bill eliminating disparities in pension and supplementary group benefits plans. The bill was passed on Tuesday with a number of additions to the province’s…

  • By: Staff
  • June 13, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:38
SSQ Insurance partners with genetic testing company

SSQ Insurance partners with genetic testing company

SSQ Life Insurance Co. Inc. is partnering with genetic testing company BiogeniQ Inc. to offer some plan members suffering from depression the chance to undergo…

  • By: Staff
  • June 5, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 16:00
Cubic Health launches risk management program for medical pot

Cubic Health launches risk management program for medical pot

Cubic Health Inc. has introduced a risk management program aimed at helping plan sponsors with the many considerations for covering medical marijuana in their benefits plans. The program uses claims…

Navigating the ’50 shades of grey’ surrounding marijuana legalization and the workplace

Navigating the ’50 shades of grey’ surrounding marijuana legalization and the workplace

While a recent court ruling has given some relief to plan sponsors concerned about having an obligation cover medical marijuana under their benefits plans, they…

Age discrimination in benefits plans unconstitutional, tribunal finds

Age discrimination in benefits plans unconstitutional, tribunal finds

When Ontario abolished mandatory retirement in 2006, employers could still terminate benefits for workers who turned 65. But in May, the province’s Human Rights Tribunal…

Green Shield Canada, Morneau Shepell introducing online cognitive behavioural therapy

Green Shield Canada, Morneau Shepell introducing online cognitive behavioural therapy

Green Shield Canada and Morneau Shepell Inc. are both making web-based cognitive behavioural therapy available to plan sponsors and members. Green Shield Canada’s service, provided by…

  • By: Staff
  • May 31, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 16:30
CLHIA announces tweaks to advisor compensation disclosure guideline

CLHIA announces tweaks to advisor compensation disclosure guideline

The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association is tweaking its approach to its compensation disclosure guideline, including a provision to allow advisors to deliver the information…

A closer look at Ontario political parties’ pension, benefits promises

A closer look at Ontario political parties’ pension, benefits promises

Despite not yet announcing its election platform, Ontario’s Progressive Conservative Party may have the greatest potential for affecting pensions and benefits in Ontario. “The Conservatives’…

Employers look to behavioural economics to drive health plan adherence: survey

Employers look to behavioural economics to drive health plan adherence: survey

More than a third (39 per cent) of U.S. employers see promise in using behavioural economics to help employees adhere to their medical treatment plans,…

  • By: Staff
  • May 30, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 15:00
New contract for Iron Ore workers includes pension, health benefits increases

New contract for Iron Ore workers includes pension, health benefits increases

United Steelworkers union members in western Labrador have ratified a five-year collective agreement that includes increases to medical benefits, pensions and wages. More than 1,300…

  • By: Staff
  • May 29, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 15:30
Creating a thriving workplace with data, personalized employee benefits

Creating a thriving workplace with data, personalized employee benefits

Some organizations are unique. Their employees are genuinely excited to be at work and an undercurrent of energy and vitality permeates the air. They’ve transformed the…

  • May 29, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 10:00
Health costs to rise 11.8% in 2018, survey predicts

Health costs to rise 11.8% in 2018, survey predicts

Insurance companies expect health costs to rise by 11.8 per cent this year, according to an annual survey by Accompass Inc. The survey determines the anticipated year-over-year…

  • By: Staff
  • May 25, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 15:45
Taxing health benefits would ‘dramatically’ raise health-care costs: CLHIA

Taxing health benefits would ‘dramatically’ raise health-care costs: CLHIA

While a new report shows that introducing a tax on employer-paid health benefits would add $3.8 billion to the federal government’s coffers in the 2018 tax year,…

  • By: Staff
  • May 24, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 16:00
Employee benefits at arts non-profits down over last decade: study

Employee benefits at arts non-profits down over last decade: study

Over the past 10 years, administrative staff at arts non-profits have seen a decline in their employee benefits, according to a report by the Cultural…

Conference coverage: Face to Face Drug Plan Management forum Vancouver

Conference coverage: Face to Face Drug Plan Management forum Vancouver

With pharmacare, drug pricing reforms and other changes on government agendas, plan sponsors face a shifting environment for their drug plans. What should they expect?…

  • By: Staff
  • May 22, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 14:00
Breaking down the cost drivers: Deep dive predicts 4.9% annual rise for drug plans

Breaking down the cost drivers: Deep dive predicts 4.9% annual rise for drug plans

Understanding private plans’ past cost drivers can help to predict future growth rates in drug spending, according to Brad Millson, principal for health access and…