The Connex Benefits Network Podcast

Join host Denise Balch as she sits down with Jason Spector, Co-Founder and CEO of Lucite , for a deep dive into how AI is reshaping the future of group benefits. Jason shares how Lucite’s AI-native platform is helping boutique Canadian insurance brokers and advisors automate their most time-consuming and error-prone tasks, from document data extraction to client reporting. Together, Jason and Deni...

In this episode we explore the Canadian Dental Care Plan and the role of group dental care benefits, as well as the evolving dental landscape with Dr. Maneesh Jain, President of the Ontario Dental Association. We’ll discuss patient co-pays and maximums under the CDCP, and who is eligible. Plus we’ll share whether the CDCP is likely to be rolled out to working Canadians not covered by group dental...

Are you up to date? Many adults are not up to date with routine vaccination boosters, like tetanus and measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). As we age vaccines are available, but not always publicly covered, for other preventable diseases like the flu, pneumococcal disease, and shingles.  Education, easy access and reimbursement can all help motivate plan members to update their vaccinations.  In this...

In this podcast you’ll hear the discussion Denise Balch has with Justin Bates, Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Pharmacists Association on the mandate of the OPA, why Ontario falls short on the role of pharmacists in primary care, the value of engaging pharmacists to reduce the burden of disease in the workplace, and the future of pharmacy. This podcast is free. Thank you to our season spons...

In this podcast Denise Balch of Connex Health speaks with John Ly, Director of Pharmacy Operations for the Sobeys National Pharmacy Group. They discuss the drivers of provincial changes to pharmacy scope of practice, how these vary provincially, and the specifics of the expanded scope, including the role of pharmacy in disease management. This podcast is free. Thank you to our season sponsors of t...

In this podcast Denise Balch of Connex Health speaks with Ned Pojskic, VP Pharmacy Benefits Management at Green Shield Canada about obesity, why obesity is a disease, and why Green Shield is changing their reimbursement philosophy across their block of business in 2023. Ned oversees the PBM portfolio at Green Shield, including product development, pharmaceutical partnerships, and operations. In th...

Joining Denise Balch for this podcast is Joan Weir, recently appointed Vice President, Group Benefits, at the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA).  Joan and Denise will explore key areas of change in employee benefits: The insurance industry response to COVID-19 and the aftermath, including insights into long COVID and COVID-related disability trends The CLHIA Fact Book   CLHIA...

Joining Denise Balch as guests on this podcast are Dr. Jiwon Oh, a staff neurologist, scientist, and Medical Director of the Barlo Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Program at St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto who specializes in the care of people living with MS, and Ardra Shephard, a sought-after writer, consultant and speaker who lives with MS. Ardra’s award-winning blog Tripping On Air enjoys...

John Anacleto, Director of Private Payer Strategies & Data Insights, PDCI Market Access, joins Denise Balch to explore more on data analytics, why data is in higher demand than ever and how data can be used. John will give his insights into how data reporting and data analytics have changed, and how the industry is responding to the demand from advisors and plan sponsors for better tools for u...

What has changed for SMEs in group benefits? Find out by signing up to the BPHA program to hear our latest of 16 recently-updated modules. Max Mahardi, Business Development Manager at Ontario Blue Cross describes health and dental benefit plan challenges for small businesses, and innovative solutions that are available to them. In the link below Max gives a brief overview of what you can expect to...

We are pleased to welcome Cole Pinnow, President of Pfizer Canada and the recently appointed Chair of the Board for Innovative Medicines Canada to this podcast. Mr. Pinnow has a background as a microbiologist in the pharmaceutical industry and a masters in business administration. He is also a Board member of Montreal InVivo, and a co-lead for the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s COVID-19 Recovery L...

It’s a New Year and time to sign up for the BPHA program that includes invaluable education about the benefits industry, and comes with membership for access to additional programming and resources to makes sure you stay current with all the latest trends and developments. We’ll be updating some modules in 2022, and we added 3 brand new modules and updated 13 modules to the Benefits and Private He...

The BPHA program and membership offers invaluable education about the benefits industry, and allows you to stay current with all the latest trends and developments. Building professional credibility requires an understanding of the fundamentals of group benefits. This week we are featuring George Elliott, CEBS, and Senior Group Benefits Specialist at RBC Insurance. He’s been a member of our Adviso...

We're keen to share our new content with you in our Benefits and Private Healthcare Associate program launched October 1, 2021. Listen to an excerpt of Session 1, Module 4, Pharmaceuticals – Drug Discovery and Reimbursement with Joe Farago, Executive Director of Private Payers at Innovative Medicines Canada, on the complex landscape of drug discovery and market access and ideas on how to prot...

We're still not done bringing you our new content in our Benefits and Private Healthcare Associate program, launched October 1, 2021. This week we are featuring a new recorded session by Laura Blair, Director of Sales at Express Scripts Canada. Listen as she describes what you'll learn in Session 8, Module 3 on Formularies and Pharmacy Benefits Managers as she provides an update on how P...

We've recently updated many of the modules in our Benefits and Private Healthcare Associate (BPHA) program to keep it fresh and relevant. We are excited to share with you what we've changed.   This week listen to two of our new presenters, Alison Adams and Mylene Desjardins, both Account Executives from SSQ, describing what they'll cover in their updated session (Session 5, Module 1...

New and updated content to the Benefits and Private Healthcare Associate program launched October 1, 2021. We are bringing you a series of excerpts directly from our presenters on what you will take away from their module and why you should consider enrolling in the BPHA program. Our brand new module on vision care features Dr. Harry Bohnsack, Optometrist, Bohnsack & Steffler, and President of...

Updates to the Benefits and Private Healthcare Associate program launched October 1, 2021. With new modules, new content and new presenters we are bringing you a series of excerpts from some of our sessions and insights from presenters on why you should consider enrolling in the BPHA program. You can hear some insights from new presenter Jonathan Chan, Principal, Enterprise Benefit Solutions at Pe...

This week we hear from Emily Stewart and Melissa Lougheed from Benefits by Design on what you will take away from their session, including helpful tips for advisors on how to prepare for a renewal and steps on how to conduct analysis and forecasting. Learn best practices to deliver to your client at this crucial and vulnerable milestone every year. The Benefits & Private Healthcare Associate (...

We are live with program updates now! Updates to the Benefits and Private Healthcare Associate program launched October 1, 2021. With new modules, new content and new presenters we are bringing you a series of excerpts from some of our sessions and insights from presenters on why you should consider enrolling in the BPHA program. You can hear some insights from Session 1, Module 2 The Insurance La...

Featuring a conversation with Daniel Martz, Vice-President of TELUS Health Virtual Care. Fueled by his passion for leveraging leading-edge technology to transform healthcare and improve health outcomes, Daniel leads TELUS Health’s Virtual Care team in their mission to making healthcare more accessible for all Canadians. With a career spanning over 21 years and with leadership experience in multidi...

The BPHA program and membership offers invaluable education about the benefits industry, and allows you to stay current with all the latest trends and developments. Listen to this excerpt as new presenter Matthew Crites, Sales Supervisor at Equitable Life of Canada explains what he’ll cover in Session 3, Module 3: What to Include in Plan Marketing Specifications and how to guide your clients at a...

Featuring a conversation with Kevin Frankish, broadcaster, former co-host of one of Canada’s largest morning shows and current host of his own podcast, the Happy Molecule, plus Lisa Maks, a Clinical Nurse Specialist, Diabetes, at the Juravinski Hospital in Hamilton.  In this podcast we will hear how Kevin Frankish, who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2018, has learned to manage his diabetes...

Featuring a conversation with Dr. Mark David Vincent, MB, ChB, MRCP(UK), FRCPC, Medical Oncologist, London Regional Cancer Program. Our Simplify Prior Authorization communications are gearing up. This third podcast in our dedicated prior authorization series will provide you with first hand insights into the challenges of efficient and timely access to therapies for oncology patients and how healt...

Featuring a conversation with Derek Weir, Sales Manager, Optional Benefits, Medavie Blue Cross. Optional benefits (sometimes referred to as voluntary benefits) have been around a long time, but typically offerings were limited to employee or dependent life coverage. Times have changed and optional benefits can play an important role in a comprehensive benefit plan by offering employees the choice...