The Great-West Life Assurance Co. is now offering Dialogue’s virtual health-care services to employers in all Canadian provinces and the Yukon, as well as its own 10,000 employees. “Making innovative health technologies like Dialogue more accessible to our employees and customers demonstrates our commitment to supporting the physical, mental and financial well-being of Canadians,” said […]
With the legalization of recreational cannabis on Oct. 17, 2018, employers have been preparing to answer questions about whether their current benefits plans should provide reimbursement for cannabis products for medical purposes. Access to cannabis for medical purposes isn’t new. However, with all the attention on cannabis due to the legalization of recreational cannabis, employers […]
With privacy and data protection laws in Canada and abroad evolving, these changes serve as a reminder to employers to be more stringent in safeguarding the information entrusted to them, particularly by their employees. Employers collect a myriad of personal information from their employees, including health details, spousal status, marriage breakdown information and union membership for plan administrative purposes, noted […]
More employers are adding unique perks to their traditional benefits packages to meet the changing demands of their workforces, according to a new study by human resources association WorldatWork and management consulting firm Korn Ferry. The study, which surveyed more than 1,000 U.S. employers, found more organizations are offering unique benefits such as employee discounts, eldercare resource and referral services, telemedicine […]
The 40 employees at Welkin Child and Youth Services in Woodstock, Ont. have voted to take strike action if they can’t reach a new collective agreement by Dec. 5, 2018. In a news release, the employees’ union, Unifor Local 302, said new management at Welkin has tabled concessions to certain benefits, specifically eliminating vision care, reductions to […]
Aon has partnered with six Canadian insurance providers to offer traditional and flexible benefits through its Aon Choice platform. The new partnership includes Sun Life Financial Inc., Manulife Financial Corp., Great-West Life Assurance Co., Desjardins Insurance, SSQ Life Insurance Co. and Green Shield Canada. The companies comprise 82 per cent of the Canadian group benefits […]
Medavie Blue Cross has appointed Marc Avaria as vice-president of product and disability management. In the new role, Avaria will lead the development of new products for the insurer’s group and individual businesses with a focus on digital options and pharmacy benefit management functions. He will also help advance Medavie Blue Cross’ disability management business and […]
Virtual health-care company Teladoc Health is launching a specialty pharmacy services product aimed at combatting rising prescription drug costs using analytics and medical opinions. “So many people find themselves taking a medication for an extended period of time with limited or no benefit and without the opportunity to fully understand why or learn of alternatives,” said […]
As the world is getting smaller, its workforce is becoming more mobile. In 2017, 66.2 million people travelled to live abroad, up from 52.8 million in 2013, according to research by Finaccord Ltd. That figure is expected to balloon to 87.5 million in 2021. In Canada alone, about 2.8 million people live and work abroad, […]
After consulting with more than 500 advisors, the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association is making a number of changes to its G19 guideline pertaining to compensation disclosure in group benefits and group retirement services. The proposed guideline, which was introduced nearly a year ago, would require insurers to disclose to plan sponsors the compensation paid to intermediaries for […]