Empire Life signs agreement with Express Scripts Canada

KINGSTON--The Empire Life Insurance Company has signed an agreement with Express Scripts Canada to provide pharmacy benefit management services to its group customers. The agreement takes effect February 1, 2015.

"Express Scripts Canada is known for its depth of expertise and innovation in pharmacy benefits management," says Steve Pong, Senior Vice-President, Group Solutions, Empire Life. "As the drug landscape continues to evolve and costly new specialty drugs grow in importance, we need new ways to help customers protect their employees with comprehensive and cost effective drug benefits. Cost shifting does not lead to sustainable drug plans or healthy outcomes. New and innovative approaches grounded in science do. This partnership with Express Scripts Canada will help us shape the future direction of drug plan management and we couldn't be more pleased."

"Waste threatens the Canadian drug benefit system, and I am proud of the work that Express Scripts Canada has done to combat this threat," said Michael Biskey, President of Express Scripts Canada. "Building on the work of our parent company, we offer a range of innovative drug benefit solutions that can help preserve drug benefit plans and protect Canadians. We are very excited to welcome Empire Life as a customer and a partner in order to bring these innovative drug benefit solutions to their customers."

Express Scripts Canada transforms the way organizations and employees think about and participate in their drug benefit plan. Express Scripts Canada provides pharmacy services to thousands of Canadian patients. Through its proprietary consumer intelligence, clinical expertise, and patients-first approach, Express Scripts Canada promotes better health decisions for plan members, while managing and reducing drug benefit costs for plan sponsors. Express Scripts Canada is indirectly owned by Express Scripts Holding Company.

A subsidiary of E-L Financial Corporation Limited and in business since 1923, Empire Life helps Canadians build wealth and protect their financial security with competitive individual and group life and health insurance, investment and retirement products. The company's vision is to be known for simplicity, being easy to do business with and having a personal touch.