Site Search

1331 results for if

1. Enhanced flexibility and features make Equimax whole life a great choice for your clients

   WHAT’S NEW ON MARCH 23, 2020?

    
   The following features are available on Equimax Estate Builder^® and Equimax Wealth Accumulator^® plans!   
   
   60 months of EDO payment flexibility¹ that fits your clients’ situation

   • Clients can start EDO payments¹ up to 60 months from the date the application was signed, or resume up to 60 months from the last EDO payment made, without additional evidence of insurability.
   • Applies to Equimax² policies with an effective date of March 23, 2020 or later. 
   
   
   
   
   EDO is available on cases rated 300% or less³ for new and existing clients
   • For existing clients, if approved, the EDO contract provisions that apply will be based on the effective date of the insurance policy, not the date the EDO was added.
   • Applies to Equimax² policies issued under the 2017 tax rules.
   
   
   
   Built-in Disability Benefit Disbursement provides access to cash value in the event of a disability
   • The Disability Benefit Disbursement may provide a tax-free, lump sum payment of up to 100% of the policy’s cash value if the insured becomes disabled.⁴
   • Will be included on Equimax² policies issued under the 2017 tax rules.⁵

   
   
    

   Want more information?

   More information is available on EquiNet^® on the Whole Life Insurance Product page under the Resources tab. 
   
   Ask your Equitable Life^® Regional Sales Manager about Equimax today.

   COVID-19 & social distancing: Strategy for insurance applications   Using our EZcomplete® online application allows you to keep your distance … while keeping your business moving forward.   Learn more

    

   
   ¹ This applies only to policies with an effective date of March 23, 2020 or later. The amount of the EDO payment allowed may be limited to the maximum EDO payment made in previous years depending on the policy year. 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. See Admin Guide for full details.  ² Applies to Equimax Estate Builder and Wealth Accumulator; all ages; life pay and 20 pay; single and joint lives. ³ Not available if the policy has a flat extra rating. ⁴ See sample policy contract for full details, including the qualifications for the disbursement. Policy cash value and death benefit will decrease. 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.  ⁵Subject to our administrative rules and guidelines in effect at the time of the disbursement

2. Equitable Life Coronavirus Update – March 13, 2020

   As the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread, it’s important that you, your clients and their plan members have the most up-to-date information. We are providing timely updates on any developments that impact your clients and their plan members or their benefits coverage.

   Please share this information with your clients. You can direct them to EquitableHealth.ca, where we have posted a version of these updates.

   Coronavirus travel coverage*

   For groups with Travel Assist coverage

   The Public Health Agency of Canada has issued several Travel Health Notices advising Canadians to avoid travel to countries and regions where there have been outbreaks of coronavirus (COVID-19).

   A good resource to help your clients and their plan members understand how the spread of the coronavirus may impact their travel plans is the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Coronavirus Travel Advice site. The levels of risk by country and region are regularly updated.

   If your clients’ plan members cannot avoid travelling, Public Health recommends they take steps to prevent illness and seek medical attention if they become sick.

   Where to find the latest information

   The list and level of travel advisories can change at any time. Please check the Government of Canada’s Travel Advisor and Advisory page for the most current information.

   If your clients’ plan members have coronavirus symptoms while travelling, please advise them to contact Travel Assist at the numbers listed below for assistance.

   Advise plan members to call before they travel

   If a plan member is travelling anywhere outside of the province or country and their benefits plan includes Travel Assist, plan administrators should advise them to make sure they’re prepared for a medical emergency by following these steps.

   1. Check the Government of Canada’s Travel Advisor and Advisory page. Note that it is important to click on the country to check whether any specific regions of that country have travel advisories.
   2. If they have questions, they should call Travel Assist before they travel for assistance and benefit information.
   3. Pack their Equitable Life benefits card and provincial health card.
   4. In a medical emergency, call the Travel Assist 24-Hour Hotline:
   • Toll-free Canada/USA: 1.800.321/9998
   • Global call collect: 519.742.3287
   • Allianz Global Assistance ID #9089

   Allianz Global Assistance administers Equitable Life’s Travel Assist benefits. Allianz has an international network of medical facilities, transportation providers, medical correspondents and multilingual administrative agents who aid with medical, legal and most travel-related emergencies 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

   Early prescription refills and drug shortages*

   In response to concerns about COVID-19 TELUS Health, our pharmacy benefits manager, has announced it is maintaining its standard rules for refills of medication. Plan members can refill their medications when at least two-thirds of the last dispensed supply has been used.

   If plan members need more than the maximum supply allowed on their plan, they must pay out-of-pocket for the excess amount. They can then submit a claim to ask for an exception request.

   TELUS is taking this position to help maintain access to medication for all patients. They continue to monitor the situation. We will provide an update if it changes.

   Drug shortages

   TELUS Health monitors for drug shortages and updates their system for any unavailable drugs. This helps to ensure accurate claims payment. If a referenced lowest-cost generic drug is unavailable, claims for drugs in the class will be paid at the next lowest-cost generic alternative available.

   *Indicates content that will be shared with your clients

3. Update - Travel Assist Coverage*

   Last Friday, we announced that plan members with Travel Assist on their benefits plan will not be eligible for coverage if they departed the country after the Government of Canada issued its Global Travel Advisory.

   When the Government issued its advisory late Friday afternoon, we felt an obligation to let prospective travellers know as soon as possible so they could make informed choices about their travel. Since then, we have been made aware of a number of situations where plan members were unable to change their travel plans and need our continued support.

   To provide that support, we have revised our position. We will continue to cover plan members for all eligible emergency medical expenses, including those related to COVID-19, for trips outside Canada. Given the global situation is evolving quickly, we will continue to monitor developments and update you accordingly.

   In spite of this, we strongly urge your clients to advise their employees not to travel outside of the country at this time. The risk is high and the options for returning to Canada are becoming limited. Further, we urge your clients to advise their employees who are outside the country to return to Canada earlier than scheduled, if possible.

   If a plan member is currently travelling abroad and is experiencing symptoms or is hospitalized with suspicion of the coronavirus, they should contact Travel Assist at the numbers listed below for assistance and to confirm their coverage.

   • Toll-free Canada/USA: 1.800.321.9998
   • Global call collect: 519.742.3287
   • Allianz Global Assistance ID #9089

   We will continue to update you as the situation develops.

   We will update the announcement on our Plan Member website to reflect this change.

   We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience our earlier announcement may have caused.

   *Indicates content that will be shared with your clients

4. Short-term disability coverage for plan members in quarantine or self-isolation*

   Please note: This announcement applies only to groups with short-term disability coverage through Equitable Life

   With the spread of COVID-19, many people have been instructed to self-isolate or quarantine themselves or are doing so voluntarily. We realize this is a stressful situation for people and they may be wondering if they are eligible for disability benefits. Short-term disability is designed to replace a plan member’s earnings if they are unable to work due to illness and injury.  As a result, only plan members who meet the following criteria are eligible for benefits:

   • Plan members who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are unable to work from home are eligible for coverage from Day 1 of their self-isolation period.
   • Plan members who have not been tested but have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and are unable to work from home, are eligible for coverage. Claims will be assessed according to the terms of the plan.

   Plan members who are in quarantine for any other reason, but do not have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, are not eligible for coverage. These plan members should consider applying for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, if they do not have an option to work from home.

   Submitting COVID-19-related STD claims

   To make things easier for plan members who need to submit claims related to COVID-19, we will not require a physician’s statement. Instead plan members should submit our simplified Short Term Disability Plan Member COVID-19 Claim Form.

   Plan Administrators need to complete their portion of the regular Short Term Disability Form (Form #421).

   This is a temporary process that will remain in effect through the current coronavirus situation. We will update on changes and share them on EquitableHealth.ca.

   Applying for the Employment Insurance sickness benefit

   Canadians quarantined due to COVID-19, who are not receiving Short Term Disability benefits, can apply for Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits. The one-week waiting period for EI sickness benefits has been waived. Service Canada’s dedicated toll-free support number is 1-833-381-2725 or (TTY) 1-800-529-3742.

   *Indicates content that will be shared with your clients

5. Supporting you and your group clients during the COVID-19 pandemic

   We know these are challenging times.

   As COVID-19 continues to spread, we want to reassure you that we remain ready and committed to support you, your group clients and their plan members.

   We have a robust and well-tested business continuity plan in place and have taken the necessary steps to maintain the high level of service you have come to expect from us. Our business is near 100% digital, so the vast majority of our employees are now working remotely from home and are fully functional. Our Customer Care Centre remains open to support plan members and can be reached at 1.800.265.4556. And our Client Relationship Specialists are available for Plan Administrator questions and support.

   As the situation continues to develop, we know you will have questions about what it means for your clients and their plan members. We have already issued announcements related to Travel Assist coverage for plan members who are outside of the country, and about short-term disability coverage for plan members who are in quarantine or self-isolation. We will continue to provide timely updates as developments unfold.

   All of us are facing an unprecedented number of urgent situations where there is no established protocol. Our commitment to you and your clients is to respond quickly, and to be flexible where we can, tailoring solutions to specific needs. The global situation is evolving rapidly; we ask for your patience as our solutions also evolve quickly and accordingly. Your Group Account Executive and myFlex Sales Manager are well equipped to navigate Equitable Life’s experts and to resolve difficulties.

   These are extraordinary times and history is in the making. Rest assured that Equitable Life is unwavering in our support, and we will be here to help you when it matters most.

6. EZcomplete Online Application for non face-to-face meetings

   
   Practice self-distancing by conducting non face-to-face sales meetings and completing your applications online.

    

   Using our EZcomplete Online Application allows you to keep your distance while keeping your business moving forward.

   
   You can complete applications and obtain the necessary signatures remotely.
   
   Log in to EquiNet^® and click on the EZcomplete Online Application link in the selection panel at the top of the page.

   
   The following resources are available on the EZComplete Online Application page on EquiNet.

   Quick Reference Guide for Life Insurance and Critical Illness
   Non face-to-face meetings – ID Verification Options
   Remote Signing Process
   EZcomplete tutorial (video)
   EZcomplete FAQ - Special COVID-19 Issue

   
   Read other important COVID-19 related news

    

   Questions? 

   Contact your Equitable Life Regional Sales Manager, or the Advisor Services Team (for life and critical illness insurance) at:
   Phone: 1.800.668.4095
   Email: western-service@equitable.ca             mailto:eastern-service@equitable.ca
               (BC, AB, SK, MB)                                 (ON, QC, NB, NS, PE, NF)
7. Important update regarding all paramedical appointments Update regarding parameds for NEW and EXISTING cases:
   • In the absence of Parameds, the preferred method is to complete the medical questions in EZComplete
   • If you didn’t complete the new medical information, then complete the Health Information Form #1878
   • If you are unable to complete the 1878 Health Information Form, then you can order a Video EPara through Dynacare or through Equitable
    For more information view this article: Underwriting Updates Including Additional Changes to Non-Med Limits.
   
   -----------------------------------------------------------
   
   Equitable Life has made the decision to temporarily stop all face-to-face field service appointments effective immediately to ensure the protection of both our Clients and Examiners. All appointments will be cancelled by ExamOne. Dynacare has already cancelled their appointments.
   
   We are doing this to support social distancing as requested by the Federal and Provincial governments. We are actively working on a plan to provide viable options in the absence of face-to-face paramedical service appointments. This will be communicated shortly.
   
    
8. Manage your business virtually with Equitable Life

   As an advisor, we know that physical distancing and self-isolation are proving to challenge the business as usual practise. The good news is that Equitable Life® is here to help. Our self-serve and online tools and resources for Savings and Retirement advisors can assist in maintaining a certain degree of daily activity.
   
   Online Banking
   Help your clients during this time of isolation and self-distancing by letting them know about banking online. Online banking is an easy and convenient way for your clients to make additional contributions to non-registered savings plans, Tax-Free Savings Accounts or even last-minute contributions to a Retirement Savings Plan.
   
   Deposits will be made according to the instructions on file. Advisors will receive the regular commissions for any deposits made. Please note that all deposits must originate from the policy owner's bank account.
   
   For more information on using online banking including financial institutions currently registered for direct deposit with Equitable Life, click here.
   
   EZcomplete for non face to face
   We know that business still needs to happen, even in times of uncertainty. EZcomplete® can help with that. With our non face-to-face functionality, EZcomplete allows you to remotely connect with your clients. Once the online application is complete, EZcomplete sends your client a passcode that gives secure access to review documents and allows your client to provide an electronic signature. You only need to provide your client’s email address.
   
   EZcomplete makes the process of completing non face-to-face applications more convenient and doing business with Equitable Life EZ. For more information on EZcomplete, click here.
    
   Limited Trading Authorization
   Need to make some fund adjustments for your client? Limited Trading Authorization (LTA) is built into the Pivotal Select^TM and Guaranteed Interest Account applications to simplify the process of submitting client requests. Alternatively, the Limited Trading Authorization Form # 14 can be completed. Discretionary trading is not permitted. The advisor must have documented the client’s instructions in the client file. To learn more, click here.
    
   Client Access
   Does your client need to make changes to a pre-authorized deposit or beneficiary information, address or banking information? Does your client have a Client Access® account? Client Access is Equitable’s secure online client site that connects clients to tools and policy information. To create a new Equitable Client Access account, your client will need to reference the policy number(s). By registering for Equitable Client Access, policyholders and annuitants can make changes and view information such as:
   
   Details of investment holdings including:

   • Up-to-date market value of investments;

   • Guaranteed Interest Account (GIA) maturity dates and values;

   • Premium amounts, death and maturity guarantees and beneficiary information; and

   • Recent account activity.

   Details of Payout Annuities including:

   • Next payment date;

   • Annual income and payment guarantee details; and

   • Beneficiary and Annuitant information.

   There is also a secure inbox where copies of statements and other correspondence are available. To learn more, click here. 
    
   
   Need help with any of these resources? Contact our Advisor Services team Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET at 1.866.884.7427 or email savingsretirement@equitable.ca, or your local Regional Investment Sales Manager.

9. Transaction Authorization Requirements table for Savings & Retirement advisors Equitable Life® is here to help. When it comes to getting certain transactions authorized in a non face-to-face environment, you might need some direction. We’ve got you covered.
   
   Equitable has created a quick reference table on EquiNet™. The Transaction Authorization Requirements table provides details on how to get certain forms approved and the best way to get them to us. Each form listed gives the authorization type that is accepted. We’ve also provided details when we receive a document that is considered not-in-good-order.
   
   As we navigate through COVID-19, we will continue to update this table. This means you have the most current information available at your fingertips, 24/7.
   
   Have other questions about COVID-19? Check out our Savings & Retirement COVID-19 update page on EquiNet as well. This page provides the latest news and information for Savings & Retirement advisors.
   
   Still have a question? Give our Advisor Services team a call Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET at 1.866.884.7427 or email savingsretirement@equitable.ca, or your local Regional Investment Sales Manager.
    
10. Message from Ron Beettam
    As COVID-19 continues to spread, we want to reassure you that we remain ready and committed to support you and your clients.
    
    We have a robust and well-tested business continuity plan in place and our business is almost 100% digital. Almost 90% of our employees are now working remotely from home and are maintaining the high level of service you have come to expect from us. We still have a fully functioning Document Services Centre that is managing our incoming and outgoing mail. Our sales and customer service teams remain open to support you and your clients. 
    
    Equitable Life’s online application process, EZcomplete®, offers non face-to-face capability and continues to be your go-to resource for managing your business virtually. We are receiving a record number of online applications and are committed to helping you maintain a certain degree of daily activity. EZcomplete® non-face-to-face works for all life, critical illness and segregated fund applications.
    
    Advisors will be pleased to know that we have increased non-medical limits for life insurance. We are also looking at other underwriting changes, digital delivery of life insurance contracts and additional digital payment options.
    
    Our Savings & Retirement advisors will find our new Transaction Authorization Requirements table a valuable resource for submitting forms and documents. Can’t meet with your client in person to get a signature? Not to worry. You can have your  client sign a letter of direction and take a picture to authorize a number of transactions.
    
    Transacting in a non face-to-face environment can be a challenge but we will continue to revisit existing processes and look for ways to modify requirements to help you to continue managing your business. All of us are facing an unprecedented number of urgent situations where there is no established protocol. Our commitment to you and your clients is to respond quickly, and to be flexible where we can, tailoring solutions to specific needs.
    
    To stay up-to-date, please refer to Equitable Life’s COVID-19 information page. There you will find the latest information for all lines of business. 
    
    As the global situation continues to evolve rapidly, we ask for your patience as our solutions also evolve quickly and accordingly. Rest assured that Equitable Life is unwavering in our support, and we will be here to help you protect what matters most to Canadians.
    
    Ron Beettam, President and CEO