Home Kelsey Rolfe

2023 Defined Benefit Investment Forum: The value of active management in emerging markets

With historic perceptions of emerging markets and equities no longer matching reality, institutional investors have the opportunity to scoop up good companies at low valuations, said Kamil Dimmich, portfolio manager for the emerging markets equity strategy at Pacific North of South Capital, during the Canadian Investment Review’s 2023 Defined Benefit Investment Forum in December. While he […]

  • January 24, 2024 January 19, 2024
  • 07:55

How preferred pharmacy networks can lower drug plan costs, boost access to care

Pharmacists are now uniquely positioned to support Canadians at a time when the public health-care system is stretched thin, creating significant barriers for people looking to access care, said Dr. Jennifer Poh, senior director of drug plan solutions at Health Solutions by Shoppers, during Benefits Canada’s 2023 Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum in […]

  • January 22, 2024 January 31, 2024
  • 07:58

How plan sponsors can improve employee health outcomes while optimizing drug plan spend

With chronic conditions growing in prevalence among plan members, plan sponsors have their work cut out for them in designing benefits plans that provide adequate health support and employee satisfaction while also being cost effective, said Marie-Hélène Dugal, manager of pharmacy benefit strategy for Medavie Blue Cross, during Benefits Canada’s 2023 Face to Face Drug […]

  • January 22, 2024 January 18, 2024
  • 07:56

Examining the link between cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity

While medications for three interconnected chronic conditions — cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity — represent a growing proportion of employers’ drug spend, there’s plenty that can be done to help employees’ slow the progression of these conditions while managing drug plan costs, said Joyce Wong, director of clinical services at Express Scripts Canada, during Benefits […]

  • January 22, 2024 January 18, 2024
  • 07:55

How plan sponsors can use biosimilars to support employee health, reduce drug costs

Despite the safety and efficacy of biosimilars — and the potential cost savings they offer — uptake among private payers has been low historically and is only starting to gain steam, said Neda Nasseri, pharmacist and private payer product director at Desjardins Insurance, during Benefits Canada’s 2023 Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum in December. The insurer first developed […]

  • January 22, 2024 January 22, 2024
  • 07:54

2023 Mental Health Summit: How plan sponsors can help address the gender health gap

Canadian women are bearing the brunt of a gender health gap that has led to poor understanding and heightened stigma around their unique health needs and worse physical and mental-health outcomes over time. However, there are ways for employers to help, said Sam Mikail, director of mental-health solutions for group claims at Sun Life Financial Inc., […]

  • November 29, 2023 November 24, 2023
  • 07:58

2023 Mental Health Summit: Integrated disability management programs can shorten leave duration

In the face of soaring mental health-related disability leaves and broader challenges with access to mental-health care, integrated disability management programs that include early intervention, accommodations and return-to-work supports can help shorten leave durations.  “Having an effective disability management program not only prevents and mitigates the impact of disability leaves on an organization, but it […]

  • November 29, 2023 November 24, 2023
  • 07:57

2023 Mental Health Summit: The connection between sick days and absenteeism, presenteeism

If absenteeism is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to employees’ mental health and well-being, presenteeism is the bulky underwater mass, said William Lindsay, senior disability management advisor at Desjardins Insurance, during Benefits Canada’s 2023 Mental Health Summit. While absenteeism — defined as an employee being repeatedly absent for more than half a day — is […]

  • November 29, 2023 November 24, 2023
  • 07:56

2023 Mental Health Summit: Early diagnosis and treatment integral in supporting complex mental-health conditions

While employees dealing with mental-health challenges like depression need quality and personalized care as quickly as possible, people seeking care through the public health system face months- or years-long wait times, according to Diane McIntosh, a psychiatrist and founder and chief medical officer of RAPIDS Health, speaking during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2023 Mental Health Summit. “We […]

  • November 29, 2023 November 24, 2023
  • 07:54

2023 Future of Work Summit: What do millennial plan members want from their employers?

When Desjardins Insurance launched a study to redefine employee health and well-being, an unexpected finding came through loud and clear: Canadian employers and insurers should be paying much closer attention to millennial plan members. Millennials are a cohort of people born between 1980 and 1996. Since 2016, the generation has comprised the largest segment of […]

  • November 23, 2023 November 22, 2023
  • 07:58