Industry News
Stay informed with the latest developments shaping the world of workplace benefits and healthcare access. Our Industry News section curates articles, reports, and media coverage from trusted sources across Canada and beyond.
Seniors could see rise in private insurance premiums with Bill 11 rollout on Oct. 1, say industry experts
‘This is not on the radar of a lot of seniors,’ said Larry Mathieson, president and CEO of Unison at Kerby Centre. ‘They probably don’t need an extra cost at
Alberta Workers 65+: Things You Need to Do Before October 1st
[Video interview on YouTube]. Under the changes, workers 65+ will be able to remain on or be reinstated to their employer benefits plan rather than losing coverage because of age.
More questions than answers about PPNs in Ontario
In November 2025 the government of Ontario announced it would introduce legislation that would ban closed pharmacy preferred provider networks (PPNs). What’s happened since?
SHBA fights the good fight for private plans
The Smart Health Benefits Association (SHBA), Canada’s first not-for-profit advocacy body for private health and retirement benefits, officially launched on October 1, 2025.
Private Market Policy Summit Report 2025: Collaboration. Clarity. A Call to Action.
The 2025 Summit brought together insurers, advisors, manufacturers, pharmacists, and patient advocates to discuss the future of Canada’s dual drug coverage model. With over 27 million Canadians relying on private
Access and Affordability: Building Fiscally Responsible Pharmacare Systems
A new C.D. Howe Institute Report concludes that Canada’s best path to pharmacare is through targeted reforms—closing coverage gaps while preserving the mixed public-private model. With most Canadians already insured,
Bringing plan members’ voice to policy tables
The Smart Health Benefits Association (SHBA) already represents 10 million Canadians with workplace health benefits plans (including 4,800 union plans) that are provided by 65,000 employers.
Sounding Board: What plan sponsors should know about pharmacare
Plan sponsors worried about the expense and sustainability of their drug plan might initially embrace a pharmacare plan, hoping to shift drug costs to a new program funded by provincial
Coverage for high-cost, specialty drugs missing from rollout of feds’ pharmacare plan: experts
While the concept behind the federal government’s universal pharmacare plan is well intentioned, the program would make a larger impact for employers by focusing on high-cost and specialty drugs, says
Experts question if Canada’s pharmacare plan is the best approach for all Canadians
Industry leaders say a targeted approach to fill pharmaceutical coverage gaps would be more efficient than spending billions to provide coverage to everyone.
Stakeholders forming coalition to minimize impact of pharmacare on employer-sponsored benefits plans
Several stakeholders from the benefits sector are partnering to form the Smart Health Benefits Coalition, an advocacy group that aims to strengthen the health-care system and address longstanding gaps in
New Coalition Advocates For Comprehensive Healthcare Solutions
OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 21, 2024 /CNW/ – As the deadline for a pharmacare framework between the Liberal government and the NDP nears, the Smart Health Benefits Coalition (SHBC) – a