As the new rules around employment insurance benefits took effect on Sunday, one of the big changes is the option to extend parental benefits to 18 months. The option allows parents to choose to take a lower payout of 33 per cent of average weekly earnings over 18 months or stick to the standard 55 per cent spread across 12 months. But since […]
As 2018 quickly approaches, so too does the rollout of Ontario’s new youth pharmacare coverage for those aged 24 and younger. The plan, which launches on Jan. 1, 2018, will provide universal coverage of all medicines listed in the Ontario Drug Benefit formulary. But will the government’s program, also known as OHIP+, lead to savings for […]
Although a national pharmacare strategy seems elusive, the Ontario government is making a fairly aggressive investment in that area by spending $465 million to boost its provincial drug coverage by covering residents under age 25 and from 65 onwards. The program, known as OHIP+, begins Jan. 1, 2018. Children and youth under age 25 will by automatically eligible […]
Ontario’s fall economic statement confirmed a number of previously announced frameworks for the province’s pension, health-care and employment programs, including a look at addressing decumulation. The statement, delivered by Ontario’s Finance Minister Charles Sousa on Tuesday, noted the government is exploring new approaches to help retirees draw down their savings in an efficient, cost-effective manner so their savings […]
It has been a confusing week for employers following tax guidance from the Canada Revenue Agency aimed at helping them interpret their tax obligations around employee discounts. While initial reports suggested the government would be taxing employee discounts, a spokesperson for National Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier said Wednesday afternoon the government was pulling back the new language pending further […]
In late June, the Quebec government revealed plans to issue tenders for generic drugs in order to lower costs incurred by the provincial prescription drug insurance plan. The province hoped to elicit bids from manufacturers and grant those offering the lowest prices a three-year contract as the exclusive supplier to the government. The Canadian Generic […]
It has been a busy period for changes to public drug programs in Ontario, as the provincial government has been working on policies with the potential to offer savings to private benefits plans: pharmacare coverage for people under the age of 25 and upgrades to the Trillium drug program for people with high drug costs. […]
Ontario is joining Alberta and New Brunswick in making abortion pill Mifegymiso available at no cost to the public. The abortion pill first became available in Canada in January 2017 at a cost of about $300. This spring, the common drug review recommended public drug coverage for Mifegymiso. “We continue to make important progress helping women across […]
As plan sponsors wait for more information on changes to Ontario’s Trillium program for catastrophic drug costs, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has signalled they won’t be happening by September as previously believed. Early this year, the ministry informally announced it would automate the current paper-based system as of this fall. The […]
Starting on Thursday, a Toronto restaurant will add a three per cent surcharge to each bill in order to cover its new employee benefits program. “We needed to bring in more money to pay for the benefits,” says Heather Mee, co-owner of Emma’s Country Kitchen. “It’s either raising our prices or [the surcharge, and] for us, this was a […]