Why Template Benefits Don't Work (And What to Do Instead)

Your company isn't average. So why is your benefits plan?

Your group benefits plan feels good. That doesn’t mean it's working.

Most business owners have never actually looked at what their benefits plan costs per dollar of claims. Here’s why, and what to do about it.  Ask a room full of employees whether they have good benefits and most hands go up. Ask their employers the same question, and you’

How to forecast group benefits costs in Canada: A smarter guide for Canadian employers

If you’re a Canadian business owner, HR leader, or plan sponsor, you’ve probably asked some version of this question:  What will our group benefits costs be next year?  It sounds simple. But for employers, it becomes one of the most frustrating parts of planning for the year ahead.

The 2025 Benefits Year Wrap-Up: What shaped the industry — and what comes next

As 2025 draws to a close, the benefits landscape looks very different from where we started the year. Employers faced tightening budgets, rising expectations from employees, shifting legislative frameworks, and rapid innovation in health and well-being technology.  Through all of it, one theme stood out: employees want meaningful, flexible

Building your benefits house: Creating a strong foundation for employee wellbeing

When you’re designing a home, you don’t start with the shutters and garden. You start with a solid foundation — the part that supports everything else. Building a strong benefits plan follows the same principle. Without a well-designed base, the lack of strength won't hold up

Small businesses, big impact: Rethinking benefits in a changing world of work

October is Small Business Month in Canada — a time to celebrate the ingenuity, resilience, and community spirit of small businesses across the country. From startups redefining industries to family-run firms that have been part of their neighbourhoods for generations, small businesses power 98% of Canada’s economy and employ

Why plan sustainability and Plan Member wellbeing are colliding

For years, Plan Sponsors have chased a delicate balance: keeping benefits affordable and competitive while supporting the health of their people. On paper, it sounds simple. In practice, it’s never been harder. The 2025 Benefits Canada Report makes that tension crystal clear.  Although the Benefits Canada survey, in our

Gender-affirming care in Canada: How Health Spending Accounts improve access

For many trans, two-spirit, and non-binary Canadians, accessing gender-affirming care is not just a nice to have— it’s essential, it’s what makes living as your true self possible.  Yet too often, public coverage related to gender-affirming care is patchy, private insurance can be restrictive,

Wait... your HSA can do that?

Surprising ways small businesses and their teams can use a Health Spending Account (and why more Canadians should). 

Why did benefits become important?

In today’s workforce, one thing is clear: group benefits are no longer a “nice-to-have.” They’re a non-negotiable. But not all benefits are created equal. As employees demand more flexibility, transparency, and value from their coverage, the limitations of traditional premium-based plans are becoming painfully

How to rock an HSA on a budget.

Stretch every dollar. Support your health. Skip the red tape. In an era of rising costs and shrinking benefit plans, a Health Spending Account (HSA) is one of the most flexible, tax-savvy tools Canadians have at their disposal. But what if your HSA isn’t huge? Here’s the

What is the ROI of a Group Benefits plan?

As a small business owner, you’re constantly balancing the needs of your team with the realities of your bottom line. Every dollar counts—and every investment must earn its place. So when it comes to offering a group benefits plan, the question isn’t just “Can we afford this?

HSAs and Retirement

How an HSA can help Canadian employees achieve their retirement goals When it comes to planning for retirement, Canadians often rely on a mix of savings, investments, and government benefits. As an employer, you may want to help with their savings and set them up for the future. A Group

The Plan Member's Journey

When it comes to health benefits, Canadian employers have options. The issue is, most employers haven’t been exposed to self-funded solutions like a Health Spending Account (HSA). So how do they compare to traditional premium-based plans we commonly see in real life? Let’s follow the journey

Can a well-rounded benefits plan land you top talent?

In today’s competitive job market, companies need to step up their game and move away from the basics. Compensation will always be king, this won’t change for the foreseeable future.  That being said, an outstanding, well-rounded benefits plan can tip the scales when it comes to swaying

Insurance is NOT like a gift card!

For all the business owners and Plan Sponsors out there – did you know your employees/Plan Members are being encouraged to spend your money? We saw this typical year-end message from a dentist: “Insurance is like a gift card. If you don’t use it, the remaining balance expires

Don't be an order taker - be an advisor!

Don’t be an order taker – be an advisor In the competitive world of group benefits, differentiating yourself is a key to success. There’s no shortage of eager advisors looking to drum up business, so how exactly do you set yourself apart? As a Group Benefits provider of 10+

A Perfect Storm, and insurers are ignoring the warnings

Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed that this year’s Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey title “A Perfect Storm” looks oddly familiar. That’s right, it’s the same title we used last year when describing the many challenges facing Plan Sponsors! Blendable’s ahead of the game once again. Our

Benefits are more than just health and dental

You’ve heard us say, “A benefits plan is more than just health and dental.” But what do we mean by that? Consider why you’re offering a group benefits plan. Is it only to keep your team’s teeth sparkling, bodies limber, and backs cracked? If so, then stop

Which is worth more: $1,000 or $300?

You can’t make this stuff up… We talk a lot about the perceived value of benefits, but this one takes the cake. We recently heard from an advisor about a group he was working with. They couldn’t be convinced to get a standalone HSA or go the ASO

Does your benefits card benefit you?

When it comes to group benefits, we obviously search for the most well-rounded, flexible plan that will give us exactly what we need. Often, this turns into a plan that is quite inflated with “perks” to create perceived value. One of these so-called perks is a benefits card.

Association Plans: What are they and are they worth it?

What if you’re a small business owner who can’t justify paying the price tag on your own health and dental insurance plan? What do you do? Some advisors pitch Association Group Benefit Plans as the best choice, particularly for small businesses. These plans are set up like traditional

Don't wait until your renewal

Despite your best efforts to plan ahead, you’ll probably run into a situation where you’d like to update your benefits plan mid-year. Maybe your team is frustrated that your supposed Cadillac of benefits plans isn’t meeting their needs. Or maybe talking to a friend you’ve

The importance of benefits communication

Group Benefits are a key part of compensation packages for many reasons. They can be used to bring in top talent, retain your amazing team, create a wellness culture, the list goes on. However, that breaks down if your team doesn’t know what their benefits are or how to