specialty drugs – Benefits Canada.com https://www.benefitscanada.com Canada's most influential pension and benefits publication for decision-makers Fri, 22 Nov 2024 22:16:07 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8 Claims for obesity, diabetes medications up in 2023: report https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/claims-for-obesity-diabetes-medications-up-in-2023-report/ Fri, 22 Nov 2024 14:00:21 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=163075 The percentage of claimants filing claims for obesity drugs increased by 43 per cent in 2023, according to a new report by GreenShield. The report, which analyzed the insurer’s 2023 claims data, found diabetes medications saw a 13 per cent increase in cost, accounting for nine per cent of total drug costs in 2023. There […]

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]]> Canadian health benefits cost trend increasing to 7.4% in 2025: report https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/canadian-health-benefits-cost-trend-increasing-to-7-4-in-2025-report/ Wed, 20 Nov 2024 14:00:15 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=163055 In Canada, the average health benefits cost trend for 2025 is estimated to be 7.4 per cent, up from five per cent in 2024, according to a new report by Aon. It found the top medical conditions driving health benefits plan costs are diabetes, autoimmune diseases (excluding diabetes), mental health, lung disorders/respiratory and cardiovascular and […]

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]]> How would a national drug pooling program impact employer-sponsored benefits plans? https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/how-would-a-national-drug-pooling-program-impact-employer-sponsored-benefits-plans/ Tue, 19 Nov 2024 14:00:16 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=162897 In light of the federal government developing a national pharmacare program, it’s important it considers the implementation of a national drug pooling program for private payers, says one expert. “If the government is going to invest in a universal drug program, it needs to have two main objectives,” said Edward Sabat, partner at The Consulting […]

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]]> Ontario reviewing impact of preferred pharmacy networks on plan members’ costs, accessibility https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/ontario-reviewing-impact-of-preferred-pharmacy-networks-on-plan-members-costs-accessibility/ Fri, 06 Sep 2024 13:00:42 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=159763 Ontario’s Ministry of Health is consulting on the role of preferred pharmacy networks in the province’s employer-sponsored drug insurance sector to determine how these agreements impact plan members’ costs, choice, accessibility and access to medicine and quality of care. In its draft consultation paper, the ministry said a common concern among consumers is when PPNs are closed and […]

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]]> U.S. employers projecting health benefits cost increase of 8% for 2025: survey https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/u-s-employers-projecting-health-benefits-cost-increase-of-8-for-2025-survey/ Mon, 26 Aug 2024 13:00:24 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=159445 U.S. employers are projecting health benefits costs to increase by eight per cent for 2025, up from seven per cent in 2023, according to a new survey by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. It found employers cited several factors in rising costs, including catastrophic claims (20 per cent, up from 19 per cent […]

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]]> Sounding Board: How employers can mitigate cost of drugs for rare diseases https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/sounding-board-how-employers-can-mitigate-cost-of-drugs-for-rare-diseases/ Mon, 08 Jul 2024 13:00:22 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=157855 The World Health Organization defines a rare disease as having a prevalence of 65 or less per 100,000 individuals. It recognizes some 5,500 rare diseases, the majority being of genetic origin and often life-threatening. Medical research has yielded significant drug development for the treatment of rare diseases, increasing life expectancy and improving quality of life. However, […]

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]]> Top 5 HR, benefits, pension and investment stories of the week https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/top-5-hr-benefits-pension-and-investment-stories-of-the-week-89/ Fri, 05 Jul 2024 13:00:08 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=157820 An article outlining the implications of a single-payer universal pharmacare system was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investmnet stories of the past week: 1. Sounding Board: What plan sponsors should know about pharmacare 2. Meet the 2024 Workplace Benefits Awards judges 3. Mental-health claims by Canadians up […]

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]]> How plan sponsors, insurers should approach Wegovy rollout in Canada https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/how-plan-sponsors-insurers-should-approach-wegovy-rollout-in-canada/ Wed, 12 Jun 2024 13:00:04 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=156755 When considering whether to cover Wegovy, an obesity medication, it’s important for plan sponsors to weigh increased short-term costs with long-term savings, while considering alternative treatments that are also available, says Philippe Laplante, a principal at Eckler Ltd. Plan sponsors that decide to cover Wegovy, which launched in Canada last month, could see a significant cost […]

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]]> 2024 Global Investment Conference: Technology, health-care innovations providing institutional investors with alpha https://www.benefitscanada.com/canadian-investment-review/post-event-coverage/2024-global-investment-conference-technology-health-care-innovations-providing-institutional-investors-with-alpha/ Mon, 10 Jun 2024 11:54:19 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=155814 Institutional investors are navigating two massive innovations, namely artificial intelligence and artificial incretins, said Jennifer O’Hara Martin, global equity portfolio specialist at T. Rowe Price, during the Canadian Investment Review‘s 2024 Global Investment Conference in April. People tend to compare the current AI trend to the technology bubble of the 2000s and while its infrastructure is similar, […]

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]]> Top 5 HR, benefits, pension and investment stories of the week https://www.benefitscanada.com/news/bencan/top-5-hr-benefits-pension-and-investment-stories-of-the-week-84/ Fri, 31 May 2024 13:00:20 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=156306 An article on legal challenges filed against the federal government’s hybrid work mandate for public service employees was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the past week: 1. Unions representing federal public service workers file legal challenges against hybrid work mandate 2. Expert […]

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