Chronic diseases are increasingly affecting younger Canadians, reshaping corporate healthcare costs and workforce benefits. Between 2019 and 2023, the fastest growwth in corporate healthcare claims for conditions like asthma, diabetes, and high blood pressure occurred among people aged 30 and under. Chronic disease-related drug claims in this age group are rising two to three times faster than in older cohorts, according to Dr. Amy Cheng, an emergency medicine physician and member of Cleveland Clinic Canada’s Medical Director Program.

The $30-and-under cost surge

Chronic disease-related drug claims among Canadians aged 30 and under are rising two to three times faster than in older cohorts, according to the report . This trend points to a growing long-term cost burden for employers, as chronic disease emerging earlier in life often requires decades of treatment and is associated with a higher risk of comorbidities and disability over time. Canadian companies are seeing these impacts firsthand , with younger workers driving increased healthcare costs and sick leave at a time when chronic disease is already the leading cause of short- and long-term disability claims in Canada.

BMO's three-tiered prevention strategy

BMO Financial Group, headquartered in Toronto with more than 50,000 employees globally, has launched chronic disease programs through its benefits partners to align with its ‘healthy outcomes’ benefits principle. At the primary and secondary levels, BMO’s preventive health campaigns – such as Wellness Week and their Foundations of Wellness Conference – are focused on education, engagement, and care navigation.. this includes targeted, proactive outreach to employees, clinician-led education sessions, and employees sharing their personal health journeys and how they’ve been supported by the company.

At the tertiary level,BMO leverages drug spend and utilization analytics to identify priority chronic conditions and design targeted programs to better support disease management. in Canada, BMO has introduced a targeted diabetes management program through Sun Life, alongside coverage for costly medications, to help employees best manage their blood sugar and weight post-diagnosis.

Early results and employee engagement

While still in the early stages, BMO’s initiatives have seen positive participation in education sessions, highlighting a clear area of interest among employees. Among U.S. employees, these initiatives have driven higher use of primary care and ‘well-child’ care services, and a 6.1-per-cent increase in age-related cancer screenings, according to the report.

What employers still don't know

The report does not address the specific causes behind the surge in chronic diseases among younger Canadians, nor does it provide detailed data on the long-term effectiveness of the prevention programs implemented by companies like BMO. Additionally, the report does not explore the potential impact of these trends on smaller businesses that may not have the resources to implement comprehensive prevention programs.