The annual Benefits & Pension Summit, which was hosted virtually on June 1, is the only Benefits Canada event that brings together health benefits and capital accumulation plans in one event. This year, delegates heard the results of Benefits Canada‘s exclusive CAP Member Survey with a panel of experts discussing the findings, case studies from two leading […]
Three main drug categories — diabetes, asthma and stimulants for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder — accounted for rising drug claims in 2022, according to Lavina Viegas, Telus Health’s director of client account management, speaking during Benefits Canada‘s 2023 Benefits & Pension Summit in June. Referring to Telus Health’s 2023 drug plan trends report, she said […]
Specialty drugs are accounting for a slightly smaller portion of the total eligible amount for all drug claims, declining from 33.6 per cent in 2021 to 33.1 per cent in 2022, according to Telus Health’s annual drug trends report. The report, based on claims data from more than 4.6 million plan members in 2022, found the […]
With Yukon implementing a transitioning policy on April 3 to expand the use of biosimilar medicines in its public drug plan, it’s important for benefits plan sponsors that create a similar policy for their workplace plans to be clear in their communication and education with employees. “It’s never easy to switch a medication, especially when […]
The annual spend per private drug plan member increased by 6.3 per cent in 2022, according to Express Scripts Canada’s annual drug trends report. Across both traditional and specialty drugs, the increase was primarily driven by a 5.4 per cent rise in plan members making a claim, which reversed the trend seen in 2020 and […]
Unlike other Canadian provinces and jurisdictions, the Quebec government imposes rules and constraints on private drug plans that affects pharmacy costs. For example, in all provinces except Quebec, the amounts billed by pharmacies to private drug claims are controlled through the following measures: fees are displayed in pharmacies so patients can compare — however, the […]
As technology advances and plan members’ needs become more diverse, the relationship between benefits plan sponsors and providers is adapting to fit these changes. Sarah Beech, chief executive officer of benefits and consulting at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., believes the trend of employees wanting more from their employers is the starting point for this […]
Changes to Ontario’s policy on the use of biosimilars in its public drug plan could result in savings for private benefits plans if they choose to follow the provincial model, says Theresa Tran, a principal in group benefits at Eckler Ltd. Starting March 31, Ontario Drug Benefit recipients who are on an originator biologic will […]
Running for more than 17 years, Benefits Canada‘s Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum is the industry’s most popular drug benefits conference. In 2022, the event returned to a face-to-face format at the Sheraton Centre in Toronto on Dec. 6. Attendees learned about fresh drug plan design insights, including a new drug launch panel […]
With cost of private drug plan claims rising about 5.5 per cent each year, pooling is one solution that could be beneficial for benefits plan sponsors. “Theoretically, if these claims could be shared across a broader group, such as the complete private insurance industry, plan costs could be less volatile for individual plan sponsors,” said […]