Women over the age of 40 represent a quarter of the Canadian working population, with those between the ages of 45 and 55 the fastest growing cohort of working women. Those ages coincide with the time period when women are most likely to begin perimenopause and menopause, making it incumbent on employers to create menopause-inclusive […]
Women face unique health challenges throughout their lives — across most age groups, women experience higher rates of chronic diseases compared to men, said Neda Nasseri, pharmacist and product director of drug benefits at Desjardins Insurance, during a session supported by Pfizer Canada at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum. Historically, […]
Advances in medical science and innovations in drug development necessitate updated drug plan strategies, according to Frédéric Leblanc (pictured far right), strategic leader of drug programs, group benefits and retirement solutions at iA Financial Group. During a panel discussion supported by EMD Serono Inc., GSK, iA Financial Group, Merck & Co. Inc., Novo Nordisk Canada Inc. […]
Private drug plans play a pivotal role in ensuring faster and broader access to medications for 27 million Canadians, said Joe Farago, executive director of private payers and investment at Innovative Medicines Canada, during Benefits Canada’s 2024 Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum. The federal government’s new pharmacare plan is designed as a universal, […]
One of the keys to managed care is to reflect on past experiences, understand lessons learned and consider their implications for the future, said Bobby Currie, director of drug evaluation at Manulife, during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum. While traditional tools like caps, deductibles and co-insurance that employers […]
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is selling a 49 per cent stake in a portfolio of China real estate projects for nearly $235 million. The assets are part of a joint venture with Chinese real estate company Longfor Group Holdings Ltd. and are being sold to an affiliate of Dajia Insurance Group Co. Ltd. The portfolio […]
Plan sponsors are facing a chronic disease “tsunami” that is leading to higher benefits and drug plan spend and increasing disability claims. But the three root causes of this growing problem — undiagnosed health issues, the availability of primary and preventative health care and challenges navigating the health-care system — are issues plan sponsors are […]
Canadians with an employer-provided benefits plan are 20 per cent more likely to seek care when needed and 25 per cent more likely to report better health than those without health benefits, according to a new survey by Blue Cross of Canada. The survey, which polled more than 2,100 working adults, found those with employee […]
A U.S. federal judge has ruled that Florida’s transgender health-care ban discriminates against state employees and violates their civil rights. Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker ruled Thursday that the state’s ban violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which protects employees and job applicants from employment discrimination based on race, colour, […]
The British Columbia Teachers’ Pension Plan is increasing coverage for several optional retirement health benefits, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Vision care coverage will increase by $100 to $400 every two calendar years, while hearing care is set to rise from $1,400 every four calendar years to $2,000, according to a press release, which noted plan members […]