Are You Ready? OHIP+ Amendments Take Effect April 1st

The OHIP+ program, which has offered free prescription medication to all Ontarians under the age of 24 since January 1st, 2018, will undergo changes at the end of March. Teens and young adults under the age of 24 with any form of private health benefits will no longer be eligible to receive free prescriptions through OHIP+,… Continue reading Are You Ready? OHIP+ Amendments Take Effect April 1st

Toronto’s Tech Boom: Brain Drain or Gain?

Toronto’s tech scene is scorching hot right now! According to recent reports, Toronto created more jobs than the San Francisco Bay area, Seattle and Washington, D.C., combined last year. It has been hailed as the “up and coming startup centre in North America,” and continues to solidify itself as a major international player in the… Continue reading Toronto’s Tech Boom: Brain Drain or Gain?

Why Presenteeism Is The Silent Threat To Workplace Productivity

In order for your company to be a success, you need your people to be successful in their lives too. They need to be healthy, happy and productive in order to move ahead as a cohesive unit. The Globe and Mail actually hit it perfectly. “People are not machines. Without proper support, they may not… Continue reading Why Presenteeism Is The Silent Threat To Workplace Productivity

Terminating Benefits At 65 Is A Slippery Slope

We’ve seen a massive shift in our collective attitudes towards equal rights in the workplace, but ageism is one area where we are seriously falling behind, and it can have a detrimental impact on our society. Pushing retirement and removing benefits are just twin elements tied into these archaic rules that haven’t been updated to… Continue reading Terminating Benefits At 65 Is A Slippery Slope

Why Taxable Employee Benefits Is A Lose-Lose Situation

Recent reports surfaced about how taxing employer-provided health and dental benefits would increase the federal net balance by $3.8 billion. While this might add significant figures to the government’s annual spend, it will greatly shrink the disposable income of middle-income earners across the country every year. It’s a lose-lose situation and the long-term implications for… Continue reading Why Taxable Employee Benefits Is A Lose-Lose Situation

Is Telemedicine The Next Big Thing In Canadian Health Care?

The digital revolution has made impressive strides in redefining modern health care, and we’re once again seeing technology shake up this industry by making medical care more efficient for both patients and healthcare providers. This virtual healthcare, or “Doctor in a Pocket” model is providing a powerful new way to facilitate consultations between Canadian doctors… Continue reading Is Telemedicine The Next Big Thing In Canadian Health Care?

Canada’s Top Employee Benefits Providers For 2017

It’s spring, so in the employee benefits industry, that means that it’s time for one of the leading benefits publications, Benefits Canada, to publish their list of the top employee benefits providers for 2017. Some years, you’ll see large increases – mainly due to acquisitions (e.g. when Manulife purchased Standard Life). Not this year –… Continue reading Canada’s Top Employee Benefits Providers For 2017

Medical Cannabis In Group Benefits: A Question Of ‘When’ – Not ‘If’

As Canada is set to embark on being the first major industrialized nation to legalize cannabis, being an early leader in this field comes with sweeping changes on how it will be viewed from an insurance standpoint. With the political narrative maturing and the number of registered medical cannabis patients continuing to grow, it’s marking… Continue reading Medical Cannabis In Group Benefits: A Question Of ‘When’ – Not ‘If’

Trends And Takeaways From The 2018 TELUS Health Conference

Private insurance stakeholders have consistently rated the TELUS Health Annual Conference as the industry-leading source for information on trends across the health benefits ecosystem. The 2018 TELUS Health program provided us with leading intelligence on Canadian private drug and benefit plan data and trends. I was fortunate to have been among the top benefit consultants… Continue reading Trends And Takeaways From The 2018 TELUS Health Conference

How to Protect Your Startup From Group Benefits Fraud

March is a month that is rich with big-ticket activities. The annual NCAA March Madness basketball tournament kicks off, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, and the start of spring (for us in the Northern Hemisphere.) But there’s another theme that flies under the radar that doesn’t get enough attention as it should – March is Fraud… Continue reading How to Protect Your Startup From Group Benefits Fraud