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 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?
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
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
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?
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
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
How many physical documents have you signed in the past three months? Chance are, it’s not very many. Maybe a form at the doctor’s office or a driver’s license renewal. But cast your mind back: 10 or even 20 years ago if you can. You signed your name a lot more back then, didn’t you?… Continue reading Wet Signatures: Are Insurance Providers Stuck In The Past?
UPDATE: On July 1, 2018, the new Ontario Conservative government announced that OHIP+ will be revised so that for anyone under 25, claims first go to an employee benefits plan that they are covered under, followed by OHIP+. If you follow any major Canadian news outlets, you’ve probably heard about OHIP+ and maybe even… Continue reading How Will OHIP+ Impact Startups?
This is an article that I previously provided to The Globe and Mail: If you’re a small business with staffing concerns, you’re not alone: over 50 per cent of business owners are worried about attracting the right candidates, and retaining their key players once they find them. The latter can be especially difficult in the startup space,… Continue reading Most Employees Vastly Underestimate Their Total Compensation
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chris@orchardbenefits.ca
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