U.S. employers’ health benefits costs are expected to increase to nearly eight per cent for 2025, the highest amount in more than a decade, according to a new survey by Business Group on Health. The survey, which polled 125 large employers, found they’re planning to continue to absorb much of the increases at least for […]
A decline in the number of long-term disability claims over the past three years may be the result of some employees prioritizing their financial health over physical and mental wellness, said William Lindsay, senior disability management advisor for Desjardins Insurance’s disability management and prevention team, during Benefits Canada’s 2024 Mental Health Summit in June. The […]
Mental health and musculoskeletal problems are currently two of the main drivers of disability claims and it isn’t uncommon for plan members with a mental-health diagnosis to also have a secondary physical condition or vice-versa, said Rebecca Smith, director of group life and disability services at Medavie Blue Cross, during Benefits Canada’s 2024 Mental Health […]
There has seen a “huge increase” in mental-health practitioner claims following the coronavirus pandemic, said Sylvana Leclerc, organizational health consultant for integrated health solutions at Sun Life Financial Inc., during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Vancouver Benefits Summit in May. Citing findings from the insurer’s annual Health by Design report, she said in 2022, […]
An article detailing a stark increase in the use of obesity medications among Canadian employer-sponsored benefits plan members was the most-read article on BenefitsCanada.com this week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the past week: 1. Claims for obesity drugs increased 42% in 2023, 92% since 2020: report 2. How […]
The use of obesity medications among Canadian employer-sponsored benefits plan members has grown substantially, with claims increasing 42 per cent in 2023 and roughly 92 per cent since 2020, according to a new report by Manulife Financial Corp. The report, based on aggregate claims data, found more women are using obesity drugs than men (79 […]
Nine in 10 (92 per cent) U.S. employees say they need additional financial resources in their employer-sponsored benefits plan, up from 79 per cent in 2022, according to a new survey by BCHR Holdings and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. The survey, which polled more than 250 employers and roughly 700 employees, found one in […]
Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. is tailoring its benefits and wellness programs to its unique demographics to more effectively support employee well-being, said Donna Burnett Vachon, the company’s director of change and organization development, during Benefits Canada‘s 2023 Healthy Outcomes Conference in October. The company has four subsidiaries, with each doing slightly different types of work, […]
Plan members with a workplace wellness culture are much more likely (89 per cent) to be satisfied with their jobs compared to those without one (59 per cent), according to the 2023 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey. It found plan members with a workplace wellness culture were also more satisfied with their health benefits plan (81 per cent […]
While nearly three-quarters (72 per cent) of health benefits plan sponsors agree their work environment supports musculoskeletal health, two-thirds (65 per cent) of plan members say their work environment contributes to aches and pains, according to the 2023 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey. It found when plan sponsors were provided with details about the impact of […]