ASSOCIUM Benefits is a full-service employee group benefits provider. They are a Third-Party Administrator working with multiple insurance carriers to offer and administer a wide variety of plans. ASSOCIUM Benefits is also a Managing General Agency providing back-office support to brokers and advisors.

ASSOCIUM leverages economies of scale that allow them to offer competitive rates from most carriers and works closely with MDM Insurance Services to offer insured plans as well as cost effective claims payment services for Administrative Services Only plans and Health Care Spending Accounts. As a billing administrator, ASSOCIUM can combine plan elements and additional products such as Employee Assistance Plans, on a single convenient billing statement.

“We excel in finding the best products and pricing by accessing carriers on a product-by-product basis, ensuring optimal value for our clients,” says Neil Iddon, Director of ASSOCIUM Benefits.

Customer service is a priority. ASSOCIUM Benefits provides support to plan sponsors and their members by advocating for them in claim and other customer support issues they may have with the insurance carriers. For example, ASSOCIUM staff guides employees through the long-term disability claims process to help reduce delays due to errors and incomplete applications.

As a Managing General Agency, ASSOCIUM Benefits Advisor Services supports advisors and brokers in day-to-day functions such as renewals, plan marketings and advising on specific issues in service to their clients. Advisors may place business with an ASSOCIUM partner or nearly any carrier in the Canadian market. We help advisers to deliver the best in customer service to their clients and provide professional education to keep them aware of trends, issues and products.

When it comes to catering to small and medium-sized enterprises, ASSOCIUM understands that affordability is a primary concern. Over twenty years ago, ASSOCIUM Benefits created a series of fully-pooled small-group plans. These plans ensure stability without any significant year-to-year fluctuations small employers would otherwise experience.

ASSOCIUM began as a human resource consulting firm. The consulting department continues to provide consulting services ranging from ad hoc projects to on-going access to HR support. Benefits clients can take advantage of discounted HR services.

ASSOCIUM’s broad offering includes cost-cutting and group buying initiatives originally tailored to nonprofit organizations and now offered to all clients. Today, ASSOCIUM continues to expand their offering to include one of the best employee assistance plans in the industry, through Humanicare. In addition, through its collaboration with Novus Health, the company will soon introduce a new healthcare navigation program to help individuals, particularly those at risk of conditions such as pre-diabetes.

Over the past decade, drug expenses have significantly increased, particularly for specialty medications like HUMIRA, Remicade, and Rebif. These costs often, posing a financial challenge for employers. Recognizing this issue, ASSOCIUM’s Specialty Drug Program focuses on securing alternative funding sources for high-cost medications. This program, with a 97 percent success rate, addresses the affordability concerns associated with specialty drugs, providing relief to employers and employees.

We excel in finding the best products and pricing by accessing carriers on a product-by-product basis, ensuring optimal value for our clients

ASSOCIUM has offered its Specialty Drug Program to several organizations. In one notable instance, a client found themselves with benefit plan costs that exceeded their financial capacity. The company wanted to provide comprehensive coverage for their employees, but were constrained by two high-cost drugs, mainly for their two employees taking medications worth over $30,000 annually. ASSOCIUM’s consultants successfully identified alternative funding sources and reduced the client’s annual medication costs by $20,000, a substantial 30 percent of their total $60,000 budget. The client’s financial flexibility allowed them to sustain their benefits plan.

The team at ASSOCIUM functions as a cohesive group that addresses all aspects of service delivery. This includes specialized personnel overseeing renewals, marketing efforts, and direct client administration. Such a setup enables needed support for individual clients that range from handling billing inquiries to managing employee additions/terminations and providing advice during layoffs or union negotiations. The team members are cross-trained and prepared to seamlessly shift between their primary roles to provide the required support, fostering a collaborative culture and maintaining uninterrupted service delivery.

The reliable benefits service provider has been primarily consolidated by its extensive connections with the industry’s insurance carriers. This enables ASSOCIUM to have direct access to key contacts inside these carriers, facilitating more efficient communication and advocacy on behalf of their clients. By leveraging its expertise and networks, the company ensures that clients receive exceptional value and helps them navigate through the complexities of the insurance landscape.