There is often a disconnect between employees and employers when it comes to needing assistance with substance use. The stigma involved creates a barrier that blocks the employee from reaching out and finding help.

Luckily, there is a confidential program that exists so employers can help not only their employees, but their employee’s families as well.

In this episode, Lorne Curry invites Elliot Stone, CEO and co-founder of ALAViDa onto the show. Lorne and Elliot speak about the ALAViDA program and how it works to assist employers and employees.

Elliot discusses: 

• How ALAViDA provides virtual care for all substances
• How the ALAViDA program works
• Using ALAViDA with employee assistance programs
• Challenges that companies face in changing their approach to substance use
• And more

Resources: 

• Group Benefits headquarters 

Connect With Elliot Stone:

• ALAViDA
• LinkedIn: Elliot Stone

Connect With Lorne Curry

• (705)-749-1131
• Curry Financial Group
• LinkedIn: Lorne Curry

About Our Guest:

Elliot brings a new perspective to the world of addiction medicine. After tireless research into alternatives to conventional alcohol treatment, Elliot pulled together world leading clinicians and researchers to create a treatment experience that puts the patient first. He brings a focused direction to providing evidence-based, collaborative care in a non-judgmental environment.

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When you begin to look at the drug landscape, pricing can get tricky. It’s helpful to work with someone who can assist you in creating plans based on your own unique goals. 

In this episode, Lorne Curry dives into the topic of employee drug plans and how the costs of prescription drugs can be managed. Lorne helps employers understand their options when it comes to funding these plans by looking at 3 main scenarios.

Lorne discusses: 

• Questions that employers need to answer before creating a drug plan
• Three ways that a drug plan can be funded by an employer
• Setting caps on what the employer will pay for prescriptions within a plan
• And more

Resources: 

• Group Benefits headquarters 
• Episode 9: Understanding Drug Benefit Plans

Connect With Lorne Curry

• (705)-749-1131
• Curry Financial Group
• LinkedIn: Lorne Curry

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There are lots of things to take into account when you are shopping for a benefit plan that is going to suit you and your goals. 

In this episode, Lorne Curry teaches you what goes into marketing your benefit. Lorne helps you identify what you need to know about this process and emphasizes the importance of working with someone you trust. 

In this episode, you will learn:

• How often you should be shopping for benefits  
• Why you should limit yourself to working with one advisor that you trust 
• How to select the right plan for your needs 
• Important factors to consider when comparing quotes from insurance carriers
• And more!

Tune in now to learn the importance of understanding the shopping for benefits process! 

Resources: Lorne Curry | Curry Financial Group | Group Benefits headquarters

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When it comes to benefit planning, the drug landscape opens up a lot of questions, and it is not always easy to find the answers on your own. 

In this episode, Lorne Curry welcomes Martin Chung, assistant vice president of strategic health management at Equitable Life of Canada, to the show as they dive into the topic of pharmaceuticals. Martin aims to answer some of the most common questions he hears from people when it comes to understanding the landscape of drugs. 

In this episode, you will learn about:

• The two buckets of drugs; regular drugs and specialty drugs  
• How high-cost drugs are managed  
• The costs involved with prescription drugs and how it might vary between pharmacies  
• Relationships between insurance companies and pharmacies 
• And more!

Tune in now to begin your journey into understanding what is important when it comes to pharmaceuticals. 

Resources: Lorne Curry | Curry Financial Group | Group Benefits headquarters | Martin Chung | Equitable Life of Canada 

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Sitting in a waiting room at the Doctor’s office or Emergency Room can take hours! Thanks to virtual Doctor’s Offices, that wait time can be shortened to as little as twenty minutes! 

In this episode, Lorne Curry discusses the benefits of virtual healthcare and how Canadians are responding to it. Lorne touches on how this new technology might fit into your benefits planning! 

In this episode we discuss:

• The need for virtual healthcare  
• How virtual healthcare professionals interact with your family doctor 
• Different ways you can connect with virtual healthcare professionals  
• What virtual healthcare professionals can assist with 
• And more!

Tune in now to hear how Canadians are responding to virtual healthcare and how you could be taking advantage of it too! 

Resources: Lorne Curry | Curry Financial Group | Group Benefits headquarters

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If you have ever wondered how long-term disability works, or who is eligible for it, this is the episode for you! 

In this episode, Lorne Curry sits down with his very first guest, Sheila Karras of Empire Life, as they take a look at long-term disability. With Sheila’s work in insurance, she helps answer some of the most common questions asked regarding disability leave and speaks about the impact COVID-19 has had on it.

In this episode we discuss:

• The reluctance for an employee to return to work after disability leave 
• What is considered when assessing an employee’s ability to return to work 
• Earnings in relation to returning to work after disability 
• Communication between the insurance company, employer and employee throughout a disability claim 
• And more!

Tune in now to have your questions answered regarding long-term disability leave and understand who should be involved in the conversations. 

Resources: Lorne Curry | Curry Financial Group | Group Benefits headquarters | Sheila Karras | Empire Life 

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Did you know that there are risks involved with some decisions you make when it comes to benefit plans? 

In this episode, Lorne Curry talks about some of the most common risks that are associated with benefit planning as it relates to the employer. Lorne offers some of his personal advice as to how you can avoid these risks! 

In this episode we discuss:

• Why opting out of employee health plan coverage is not recommended
• The Non-evidence maximum for long term disability and life insurance
• What risks are related to severance packages 
• What conversion options are available at retirement
• The role of a plan administrator
• And more!

Tune in now as Lorne uncovers some of the risks that are involved in benefit planning and what you should be watching out for! 

Resources: Lorne Curry | Curry Financial Group | Group Benefits headquarters

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At Curry Financial Group, we see benefits as a part of an employee’s compensation. There are things you can be doing with your benefits to leave money in your pocket and your employee’s pocket at the end of the day! 

In this episode, Lorne Curry discusses how taxation works when it comes to benefit planning and how you can give to your employee’s without having to spend any taxes on it! 

In this episode we discuss:

• How taxation works when it comes to benefit planning 
• Who can benefit from tax savings  
• Which benefits are taxable  
• Benefit program eligibility based on company size   
• And more!

Tune in now as we explore what taxation looks like for you and your employees when it comes to benefits. 

Resources: Lorne Curry | Curry Financial Group

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