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1. 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.

2. Welcome to the new EquiNet!

   Welcome to the new EquiNet, Equitable Life’s secure advisor information site. While the website may have a fresh new look, we have maintained the easy navigation and online tools and resources that you know and trust. And now you can find a complete French translation of all content on EquiNet!
   
   Take a tour of the redesigned site by watching the video linked from our homepage.  From here you will notice the main menu appears everywhere on the site, giving you easy access to each line of business. Frequently used content and tools are always available through the main ribbon menu, and quick links to popular pages are displayed on the homepage, under our latest news and promotions.
   
   Each line of business has its own landing page. From here you can find information about our products and services, including:

   • Marketing Materials
   • News
   • Rates and Performance
   • Sales Strategies
   • And more!

   Forms and Marketing Materials are each organized in their own tables. You can sort by form number or name to quickly find what you’re looking for.

   
   EquiNet provides you with all the information you need to do business with us.  Thank you for choosing to do business with Equitable Life.
   
   Questions? Please visit our FAQ

3. 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 100^th anniversary and we want to thank everyone who has been a part of this journey. A special 100^th 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 100^th 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.

4. The Equitable Gives Back Contest – Start spreading the word! Equitable Life of Canada is celebrating our 100^th 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.
    
5. 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 100^th 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
    
6. Policy endorsement: Long Term Disability pre-existing condition period

   We are updating our contracts to clarify how we handle the Long Term Disability (LTD) pre-existing condition period for employees returning from maternity or paternity leave.

   A new LTD pre-existing condition period will no longer apply when an employee re-enrols in the benefits plan after their maternity or paternity leave ends, provided that they return to work on the date agreed upon with their employer, or in the time period allowed by the Employment Insurance Act, whichever is earlier.

   To facilitate this change, we are amending some of the wording in our contracts and booklets, effective March 1, 2020. Below are links to the Endorsement to the Master Policy and the Summary of Master Booklet Wording Changes for this amendment. Please download and save these policy endorsement documents for your files.

   In addition, please remind your clients to provide all of their plan members with a copy of the Summary of Master Booklet Wording Changes.

   The next time your clients amend their benefits plan, the updated wording will be included in their group benefits plan booklets.
   
   Download Endorsement to the Master Policy
   Download Summary of Master Booklet Wording Changes

7. February 2020 Advisor eNews

   In this issue:

   Provincial biosimilar update
   Legislative changes for Alberta’s Coverage for Seniors program
   Coming soon: enhancements to Equitable EZClaim® Online
    

   Provincial biosimilar update

   

   Alberta Biosimilar Initiative

   On December 12, 2019, the Alberta government introduced the launch of the Alberta Biosimilar Initiative. This program will require patients using several originator biologic drugs to switch to a biosimilar, and patients using a non-biologic complex drug (NBCD) to switch to its subsequent entry version before July 1, 2020 in order to maintain coverage.

   Biologics are drugs that are engineered using living organisms like yeast and bacteria. The first version of a biologic developed is also known as the “originator” drug. Biosimilars are highly similar to the originator drug they are based on and have been shown to have no clinically meaningful differences in safety or efficacy.

   Alberta Health will initially cover both the originator and biosimilar or subsequent entry version of a NBCD  drug as patients start the switching process.

   The following table outlines the affected originator drugs, their biosimilars or subsequent entry, and the conditions affected by the program.

   Biosimilar Drug	Originator	Biosimilar/Subsequent Entry	Indications Affected
   etanercept	Enbrel	Brenzys	Ankylosing Spondylitis Rheumatoid Arthritis
   		Erelzi	Ankylosing Spondylitis Psoriatic Arthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis
   infliximab	Remicade	Inflectra Renflexis	Ankylosing Spondylitis Plaque Psoriasis Psoriatic Arthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis Crohn’s Disease Ulcerative Colitis
   insulin glargine	Lantus	Basaglar	Diabetes (Type 1 and 2)
   Filgrastim	Neupogen	Grastofil	Neutropenia
   pegfilgrastim	Neulasta	Lapelga	Neutropenia
   glatiramer*	Copaxone	Glatect	Multiple Sclerosis

   *Glatiramer is a non-biologic complex drug where the originator is Copaxone and the subsequent entry is Glatect.

   Equitable Life is actively investigating the benefit, risk and appropriate plan changes associated with this new policy on private drug plans and will keep you informed.

   For more information about the Alberta Biosimilars Initiative, consult the Alberta government website.

   British Columbia

   In 2019, BC Pharmacare introduced a Biosimilars Policy that impacted coverage of three biologic drugs – Remicade, Enbrel and Lantus. As of November 25, 2019, these drugs were no longer eligible in BC for most conditions for which lower cost biosimilar versions are available. Patients in the province with these conditions were required to switch to biosimilar versions of these drugs in order to maintain their coverage.

   The second phase of the BC Biosimilar Policy takes effect March 6, 2020 when Remicade will be delisted for Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Patients in the province with these conditions will be required to switch to Inflectra or Renflexis in order to maintain their coverage.

   Biosimilar Drug	Originator	Biosimilar	Indications Affected
   infliximab	Remicade	Inflectra Renflexis	Crohn’s Disease Ulcerative Colitis

   We have communicated with the affected plan members, informing them of the need to switch medications. If plan members have any questions or concerns, our Customer Care team is here to help and support them through the transition.

   If you have any questions about this policy, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.

   Ontario

   In November 2019 Ontario Minister of Health Christine Elliot indicated that the government was planning to launch consultations to explore solutions in managing biologics.

   Equitable Life will continue to monitor these developments and keep you informed of any impact on private drug plans.

    

   Legislative changes for Alberta’s Coverage for Seniors program

   

   The government of Alberta has announced that as of March 1, 2020, seniors’ family members (such as spouses and dependents) who are younger than 65 will no longer be covered by the provincial Coverage for Seniors program. Albertans 65 years of age and older will continue to be covered under the provincial plan.

   Equitable Life plan members and their dependents will continue to be covered under the parameters of their group benefits plan.

   For more information, please see the Alberta Seniors Health Benefits website.

    

   Coming soon: enhancements to Equitable EZClaim^® Online

   

   Faster vision claims processing and payment

   Equitable Life will soon provide real-time processing of vision claims submitted via EZClaim Online.

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

   In order to allow for instantaneous processing and faster payment, plan members will be prompted to enter some additional information including the practitioner’s name, the date of the expense, the type of expense and amount of the expense when submitting their claims for these services.

   Equitable Life plan members can submit all vision claims via EZClaim, including coordination of benefits and Health Care Spending Account claims.

   This enhancement will be coming to our EZClaim Mobile app in the coming months.

   New printable claims extract

   As part of our ongoing efforts to improve customer experience for plan members, we will also offer a claims extract in a printable format within the plan member site. Plan members will be able to select a date range and claimant, then generate and download a detailed list of health and dental claims. This is a helpful way to keep track of claims, especially when reviewing them in preparation for income tax filing.

   Once these enhancements are live you will be notified in an eNews, and an announcement will be posted on the plan member section of EquitableHealth.ca.

    

   Elimination of Out-of-Country Travellers Program in Ontario

   

   Effective January 1, 2020, the Ontario government eliminated OHIP coverage for emergency services for Ontarians travelling outside of Canada.

   Previously, the Out-of-Country Travelers Program provided some reimbursement for services required to treat conditions that are acute, unexpected, arose outside Canada and require immediate treatment. The program covered between $200 and $400 per day for inpatient services and $50 per day for outpatient and doctor services.

   For groups who have out-of-country coverage from Allianz, this change will not impact the cost to your plan members, or the process plan members follow in the event of an emergency while travelling.

   Plan members should still call Allianz in the event of an out of country emergency. Allianz will deal with their claim as usual and will now pay for the portion of the claim previously paid by OHIP. Plan members will not have any additional out-of-pocket costs.

   We will be sharing this information with plan members as a news item on our plan member website, equitablehealth.ca.

8. EquiNet Quick Tips

   Need some help navigating your way around EquiNet? We’ve put together the top 5 Quick Tips on the following topics, based on the most frequently mentioned questions from advisors:

   1. Policy Inquiry/New Business Pending Inquiry 
   2. Document Lookup 
   3. Policy Statements & Correspondence 
   4. Username & Email Address Support
   5. Need more help? Submit a request for support using the EquiNet Support Form.

    

   See more details and information about other site tips in this FAQ created to help you find your way around.

9. Coming March 23, 2020 – Equimax enhancements include 60 months of flexibility to make extra deposits

   The following features will be available on Equimax Estate Builder® and Equimax Wealth Accumulator® plans!   
   
   60 months of Excelerator Deposit Option (EDO) flexibility

   • Up to 60 months to make initial EDO payment or resume stopped or reduced payments. No additional underwriting required. 
   • For approved EDO amounts exceeding $150,000 annually ($12,500 monthly), clients have up to 12 months from the date the EDO application was signed or the date of the last EDO payment to make an EDO payment before a contribution cap may apply.
   • Available on all policies with an effective date of March 23, 2020 or later.
   
   
   
   EDO available on case ratings of 300% or less
   • If a policy already in effect has a rating over 200% and up to and including 300%, the owner can apply to add EDO provided the policy was issued under the 2017 tax rules.
   • Additional underwriting and submission of satisfactory evidence may be required.
   
   
   
   Disability Benefit Disbursement at no extra cost
   • If a life insured becomes disabled from a severe mental or physical impairment as defined in the policy contract, the owner may apply for a tax-free,* lump sum payment of up to 100% of the policy’s cash value.
   • Exclusions apply. See sample policy contract for full details, including the qualifications for the disbursement.
   • Available on all policy issued under the 2017 tax rules.

   
   
   * Tax laws are subject to change. The payment of the disability benefit disbursement may affect the adjusted cost basis (ACB) of the policy as it is considered payment of a capital benefit. Changes in ACB can affect the future taxation of the policy.

   Processing your Application
   To make the transition as smooth as possible, please take a moment to review the following transition rules.
    

10. Can’t meet in person? EZcomplete is an EZ way to meet online

    
    Instead of canceling your meeting, why not meet online instead? Our EZcomplete^® application makes it easy to process your non-face-to-face applications and do business with Equitable Life.
     
    EZcomplete is available on Pivotal Select™ segregated funds and all life products – Term, Whole Life, CI and Universal Life – and allows for the signing process to change from in-person to non face-to-face at the end of the application, despite how it was started.  This gives you and your clients the option to easily and efficiently connect remotely.
    
    
    
    How does it work?
     
    EZcomplete gives you the option to conduct your non face-to-face business easily and quickly, enabling your clients to provide their signature remotely on their own device. You simply need to enter their email address and provide them with a secret passcode to securely access the documents to review and sign.
     
    There is no limit on the face amounts or product options and the time to settle is reduced when using the application. It is a flexible, intuitive tool to use, and helps keep business on track now that many clients and advisors are opting for more social distance.

    
    For Life Advisors, please refer to the New Business and Underwriting page on Equinet for details about non-face-to-face delivery.