As Ontario prepares to roll out its new pharmacare program for youth on Jan. 1, plan sponsors and members will be watching to see how the transition to the public plan from private coverage will work. Of particular concern is the relationship between private plans and the exceptional access program, which facilitates access to drugs not listed on […]
While governments across Canada are introducing a slew of changes to leave policies for reasons related to emergency situations, illness and domestic violence, one area tends to get less attention: the needs of reservists in the Canadian Forces. As with many areas of employment legislation, the rules often differ across the country. At the federal […]
Medavie Blue Cross’ health foundation is providing a funding boost to an online program that aims to help Canadians reduce their risk of developing chronic disease. Medavie’s foundation is donating $750,000 over four years to Acceleration 2.0, a followup to the original program the insurer donated $75,000 to between 2013 and 2016. Speaking at the launch event for the second phase of […]
As the new rules around employment insurance benefits took effect on Sunday, one of the big changes is the option to extend parental benefits to 18 months. The option allows parents to choose to take a lower payout of 33 per cent of average weekly earnings over 18 months or stick to the standard 55 per cent spread across 12 months. But since […]
With the new Alberta dental fee guide taking effect on Jan. 1, 2018, many plan sponsors will likely be taking a look at their benefits plans to consider the impact of the changes on them. The new fee guide provides for an 8.5 per cent cut in suggested prices for 60 common procedures. Most plan sponsors will […]
As 2018 quickly approaches, so too does the rollout of Ontario’s new youth pharmacare coverage for those aged 24 and younger. The plan, which launches on Jan. 1, 2018, will provide universal coverage of all medicines listed in the Ontario Drug Benefit formulary. But will the government’s program, also known as OHIP+, lead to savings for […]
As innovations in science and technology disrupt the status quo, developments such as pharmacogenetic testing in group benefits plans and robo-advisors in the pension industry are offering new options for plan members, a panel of experts said at an event on Wednesday. The acceptance of pharmacogenetic testing is growing as 88 per cent of doctors believe it will be the […]
A report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is touting restrictions on shareholder payments as a way of boosting the sustainability of defined benefit pension plans. The report, which looked at 39 companies on the S&P/TSX 60 index with defined benefit plans, found that in many cases, shareholder payouts exceed pension deficits. “For the case of the 39 […]
With Amazon.com Inc.’s Alexa service and related devices to be available in Canada in December, Manulife Financial Corp. has developed a capability for the voice-activated digital assistant that will allow plan members to check the balances of their group benefits coverage. Starting in December, through any Alexa-enabled device, all plan members who have mobile service turned on […]
Great-West Life Assurance Co. has partnered with digital health-care provider Dialogue to offer its virtual health-care platform as part of its group benefits plans. The platform, which can be accessed through a mobile app or website, is open to employers in Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec. The insurer says the impetus for the pilot was the need […]