As high drug costs bedevil plan sponsors across Canada, insurers are joining the fight to help advisors keep the costs manageable
“Plan sponsors can better manage costs by making plan design changes and engaging plan members to help them understand the significant role they play in keeping drug plans affordable and sustainable,” said Loretta Kulchycki, vice-president, group marketing at Great-West Life. “But it is also incumbent on insurers to have standards that manage cost outside of plan design.”
The desire to keep a lid on costs is strong.
The Angus Reid Institute and Mindset Foundation surveyed 1,556 Canadians in early July about drug costs in Canada, and found that 91 per cent of Canadians want a national pharmacare program to go along with the provincial healthcare plans that already exist – which places insurers in the catbird seat to be an advocate for clients in keeping costs in check.
Some carriers are connecting plan members requiring speciality drugs with a health case managers, who are a qualified health care professionals, who then work with plan members and their physicians to help identify the appropriate treatment options and provide ongoing support and monitoring to confirm that the treatment is achieving the appropriate health outcomes.
“We believe it is a progressive approach that seeks to help maintain prescription drug coverage for Great-West Life plan members,” said Kulchycki, helps maintain the affordability of prescription drug benefits plans and works within the realities of the Canadian health care system.”
Insurers are also tackling the issue of high prescription medical costs on a number of fronts, on such items as plan design changes; enhanced generic substitution; and pharmacy-based disease management programs for diabetes and high blood pressure.
The desire to keep a lid on costs is strong.
The Angus Reid Institute and Mindset Foundation surveyed 1,556 Canadians in early July about drug costs in Canada, and found that 91 per cent of Canadians want a national pharmacare program to go along with the provincial healthcare plans that already exist – which places insurers in the catbird seat to be an advocate for clients in keeping costs in check.
Some carriers are connecting plan members requiring speciality drugs with a health case managers, who are a qualified health care professionals, who then work with plan members and their physicians to help identify the appropriate treatment options and provide ongoing support and monitoring to confirm that the treatment is achieving the appropriate health outcomes.
“We believe it is a progressive approach that seeks to help maintain prescription drug coverage for Great-West Life plan members,” said Kulchycki, helps maintain the affordability of prescription drug benefits plans and works within the realities of the Canadian health care system.”
Insurers are also tackling the issue of high prescription medical costs on a number of fronts, on such items as plan design changes; enhanced generic substitution; and pharmacy-based disease management programs for diabetes and high blood pressure.
