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  1. EZcomplete enhancements for segregated fund applications

    When we launched EZcomplete® for segregated funds back in January we heard a lot of positive comments from our advisors. We also heard that we could do better. So that's just what we did.

     

    1. FUNDSERV CODE 

    Advisors with an active FundSERV code no longer need to remember to select the FundSERV code when starting a new segregated fund application. EZcomplete will now default to the FundSERV code.


    2. LOAN DEPOSIT OPTION
    Under the Contributions section of the segregated fund application for Non-registered, TFSA, RSP or Spousal RSP, Loan is now a deposit option under Deposit Types. If Loan is selected, EZcomplete will ask for amount and Lending Company name. Equitable Life® has partnered with B2B Bank to provide investment and RSP loans at competitive rates. Details can be found on EquiNet® under "Loans".


    3. LIMITING SUCCESSOR ANNUITANT
    Applicable to TFSA, RIF and Spousal RIF applications only, EZcomplete will now use validation to prevent advisors from accidentally naming the same person as both successor annuitant and beneficiary, reducing the instances of "not in good order" applications.


    4. ONGOING PAD FUND SELECTION
    If Ongoing PAD is selected as a Deposit Type, an advisor can allocate the Ongoing PAD to a fund allocation that is different than the rest of the deposit options.


    5. TRANSFER FORM NOTIFICATION
    The MGA and advisor confirmation emails now include text to confirm that a Transfer Form has been uploaded and submitted as part of the segregated fund application. This additional information will act as a reminder to the Advisor/MGA to send the Transfer Form to the relinquishing institution.

     

    6. POPULATING FIELDS
    Advisors will no longer need to keep entering the same advisor and MGA information on new segregated fund applications. The first time an advisor code is used on an EZcomplete segregated fund application, the advisor will populate all the required fields. Each subsequent time a new segregated fund application is created with the same advisor code, the following fields will pre-populate with the values that were last entered.

    a) Advisor Email
    b) Dealer/MGA Name
    c) Branch Number
    d) MGA Email

  2. Faster claims processing on Equitable EZClaim Mobile

    Equitable Life now provides real-time processing of massage therapy, physiotherapy and chiropractor claims submitted via the EZClaim® Mobile app.

    That means plan members will be able to find out the status of their claim almost instantaneously. And, for approved claims, they will receive payment even sooner – often in as little as 24 hours.

    Equitable Life plan members can submit all types of health and dental claims via EZClaim Mobile, including co-ordination of benefits and Health Care Spending Account claims. Currently, 43% of all claims are submitted through the user-friendly app.

    “We know plan members love the speed and convenience of EZClaim Mobile,” says Norma Crouse, Assistant Vice-President of Claims and Administration at Equitable Life. “With these enhancements, some claims submitted through the app will be processed and paid even faster.”

    We’re also adding biometric login functionality to allow plan members to sign in to the app using their face or fingerprint. And we’ve redesigned our landing page on the mobile app to make it easier for plan members to navigate the various features of the app.

  3. EZcomplete Non-Face-to-Face enhancement


    An EZ way to conduct your out-of-town business

    You asked for it, we built it: a solution for your non face-to-face business. EZcomplete® allows you to conduct your non face-to-face business easily and quickly with your clients providing their signature remotely on their own device.

    How does it work?

    EZcomplete walks you through the electronic signature process. EZcomplete allows your clients to sign remotely using their own device for non-face-to-face applications. You only need to enter their email address and provide them with a secret passcode to securely access the documents to review and sign.

     Just another reason to do business with Equitable Life® 

    EZcomplete makes it easy to process your non-face-to-face applications and do business with Equitable Life. 

    Login to EquiNet® and click on the EZcomplete icon on the menu bar

     

    ® denotes a trademark of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
  4. Changes to RRSP to RIF Conversion Form - Pivotal Select (Form #1673)

    Equitable Life® has recently updated the RRSP to RIF Conversion Form (Form #1673).

    Summary of Change - The changes made to the Spousal section include clarification about beneficiary information and spousal consent.

    The paper version of the updated RRSP TO RIF CONVERSION FORM - PIVOTAL SELECT (Form #1673) is now available on the Forms page of EquiNet®.

  5. Repositioned Wealth Accumulator available

    Repositioned Equimax Wealth available now

    As we continue to grow to meet the needs of various market segments, our product options for your high net worth (HNW) clients have also been improved. Equimax Wealth Accumulator® has been repositioned to meet the needs of your high net worth clients by providing more deposit room and competitive early cash values.

    Equimax Wealth is now repositioned for your high net worth clients

    Equimax Wealth Accumulator is now targeted for clients ages 45 to 65 with an insurance need but also looking for tax advantaged growth as an alternative to traditional investments. It allows your clients to achieve both while diversifying their portfolio and saving taxes, particularly for corporations.
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    Highlights of the repositioned Equimax Wealth Accumulator:

    • More deposit room - Allows for significantly more deposit room by reducing the initial death benefit. This means more money can be paid into the policy to promote the tax-advantaged investment growth.
    • Higher early cash surrender values - We are more competitive on total cash value in years 1 to 10 in the target market ages of 45-65. The higher extra deposit room and early surrender cash value allows the illustration to show an earlier premium offset, which is key for the HNW market.
    • More competitive on life pay - Improvements to life pay more notable than 20 pay. Reduced premiums for most male and female non-smokers in our target market (ages 45-65) as well as 2, 3, and 4 year improvement in illustration of premium offset.
    • More competitive at older ages - A shift in the target market means you can support older clients in the HNW market. The Equimax Wealth Accumulator is now more competitive at ages 45-65.

    Learn more

    For full details on the transition, please see our transition rules.

    For more information on this product, please visit the Equimax page on Equinet.

  6. Do you have clients looking for growth but are concerned about taking on too much risk?


    Please join us to hear Dina DeGeer, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager, Head of the Mackenzie Bluewater Team and David Arpin, Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager, Mackenzie Investments, discuss how the Mackenzie Bluewater Team is positioning the Mackenzie Canadian Growth Balanced Fund for future success

    Learn about the value of investing in high-quality businesses and how taking a broader approach to fixed income investing can deliver the balanced solution your clients are looking for

    Equitable Life is pleased to offer the Mackenzie Canadian Growth Balanced fund as one of six different Mackenzie funds in Pivotal Select™ segregated fund lineup.
     

    Learn More

  7. October 2019 Advisor eNews

    Coverage of Remicade, Enbrel and Lantus in BC

    As we announced in August, BC PharmaCare recently introduced a new Biosimilars Initiative that ends coverage of three biologic drugs, including Remicade, Enbrel, and Lantus. These drugs will no longer be eligible in British Columbia for most conditions for which lower-cost biosimilar versions are available. Patients in the province with these conditions will be required to switch to biosimilar versions of these drugs by Nov. 25, 2019 in order to maintain their coverage under BC PharmaCare. Patients taking Remicade for Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis will not be required to switch to a biosimilar until March 6, 2020.
     
    Biologics are drugs that are engineered using living organisms, such as yeast and bacteria. Biosimilars are highly similar to the originator drugs they are based on and most have been shown to have no clinically meaningful differences in safety or efficacy.
     
    To ensure this provincial change doesn’t result in your clients’ plans paying additional drug costs, we have aligned our drug eligibility for these three biologic drugs with that of BC PharmaCare.
     
    As previously announced, effective Nov. 25, 2019, Remicade and Enbrel will no longer be eligible for BC plan members with conditions for which lower-cost biosimilar versions of the drugs are available. These plan members will be required to switch to the biosimilar versions of these drugs in order to maintain eligibility on the Equitable Life drug plan. We have communicated with Plan Administrators about this change, and we have informed affected claimants of the need to switch medications.  
     
    As well, effective Feb. 3, 2020, the drug ingredient cost for Lantus will no longer be eligible for BC plan members; only the dispensing fee may be eligible under their Equitable Life plan. Plan members taking Lantus will be required to switch to Basaglar, the lower-cost biosimilar version of the drug, in order to maintain coverage under their Equitable Life plan. We will be communicating with Lantus claimants in the coming weeks to allow them ample time to change their prescription and avoid any interruptions in their treatment or their coverage.
     
    If you have any questions about this change, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.

    De-listed service providers

    As part of our ongoing initiative to have Group Benefits plans only reimburse eligible claims, we conduct reviews of the billing and administrative practices of service providers, including clinics, facilities and medical suppliers.

    As a result of these reviews we may de-list certain providers.  We will no longer accept, or process claims for services and/or supplies obtained from those providers. The plan member can still choose to obtain services or supplies from these providers, but Equitable Life will not provide reimbursement for the claims.

    Review Equitable Life’s de-listed service providers

    The delisted service provider list is also posted on EquitableHealth.ca for plan members to review to determine if their claim(s) are eligible for reimbursement under their Group Benefits plan.

    For more information about protecting group benefits plans from abuse, check out our articles.

  8. A year of celebration - 100 years of protecting what matters most to Canadians We’re proud to be celebrating 100 years of experience in the insurance industry. Over the last 100 years, through significant historic and financial challenges – two World Wars, the Great Depression, economic crises in the 80s and 90s, regulatory challenges and significant growth and expansion in the face of stiff industry competition – Equitable Life of Canada® has become one of Canada’s largest and most financially stable mutual companies. 
     
    2020 marks our 100th anniversary and we want to thank everyone who has been a part of this journey. A special 100th anniversary website, www.equitable100.ca, highlights the company’s historic milestones and shares information about the anniversary-related activities. Special celebrations will be taking place including:
     
    • The Equitable Gives Back Contest that will award five charitable organizations in Canada a grant of $10,000 each based on their winning entries;
    • The $100 a day giveaway where randomly selected clients will receive $100. In addition, there will be three grand prizes awarded to randomly selected clients at the end of the year; and
    • The 100th Anniversary Legacy Donation, that will be announced in May, to an organization in  Waterloo Region that helps strengthen our community.
    You provide us with the support we need to keep our promises to Canadians. We’ve built Equitable Life® together over the last 100 years and, together, we’ll thrive for the next 100. We’re proud of our past, and we’re excited for the future as we begin the next chapter for Equitable Life of Canada.
     
    ® denotes a registered trademark of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
  9. The Equitable Gives Back Contest – Start spreading the word! Equitable Life of Canada is celebrating our 100th Anniversary in 2020, and we’re busy planning a year of events and activities so we can celebrate this significant milestone with our employees, clients, wholesalers and advisors across Canada.

    A big part of who we are as a company is our commitment to help strengthen the communities where we operate by supporting a variety of charitable initiatives that help to improve the quality of life for the people living there. We are proud to launch the Equitable Gives Back Contest. Our goal is to give $10,000 to five registered charities operating in Canada.

    All it takes to enter is an original essay (not less than 100 words, not more than 500) describing the way in which a charitable organization could use $10,000 to help further their charitable purpose and improve life for Canadians.

    Reach out to your clients, tell them about the contest, and encourage them to visit www.equitable100.ca to see if they are eligible! All entries must be submitted by March 31, 2020.
     
  10. 100 years strong

    As COVID-19 continues, we want to reassure you that Equitable Life remains financially strong and committed to supporting our clients.

    We are financially strong and stable
    Our commitment to your health, wealth and overall well-being remains unchanged. This global pandemic has impacted the way we do business, but we continue to focus on our strategic goals while meeting the needs of Canadians. These three factors speak to our financial strength and stability:

    • Equitable Life has a global credit rating of ‘A’ with a positive trend from DBRS Morningstar in recognition of our ability to adapt to the current business environment and prudent risk profile;
    • We are maintaining our current dividend scale for the period July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021; and
    • Our Life Insurance Capital Adequacy Test (LICAT) ratio remains well above our goal and the minimum that is required at 152.5% at the close of the first quarter.We pride ourselves on our customer service

    Being recognized for its service culture across all lines of business is a point of pride for a company that includes ‘customer focus’ as one of its three corporate values. In 2019, our dedication to customer service was recognized with these outstanding survey results, proving we have the We have the knowledge, experience and ability to find solutions that work for you:
    • Equitable Life ranked in the top quartile for segregated fund service in 2019 survey of advisors and MGAs1 ;
    • In a 2019 survey of customers from 15 life insurance companies,2 Equitable Life ranked #1 on the Net Promoter Score, a measure used across industries to gauge the loyalty of a firm's customer relationships; and
    • A survey of Group consultants, brokers and third-party administrators 3 ranked Equitable Life in the top two insurers across all categories.
    We have adjusted our business to become digital
    Since the pandemic began, our IT and operations teams have digitally enhanced more than 20 different processes and services to make it easier for us to integrate with our distribution partners in this new reality. Our sales and customer service teams remain open and available to support you and your customers.

    We are here with you and for you
    • To commemorate our 100th Anniversary this year, we donated $4.5 million to purchase and install a new MRI for Grand River Hospital and, as part of our Equitable Gives Back Contest, we donated $50,000 –  $10,000 each – to five charities in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. As well, we are celebrating by randomly selecting policyholders to receive a $100 and three grand prizes. For more information about our celebrations, check out our website at www.equitable100.ca.

      As the global situation continues to evolve, rest assured that Equitable Life is unwavering in our commitments to you and the communities we serve. We are here with you and for you.
    1 Life Ops Consulting Group Distribution Service Satisfaction Surveys 2015-2019, Independent Advisors
    2  LIMRA CxP Customer Experience Benchmarking Program, Life Insurance In-Force Experience 2019
    3 NMG Consulting’s Canadian Group Benefits Survey 2019