health care – Benefits Canada.com

Employer health benefits cost trends to rise 8.1% globally in 2022: survey

Jennifer Paterson — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 20:00:15 +0000

Employer-sponsored health benefits cost trends are expected to increase 8.1 per cent on average globally in 2022, according to a new survey by Willis Towers Watson. The survey, which polled medical insurers across various geographic regions, found cost trends are expected to be as high as 14.2 per cent in Latin America, followed by 10.6 […]

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Health-care spending, use of virtual care increasing in U.S. amid pandemic: report

bwolfe — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 13:00:32 +0000

The coronavirus pandemic has increased health-care costs in the U.S., while shifting how and where employees access care, according to a new report by PricewaterhouseCoopers. It projected that the costs of medical treatment in the U.S. will increase by 6.5 per cent in 2022, slightly lower than this year (seven per cent). “The pandemic’s long […]

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Sun Life completes acquisition of U.S. health-care provider

Jennifer Paterson — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 19:30:16 +0000

Sun Life Financial Inc. has completed its acquisition of PinnacleCare International Inc., a U.S. health-care navigation and medical intelligence provider. Based in Maryland, PinnacleCare has more than 170 employees and 20 years of experience helping people navigate their care options when facing a serious medical condition. It will become part of Sun Life’s U.S. stop-loss and […]

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Half of Canadians increasing use of virtual health care amid pandemic: survey

bwolfe — Wed, 26 May 2021 19:00:13 +0000

Half of Canadians said they’ve increased their use of virtual health care since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new survey by consulting firm Calian Group Ltd. It also found, while 49 per cent of respondents said they intend to continue using virtual care after the pandemic is over and safety precautions […]

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Canadians not saving enough for long-term care in retirement: survey

bwolfe — Mon, 17 May 2021 13:00:16 +0000

Canadians’ current retirement savings aren’t likely to withstand the costs of long-term health care later in life, according to a new survey by Edward D. Jones & Co. It found 23 per cent of respondents said they believe their retirement savings will last them less than 10 years, including 21 per cent of those age […]

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Canada Life offering medication assistance to plan members on disability leave

bwolfe — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 05:00:24 +0000

Canada Life Assurance Co. is partnering with HumanisRx to provide medication reviews for plan members on disability leave. Through the MedCheckUp program, HumanisRx pharmacists provide one-on-one support to Canada Life plan members on disability to help them better achieve intended health outcomes, minimize side effects and return to work faster, according to a press release. Read: Canada Life […]

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Coronavirus to reshape mid-market private equity dynamics in year ahead

mschmit — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 07:21:03 +0000

The year 2020 tested the mettle of entrepreneurs and small business owners like none other in recent history. And private equity firms operating in the small- and medium-sized business space were called upon like never before to help manage through the pandemic. For many business owners, 2020 has been about survival and making it through […]

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What opportunities exist for plan sponsors in thematic investing?

mschmit — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 08:41:36 +0000

The most powerful and durable investment themes are those where ingenuity sparks innovation to address imbalances in the world, said David Docherty, investment director for thematics at Schroders, when speaking at the Canadian Investment Review’s Investment Innovation Conference in November. He pointed to imbalance between population and resources as an example, and themes related to […]

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U.S. largest and smallest cap stocks diverge in FTSE Russell index reconstitution

mschmit — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 04:30:04 +0000

FTSE Russell has released a preliminary list of companies set to enter or leave its U.S. indexes at the end of June as part of its annual reconstitution, which occurs to reflect market changes from the previous year. And the results tell a tale of the growing gap between the largest and smallest cap stocks. […]

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Consumer staples, health care expected to provide downside protection in medium term

mschmit — Wed, 20 May 2020 04:22:26 +0000

Health care and consumers staples are sectors that typically perform well, even in moments of market stress. But during the coronavirus crisis, these sectors have provided slightly less downside protection, says Ramiz Chelat, global equities portfolio manager at Vontobel Asset Management. On the consumer staples front, the coronavirus shutdown is impacting consumption outside of the […]

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