When RBC Insurance Services Inc. began offering pharmacogenetic testing to its group benefits plan sponsors and began a clinical study of the issue in relation to biologic drugs recently, it did so with a few things in mind. “There’s a number of issues we’re looking at as we consider how to approach addressing those issues, […]
Sun Life Financial Inc. has received top marks from Forrester Research Inc. for the digital functionality of its life insurance business. The research and advisory firm evaluated the websites of seven of Canada’s life insurance companies. Sun Life received top scores in both digital functionality and user experience. It also achieved an overall score of 75 out of 100, compared […]
The iA Financial Group is introducing a new group health and wellness product that allows employers to create a customized program to manage health-related issues within their organization. Well-Balanced offers a range of tools, services and resources, including several that are free of charge as part of iA Financial’s health plans. All plans include an administrator dashboard, […]
Less than half of working Canadians have disability coverage provided through their workplace benefits, according to a survey by RBC Insurance Services Inc. The survey, which queried 1,505 working Canadians, found the percentage of people who had disability coverage through their work has dropped to 48 per cent from 57 per cent in 2015. Read: 48% […]
France-based insurance company April has acquired Benecaid Health Benefits Solutions Inc. The acquisition will allow the Lyon, France-based company to expand and diversify the Canadian side of its business beyond property and casualty insurance, according to a press release. April has been active in the Canadian property and casualty insurance market for more than 10 years, […]
Great-West Life Assurance Co. is expanding its benefits offering to employees, including increasing the maximum coverage for mental-health services to $5,000 a year, eliminating prescription drug deductibles on select plans and adding new paramedical services. “Our company believes in the importance of making a difference in the lives of our employees during moments that matter, which is why […]
One of the biggest changes in the benefits industry over the next five years will be the movement towards virtual care as a standalone category, said Tim Clarke at Benefits Canada‘s Benefits & Pension Summit in Toronto on Monday. “Whether you’re talking about telemedicine, whether you’re talking about virtual [cognitive behavioural therapy], you think about […]
Canadian cannabis producer MedReleaf Corp. has introduced a product identification number for 57 of its medical marijuana products in an effort to facilitate coverage in employer-sponsored benefits plans. Product identification numbers are similar to traditional drug identification numbers, according to a press release. They’re designed to make it easier for employers and other private payers […]
At General Electric Co. Canada, part of Dr. Sol Sax’s job as consultant and medical director is to support and refine the company’s disability management process. That process includes everything from how the company helps to prevent workers from going on disability to monitoring them while they’re away and supporting their return to work. As part of its […]
Since Ontario’s youth pharmacare program took effect on Jan. 1, the number of drug claims for those under the age of 25 has been cut in half compared to the first three months of 2017, translating into average savings of four per cent for private drug plans, according to Telus Health. Its annual research, which […]