(NC) -- A recent health survey conducted by Desjardins Insurance indicated that when Canadians self-evaluate their health habits and behaviours, they tend to be easy on themselves. By contrast, their responses tend to be harsher and more realistic when asked specific lifestyles questions. This led researchers to conclude that there appears to be a significant gap between what most Canadians consider to be a healthy lifestyle and what the experts actually recommend. It's this gap in understanding that sometimes leads many towards chronic disease, resulting in strained health insurance plans. For example:

• According to a 2012 report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information, healthcare costs in Canada have doubled in the last decade.

• More than half of all annual healthcare spending in Canada goes to treat chronic diseases. And according to the Public Health Agency of Canada, direct healthcare costs for chronic diseases in 2010 amounted to $68 billion, and the indirect cost in income and productivity loss was $122 billion, for a total of $190 billion.

A new practical solution provided by Desjardins Insurance and Express Scripts Canada now gives Canadians with chronic conditions to better manage their daily maintenance prescriptions.

The Pharmacy Benefit Management and home delivery service is now meeting a need in the market to make prescription drug benefits more sustainable and affordable. It also provides a convenient service for those with busy schedules or other challenges.

The service is specially designed to support Canadians who depend on daily maintenance medications. These are drugs — which account for over 50% of all drugs claimed — that are prescribed for ongoing medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The benefits associated with this service are:

• Convenience. Plan members have their medications delivered — by way of free standard shipping — directly to their home or to any address they designate. They can also request prescription transfers, renewals and refills — online, by phone or by mail.

• Value. Plan members can receive up to a 90-day supply of their maintenance prescription medications for a single dispensing fee. Pharmacists will work with them and their doctors to choose safe, approved, lower-cost medications, where possible. And before the prescription leaves the warehouse, an experienced team of pharmacists verifies each and every order.

• Peace of Mind. Auto Refills takes the guesswork out of refilling prescriptions. And plan members can privately consult an experienced pharmacist to answer their questions and help them safely manage their prescribed medications. Pharmacists are on call 24/7.

To learn more about this and other benefit services, visit Desjardins Insurance at www.desjardinslifeinsurance.com.