Top Takeaways from the 2024 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey
Posted by Medavie Blue Cross on November 4, 2024
Top Takeaways from the 2024 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey
Posted by Medavie Blue Cross on November 4, 2024
Finding the right balance between plan sustainability and member support remains a major challenge for sponsors. At the same time, growing pressures on the healthcare system have raised members' expectations of their benefits.
These are among the key findings from Benefits Canada’s annual survey of plan sponsors and members. The survey, sponsored by group insurers like Medavie Blue Cross through the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans, provides valuable insights on our industry.
Below are findings from the survey that address the most pressing concerns for both sponsors and members.
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Mental Health
- 22% of plan members report having a diagnosed mental health condition.
- Members with a mental health condition are much more likely to be heavy users of the drug plan (44%) than mental health counselling services (14%).
- 44% of plan sponsors expect to invest in emotional or mental health initiatives.
Chronic Conditions
- 58% of plan members live with at least one chronic condition.
- There is growing interest among members in lifestyle-based approaches to manage these conditions.
Financial Wellness
- Personal finances are the top stressor for members, rising from 35% in 2022 to 43% this year.
- However, only 24% of plan sponsors plan to allocate funds or resources toward financial health.
Virtual Care Services
- 39% of plan sponsors include virtual healthcare services in their plans.
- Since the pandemic, virtual care usage by plan members has steadily declined, from a high of 43% in 2021 and 41% in 2022 to 34% last year and 30% in 2024.
Virtual Care Services
- 39% of plan sponsors include virtual healthcare services in their plans.
- Since the pandemic, virtual care usage by plan members has steadily declined, from a high of 43% in 2021 and 41% in 2022 to 34% last year and 30% in 2024.
Health Spending Accounts (HSAs) and Personal Wellness Accounts (PWAs)
- 40% of plan sponsors offer HSAs, and 29% offer PWAs.
- Utilization of both types of accounts continues to rise.
Health Navigation Support
- 56% of plan sponsors provide navigation supports — 39% offer it to all plan members, while 17% limit it to members on disability leave.
- 14% of plan sponsors plan to introduce navigation support services in the service.
Enhanced Coverage
- Almost all (93%) plan members want to make at least one lifestyle change to improve their overall health. The top goals include increased exercise and physical activity (49%), improved sleep (41%), weight loss (37%), healthy eating (36%), and better stress management (32%).
- Plan members expressed interest in additional coverage for major dental services (22%), vision care (21%), and paramedical services (18%).
- The top three benefits plan sponsors anticipate adding are mental health, paramedical, and dental benefits.
Enhanced Coverage
- Almost all (93%) plan members want to make at least one lifestyle change to improve their overall health. The top goals include increased exercise and physical activity (49%), improved sleep (41%), weight loss (37%), healthy eating (36%), and better stress management (32%).
- Plan members expressed interest in additional coverage for major dental services (22%), vision care (21%), and paramedical services (18%).
- The top three benefits plan sponsors anticipate adding are mental health, paramedical, and dental benefits.
Communication and Education
- Only 47% of plan members feel they understand their plan very well, down from 51% last year.
- 58% of plan sponsors believe they effectively communicate their plan coverage, compared to 63% in 2018.
- Health benefit plans are ranked as the second most important factor for plan members when deciding to stay with their organization, after salary.
- Preferred communication channels for health benefits include email (55%), insurance company’s website (24%), and smartphone app (19%).
Communication and Education
- Only 47% of plan members feel they understand their plan very well, down from 51% last year.
- 58% of plan sponsors believe they effectively communicate their plan coverage, compared to 63% in 2018.
- Health benefit plans are ranked as the second most important factor for plan members when deciding to stay with their organization, after salary.
- Preferred communication channels for health benefits include email (55%), insurance company’s website (24%), and smartphone app (19%).
Data Analytics and Reporting
- Plan sponsors need support interpreting utilization data and understanding their benefit plan coverage.
Plan Sustainability
- For those who find it very challenging to offer a benefits plan, the top concerns are overall cost management (51%), drug plan costs (32%), inflation (31%), increased utilization (30%), and members rising expectations (28%).
- 86% of plan sponsors say providing a health benefits plan is more challenging or just as challenging as before the pandemic.
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Medavie Blue Cross is a premier all-in-one carrier that provides health, dental, travel, life and disability benefits and administers federal and provincial government-sponsored health programs. Together with Medavie Health Services, we are part of Medavie, a health solutions partner committed to improving the wellbeing of Canadians. We are in the...