Karsten SturmayWhen it comes to employee benefits and health insurance, we know the drill – you want the best for your team but don’t want to drain your budget in the process. Well, guess what? You can actually get the best of both worlds!
After months of running interviews and dropping by one office after another, we finally found the best employee benefits and insurance providers in Edmonton. These companies know how to deliver value while helping you keep your costs under control.
Check out our list!
How much do employers pay for employee benefits and health insurance in Canada?
Employers pay 15% to 30% of the payroll for employee benefits and health insurance in Canada. This includes both mandatory and supplementary benefits.
1. HFI Benefits Inc.
Location: 6904 Roper Rd NW #200
Contact: +1 780-705-7800
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Friday: 8:00 AM – 2:30 PM
Website
Upon review, HFI Benefits caught our attention with the range of their services. They help companies build programs that include health, life, and retirement plans, among others.
What’s great is that they ensure plans are competitive at present and in the next 5 years. This is because their consulting team actively evaluates industry trends, usage data, and employee feedback when crafting plans.
One feature that we liked is their ability to benchmark company benefits using data from national surveys. This helps businesses understand how their plans compare against industry peers and adjust accordingly.
HFI’s expertise and cost negotiation, change management, and personalized consulting make these adjustments possible.
However, HFI doesn’t seem to be as technology-driven as other companies that often provide platforms and apps for employee benefits management. This is an area we wish to see an improvement in.
Pros
- Tailored multi-generational workforce plans
- Includes health, dental, disability, life, and critical illness
- Offers retirement plans
- Strong negotiation support at renewal
- Data-driven benchmarking tools
- Supports small and mid-sized businesses
Cons
- Tech needs improvement
Responsive to needs
“I’ve worked with Phil and his team at HFI Benefits since 2017 and have always found them to be very knowledgeable and responsive to our needs. They also look after our best interests with their analysis of what rates the insurer charges and strongly negotiates on our behalf for fairness. Highly recommend dealing with this fine team of professionals.”
Karu Chinniah | Google Reviews
Consistently delivers
“On behalf of Sundance Mazda, we would like to acknowledge the outstanding customer service that HFI consistently delivers to us. Their user-friendly platform and responsive customer support navigating claims make the process stress-free and seamless.”
Hope Mcleod | Google Reviews
2. Canadian Benefit Providers Inc.
Location: 8925 51 Ave NW #301
Contact: +1 780-944-9166
Website
Canadian Benefit Providers (CBP) impressed us with their integrated and advisor-focused platform. Their CBP ProHealth system allows plan advisors to build, customize, and manage benefit plans across multiple insurance carriers.
We find this valuable as it lets employers offer plans that are both comprehensive and competitively priced without being locked into a single provider.
The ProHealth portal also wins us over when it comes to accessibility and ease of use. Employers can easily retrieve, add to, or edit documents, benefit cards, and custom reports.
Another major strength is their Hour Bank and Third Party Payor (TTP) systems. The Hour Bank model is ideal for unionized or seasonal workforces, making it ideal for businesses that employ non-regular labor.
Combined with their TTP and Third Party Administration services, CBP enables hands-off solutions to employers. We find this advantageous as they will handle everything from premium collection to claims processing.
However, with all these features laid out, onboarding can be overwhelming. Fortunately, they provide support, as evidenced by their help desk resolution rate of over 90%.
Pros
- Multi-carrier plan options
- Easy-to-use ProHealth portal
- Easy employee data management
- Fast claims reimbursements
- Hour Bank system for flexible Coverage
- TTP handling
- 90% help desk resolution rate
Cons
- Steep learning curve for new users
Outstanding customer service
“I want to thank Jennifer and all other support desk team players for an outstanding customer service that my husband and I received in the last couple of days. Your are compassionate and supportive.”
S M | Google Reviews
Helpful and understanding
“I would just like to share my experience so far with Canadian Benefit Providers. They have provided me with great information, very helpful & understanding to my needs and questions.”
Clayton Warren | Google Reviews
3. Timber Benefits
Location: 8617 104 Street NW
Contact: +1 587-404-9090
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Website
We find Timber Benefits to be a solid choice for those looking for flexible employee benefits solutions. For starters, they have a no-waste benefits model, which reduces the plans to admin services only, leading to significant savings for employers.
Their core coverage is also solid, offering expected essentials such as drug plans, dental, vision, and general healthcare. What’s great is that there’s also room for mental wellness and lifestyle coverage, depending on the plan.
We find the administrative side to be impressive. Timber provides a digital-first management system that gives plan administrators full control.
According to users, the interface is intuitive, and the support is responsive. This makes it easy to learn for small to mid-sized businesses.
Additionally, their employee savings plan, such as RRSP and pension options, adds long-term value to their package. We find this a solid option for employers looking into long-term employee benefits.
The only downside is that their pricing can be a little confusing, especially with customized plans and services. We advise requesting a detailed quote before signing a commitment.
Pros
- No-waste benefits model
- Flexible health spending accounts (HSAs)
- Telemedicine services included
- Digital-first benefits management
- Easy-to-use admin dashboard
- Offers mental wellness and lifestyle plans
- Offers free benefits analysis
Cons
- Pricing needs more structure
Highly recommended services
“We have been very happy using Timber for all of our benefit needs. I used them for my last company of only 5 people and now I am running a team of 30. Darcy has helped us find a solution that helps attract and retain great employees. I also love the value-add of services such as Pocketpills, Maple and HR software they have provided to us as an organization. Highly recommend!
Alexandra Carnio | Google Reviews
Works hard for clients
AdaptAbilities has been partnering with Timber for about 18 months now and since then, our benefit costs have been significantly reduced, saving both the organization and our employees a significant amount of money! In addition to that, the level of service has been fantastic. They work hard for us to ensure the best possible service and quick response times. We really value them as partners!”
Jennifer Neal | Google Reviews
4. HGA Employee Benefits Ltd.
Location: 16011 116 Ave NW #20
Contact: +1 780-489-9750
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Website
Customization is the best-selling point for HGA. Rather than offering off-the-shelf packages, every service is fully customized to each client.
HGA also stands out for its strong backend support. They utilize administration systems that streamline benefits management. This earned our favor as it cuts down time and resources for HR teams.
In comparison to other providers, we find that HGA is one of the most responsive. Clients we interviewed said communication was quick and hands-on, whether it’s inquiries or walking through complex issues.
Considering the scale of the business, though, we find them ideal for small businesses that prefer more personalized connections.
On the rough side, though, we find that they lack a few factors for scalability (tech platforms, wide insurance network, etc.). But for those managing small teams and startups, they’re definitely a solid choice.
Pros
- Fully customized benefit plans
- Highly responsive customer service
- Hands-on support
- Cost-effective solutions
- Ideal for small businesses and startups
Cons
- Lacks solid scalability features
Incredibly attentive
“HGA Group Employee Benefits offer a variety of employee benefits solutions. Their team are incredibly attentive and will ensure your business needs are being met. I strongly recommend!”
Rena McManus | Google Reviews
Excellent working experience
“We have had an excellent experience working with HGA Employee Benefits Ltd. for our company’s benefits program. They are incredibly responsive, always replying right away and ensuring that all our questions are answered promptly. Their kindness and professionalism make every interaction a pleasure, and they are truly eager to work with us to find the best solutions. It’s refreshing to work with someone who is both knowledgeable and pleasant to deal with. Highly recommend!”
Laura Marrazzo | Google Reviews
5. MP Benefits Inc.
Location: 3-11 Bellerose Dr Suite 366
Contact: +1 780-984-9945
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Website
The process at MP Benefits is what drew us in. Rather than pre-packaged solutions, they begin with a discovery process that explores a company’s business culture, compensation structure, and talent acquisition strategy.
From these factors, they’re able to create benefit plans that are fully aligned with company goals.
We especially liked that they maintain full independence from insurers. This means that they aren’t tied to any one provider, allowing them to secure coverage from vendors that can match client needs.
Another highlight is that support doesn’t end after implementation. MP Benefits assists with plan administration, claim support, rate negotiations, and more. We find this valuable, as this is a great step for those who need long-term support.
We just wish they’re also as tech-savvy as the other providers. However, for everything else, we find their services sufficient and satisfactory.
Pros
- Fully independent from insurers
- Custom plans
- Comprehensive planning process
- Ongoing claims and admin support
- Includes legal, family, and workplace wellness resources
Cons
- Lack of tech-driven management solutions
On top of everything
“Lori Power has been our benefits provider of choice for a couple of years now and she is fantastic! She is always organized and on top of everything and she makes sure our benefits plan suits our needs. I highly recommend MP Benefits.”
Dave Kennedy | Google Reviews
Extensive knowledge of benefits
“For the 10 years I have been involved with MP Benefits Inc. their immediate responsiveness, communication and professionalism have been those traits that were consistently demonstrated. Besides their extensive knowledge of benefits, what always impressed me most was the follow through and the support received.”
Connie Wollschlager | Google Reviews
