For the past 10 years, Benefits Canada’s Chronic Disease at Work conference has examined the current trends in chronic disease in Canada and what they mean for plan sponsors. Hosted in a virtual format on Feb. 12, the 2025 conference explored several chronic diseases, as well as their impacts on the workplace and the role of employers […]
Chronic disease rates are rising and cases are becoming more complex, with a higher share of plan members experiencing multiple co-morbidities. This growing trend necessitates an approach to chronic disease management that promotes self-management and healthy lifestyle choices, as well as helps plan members better navigate the health-care landscape, said Jeffery Chan, assistant vice-president of […]
Most people, while standing in line at a cafe, contemplate whether to get their regular drip coffee or treat themselves to a latte, and whether to also buy a croissant or scone. Canadians with insulin-dependent diabetes, standing in that same line, are doing complex calculations: how many carbs are in a latte’s milk and flavour […]
Even though humans spend a third of their lives asleep, it’s often taken for granted, but people are waking up to how sleep — or lack of sleep — is affecting their health and well-being. “All of medicine has been focused on how we do when we’re awake, but now we’re trying to pick up […]
Manitoba has become the first province to officially join Ottawa’s pharmacare program, giving it access to federal funding to cover the cost of birth control and diabetes medications as well as hormone replacement therapy for menopause. “This is the beginning of a journey that cannot end,” said Health Minister Mark Holland. “There’s no room for […]
A third (33 per cent) of U.S. employers currently include cell and gene therapies in their benefits plans and 36 per cent are actively evaluating the use of these treatments, according to a new survey by the Integrated Benefits Institute. The survey, which polled more than 400 U.S. employers and more than 200 benefits consultants, […]
The previous year was an interesting one in the world of employee benefits plans. Over the previous 12 months, employers have navigated the explosion of claims for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist medications like Ozempic, some forward momentum on national pharmacare and some employers changed their approach to diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Here are five […]
Between 2019 and 2023, chronic disease drug claims increased much faster among younger plan members compared to older generations, according to a new report by Sun Life. The report, which analyzed drug claims data of more than 3 million plan members over a five-year period, found across all age groups, nearly half (45.1 per cent) of […]
An article on employees’ views of employer-sponsored benefits plans was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. Survey finds seven in 10 Canadian workers dissatisfied with their employer’s benefits plan 2. Claims for obesity, diabetes medications up in 2023: […]
A significant share of Canadians with diabetes struggle to keep their glucose levels in check, a worrying trend given the growing prevalence of diabetes in the country. Roughly 75 per cent of Canadians who use insulin to manage their diabetes — and 40 per cent of those who don’t — aren’t hitting their glucose targets, […]