Canada’s Aging Baby Boomers: Planning Health Insurance for the FutureWritten by Anna Dorbyk
The first of Canada’s aging baby boomers are poised to turn 65, and with this milestone birthday comes a variety of new health care concerns. In response to these changing medical needs, Canadian health care system is preparing to handle some 10 million boomers whose reasons for visiting hospital will range from hearing loss to long-term care. The aging of this Canadian demographic is inevitable, but falling into financial debt in order to pay for these services can be avoided. By thinking ahead to what medical services may be required, individuals are able to customize their health insurance accordingly.Living in a country like Canada where health care is provided for all is an undeniable luxury. Yet, despite many benefits of Canadian health care, there are gaps that exist in coverage. These gaps dictate need for supplementary health insurance. Sadly, there are many instances where people have met with unexpected illness, but there are also many health issues that can be planned for. Aging is one such issue. Some of most common services required by seniors include: x-rays for weakening bones, a visit to podiatrist for any number of foot related issues and testing and fitting hearing aids for hearing loss. Each of these services may be an inevitability for aging individual, but they may not all be covered by Canadian government. Provincial health plans vary from province to province with certain provinces offering a proscribed amount of money yearly for various necessities, such as a trip to podiatrist. A visit to a specialized doctor or purchase of a hearing aid can be very costly, and with little to no coverage, people are often left with a substantial financial burden. Supplemental health insurance is best way for seniors to plan for and minimize these costs.
| | Shareholders meeting changing with timesWritten by Eric Newman
A significant number of corporations that settled accounts in past year are ready to hold their annual shareholders meetings. In this year's meetings, more than 300 companies plan as their main focus of attention defense measures against hostile takeover bids. Interestingly, more companies have introduced systems to allow shareholders to vote via internet and cell phones to accommodate new means, and will hold shareholders meetings on different dates from other firms. This year also has seen firms more desperate to secure long-term stockholders by placing more importance on interests of shareholders. According to a Forbes magazine survey, among more than 130 companies considering defensive measures against corporate takeovers, ten may introduce so-called poison pill defense of issuing share warrants to counter such actions. Also, 90 of those firms plan to propose revisions of their corporate charters to expand possible issuance of authorized stocks at this year's meetings. A new corporate law that is set to be enacted next year will liberalize rules on so-called triangular mergers, in which foreign companies buy up various firms using their own shares. For each of companies, introduction of defensive measures against hostile takeover bids is an urgent task. But unfortunately, some of measures do not necessarily benefit shareholders.
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