It’s an exciting time for group benefits in Canada. That’s not a phrase you hear every day, but it’s one that’s coming up more and more often. Terms like “digital health” and “disruption” are new words to the Canadian benefits vernacular. All of a sudden, it seems like a new digital health startup launches every […]
As the broader legislative and societal underpinnings related to marijuana use undergo rapid shifts, employers and the courts are adapting. It seems almost every month brings news about an organization that’s extending medical plan coverage either proactively — such as Shoppers Drug Mart, Veterans Affairs Canada and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union — or […]
Saskatchewan is the only province expected to run a budgetary surplus at the end of this fiscal year. Ontario’s deficit has been a potential concern for years, and now even oil-rich Alberta is showing signs of an imbalance between government revenue and expenditure.
In the past few years, government actions have positively impacted private health care plans by saving them money, a truly unique situation. However, it’s important to recognize that this has been an exceptional circumstance, one not likely to be repeated in the next round of government healthcare changes.
On March 27, the Ontario government tabled its new fiscal budget—and it includes a number of long-term initiatives that will have a significant impact on the health plans of Ontario employers in the coming years.
As Canada’s post-recession economy recovers, attention is returning to the challenge of shifting demographics—specifically, the impact the impending wave of baby boom retirees will have. While many organizations have taken steps to ensure a good internal pipeline of senior managers and leaders, the question arises as to whether employers will be able to hang on […]
Ever-increasing prescription drug prices have generated much discussion about how best to control these escalating costs. However, the results of a recent Aon Hewitt Rapid Response survey suggest that, while there’s been a lot of talk, there has been little action. Even though certain solutions have been available for some time, there are many organizations […]
Recent legislative changes affecting the pricing of generic drugs have refocused employer attention on better management of drug plan costs. With the growing number of high-cost drugs in the pipeline, employers will face even greater challenges and the struggle to balance affordability with patient care will be more pronounced. However, by becoming more aware of […]
Last November, Hewitt surveyed 133 Canadian employers about their views on existing tools and techniques for controlling drug benefit plan costs, as well as on future use of some specific strategies. The results show that many employers are already pursuing certain traditional cost containment strategies or are willing to consider them if savings would be […]
The recent elimination of mandatory retirement in Ontario has prompted some (but not all) organizations with Ontario-based employees to consider the benefits they will extend to workers who stay on the job past age 65. However, a short poll taken a scant two weeks before the Ontario legislative changes came into effect on Dec. 12, […]