Strides are constantly being made in the group benefits industry to better support employers who can then better support their employees. In this episode, Lorne Curry sits down with Dave Patriarche, founder of Canadian Group Insurance Brokers (CGIB), as they talk about a new program that CGIB is offering. Dave saw a need in the industry to provide more specific technical training geared towards the complexities of group benefits, and speaks about how he addressed this need. Dave discusses:  Why CGIB felt the need to create a pooled hybrid plan, and why they thought employers needed it Ho ..read more

Sometimes being able to access information from another perspective can help you understand it better. In this episode, Lorne Curry invites Mike McClenahan, VP of Partner Solutions with People Corporation and president of TPAAC, onto the show. Lorne and Mike discuss various aspects of group benefits to get Mike’s unique perspective from the supplier side. Mike discusses:  High prescription drug costs and the trend of more employers putting a cap on spending Stop-loss and pooling levels in group benefits The recent trend of telemedicine taking on more popularity And more Resources:  ..read more

Does a service that addresses both physical and mental health and offers coverage to your entire immediate family — sound too good to be true? In this episode, Lorne Curry sits down with Isabelle Moreau, senior client executive with Teladoc Health, as they discuss the services Best Doctors/Teladoc Health has to offer. Isabelle shares some shocking statistics about both mental and physical health and how Best Doctors/Teladoc Health aims to address them. Isabelle discusses:  What the Best Doctors/Teladoc Health program is and how it helps people How Teladoc’s mental health program assists ..read more

As the world begins to open up and allow for more travel, it is important to fully understand how travel insurance works to protect you while you are away. In this episode, Lorne Curry speaks about how travel insurance fits into employee benefit programs. Lorne teaches you about what travel insurance covers and how the rules and regulations of travel insurance might be changing as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lorne discusses:  How to determine what will and will not be covered by travel insurance 4 Tips to follow when you travel Travel insurance when travelling within Canada Teleme ..read more

When you and your spouse both have access to benefit plans, you can coordinate them to gain coverage from both insurance companies. In this episode, Lorne Curry educates you about how coordinating benefits with your spouse works. Lorne touches on the rules that exist when coordinating benefits and speaks about when you might and might not coordinate with your spouse. Lorne discusses:  How to set up coordination of benefits How to determine whose plan pays for what portion of coverage How coordination of benefits works with common-law relationships, separations and divorces What happens t ..read more

Being able to show your employees exactly what they are getting in their compensation package could be the key in attracting and retaining good employees. In this episode, Lorne Curry helps you understand what a total compensation statement is, and why it is important to use them for your employees. Lorne discusses how to create a statement so you can help your employees understand the benefits they are receiving. Lorne discusses:  The four main reasons you should be providing total compensation statements for your employees What you should be including in your statements How often you s ..read more

There is often a disconnect between employees and employers when it comes to needing assistance with substance use. The stigma involved creates a barrier that blocks the employee from reaching out and finding help. Luckily, there is a confidential program that exists so employers can help not only their employees, but their employee’s families as well. In this episode, Lorne Curry invites Elliot Stone, CEO and co-founder of ALAViDa onto the show. Lorne and Elliot speak about the ALAViDA program and how it works to assist employers and employees. Elliot discusses:  How ALAViDA provides vi ..read more

When you begin to look at the drug landscape, pricing can get tricky. It’s helpful to work with someone who can assist you in creating plans based on your own unique goals.  In this episode, Lorne Curry dives into the topic of employee drug plans and how the costs of prescription drugs can be managed. Lorne helps employers understand their options when it comes to funding these plans by looking at 3 main scenarios. Lorne discusses:  Questions that employers need to answer before creating a drug plan Three ways that a drug plan can be funded by an employer Setting caps on what the em ..read more

We have introduced you to the healthcare spending account, but did you know there is a wellness spending account that can add benefits to things like gym memberships? In this episode, Lorne Curry sits down with TIm Kane, CEO of myHSA, as they talk about myHSA’s offering of the wellness spending account (WSA). Tim talks about how this account works and the types of benefits he has seen employers add to it.  Tim discusses:  Why he started myHSA and what they offer What inspired the introduction of the WSA as a part of the myHSA offerings Who can take advantage of the WSA How the WSA w ..read more

There are lots of things to take into account when you are shopping for a benefit plan that is going to suit you and your goals.  In this episode, Lorne Curry teaches you what goes into marketing your benefit. Lorne helps you identify what you need to know about this process and emphasizes the importance of working with someone you trust.  In this episode, you will learn: How often you should be shopping for benefits   Why you should limit yourself to working with one advisor that you trust  How to select the right plan for your needs  Important factors to consid ..read more