Supporting clients and plan members affected by wildfires in Canada
We will share this information with your clients.
Wildfires across the country are disrupting the lives of many Canadians. To help ease the strain, we’re providing additional support to help affected clients and plan members.
Prescription refills
Our pharmacy benefits manager, TELUS Health, allows early refill of medications lost due to natural disasters – such as wildfires – for up to one month after the event occurs. When a plan member visits the pharmacy, they should let their pharmacist know they’ve lost their medication as a result of the wildfires to be eligible for an early refill through their Equitable group plan.
Replacement of medical or dental equipment and appliances
Plan members who need to replace eligible medical or dental equipment or appliances due to the wildfires should call us at 1-800-265-4556 to confirm their coverage and get instructions before submitting a claim.
Disability or other benefit cheques
Plan members receiving disability benefits or other benefit reimbursements via cheque can easily switch to direct deposit for faster payment. Direct deposit sign-up instructions are posted on our website. It just takes a few minutes, and plan members can call us at 1-800-265-4556 if they need help.
We also encourage plan members to call us if they need to arrange a different mailing address or receive a replacement cheque.
Mental health support
Unpredictable, large-scale natural disasters can cause people to experience intense reactions, putting a lot of pressure on their mental health. Having coping mechanisms to deal with the current crisis can be a huge help. Any Equitable plan member who needs mental health support can visit homeweb.ca/equitable to access online resources.
If a plan sponsor has purchased Homewood Health’s employee and family Assistance program (EFAP), their plan members also have access to confidential counselling services. The EFAP provides plan members with 24/7 access to confidential counselling through a national network of mental health professionals. They can contact Homewood Health at 1-888-707-2115. Whether it’s face-to-face, by phone, email, chat or video, plan members will receive appropriate, timely support.
Plan administrator support
Wildfires can have a profound impact on regular business operations in affected regions. If plan administrators are unable to carry out day-to-day plan administration, they can call us at 1-800-265-4556. They can also contact their Client Relationship Specialist for support.
This is a challenging time for advisors, plan sponsors and plan members. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide additional updates as appropriate.
Questions
If you need more information, please contact your Group Account Executive.