Sure News™
Pharmaceuticals to push healthcare cost increases to five-year high
Jody White – Benefits Canada Publication
Employee Benefits
In spite of provincial efforts at containing the price of pharmaceuticals, overall healthcare costs for Canadian employer plans are expected to rise 15% in 2010—the highest growth rate in five years, a recent survey reveals.
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Recap of Recent Legislative changes
Brigitte Nikitin – DiBrina Sure Group
Employee Benefits
Wow, a lot of activity within the drug reform. Alberta kicked off the action in April by introducing the Alberta Pharmaceutical Strategy. Ontario then stepped in with its own changes to generic drug pricing and professional allowances for pharmacists. Since then, British Columbia has joined the action and entered into discussions with the pharmacy industry. Not to be left out, Quebec is preparing its own game plan.
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Short Term Disability Claim Payments Under ASO Plans – EI and C/QPP Premium Deductions
DiBrina Sure Group
Employee Benefits
For those that may be affected, you have already been sent a copy directly.
As a sponsor of an ASO Short Term disability plan, it is important to be aware that disability payments under your plan may be subject to EI and C/QPP premium contributions and other payroll taxes and deductions.
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UNDERSTANDING GENERIC DRUGS
Claimsecure - Brigite Nikitin
Employee Benefits
Prescription drug plans are generally the most costly element of any benefit plan, and costs continue to rise as new, more expensive drugs are introduced, and drug use continues to increase. There are a number of factors that contribute to the increase in drug costs and utilization:
- new, more expensive drugs (biologics)
- aging population
- new indications for use on existing high cost drugs
- government cut-backs
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Employers can be liable for long term disability benefits.
Shields O’Donnell MacKillop LLP
Employee Benefits
If your company is like many employers in Ontario, you provide your employees with some form of long term disability (LTD) benefits coverage. When an employee is dismissed without working notice, like many employers you probably end LTD coverage on the last day of work or the end of the statutory notice period. But what happens if a former employer becomes “totally disabled” over the common law notice period? Can the company be liable to pay LTD benefits to the employee?
According to a recent decision in Brito v. Canac Kitchens, 2011 ONSC 1011, released on
February 18, 2011, the answer is a resounding “Yes”.
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DiBrina and St. Cyr Merge
Employee Benefits
Dear Customer,
DiBrina and St.Cyr & Associates are passionate in assisting clients achieve their individual and corporate financial goals and are committed to growth by providing World Class expertise and service. We are two companies on the same path to success. Today, we are pleased to announce that on June 1st, 2011, DiBrina and St.Cyr & Associates will officially merge benefit consulting operations and Jeff St.Cyr will become a managing partner for this arm alongside Tim Lychy and Michael DiBrina.
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Quebec Employees – New rule relating to minor beneficiary designations
DiBrina Sure Benefits
Employee Benefits
A recent case decided by the Superior Court of Quebec has clarified the law on who can receive proceeds on behalf of a minor beneficiary named under a life insurance policy in Quebec.
This decision could impact some of your plan members in Quebec if the members have named a minor as a beneficiary under their group life insurance policy and listed someone other than the child’s other parent (or legal guardian when applicable) to administer the proceeds until the child turns age 18. As a result of this court case, insurance companies are changing the way they process death claims involving minor beneficiaries in Quebec.
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What is Coordination of Benefits?
Pierre Huneault
Employee Benefits
Coordination of Benefits is used to ensure that insurance claims are not overpaid when an employee’s spouse also has coverage through his or her employer. When an employee coordinates their benefits, both employers share the claim costs through their own group plans without reimbursing more than the total claim amount. It can save the plan sponsor money, while at the same time providing additional or an increased level of benefit to employees.
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OxyContin Replacement
Information from Claimsecure and The Fifth Estate
Employee Benefits
Much is being talked about of late on the topic of OxyContin. The article below, does not, in any way, reflect DiBrina Sure Groups opinions. It is rather information we’ve gathered that may be useful to you as a group benefit client.
Effective March 1, 2012, OxyContin® will be removed from the Canadian market and replaced with OxyNEO®.
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Benefits News Bulletins Re-cap
DiBrina Sure Benefits
Employee Benefits
This year, as new provincial and federal legislations were passed and when particular carriers or insurance companies had a change to announce, DiBrina Sure Benefits Consulting distributed news bulletins to our affected clients. Here is a re-cap of those news bulletins.
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