iAtoday

By Eveline Keable
Strategic Leader
Health, Wellness and Disability
Group Benefits and Retirement Solutions
iA Financial Group

The Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey 2025¹ presents several findings that prompt reflection on optimizing group insurance plans.

For example, nearly 4 in 10 insured individuals (39%) experience high levels of daily stress. This proportion rises to 68% when mental health coverage is exhausted. Added to this is financial vulnerability: 25% of plan members rate their financial health as poor, up from 21% last year, illustrating the importance of tailored support.

In my most recent analysis of the survey results, I address these issues and concrete solutions that group insurance plan sponsors can adopt.

The importance of acting now

I have observed that plan members’ expectations are changing and that plans can meet them by offering flexible, personalized solutions. I explain how to achieve this by analyzing certain issues related to plan management:

• Women’s health: changing needs throughout their lives (fertility, menopause, postmenopause) require targeted services.
• Weight management: 65% of insured individuals want obesity medications to be included, as obesity is a complex condition influenced by biological, psychological and social factors.
• Disability and chronic illness: 59% suffer from a chronic health issue, while 39% reach their plan's annual limit for at least one benefit. A proactive approach is essential to reduce financial stress and improve overall health.
• Understanding plans: Just over half the people (53%) have a good understanding of their plan; for the rest, partial or poor understanding can hinder optimal use.

The plan as a strategic lever

My analysis addresses ways to optimize the value and scope of group insurance plans by offering flexible, personalized solutions and promoting understanding.

I suggest ways you can help your clients achieve beneficial results, as well as optimize their performance and the total wellbeing of their employees.

We help you get ahead

Our offering includes several products and services that give your clients the means to transform their group insurance plan into a real competitive advantage that meets the needs of their teams:

• Flexible and modular coverage
• Tailored flexibility thanks to the health spending and wellness accounts
• Enhanced coverage, personalized disability management services and prevention tools
• Targeted programs for women's health, weight management and inclusivity
• Communication tools and educational resources to maximize understanding and perceived value of plans

Communiqué to plan administrators

We will be sending a communiqué to group insurance plan administrators on December 15.

See the French version of this communiqué.

¹ The Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey 2025 was conducted online by Ipsos on behalf of Contex Group from February 13 to 20, 2025, among a national sample of 1,000 group insurance plan members. Additionally, another survey was conducted by Maru/Blue among 500 plan administrators from February 12 to 20, 2025.