Workplace health benefits programs becoming more accessible for Canada's smallest employers

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WATERLOO, ON, July 17, 2013 /CNW/ - A new benefits product introduced by Manulife Financial this week will help make workplace health benefits programs more accessible and manageable for the country's smallest employers.

Manulife Financial's LaunchPlan™ was created to meet the specific needs, priorities, and concerns of small business owners - those with two to nine employees. The new plan complements a growing small business-focused product shelf from Manulife Financial. LaunchPlan™ is designed to protect small employers from the unpredictability of health benefit costs, keeping the coverage affordable over the long-term.

"Small businesses are a critical part of our economy, employing millions of Canadians," said Marc Avaria, Vice-President, Group Small Business for Manulife Financial. "We're in the business of helping Canadians prepare for their futures and one of the ways that we're doing that is by making it as easy as possible for all Canadian employers - no matter what their size -  to provide their employees with access to valuable and meaningful health care coverage."

Small business in Canada is vitally important. According to Industry Canada¹, 98 per cent of all companies with employees in Canada are considered small businesses and they employ nearly half (48 per cent) of the working population².

"Many small businesses in Canada don't have group health benefits. Small business owners in Canada certainly understand the value and advantages of having a group benefits plan, but they might be under the impression that it's too expensive to maintain or too complicated and difficult to set up and administer," added Mr. Avaria. "This product's stable pricing makes it a great fit for small companies. It's also an extremely simple and affordable plan design that owners and plan members can easily understand and use."

In surveys conducted on behalf of Manulife Financial, small business owners indicated that cost and time are two important considerations that influence their decisions around health benefits plans³.  As Mr. Avaria noted: "Now, the advisors who work with these owners have a simple, straightforward plan to recommend, putting health care benefits within reach for the country's smallest employers."

The LaunchPlan has the potential to provide valuable health coverage to more Canadians. "This plan gives even the smallest employers a tool that will help them attract the best performing staff members," Mr. Avaria said. "And it gives those workers more incentive to start and stay with the company."

For more information, visit www.manulife.ca/thelaunchplan

About Manulife Financial 
Manulife Financial is a leading Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States. Clients look to Manulife for strong, reliable, trustworthy and forward-thinking solutions for their most significant financial decisions. Our international network of employees, agents and distribution partners offers financial protection and wealth management products and services to millions of clients. We also provide asset management services to institutional customers. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were C$555 billion (US$547 billion) as at March 31, 2013. The Company operates as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia and primarily as John Hancock in the United States.

¹Industry Canada defines "small business" as firms that have fewer than 100 employees.
²Industry Canada, Key Small Business Statistics - July 2012
³2011, 2012 Manulife Financial Small Business Research Report

SOURCE: Manulife Financial Corporation