In its 2020 budget submission to the Ontario government, the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association is highlighting a lack of access to affordable prescription drugs and inflexible pension plans. With respect to prescription drugs, the CLHIA noted it supports the federal Patented Medicine Prices Review Board reforms, which were introduced on Friday. “It is crucial that the […]
When the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association rolled out its proposed compensation disclosure guideline in January 2018, it quickly inflamed tensions with group benefits and retirement advisors. The guideline, G19, stipulated that all of the CLHIA’s insurer members begin disclosing to plan sponsors the fees, commissions and bonuses they paid to advisors. Facing backlash […]
Health and productivity is affected by a lack of access to care, according to Dr. Hanif Jamal, Canadian medical director at Teledoc Health, during a webinar hosted by Benefits Canada. Referring to a recent survey by the Canadian Medical Association, he noted 73 per cent of Canadians said they believe virtual care will improve access, followed by more […]
On May 21, Benefits Canada hosted a webinar to explore the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on chronic disease in the workplace, as well as how virtual solutions can support employee health through this unprecedented time. All employers are currently facing the same concerns, said Marie-Josée Le Blanc, a partner at Mercer, during the webinar. Pointing to the 2019 […]
The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association is appointing Jean-François Chalifoux, chief executive officer of SSQ Life Insurance Co. Inc., as the new chair of its board of directors. Chalifoux took on the top job at SSQ in 2015. Previously, he held several executive roles at Canadian insurance companies, including most recently at Desjardins Insurance, where he first headed […]
In the group benefits world, the first rumblings of the effects of the coronavirus pandemic came when plan sponsors started asking, as early as January, about their travel insurance provisions. “Clients were worried about their business travellers and expatriate employees, in China mostly, and afterwards for their employees travelling for their winter vacations,” said Daniel […]
Manulife Financial Corp. is lending a hand to group benefits plan sponsors in light of the tight financial situation many businesses are in due to the coronavirus pandemic. The insurer is providing certain premium relief for all group benefits plan sponsors with an insured non-refund accounted benefits plan with Manulife. For the month of May, dental […]
Hub International Ltd. is acquiring employee benefits consulting firm Azur Consulting Services Inc. Based in Longueuil, Que., Azur provides group and health benefits solutions for its clients. As part of the transition, Azur’s president Paul Ethier will join Hub International Quebec Ltd. Read: Hub acquiring Edmonton benefits, retirement consultancy
Hub International Ltd. is acquiring Edmonton-based employee benefits and retirement consulting firm Benefex Consulting Inc. Benefex specializes in group insurance programs, retirement, wellness solutions and special risk coverage. It serves clients in British Columbia, Yukon, Alberta, Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan and Ontario. Read: Hub names Canadian benefits leadership team, areas of service “We are excited to add another […]
SSQ Life Insurance Co. Inc. and la Capitale Insurance and Financial Services are combining their operations. The two companies have similar sized and complementary operations, with SSQ Insurance handling group insurance and la Capitale dealing with property and casualty insurance, noted a press release. The combined company’s assets under management are expected to exceed $20 […]