Alberta’s move to enter the captive insurance market could have significant benefits for employers in the province. On Dec. 2, 2021, the province’s proposed Bill 76, the Captive Insurance Companies Act, received royal assent, taking it one step closer to becoming law. If passed, the legislation will make Alberta the second province, after British Columbia, to […]
Five years ago, Rolls Royce Canada Ltd. realized its insurer and one of its European divisions’ insurers had separate reinsurance through a larger multinational company, so it worked out a deal to pool both divisions’ insured benefits. As a multinational company with more than 50,000 global employees, the automaker was an ideal candidate for a […]
The majority of human resources professionals said they believe their organizations’ current benefits and retirement offerings are meeting the needs of a diverse workforce, according to a new survey by Aon. The survey, which polled 262 HR professionals across Canada, found almost three-quarters (74 per cent) said they believe their retirement savings program is sufficient for […]
Amid the ongoing federal election campaign, the Liberal Party is promising to table legislation that would allow employers to request proof of a coronavirus vaccination without fear of a legal challenge. While few details were provided, the legislation would pertain to vaccination requirements for employees and customers, according to a press release. Read: Where do […]
Canadian employees with ongoing health challenges have faced unique challenges during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new survey by RBC Insurance. Among employees with a chronic health condition, 63 per cent said the inability to visit a doctor or clinic during the pandemic negatively impacted their health, compared to 47 per cent of those without […]
Canada Life Assurance Co. is partnering with HumanisRx to provide medication reviews for plan members on disability leave. Through the MedCheckUp program, HumanisRx pharmacists provide one-on-one support to Canada Life plan members on disability to help them better achieve intended health outcomes, minimize side effects and return to work faster, according to a press release. Read: Canada Life […]
Following an unprecedented 2020, Canada’s plan sponsors and pension plans are incorporating the lessons of the last year as they prepare for a new decade, according to a recent webinar hosted by Mercer Canada. The coming years will be marked by developments including increased geopolitical tensions and the lingering economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic, […]
Data collected over the last decade suggests that differing eligibility requirements for provincial disability benefits programs affected caseloads in the provinces that offer them, according to a new report by the University of Calgary. It found that as incidences of disability were similar in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Saskatchewan, variations in caseloads per 1,000 […]
A recent Telus Health comparison of a drug’s cost effectiveness when calculated from the private versus the public-payer perspective demonstrated clearly that the private-payer perspective matters when assessing the value of a medication, explained Dr Nina Lathia, pharmacist, and health economist, at Benefits Canada’s Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum on Dec. 9, 2020. […]
Analysis by Telus Health found specialty drugs have grown from 11 per cent of total private drug plan claims costs in 2008 to 30 per cent in 2019 and require effective management to ensure sustainability of health benefits plans, said Suzanne Lepage, private health plan strategist, during a session at Benefits Canada’s Face to Face […]