Now available across Canada: NEW smoking cessation coaching program
Smoking continues to pose a significant global public health challenge. While quitting can be difficult, with the right support and strategies, individuals can overcome these challenges and greatly enhance their overall health and well-being.
Last December, we sent you an update about our upcoming smoking cessation program. In early Spring, we launched a collaboration with the Ottawa Heart Institute (OHI) to support Canadians who would like to stop smoking. We’re providing free access to a 1:1 coaching program called Can Quit. The program is virtual and accessible to individuals in all provinces and territories, including Quebec.
We’ll share information about the program on the my Sun Life mobile app and mysunlife.ca. Plan members who have interacted with past smoking cessation campaigns will also receive an email. Standard exclusions will apply for plan member communications.
Coaching by the OHI will be available to plan members and their dependents at no additional cost. This is the next step in Sun Life’s commitment to provide chronic disease management solutions to plan members, eligible dependents, and Canadians.
Lumino Health™ Pharmacy,1 provided by Pillway,2 is overseeing the intake process for the program outside of Quebec. The pharmacist will review the individual’s application and refer them to the OHI. In Quebec, individuals will follow a different process.3 Trained Nicotine Dependence Coaches at the OHI will be responsible for providing coaching to individuals once enrolled.
As a reminder the chronic disease care programs offered through Lumino Health Pharmacy (the Diabetes Care and Respiratory Care Programs) are not available in Quebec.
About the Can Quit program
We’re offering the smoking cessation program across Canada in English and French. It’s available to individuals who smoke any form of tobacco (e.g. cigarettes or vape). The program:
- is virtual,
- involves an initial coaching session,
- includes automated follow-ups, and
- provides continued coaching support from Nicotine Dependence Coaches throughout the 24-week program.
Here’s a flyer you can share with your plan members that includes more information on the program.
The Nicotine Dependence Coaches may recommend medications to the plan member as part of the program. This includes prescriptions or over-the-counter products. Depending on your plan, these medications may be covered.
Optional research study for plan members located in Ontario
The OHI is running a research study in Ontario at no cost to you or your plan members. The study is looking at three different medications that may help people quit smoking. The OHI will ask Ontario plan members and their dependents aged 18+ if they would like to enroll in the study. Regardless of study participation, all plan members can participate in the standard coaching program.
Questions? We’re here to help.
Please contact your Sun Life Group Benefits representative.
1Pharmacy services are provided by Pillway.
2SHG Pharmacy Inc. and SHG West Pharmacy Inc., doing business as Pillway pharmacies, are partially owned by Simpill Health Group Inc. For your information, and as a point of disclosure, Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada has partial ownership in Simpill Health Group Inc.
3The smoking cessation program is available to plan members living in Quebec. Intake and enrollment in the smoking cessation program are not supported by Lumino Health Pharmacy.
Sun Life reserves the right to terminate, suspend or modify the smoking cessation offering in collaboration with the OHI at any time without notice.
™Used under license by Simpill Health Group Inc.