Latest news in Health benefits

CN, United Steelworkers’ agreement includes improved dental, health benefits

CN, United Steelworkers’ agreement includes improved dental, health benefits

The tentative agreement reached by the Canadian National Railway Co. and the United Steelworkers union has been approved by a national ratification vote. In addition…

  • By: Staff
  • February 5, 2019 September 13, 2019
  • 19:00
Beware unintended consequences of OHIP+ rollback: CLHIA

Beware unintended consequences of OHIP+ rollback: CLHIA

While the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association is in agreement with the general intent of the Ontario government’s proposed changes to the OHIP+ program,…

  • By: Staff
  • February 5, 2019 September 13, 2019
  • 08:20
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How will OHIP+ rollback affect plan sponsors?

The Ontario government is proposing a rollback of OHIP+, which would restrict the free prescription drug coverage program to dependants under age 25 who aren’t…

What are the implications of pharmacare reform for private drug plans?

What are the implications of pharmacare reform for private drug plans?

As the federal government continues its consultations on a national pharmacare system, many questions are still up in the air. Will the new system follow a single-payer model?…

  • By: Jann Lee
  • February 1, 2019 September 13, 2019
  • 09:30
New contract for CN Rail mechanics includes benefits improvements

New contract for CN Rail mechanics includes benefits improvements

The union representing Canadian National Railway mechanics, electricians and apprentices in Canada says workers have ratified a new collective agreement that will provide improvements to…

Flexible annuity options, drug reform on CLHIA’s budget wish list

Flexible annuity options, drug reform on CLHIA’s budget wish list

The introduction of more flexible annuity options for capital accumulation plans and reform to prescription drug coverage are among the recommendations by the Canadian Life and Health…

  • By: Staff
  • January 31, 2019 September 13, 2019
  • 09:15
Workplace stress on the rise as mental-health stigma declines: survey

Workplace stress on the rise as mental-health stigma declines: survey

Workplace stress is on the rise and employees are feeling the pressure, according to new research by Morneau Shepell Ltd. In a survey of employees…

  • By: Staff
  • January 30, 2019 September 13, 2019
  • 10:30
Dubious chiropractic claims show need for more scrutiny on paramedical expenses

Dubious chiropractic claims show need for more scrutiny on paramedical expenses

Not all chiropractors practice according to the same philosophy. This is leading some in the benefits industry to believe more scrutiny is necessary when it comes to paramedical…

  • By: Jann Lee
  • January 30, 2019 September 13, 2019
  • 09:00
How to predict benefits plan spending for January 2020

How to predict benefits plan spending for January 2020

Something interesting happened this month as we examined the 2018 experience of two different plan sponsors in two separate geographies with different demographics. The only similarity between…

  • January 29, 2019 September 13, 2019
  • 08:30
Employers, insurers have role in managing benefits plan sustainability

Employers, insurers have role in managing benefits plan sustainability

While insurers are consistently providing innovative plan design options for employers, that doesn’t detract from the reality that it’s a difficult time for employers, according to…

Accompass appoints VP in benefits, health practice

Accompass appoints VP in benefits, health practice

Accompass Inc., a division of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., is appointing Sherry Shaw as a vice-president in its benefits and health practice. With 26 years of experience in…

  • By: Staff
  • January 25, 2019 September 13, 2019
  • 09:10
B.C. nurses’ massage benefits costs up $28M since 2008

B.C. nurses’ massage benefits costs up $28M since 2008

While a new collective agreement negotiated between the British Columbia Nurses’ Union and the Health Employers Association of B.C. won’t bring significant changes, the round of negotiations did…

  • By: Jann Lee
  • January 23, 2019 September 13, 2019
  • 09:00
N.S. call centre rehires nearly 500 with added benefits, plans to grow workforce

N.S. call centre rehires nearly 500 with added benefits, plans to grow workforce

A Cape Breton call centre that abruptly shut down last month, tossing hundreds of people out of work, has hired back more than 90 per…

Canada’s growing gig workforce highlights need for portable benefits plan: report

Canada’s growing gig workforce highlights need for portable benefits plan: report

Canada should be considering the feasibility of a portable benefits plan for employees across the country, according to the Public Policy Forum. A portable benefits plan…

  • By: Jann Lee
  • January 21, 2019 September 13, 2019
  • 08:15
U.S. employers tightening up benefits offerings: survey

U.S. employers tightening up benefits offerings: survey

Fewer U.S. employees are reporting their employers are offering benefits, according to a new survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute and Greenwald & Associates.…

  • By: Staff
  • January 18, 2019 September 13, 2019
  • 09:17
iA Financial Group launching virtual assistant for pension, benefits members

iA Financial Group launching virtual assistant for pension, benefits members

iA Financial Group is introducing a virtual assistant to help personalize group benefits and pension plan member experience. The virtual assistant can be accessed using Google…

  • By: Staff
  • January 18, 2019 September 13, 2019
  • 09:15
Morneau Shepell to offer online CBT as paramedical benefit

Morneau Shepell to offer online CBT as paramedical benefit

Morneau Shepell Ltd. is offering its internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy program as an approved paramedical benefit through several insurance companies. The program, AbilitiCBT, delivers online…

  • By: Staff
  • January 16, 2019 September 13, 2019
  • 09:00
Majority of Canadians agree on single-payer pharmacare system: report

Majority of Canadians agree on single-payer pharmacare system: report

A majority of Canadians, health-care providers, labour organizations and employers agree a national single-payer system is an idea whose time has come, according to a…

  • By: Staff
  • January 14, 2019 September 13, 2019
  • 10:00
Conference Coverage: 2018 Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum

Conference Coverage: 2018 Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum

On Dec. 5, the 2018 Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum in Toronto highlighted the leading issues for plan sponsors to consider in the…

A look at the benefits of patient support programs for plan members, sponsors

A look at the benefits of patient support programs for plan members, sponsors

With patient support programs providing a number of benefits for private plan stakeholders, ongoing digitization is likely to allow even greater connectivity and personalization for patients,…

Employer, private payer considerations around medical cannabis coverage

Employer, private payer considerations around medical cannabis coverage

As plan sponsors and private payers begin integrating medical cannabis coverage into benefits plans, it’s crucial they account for the dynamic nature of the industry and remain…

Opportunities around drug coverage for traditional ‘lifestyle’ issues

Opportunities around drug coverage for traditional ‘lifestyle’ issues

Although certain drug categories have always been considered optional in benefits plans, this may be an opportune time to look at modernizing coverage in a…

Panel addresses pros and cons of pharmacogenetic testing

Panel addresses pros and cons of pharmacogenetic testing

Pharmacogenetic testing can produce significant results for plan members, but it isn’t appropriate for everyone and should never be looked at in isolation, according to…

Shoppers Drug Mart launches medical cannabis e-commerce portal

Shoppers Drug Mart launches medical cannabis e-commerce portal

Shoppers Drug Mart’s e-commerce platform for medical cannabis launched Tuesday, a month after Health Canada licensed the company to sell the product online. Product information…

63% factor wellness offerings into job decision: survey

63% factor wellness offerings into job decision: survey

While 63 per cent of employees consider health and wellness benefits when choosing a job, 29 per cent of employers still don’t offer these benefits, according…

  • By: Staff
  • January 7, 2019 September 13, 2019
  • 10:27