Halifax-based Luedey Consultants Inc., a boutique benefits consulting firm, is merging with Sterling Capital Brokers Ltd., an independent benefit consulting firm specializing in servicing high-growth, small- to medium-sized businesses. Luedey Consultants has more than 70 clients across Atlantic Canada, including both privately-owned and public-sector employers, as well as several union building trades. “This is an exciting […]
Green Shield Canada is teaming up with SmileDirectClub Inc. to deliver in-network coverage of virtual orthodontic care to its dental-plan members. “We continue to be a leading advocate for virtual health technologies and the impact they can have on the health care experience for Canadians, especially during the ongoing health crisis,” said David Willows, Green […]
The union representing General Motors of Canada Co. employees in Ontario has ratified a new agreement for workers at a plant in Ingersoll that removes changes to a legacy defined benefit plan as part of ongoing pension discussions. The deal, based on the recent three-year agreement with GM for workers in Oshawa, St. Catharines and Woodstock, […]
CloudMD Software & Services Inc. is beefing up its offerings via the recent acquisitions of HumanaCare Organizational Resources Inc., Medical Confidence Inc. and Aspiria Corp. The Vancouver virtual health-care company acquired HumanaCare, an integrated, employee assistance services solution providing physical and mental-health support for plan members and their family, earlier this month. Read: HumanaCare re-launches […]
Growth in chronic disease and increased drug claims are two of the key factors driving up the cost of private health benefit plans, according to a new report by Innovative Medicines Canada. It found that chronic diseases accounted for 68 per cent of drug plan claims costs and 79 per cent of growth. Claims costs […]
From a plan-manager perspective, eight per cent of plan members are living with diabetes, said Dr. Bruce Perkins, professor in the division of endocrinology and metabolism at the University of Toronto, during Benefits Canada’s Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum on Dec. 9, 2020. He said risk-factor management is necessary when it comes to […]
Mandy Kwasnica and her husband so desperately wanted to adopt they were ready to sink all of their money (and then some) into making their dream a reality. “Adoption is very, very expensive, but we knew in our hearts that this was the right move we were making,” recalls the manager of mortgage sales support at […]
Plan sponsors with growing concerns about benefits plan sustainability should focus on a few strategic pharmacy benefits plan issues, said Mark Rolnick, executive vice-president of pharmacy innovation and patient experience at Green Shield Canada, during a session at Benefits Canada’s Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum on Dec. 9, 2020. He recommended that plans […]
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 […]
This time of year, Citigroup Inc.’s fitness centre would likely usually be packed with New Year’s resolutioners working out and catching up with colleagues. Not this January. The company’s Mississauga, Ont., fitness centre was a popular place for its employees to break a sweat together. But when the coronavirus pandemic halted in-person activities last March, the […]