Trends and Directions in Canadian Health Care and Disability

Cost volatility makes it difficult to manage benefits programs

Cost trends increased in 2021 for most organizations

• Drugs: +3.4% similar to prior year
• Other health care: +15.7% up from -15.4%
• Dental: +25.9% up from -19.3%
• LTD: +9.6% up from +2.3%
• Overall health (Drugs and other health care): +7.9% up from -4.5%

2021 costs for active employees vary between organizations^*

• Drugs: $1,118
• Other health care^**: $699
• Dental: $1,018
• LTD: $1,112
• Overall health (Drugs and other health care): $1,817

^* 2021 average per capita costs.

^** Although lower than the other categories, the per capita cost for other health care continues to increase.

Source: WTW 2022 Financial Benchmarks Survey, Canada