MARCH
2020
Since 1984
Topics In This Issue
  • Group Benefits – Areas of Risk and Employers Obligation
  • Insurance Fraud and Group Benefits
  • Ransomware
  • Webinar Wednesday
  • Coronavirus
  • Ask the Pharmacist: Pharmaceutical Compounding
  • SKETCH Nourish - Team building that gives back
Group Benefits – Areas of Risk and Employers Obligation
How administrators can reduce risk
As an employer, you have committed to provide your employees with employee benefits that, for example, provide a certain amount of insurance and disability coverage. If the coverage is compromised or reduced by error or omission, your company could be liable for the shortfall or the entire benefit.
False Insurance Claims Cost Everyone
Carriers are using AI to identify patterns in fraud
March is Fraud Awareness Month. Fraudulent activity affects all plans; it is not a victimless crime. Unless detected, fraudulent claims are paid by employers – and very few are detected. This can mean the difference between maintaining or improving a plan and having to increase rates or reduce coverage; it can compromise plan members’ personal information or result in the termination and/or criminal charges for a plan member found complicit.
Ransomware: Not If, But When
Prevention is half the battle – recovering quickly and properly is the other half
2019 ended as another big year for ransomware in Canada and around the world, with exponential growth from the year before. These types of attacks are an extremely profitable style of cyber attack in which computer systems and data are taken over by hackers and held hostage until the victim hands over a payoff.

Prevention is the first line of defense; we need to make sure that we don’t make it too easy for the hackers.
March 25, 2020 Webinar Wednesday
Nuvollo: How to best position IT for your non-profit organization
Find out about Microsoft Teams and its efficiencies for your organization: Collaboration, Sharepoint, Onedrive, Conference calls and video all in one. Teams is part of Office 365, with special rebates for ASSOCIUM GAIN members. Backups – 3-2-1-0 rule of thumb. Password complexity and New Multi-Factor Authentication, and Policy ++. Cyber-Security.
What you need to know about the coronavirus
Stay informed and help stop the spread of infection
COVID-19 is an illness caused by a coronavirus and are a large family of viruses. Human coronaviruses are common and are typically associated with mild illnesses similar to the common cold. COVID-19 is a new disease that has not been previously identified in humans.

Read on to find out what the symptoms are, how it is spread, how to prevent and where to get credible information.
Ask the Pharmacist: Pharmaceutical Compounding
FAQs about Pharmaceutical Compounding
  • What is Pharmaceutical Compounding?
  • What is a Compounding Pharmacy?
  • What are the Benefits?
  • What are the Risks?
  • Will my Compounds be Covered by Insurance?
Make Meals at NOURISH
A staff team-building event that supports youth at SKETCH
  • Create +80 nutritious, hearty meals for homeless or marginalized youth at SKETCH!
  • Engage in a unique team-building experience in SKETCH's own Creative Hub kitchen
  • Learn fun culinary skills and recipes
  • Enjoy servings of the meals you've created
  • Contact dale@sketch.ca today to learn more about how your organization can support local youth living homeless or marginalized!
ASSOCIUM Divisions
Since 1984, ASSOCIUM Consultants continues to lead the industry in specialized human resource services, organizational development and provides HR expertise across a broad range of services. 
We're unique in the marketplace providing innovative and customized Advisor services: Managing General Agent , Third Party Administrator, Claims Adjudication, Specialty Drug Management / Preferred Pharmacy Network and Human Resources Consulting. 
Our employee group benefits division, being in business since 1997, gives us the experience to provide customized alternative plans and reduce administrative costs for our clients, while quoting sustainable rates at start up - and at renewal.  
Our procurement services division launched in 1996 as an added source of assistance to the not-for-profit sector ( GAIN). Recently this service has been expanded to include private small business under the Advantage banner. Our goal is to help your organization access preferred pricing for products and services as well as resolve any purchasing issues you may encounter.             
 Supporting the success of Canadian organizations since 1984. 
416-867-9350 or 1-888-761-1164 
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