Pharmacare

Benefits Alliance Members work with over 10,000 organizations in Canada that provide benefits to more than 500,000 Canadians. These member advisory firms have helped employer benefit plan sponsors to set up, fund and manage a comprehensive benefits plan for their employees, at considerable cost.

What are we doing in Pharmacare

Nearly 4 out of 5 adult Canadians have access to pharmaceutical coverage through public or private plans, a large portion of which is insured coverage through employee benefits plans. Our member advisory firms and the employer benefit plan sponsors they work with, are key stakeholders in this important discussion to help provide for sustainable, universal access to affordable drug coverage for all Canadians.

Navigating Pharmacare with Suzanne Lepage

February, 2024

Hear about potential changes that are being discussed at the national level with the Federal Government of Canada and the potential impact.

Launch of Smart Health Benefits Association

January, 2024

Benefits Alliance has led the charge to form the Smart Health Benefits Association (SHBA), a new group made up of members who provide on-the-ground support and service to over 10 million Canadians with their insurance plans. SHBC is looking to help drive positive change for uninsured and underinsured Canadians.

Pharmacare Infographic

January, 2024

We support a hybrid model of coverage delivery where the private and public sector each play a role. A reduction in the number of drugs covered will dramatically impact the cost, standard and quality of care for Canadians who have private coverage and would impact downstream public healthcare costs.

Canadian Pharmacare Revisited

December, 2023

Benefits Alliance has an incredible ⁠network of advisors⁠ who represent organizations across Canada for their Group Benefits and Group Retirement plans. In this episode, our hosts Carolyne Eagan and Rob Green, discuss with Todd Stephen and Graham Young the implications of changes to the Canadian Pharmacare system and what should be considered for the future.

Benefits Alliance response to PBO

October, 2023

Benefits Alliance supports a hybrid pharmacare model of coverage delivery where the private and public sector each play a role.

Continue to allow private drug plans to be primary payer for medications not funded by Medicare.
Publicly funded drug coverage safety net for all Canadians via a standard minimum formulary of essential medicines.
Consistent catastrophic drug program across the country, based on a core drug formulary and standard out-of-pocket costs.
Modernized approach to the Canada Health Act so that government-funded programs reimburse high-cost drugs for all Canadians regardless of the type of patient coverage.
Ensure ‘one price’ for drugs regardless of jurisdiction or payer type.

National Pharmacare Open Letter

August, 2023

The member advisory firms we work with have helped employer benefit plan sponsors to set up, fund and manage a comprehensive benefits plan for their employees, at considerable cost. Nearly 4 out of 5 adult Canadians have access to pharmaceutical coverage through public or private plans, a large portion of which is insured coverage through employee benefits plans. Our member advisory firms, and the employer benefit plan sponsors they work with, are key stakeholders in this important discussion to help provide for sustainable, universal access to affordable drug coverage for all Canadians.

Pharmacare Update

December, 2022

Employers are altering the way they cover their employees as high-cost drugs are being allocated to private drug plans. Costs vary between private plan sponsors and patients based on province, resulting in an overall increase in drug expenditures. This lack of harmonization means that some life-saving or life-altering therapies may be available and covered in one Canadian jurisdiction, but unavailable in another. This inequitable treatment of Canadians is contrary to the concept of universal access to treatment.