Despite increased debate, employers, who are a key stakeholder and drug coverage provider through employee benefit plans, have been largely absent from national debate. Given the rising costs of prescription drugs, employers are increasingly concerned about the future of private coverage. That said, employers continue to fund benefits, as they believe they offer a competitive advantage in recruitment, maintain wellness and support a productive workforce, and assist in preventing long-term disability. As costs have increased, employers’ views are converging with those of government, including, a shift in focus to outcomes and creation of mechanisms to measure impact of spending for sustainability. In 2016, Aon, a leading provider of Health & Benefits advisory services, surveyed Canadian human resources leaders to gather their opinions on national pharmacare. The survey showed employers generally agree with the same principles of pharmacare as the general public, but also acknowledge that employers would still feel the need to offer supplemental coverage over and above a public program to differentiate themselves in a competitive employment market. …show more content…
While there is agreement that a program is needed, there is no consensus on how the program would be structured and implemented. Aon found that when employers were asked about their opinions on a fully government-run program, as well as a government-mandated employer-run program, employers were undecided. However, it was clear that employers would prefer a dedicated funding approach to one where funding came from general revenues or led to reductions in other program