Employees want better health plans

Canadian employers and health plan providers need to take a larger role in employee wellness, says a healthcare survey from Sanofi Canada.

While 78% of Canadian workers say a good health plan is an important factor in choosing a job, only 52% of employers say their workers’ health is the goal of the plan. And, 79% of employees feel their health plan providers should be more involved in their organization’s wellness initiatives.

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There is a disconnect between the type of plans Canada’s workers are looking for, says the survey. More than half of surveyed employees claim to have a chronic illness, corresponding with baby boomers forming the majority of the workforce. However, younger workers in generations X and Y have different needs and are looking for more flexible plans.

And, plan sponsors (insurance providers or advisors) are not adequately tracking health plan data. More than one third of surveyed workers claim they don’t receive claim analysis from their providers, and another 20% receive this information only occasionally.

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Absenteeism has become an issue in the Canadian workforce and impacts health plan claims; 70% of employers say they don’t know their organization’s absenteeism rate from the previous year, and only 17% analyze absentee or disability claims.

Data from The Conference Board of Canada indicates absenteeism cost Canadian organizations $16.6 million in 2012.

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Staff

The staff of Advisor.ca have been covering news for financial advisors since 1998.