The coronavirus pandemic is expected to impact employers’ short-term disability claims’ experience as workers fall ill and require time off work to recover from the virus, but plan sponsors may also have to prepare for an increase in long-term disability claims after the crisis eventually ends. The spike in claims could follow the same pattern as it did […]
Walmart Canada has introduced a free virtual health-care platform for employees in response to the coronavirus. The service, through EQ Care, has been available to about 90,000 full, part time and temporary employees from the retailer’s stores and head offices since last week. It had started looking at virtual care options in the fall of 2019, but […]
Sun Life is partnering with telemedicine platform Dialogue to provide its group benefits plan members with free access to a virtual health-care service during the coronavirus pandemic. Lumino Heath Virtual Care, which is a combination of Sun Life’s Lumino Health and Dialogue’s platform, will be available to plan members who have an extended health-care benefits plan […]
As U.S. employers look to keep their workers safe and healthy in the face of the global pandemic, they could see their health-care benefits costs jump by as much as seven per cent this year as a result of coronavirus-related testing and treatment, according to an actuarial analysis of self-funded employers by Willis Towers Watson. […]
On March 3, the 2020 Employers Cancer Care Summit featured sessions on cancer-related issues and opportunities tied to benefits plans and the workplace. Many perspectives required when covering cancer drugs on benefits plans While treatment options for cancer are more than they used to be, many still aren’t covered under the public health-care system, according to Tim […]
While treatment options for cancer are more than they used to be, many still aren’t covered under the public health-care system, according to Tim Clarke, president of TC Health Consulting Inc. In a session at Benefits Canada’s 2020 Employers Cancer Care Summit on Mar. 3, he said employer costs for cancer drug treatments have doubled between […]
With the coronavirus pandemic rapidly evolving, the global employment landscape is facing unprecedented challenges. Looking at short-term disability programs, benefits plans, human resources policies and legal obligations, Benefits Canada hosted a panel of experts in a webinar on March 19 to answer plan sponsor questions. Click here to find out what you missed. For individuals […]
Quebec retirement complex developer Selection Group is giving its employees and residents free access to a virtual care app during the coronavirus crisis and for two months afterward. The service, through Telus Health, will be available to about 3,000 staff and about 15,000 residents. It will be gradually rolled out across the organization’s complexes over […]
As many employers are forced to temporarily lay off employees due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, what does that mean for the provision of benefits and pension plans? Kim Siddall, vice-president and local practice leader at Aon, says eliminating benefits isn’t the route most employers would voluntarily choose, but she acknowledges that where […]
With the World Health Organization declaring the novel coronavirus a pandemic, Canadian employers should prepare for the worst and plan how to respond to various employment-related issues that could arise if the virus continues to spread. Employers are raising many questions about workers’ compensation coverage and reporting responsibilities. Throughout Canada, the various provincial workers’ compensation […]