With the availability of more than 318,000 digital apps, and the development of more than 80,000 new ones each year, it’s a wonder Canada’s workplace health benefits plans haven’t moved more quickly to digital. This is likely due to the country’s siloed health-care system, with each province and jurisdiction taking its own approach. Streamlining the […]
On the eve of his retirement, with more than 40 years in benefits under his belt, Aon’s Art Babcock considers the industry’s move to technology, health-care spending accounts and drone piloting Q. How did you get into the group benefits industry? A. I began my career in the insurance industry out of university, with Metropolitan […]
Since the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation introduced online cognitive behavioural therapy, nearly 3,000 plan members have signed up to use it. The mobile-friendly program is provided by B.C.-based Starling Minds. It found those who’ve used the online CBT reported reduced anxiety, sadness and worry. As well, some 71 per cent indicated they were less likely to spend time away from work as a […]
Green Shield Canada is partnering with HBM+’s health benefits management solutions provider division to introduce an artificial intelligence-based fraud detection strategy. Under the new Claim Watch banner, the new platform finds and compiles data, identifying patterns to unearth suspicious activity. “We’re very proud of what GSC and HBM+ do in the fraud detection and prevention […]
Two-thirds (62 per cent) of global employees said they’d exchange their work-related data for more customized benefits, rewards and compensation, according to a new survey by Accenture. The global survey, which polled 1,400 corporate executives and 10,000 employees across 13 industries, also found 92 per cent of employees are open to their employers collecting data […]
On Dec. 11, the Mental Health Summit Vancouver highlighted how the stigma surrounding mental illness can be removed from the workplace and what employers can do to help facilitate a comfortable return to work for those with mental-health issues. Here are some of the highlights of the sessions: Dealing with stigma of returning to work […]
A significant disconnect exists between the degree of mental-health problems facing Canadians today, the costs of workplace mental health and the solutions in place to address and reduce those costs. Organizations are doing more than ever before around workplace mental health, said Georgia Pomaki, leader of Manulife’s mental-health specialists team, at the 2018 Mental Health Summit Vancouver […]
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 Assistant on a cell phone, tablet or via Google Home. It can calculate how much a group registered retirement savings plan member should contribute or estimate the amount saved when they retire, […]
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 CBT that combines therapist guidance with interactive exercises and activities. It focuses on changing negative thought patterns, emotional responses and behaviours to reduce absenteeism and improve engagement, shorten return-to-work timeframes and […]
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, physicians and payers in the near future. During a panel exploring these initiatives at Benefits Canada‘s Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum in Toronto on Dec. 5, Sandra Anderson, vice-president of […]