TORONTO, Feb. 27, 2018 /CNW/ - The Canadian life and health insurance industry welcomes the establishment of a national Advisory Council on pharmacare by the federal government. The industry shares the government's desire to find a way to ensure that prescription drugs are more affordable for everyone, especially for those who do not enjoy the benefits of a group employer plan today.
"We support additional efforts by the government to ensure those who currently don't have supplemental drug coverage benefit from coverage in the future and we look forward to sharing our ideas on how best to do this," notes Stephen Frank, President and CEO of the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA). "The right solutions will control costs to taxpayers, ensure group health plans are not put at risk, and make sure that patients have the medicines they need, with no affordability barrier," he adds.
Of the 26 million Canadians covered through their place of work, the benefits of these plans are highly valued: from eyewear to vision care to drug coverage and services such as physiotherapy and massage therapy, among many others. This market works well today and we strongly support efforts to broaden coverage to all Canadians.
About the CLHIA
The CLHIA is a volunteer association whose member companies account for 99% of Canada's life and health insurance business. The industry provides a wide range of financial security products such as life insurance, annuities (including RRSPs, RRIFs and pensions) and supplementary health insurance to more than 28 million Canadians. It also holds over $810 billion in assets in Canada and employs nearly 155,000 Canadians.
SOURCE Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Inc.
Wendy Hope, Vice President, External Relations, (613) 691-6001/[email protected]; OR Susan Murray, Vice President, Government Relations and Policy, (613) 691-6002/smurray@clhia
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