When you leave home you shouldn't have to worry about anything. Atlas Travel has a variety of plans to cover everything from emergency hospital & medical insurance, trip cancelation, single and multi-trip plans, and student coverage when traveling outside of Canada.

You will feel secure knowing your financially protected during your travels.

Best Doctors Elite Diagnostic Imaging Service - for companies 10 employees and up. We all know the kind of wait times we experience today for medical services. If you require Diagnostic Imaging to help diagnose a serious medical condition, you can be facing a 2 to 3 month wait, or even longer. Of course, this adds additional anxiety to the stress of worrying what the results of the test will be. Best Doctors Elite Diagnostic Imaging Service provides rapid access to diagnostic facilities and medical consulting.
Click here to download documentation

April 2010 Bulletin

News from The Benefit Specialists Corp.

From:	The Benefit Specialists Corp. <sean.murray@telus.net>
Subject:	News from The Benefit Specialists Corp.
Reply:	sean.murray@telus.net

April 2010 Bulletin

Celebrating 10 Years of Business!

Thank you for all your support!

Just a Reminder,

As independent brokers we have the ability to go to any insurance company to get insurance quotes. If you are looking at your group benefit plan (or know of another company who is) and are wondering if you are using your dollars in the most efficient way possible please contact us and we will be happy to discuss this with you.

IN THIS ISSUE

TBSC Tidbit more...
Budget 2010 Unfolds: Changes to the Medical Expense Tax Credit
Budget 2010 proposes that expenses incurred for purely cosmetic procedures (including related services and other expenses such as travel) be ineligible to be claimed under the Medical Expense Tax Credit.

Travelling to Cuba
The Government of Cuba has announced that travellers will have to present proof of health insurance in order to enter the country as of May 1, 2010.

Alberta Pharmaceutical Strategy Update
Effective April 1, 2010 pricing on generic drugs will be reduced to 56% of the brand price....

A Buying Group for Couriers: An Introduction to Canadian Traffic Services Group
Mike Havery, National Business Development Manager
Canadian Traffic Services Group

How can the small to mid sized business save money on their courier costs? This is a question many business owners have as they look for ways to reduce costs in light of a changing competitive environment. more...

Any Questions, Suggestions?

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or ideas you may have, we would love to here your feed back!

Just click the link below
www.beneco.ca

TBSC Tidbit

Government of Canada 2010 Budget Unfolds: Changes to the Medical Expense Tax Credit

From the 2010 Budget Plan, Annex 5:

The Medical Expense Tax Credit provides tax recognition for above-average medical and disability-related expenses incurred by individuals. For 2010, the Medical Expense Tax Credit reduces the federal tax of a claimant by 15 per cent of eligible unreimbursed medical expenses in excess of the lesser of $2,024 and three per cent of net income.

An expense is generally eligible to be claimed under the Medical Expense Tax Credit if it is directly related to a disability or a medical condition. An expense is not generally intended to be eligible if it is ordinarily incurred by persons without a disability or a medical condition or has a substantial element of personal consumption and choice.

To ensure consistency with the intent of the Medical Expense Tax Credit, Budget 2010 proposes that expenses incurred for purely cosmetic procedures (including related services and other expenses such as travel) be ineligible to be claimed under the Medical Expense Tax Credit. This generally includes surgical and non-surgical procedures purely aimed at enhancing one's appearance such as liposuction, hair replacement procedures, botulinum toxin injections, and teeth whitening.

A cosmetic procedure, including those identified above, will continue to qualify for the Medical Expense Tax Credit if it is required for medical or reconstructive purposes, such as surgery to ameliorate a deformity arising from, or directly related to, a congenital abnormality, a personal injury resulting from an accident or trauma, or a disfiguring disease.

The proposed changes will make the tax treatment of purely cosmetic procedures consistent with that in other jurisdictions, such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Qu�bec."[i]

[i] Department of Finance, Canada. Budget Plan, Annex 5: Tax Measures: Supplementary Information and Notices of Ways and Means Motions. March 4, 2010. http://www.budget.gc.ca/2010/plan/anx5-eng.html#personal (accessed March 29, 2010).

Travelling to Cuba will now Require Travel Insurance

The Government of Cuba has announced that travellers will have to present proof of health insurance in order to enter the country as of May 1, 2010.[i]

Travel Insurance will have to be purchased by approved foreign (to Cuba) sources, or bought from local vendors at Cuban points of entry.

TBSC encourages our clients and friends to purchase travel insurance for any vacation to any destination. Go to www.beneco.ca for a free travel insurance quote through Atlas travel or contact us at (403) 547-5236 to see what other carriers offer or for more information.

[i] Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. Travel Report: Cuba. March 17, 2010. http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/report_rapport-eng.asp?id=69000 (accessed March 30, 2010).

Alberta Pharmaceutical Strategy Update

Effective April 1, 2010 pricing on generic drugs will be reduced to 56% of the brand price. Alberta Health and Wellness is allowing a 60-day run off period for drugs purchased before April 1st at 75% of the brand pricing.

A Buying Group for Courier Services: An Introduction to Canadian Traffic Services Group
Mike Havery, National Business Development Manager
Canadian Traffic Services Group

How can the small to mid sized business save money on their courier costs? This is a question many business owners have as they look for ways to reduce costs in light of a changing competitive environment.

Canadian Traffic Services Group (CTSG), a buying group for courier services, has over 20 years of experience. CTSG manages the courier spending for over 500 companies. Our total courier spending is well over $10 Million annually offering us tremendous buying power with all of the major courier companies. CTSG does not get involved in the freight movement.   We provide clients an account number with major courier companies and they begin saving the minute they ship.

Our goal is to save our clients 15-20% on their premium transportation spending. The CTSG plan for cost reduction has six Steps:

1. We analyze past shipping data and factor in expected growth
2. Identify cost saving opportunities such as:

-Courier consolidation shipping
-Service levels
-Package weight
-Customer alignment
-Supply chain network
-Inbound material

3. CTSG determines the carrier with the best solution
4. Present our cost reduction plan for the client's approval
5. Propose an implementation plan that the client reviews and agrees with

6. Provide a report of their savings and their value added service

Transportation Invoice Audit and Payment

1. We provide the client with 99.9% accurate invoices with no duplicate invoices

2. The option is available to our clients to receive electronic or paper invoices with the data that they require. This helps us with our green initiative.

For further information contact Mike Havery, National Business Development Manager at mike.havery@ctsg.ca, or call 403-836-7100.

Are you a CFIB member?

Contact The Benefit Specialists Corporation to find out how being a CFIB member can help you with your Employee Benefits program.

Tell your friends!

The Benefit Specialists Corp. is more than willing to answer any questions you or anyone you know may have. If you know someone who has questions regarding the insurance industry or anyone who wants to join our mailing list please contact me, or forward this email to them and get them to click the join our mailing list button below.

Thanks!

Sean Murray
The Benefit Specialists Corp.
sean.murray@beneco.ca
403-547-5236

Don't forget to check us out on twitter! http://twitter.com/benecoca

The information contained in this bulletin is for general information purposes only. The articles published in this bulletin have been collected by The Benefit Specialists Corp. (TBSC) and we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability or availability with respect to the information, products, services, or related graphics contained. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits out of, or in connection with, the use of the information contained in this bulletin. Through this bulletin you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of TBSC. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.

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