Dear Subscriber,
Happy New Year. Well...here we are again. A fresh start, a new year, a chance to do better than last year, or reset your goals. Yours might be taking more time off, growing your business, adding staff, creating new partnerships, starting to use more TPA's and/or GMGA's etc., whatever it is, make it positive and forward moving. WE'll try and support you in making it happen.
I am working on setting up our fall schedule, and there is still space for the April Plan Administration workshop (a must attend). There's lots in the newsletter to help raise your game and many articles you can share with clients to make you even more invaluable. Make sure you take advantage and use all the info shared to get the best value out of your membership.
We thank you for your continued support. We hope you and your family have a great holiday season and a safe and happy new year.
Keep doing great things. Dave |
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OUR EVENTS
This is a regular event sharing and discussing all things group benefits. A huge thanks to Jason Watt (he/him) CD CLU for making this possible.
Watch our newsletter and website for upcoming episodes and details. ____________________________________________________________ CGIB COFFEE CHATS
Coffee chats are like a virtual breakfast. Log in, ask questions, share problems, seek solutions and talk about what's on your mind. Best done from a computer, with a camera and a microphone. No CE credits, but also no cost, just show up.
Thursday January 5th @2pm (EST) Tuesday January 31st @2pm (EST) Tuesday February 14th @2pm (EST) - The Valentines Day edition Thursday March 2nd @2pm (EST)
____________________________________________________________ BREAKFAST MEETINGS CGIB supports the volunteers that runs the breakfast meetings below.
Please find the details for your closest location below. Ajax, Atlantic Canada, Cambridge, Edmonton, London, Markham, Oakville, St Catherines, Toronto, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Windsor or the Virtual National Meeting
____________________________________________________________ Upcoming CGIB Events:
We've had some of the newer and a few longer term members ask for a repeat of the "Building and Using a Plan Administration CheckList" workshop. Some are looking to up their game, as a refresher, or for their support staff and others in their firms.
- This seminar is a must for those who specialize in employee benefits or that want to. Hundreds of brokers have attended this seminar with many making it an integral part of their business practice.
- We will help you create a checklist to utilize when you install new cases, train new plan administrators and conduct client renewals.
- Information reviewed will include: taxation, privacy, administration, HR issues and other items that will help reduce both broker and client liability.
- The content will assist you in adding more value to your client relationships and to move the discussion away from price to one of added value.
I guarantee that you will learn things to help attract new clients, maintain existing relationships and improve your practice.
REGISTRATION OPEN AND ALREADY 25% SOLD OUT |
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GET ON SLACK
The CGIB SLACK channel is a great place to pose questions, share info and learn a ton from your fellow members. The info and discussions that are posted there are unlike anywhere in the industry with documents, videos and information available in MEMBERS ONLY to make your life easier.
NOTE TO ALL SLACK USERS: We now have 70+ channels in Slack to handle different topics. Please take a moment to add these channels to your menu. To do so, just click on the + next to Channels on the top left. Browse the channels and then click JOIN to add each of them. By doing so you won’t be missing really great info. |
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SUGGESTED READING
We think the information contained below is of great value and encourage you to read the articles and check out the events that interest you. In most cases, these articles and events are not run by CGIB, so please contact the organizers for more information. We take no responsibility for the websites, events, organizations or their content. |
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Suggested Reading:
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December 13, 2022 Saskatchewan Introduces Biosimilar Initiative The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health has introduced a biosimilars initiative that will ensure residents have access to high-quality medications at a lower cost, says an Eckler ‘GroupNews.’ It is the seventh province/territory to do so. Approximately 24,000 existing residents already receiving an original biologic drug are expected to transition to a biosimilar version by April 30, 2023. Exemptions will be considered for those who cannot use a biosimilar for a medical reason. The ministry estimates that the province will see annual savings of approximately $20 million when the transition has been completed. With more Canadian jurisdictions switching to biosimilars for cost relief, it is anticipated that private plans may also adopt similar initiatives that require plan members to switch to available biosimilars in an effort to sustain affordable plan costs while continuing to provide safe and effective medication options, says Eckler.
Canadians Lack Vacation Days When it comes to taking time off of work, Canada ranks 43rd at just 10 paid vacation days over the course of the year, says research from Compare the Market. Just Mexico and the United States rank lower, with U.S. workers still not legally obligated to any paid holiday entitlement at all. Europe leads the way with all countries in the top 10 within the continent. Austria, Finland, France, and Spain all offer 30 days of paid vacation days, which is three times as much as Canadian workers are legally authorized. Luxembourg ranks as the country with the best work-life balance. Luxembourg citizens work an average of 1,382 hours per year and receive an average happiness score of 7.404. For dads with newborns, it offers paid paternal leave of 28 weeks.
December 14, 2022 U.S. Employers Manage Health Plan Costs U.S. employers are managing health plan costs without shifting the cost to employees by steering them to high-performing provider networks and other sources of high-value care, says Mercer’s ‘National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans.’ It found that 35 per cent of large employers and 53 per cent of very large employers say this is an important strategy for them. To help members find the right provider based on quality and cost, 36 per cent offer a telephonic navigation and advocacy service, and 17 per cent offer a digital navigation tool. The average per-employee cost of employer-sponsored health insurance rose by 3.2 per cent to 6.3 per cent in 2022, a spike in cost growth as individuals caught up on healthcare needs delayed as a result of the pandemic. However, Sunit Patel, chief health actuary at Mercer, says 2022 is an anomaly because employer health plan sponsors haven’t felt the full impact of inflation yet. “One reason cost growth lagged inflation this year is because healthcare providers typically have multi-year contracts with health plans. So, although employers did not feel the full brunt of inflation immediately, it’s very likely that inflation-driven cost increases will phase in over the next few years as contracts are renewed.”
KixCare Coming To Canada KixCare, a virtual platform in children's healthcare, is looking to expand into the group benefits space across Canada through brokers, consultants, carriers, and third-party administrators. It provides a solution for families unable to find a pediatrician who can accommodate their needs, particularly when seeking urgent care. It provides secure, virtual consultation with pediatricians, who receive real-time patient information with the assistance of pediatric nurse practitioners.
December 16, 2022 Disabled Cannot Be Themselves At Work Canadian workers with disabilities are nearly twice as likely to report that their organization does not value diversity and inclusion, says LifeWorks’ ‘Mental Health Index.’ As well, the report shows Canadians with disabilities, visible minorities, and LGBTQ2+ Canadians believe they are being judged at work with those with disabilities more than twice as likely to indicate they cannot be themselves at work. LGBTQ2+ Canadians and visible minorities are 50 per cent more likely to indicate they cannot be themselves at work and LGBTQ2+ Canadians are nearly 50 per cent more likely to report their ideas are not valued at work. The report also revealed that 70 per cent of workers with disabilities in Canada feel like they are not valued at work. On the other hand, when Canadian workers without disabilities were asked, 74 per cent said their organization does value diversity and inclusion. The index found that Canadian workers are experiencing increasing strain with an unfavourable mental health score. The score for November is 64.3 points out of 100, a slight decline from October. This marks five months since improvement.
Attraction Requires Better Benefits With nearly one-third of employees considering a job change over the last year, employers can’t afford to dismiss engagement, says Matt Lievers, president of employee benefits and retirement for Hub International Ontario. In the article ‘Looking To The Future: Employee Benefits And Retirement Outlook 2023’ on the Benefits and Pensions Monitor website, he says in order to better attract and retain talent, HR professionals will need to examine the full range of benefits from top to bottom – health, disability, leave, retirement, and financial.
December 19, 2022 Employers Maintain Remote Work Approaches As the dust of the pandemic settles, over half of employers will maintain remote work options as 2023 approaches, says a report from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. According to the report, 74 per cent of employers offer hybrid work arrangements, 57 per cent offer flexible work hours, and 55 per cent offer remote work arrangements. With fewer employees in the office, at-work perks like coffee service, casual dress codes, and nap rooms are declining in popularity. Other benefits which are declining include coffee service, take your child to work day, flu shot programs, health risk assessments/screenings, and walking/exercise programs. Benefits on the rise include identity theft insurance, estate planning services, and paid leave to vote as well as more family-friendly offerings like paid adoption leave, paid leave related to a miscarriage , and paid maternity leave.
December 22, 2022 Lack Of Insurance Reduces Prescription Adherence Prescription medication use was lower among people who did not have prescription medication insurance (56 per cent) to cover the cost of prescriptions compared with those who did have prescription medication insurance (70 per cent) during the pandemic, says an Eckler GroupNews. Citing research from Statistics Canada, it says among Canadians who took or were prescribed medication in the past 12 months, nine per cent reported non-adherence, for example, by delaying filling or by skipping doses because of cost. Nonadherence due to cost was reported by 17 per cent of people without prescription insurance coverage, almost 2.5 times higher than those with coverage (7 per cent).Those who are uninsured or underinsured can face significant financial burdens because of out‑of‑pocket costs, leading to nonadherence to prescription medications, it says. This may affect quality of life and health outcomes, lead to increased hospital visits, and further impact healthcare costs. |
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The time we spend fretting over what just happened is time we’re not spending on addressing the problem itself.
When your client or your boss turns down a great idea, it’s tempting to focus on the idea and how right you were. It might make more sense to try to find empathy for the fear and status issues that the client has instead. Because those issues probably got in the way of them ever seeing what you had to say.
“Okay, that happened.” Now what?
Interhuman events are often more complicated than we give them credit for.
My Take on Seths Post
Put another way...I had to re-read this a few times to "get it". My take away was related to either not getting a new client, or losing one. We all tend to take it as a personal affront to ourselves.
Did they not like me? Did they not get that this solution is the right/best/smartest/cheapest choice?
How could they choose to work with that advisor, company, or organization?
Maybe it's time to stop defending your position and instead stop and listen, maybe ask more questions or try to understand their position better. We all are our better selves when we do more of that. |
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EDUCATIONAL EVENTS
ONLINE CE CREDITS
Looking for benefits dedicated online CE courses? Want to provide your admin and support staff with basic knowledge? Want to dig into something more detailed for your benefits/insurance business? Business Career College (BCC) has an extensive catalogue of online CE courses with a number of group benefits specific courses covering topics ranging from contractual concerns, plan designs, and underwriting requirements, to product specifics and integration with government benefits. Courses consist of narrated videos with short, online quizzes. The full catalogue includes over 60 courses, podcasts, and videos covering topics from the world of insurance, investments, financial planning, taxation, and ethics with a focus on technical content and real-world application. Courses are accredited for the maximum categories of credits and can include provincial Life and A&S credits, FP Canada, Advocis, and more! Use code CGIB on registration for your first three months free! |
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Virtual EAP Discussed The CPBI Pacific region will discuss ‘Virtual Care and EAP 101.’ Jon Bandringa, account executive, private sector, and Natasha Binkley, account executive, public sector, from TELUS Health Virtual Care; will discuss how virtual care and EFAP continue to impact the Canadian workplace, what the future may have in store, and why that matters to employers. It takes place January 12. ________________________________________________________
ANCA Associated Vasculitis: An Autoimmune Disease that Affects Small Blood Vessels Mapol Inc. invites you to attend a complimentary webinar sponsored by Otsuka Canada.
The webinar will be held on: Tuesday, January 17, 2023 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.
The Speakers are:
Dr. Christian Pagnoux, MD MSc MPH Associate Professor, Vasculitis Clinic, Division of Rheumatology, Mount Sinai Hospital
Jon Stewart President Director of Vasculitis Foundation CanadaLearning Objectives: - What is ANCA Associated Vasculitis?
- Learn how this condition is treated, new treatment options and how plan members may be impacted in the workplace.
- Gain insights from a patient's perspective.
Please follow the below steps to register: - Click the registration link.
- Fill in the required information on the registration page, then click "Register."
- Closer to the webinar date, you will receive a registration confirmation email with the webinar login details.
An application for 1 CE credit will be submitted to the Institute for Advanced Financial Education. Individual CE applications are not submitted to any other regulatory body (i.e. AIC, ICM, CSF, IIROC, etc.).Please note, this complimentary webinar is limited to invited guests including insurers, PBMs, TPAs, benefits consultants, and employers.
________________________________________________________ Group Benefits 2023 Industry Outlook: Questions, Answers, and Insights
2022 has been another banner year for upheaval, disruption, and even some new opportunities. What will 2023 look like? What trends are you seeing and what questions do you have?
Join us January 19, 2023 for insights and perspectives from industry leaders Stephen Frank, President and CEO of the CLHIA, and Empire Life President and CEO, Mark Sylvia.
In this webinar, we'll answer your questions and discuss: - Significant trends emerging from 2022,
- Insights to help you position your business for growth in 2023 and beyond.
________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Chronic Disease at Work virtual event registration page Event Date: Thursday, February 2, 2023 Time: 1:00 - 4:00 PM ET
Click Here to view the latest agenda. Please fill out your information below to register for this event. Important: Your email will act as a username when accessing the virtual event platform; make sure to check for typos before submitting your registration. We will send you the event platform access link and password on Wednesday, February 1 via email. Further, please be aware that your registration is non-transferable.
CE Credits: This conference will offer Institute-accredited continuing education (CE) credits. An application for CE credits will be submitted to the Institute for Advanced Financial Education. Individual CE applications are not submitted to any other regulatory body (i.e. AIC, ICM, etc.). You must attend the entire conference in order to be eligible. Please be aware that after the event is over, we will provide registrants with a separate registration link to access CE credits. At that time, a $40 plus tax charge will apply. Please contact Lolita McArthur for more information regarding CE credits. ________________________________________________________ Attracting talent with a bulletproof contract Employment law is constantly evolving – and that means your workplace contracts need refreshing. HRD’s Employment Law Masterclass Vancouver is bringing together two leading contract law specialists for a comprehensive update in Employment contracts – Anticipating problem areas for employers. Join Overholt Law’s Carman J. Overholt and Roza Milani for a discussion on some of the most common issues associated with employment contracts, including enforceability and multi-jurisdictional employment. Key points include: - minimizing the risk of your contract being found to be unenforceable
- addressing mitigation income following termination of the contract
- defining amounts payable and not payable for incentive compensation upon termination
- evolving terms of employment and the best practices you can use today
Speaker_Carman J. Overholt
Catch these legal stars online this February 23rd for an update that every business needs. Register now to claim a limited time holiday discount – use code HOLIDAY2022. ______________________________________________________ This online event is exactly what you need to get up to date on your new workforce standards and start the new year off on the right foot. FEATURED SPEAKERS Paul M. Pulver - Partner - Pulver Crawford Munroe LLP Dianne Rideout - Partner - McMillan LLP Victoria Merritt - Associate - Dentons Canada LLP Abigail Owen - Associate - Harris & Company LLP
Join us February 23, 2023 for a comprehensive employment law overview that’s sure to get you ready for the challenges ahead. - Reduce your risk exposure with an update on constructive dismissals
- Avoid health accommodation pitfalls and make sure your workers are getting the support they need to thrive
- Stay on top of the changing rules and regulations surrounding hybrid workers and their rights
- Get essential tips on managing impartial workplace investigations on bullying, harassment and discrimination
- Keep up to date on the key occupational health and safety issues employers
______________________________________________________ TELUS Health Annual Conference Preparations are underway… Get ready for Canada’s largest private payer virtual event!
For the past 19 years, the TELUS Health Annual Conference has been an industry-leading source of insight and trends across the private payer ecosystem.
Save the date today for your exclusive access to: •Comprehensive data trends and national benchmarks •Informative and topical presentations on workplace benefits trends •Continuing education credits •Virtual networking opportunities Join us on April 26 and May 3, 2023 Registration opens in February 2023* |
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Need help? Have questions? Looking for something?
Reach out to CGIB - Dave Patriarche - dave@cgib.ca - 905-886-9203 |
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