The proposed amendments to the patented medicines regulations by the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board could have a big impact on both the group insurance and pharmaceutical industry. “The CLHIA is very supportive of PMPRB adjustments that may be coming,” said Joan Weir, director of health and disability policy at the Canadian Life and Health […]
Canadian employees want more comprehensive coverage under their benefits plans, according to a survey by the Conference Board of Canada and Telus Health. The survey, which polled more than 1,500 Canadian workers, found a majority (82 per cent) of respondents want basic dental services (such as preventative and minor restorative) covered by their benefits plans, […]
More than a third (38 per cent) of plan sponsors are planning to update their benefits plan design by the end of this year, on par with those that did so in 2020 (39 per cent), according to a survey by Arthur J. Gallagher Canada Ltd. The survey, which polled more than 500 Canadian plan […]
Unilever Canada Inc.’s fulsome approach to diversity, equity and inclusion led to its win in the diversity program category at Benefits Canada’s 2021 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 14. At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Unilever Canada adopted the mantra “we’re navigating the same ocean, in different boats.” The adage, which created a shared sense of […]
Plan sponsors and plan members have diverging opinions on where benefits dollars are best spent, according to the 2021 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey. The survey found that plan sponsors and members are less aligned on the value of many benefits than they were a year ago. Indeed, at the start of the coronavirus pandemic last year, […]
Canadian health benefits plan members’ top stressors have shifted to reflect the new work environments created by the coronavirus pandemic, according to the 2021 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey. The survey, formerly known as the Sanofi Canada Healthcare Survey, found that 35 per cent of plan members described their stress level at the beginning of 2021 […]
Employees at several Indigo Books & Music Inc. stores across Canada are unionizing, as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has “highlighted the precarity of retail work in general and how little say workers have in rapidly changing work environments. “Joining [United Food and Commercial Workers Canada] provided security and gave workers a voice without fear of retaliation,” […]
Sun Life is buying DentaQuest, a U.S.-based provider of dental benefits, for $3.1 billion. The company, which offers dental benefits through employers, will become part of Sun Life’s U.S. business. The insurer said the acquisition will more than double the size of its U.S. employee benefits business by revenue. DentaQuest currently has more than 33 million members in 36 […]
Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada’s group benefits and Lumino Health platform are rebranding as Sun Life Health, a new business unit focused on empowering Canadians to live their healthiest lives no matter where they are in their wellness journey. “Sun Life Health brings these areas of expertise together, providing Canadians with a partner on their […]
More than two-thirds (69 per cent) of U.S. employers plan to differentiate and customize their benefits programs over the next two years, according to a new survey by Willis Towers Watson. As drivers to revamp their benefits strategy, personalize the employee experience and manage the costs of their offerings, survey respondents cited an increased focus […]