What is a Health Care Spending Account

By Robert Bogress

A Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) is generally used to enhance a traditionally designed group insurance plan. As the name implies, it is a flexible spending account established by the plan sponsor where credits or a specified dollar amount is deposited at the beginning of each year. The amounts can vary, however, they are typically funded  with deposits of $300 to $500.  The amount deposited can be used to pay for medical and dental expenses incurred by the member or the member’s dependents that are not reimbursed by the provincial health insurance or the private group insurance plan. Every time the account is used to claim eligible expenses, your HCSA balance is reduced accordingly.

Benefits, pension plans face sustainability issues

By Greg Pallone

Canadians are genuinely worried about their financial security as they face potential age-related health issues combined with the prospect of retirement at possibly the worst time in history.

Continued health benefits for retirees and healthy generous pensions are from another era. The retiree of today faces an uncertain future. This is what the second half of life looks like, folks. Generation X should pay attention.

Are Employee Benefits Affordable For Employers?

Greg Pallone, managing director of TRG Group Benefits, in conversation with Fazil Mihlar, editorial page editor of The Vancouver Sun.

Income Replacement Options

By Joe Demelo, CEBS; Benefits Consultant

What is the best approach or plan design for managing short term disability absences?  That depends. Not a very helpful answer, but the answer does encompass what is at the heart of any short term disability benefits strategy.  It truly does “depend” on a number of factors and should tie into the overall human resource philosophy of the employer.  The question of how to compensate, or protect employees financially, who do experience a short term leave is complex with a myriad of options and solutions.