iAtoday

In an environment of rising costs and increasingly complex medical treatments, drug insurance plans are facing fundamental challenges. It was against this backdrop that the Canadian Pension & Benefits Institute (CPBI) held its FORUM 2026 from June 8 to 10 in Quebec City, where Frédéric Leblanc, Pharmacist and Strategic Lead, Products and Drug Programs, participated in a panel discussion exploring the strategies needed to ensure their sustainability.

Bringing together several industry experts, the discussion focused on the growing pressures that are transforming drug plans: rising costs, an increasing number of treatment options, growth in specialty drugs and the increasing complexity of managing them.

Beyond plan design, drug management now requires a more personalized approach, tailored to plan members’ specific clinical needs. This shift aims to increase the precision of treatment pathways, promote the use of the most appropriate treatments and optimize health outcomes, all while contributing to the sustainability of the plans.

The panel explored ways to align accessibility, affordability and sustainability while preserving plan member experience.

Frédéric highlighted the challenges faced by plan sponsors, particularly the need to strike a balance between access to treatment, cost containment and administrative simplicity. In his remarks, he also discussed the evolution of pooling mechanisms, the pressures they face and the innovations of insurers in the area of drug management.

These challenges are not merely theoretical: they are clearly reflected in the results of the Benefits Canada 2025 Drug Plan Opinion Survey. According to the survey, 92% of sponsors consider their drug insurance plan to be very or extremely important to their organization. The main reasons cited are protection against high health care costs, attracting and retaining talent, and support for comprehensive organizational health strategies.

The data also reveals that plans are reviewed every 1.7 years on average, and that cost, utilization rates and member experience (satisfaction) are the main indicators of success. These findings illustrate the pressure faced by plan sponsors, who must provide appropriate and competitive coverage while ensuring the long-term financial viability of their plans.

Through his participation, Frédéric helped fuel discussion on the role insurers can play in supporting plan sponsors in an ever-changing environment by offering an approach founded on expertise, analysis and innovation.

Want to find out more about our sustainable health care and drug management initiatives? Contact your iA Financial Group Account Executive.