While the move to more defined contribution-style health benefits plans provides greater clarity and flexibility to plan sponsors, it would be natural to wonder whether or not the available options are limited to the two extremes alone. The continuum of benefits plan design includes fully insured plans, fully self-insured (administration services-only or ASO) plans and hybrid […]
Cigna Corp. has appointed Gina Papush to the newly created role of global chief data and analytics officer. “As our industry evolves, embedding insights and analytics across the enterprise will enhance Cigna’s ability to more rapidly deliver simplified, affordable, personalized and integrated experiences for our customers and clients,” said Chris Hocevar, president of strategy, segments […]
The federal government’s plan to increasingly regulate pharmaceutical costs could mean Canadians with rare diseases may lose access to new innovative drug treatments, according to a new study by the Fraser Institute. In 2019, the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board is planning to use new rules for establishing drug prices with the goal of lowering costs. “Drugs for […]
Pacific Blue Cross has appointed John Crawford as its president and chief executive officer. Crawford took over as interim president and chief executive officer in November 2017 upon the retirement of Jan Grude. Since joining Pacific Blue Cross in 1989, Crawford has been a vice-president, senior vice-president and chief financial officer. Prior to that, he was a senior […]
For investors interested in cannabis, new Statistics Canada figures provide insight on consumption and retail prices, which are increasing and decreasing, respectively. Canadian household expenditures on cannabis for both medical and non-medical use increased 1.2 per cent in the second quarter of 2018, according to the report. This follows an increase of 1.4 per cent in the first […]
As September approaches, activity in the catastrophic stop-loss insurance market will start to heat up for self-insured plan sponsors. This is when the annual dance of plans obtaining their proposed premium for the coming year, and trying to find ways to mitigate the increase, hits a fever pitch. Imagine a province, without a single provincial insurer, […]
High-cost drugs accounted for 41.6 per cent of patented medicine sales in 2017, up from 8.3 per cent a decade earlier, according to the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board’s latest annual report. Federal Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor tabled the report, which also illustrated a rise in the sales of patented medicines in 2017. Sales […]
Starseed Medicinal Inc. has reached an agreement to be the medical cannabis supplier for Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. The agreement is subject to Health Canada’s approval of Shoppers Drug Mart’s application to be a licensed producer. The products are expected to be sold online due to current regulations restricting the sale of medical marijuana in retail pharmacies. […]
Only 40 per cent of Canadians who are classified as precarious workers have access to pension plans or registered retirement savings plans, compared to 85 per cent of those who are identified as secure professionals, according to a new report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. The report, which surveyed 1,000 Canadians, found 78 per cent are secure professionals, while […]
Accompass Inc. has appointed Chris Raposo as a consultant in its benefits and health practice. He joins the firm with 13 years of group benefits experience at Great-West Life Assurance Co. in a variety of roles, including senior client relations specialist, service leader and senior specialist in group benefits. Throughout his career, Raposo has held roles working […]