The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is charging a 60-year-old London, Ont., woman after an investigation revealed she benefited from her parents’ pension payments long after they passed away. Gladys O’Brien is facing three counts of fraud over $5,000, two counts of theft over $5,000 and possession of proceeds of crime. The RCMP began investigating O’Brien in October 2017 when it received […]
Trends, benefits fraud and drug coverage led the top health and benefits stories in 2018. Benefits Canada rounds up the industry’s favourite health and benefits stories of the year: 1. Seven benefits trends to watch in 2018 2. Ontario unveils new drug, dental coverage for people without workplace benefits 3. TTC fraud update: More than 220 employees fired or have resigned, retired […]
As 2018 draws to a close, and the benefits and pension industry looks ahead, what’s next for the year’s biggest topics? Stephen Frank, president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association, is expecting a shift from Canadian and global regulators in the way they govern how customers are treated: an […]
Insurance companies expect health costs to rise by 11.8 per cent this year, according to an annual survey by Accompass Inc. The survey determines the anticipated year-over-year cost increase or decrease — or health trend factor — by asking insurers to examine their businesses and take various factors into account, including legislation, claims utilization, inflation, fee increases […]
With fraud prevention month underway, just how big of a problem is the issue for plan sponsors? “As an industry, we estimate that benefits fraud is costing . . . hundreds of millions in terms of the impact, so certainly not a small problem,” says Karen Voin, vice-president of group benefits and anti-fraud at the Canadian Life […]
Some 223 Toronto Transit Commission employees have been dismissed or have resigned or retired to avoid dismissal as part of an ongoing investigation into benefits fraud, the organization has announced. The TTC began investigating its benefits claims in 2014 following a tip that suggested service provider Healthy Fit Inc. was providing receipts to TTC employees with inflated […]
The Toronto Transit Commission condoned the benefits fraud involving millions of dollars for orthopedic claims, the union representing workers is arguing in a number of grievances challenging their terminations. In an interim arbitration award earlier this month, arbitrator Lorne Slotnick outlined how the TTC is facing 103 grievances over the firings of workers connected to […]
While it might come as a surprise to some plan members, what may seem like a freebie or giveaway with the purchase of a medical device or service can actually count as benefits abuse. And in some case, offering incentives to customers will get a provider delisted by an insurance company. This week, for example, Shelley […]
The ongoing benefits fraud case at the Toronto Transit Commission continues to unfold as the owner of an orthotics store had pleaded guilty in the case. According to the TTC, Adam Smith, the owner of Healthy Fit Inc., pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud over $5,000 this week. The court sentenced him to two […]
A Peel Regional Police officer is facing fraud charges over employee benefits claims. On Wednesday, Peel police announced that, following a four-month investigation, they had charged Const. Noel Santiago with two counts of fraud under $5,000 in relation to employee benefits claims. Police have suspended Santiago, who’s to appear in court on Sept. 11, with […]