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  1. [pdf] Advisors Edge Insurance for Children Article
  2. Equitable Life Group Benefits Bulletin – September 2021 In this issue: *Indicates content that will be shared with your clients

    Right drug, right dose

    Equitable Life partners with Personalized Prescribing Inc. to help plan members avoid treatment trial and error
     
    Patients suffering from mental health conditions often need to try several medications before they find one that works for them. This is frustrating and can result in negative side-effects, a longer recovery, lost productivity, or a delayed return to work.
     
    To help plan members avoid this treatment trial and error, we have partnered with Personalized Prescribing Inc. to provide easier access to pharmacogenomic testing for plan members with mental health conditions.
     
    Pharmacogenomics 101
    Pharmacogenomics is the study of how an individual’s genes influence their response to medications. Pharmacogenomic testing can help determine how compatible a patient’s body may be to a particular drug, and helps their physician prescribe the most appropriate medication. The goal is to ensure the right drug is prescribed to deliver the most positive outcome with the fewest side effects.
     
    Easier access to pharmacogenomic testing
    Through our partnership with Personalized Prescribing Inc., any Equitable Life plan member diagnosed with a mental health condition can purchase a pharmacogenomic test for a discounted price of $399 plus HST – a 20% savings.
     
    We are also introducing the option for plan sponsors to add coverage of pharmacogenomic tests provided by Personalized Prescribing Inc. for mental health conditions.
     
    With this coverage, plan members are eligible for pharmacogenomic testing if:
    • They have been diagnosed with a mental health condition;
    • They are currently taking or have stopped taking a medication for a mental health condition that does not work or has side effects; and
    • The pharmacogenomic test is conducted by Personalized Prescribing Inc.
    How it works
    Getting a test is easy. The plan member starts by visiting www.personalizedprescribing.com/equitablelife to request a test kit.
     
    Once they receive their test kit from Personalized Prescribing Inc., they simply provide a saliva sample and send it back (postage is pre-paid). Within 7-10 business days, they receive an Rx Report™ that they can share with their doctor. This report includes details to help their doctor prescribe the right drug and the right dose for them.
     
    Benefits for plan members:
    • The plan member and their physician receive a full report that is easy to understand;
    • The report identifies the most compatible medications for the plan member’s condition and the medications to avoid;
    • The physician is able to prescribe the most appropriate medication with the fewest side effects; and
    • The plan member avoids medication trial and error.
    Benefits for employers:
    • Pharmacogenomic testing can be an effective prevention strategy to help employees stay healthy and potentially avoid a mental health-related work absence; and
    • Employees suffering from mental health conditions may be more productive when they are on the right medication for them.
    To learn more about pharmacogenomic testing through Equitable Life and Personalized Prescribing Inc., please visit www.personalizedprescribing.com/equitablelife. To request coverage for your clients, please contact your Equitable Life Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.

    Responding to New Brunswick’s Biosimilar Initiative

    We are changing coverage for some biologic drugs in New Brunswick in response to the province’s Biosimilar Initiative. These changes will help protect your clients from additional drug costs while still providing access to equally safe and effective biosimilars.
     
    What is New Brunswick’s Biosimilar Initiative?
    New Brunswick’s Biosimilar Initiative will end provincial coverage of several originator biologic drugs for some or all conditions beginning on December 1, 2021. Patients who are using these drugs for the affected conditions will be required to switch to biosimilar versions of the drugs to maintain coverage under the province’s government drug plan.
     
    What is the impact on private drug plans?
    The most significant risk to plan sponsors who maintain coverage of originator biologics is coordination of benefits (CoB) risk. If other insurance carriers follow suit with the province and delist the originator biologics, it could expose a plan that doesn’t delist them to significant coordination of benefits risk.
     
    For example, consider a patient who is covered under two private plans – their employer plan and a spousal plan. If their employer plan was the first payer for the originator biologic but delists the drug, the spousal plan now becomes the first payor. If the spousal plan continues to cover the cost of the originator, it now pays most or all of the cost of the drug.

    How is Equitable Life responding?
    To protect your clients’ plans from paying additional and avoidable drug costs, we are changing coverage in New Brunswick for most biologic drugs included in the provincial initiative.
     
    Beginning Feb. 1, 2022, plan members in New Brunswick will no longer be eligible for coverage of Humira, Lantus, Humalog and Copaxone if they have a condition for which Health Canada has approved a lower cost biosimilar version of the drug. These plan members will be required to switch to a biosimilar version of those drugs to maintain coverage under their Equitable Life plan.
     
    How will Equitable Life communicate this change to plan members?
    We will be communicating with affected claimants in early-December 2021 to allow them ample time to change their prescriptions and avoid any interruptions in their treatment or their coverage.
     
    Can my client maintain coverage of these biologic drugs?
    All groups, except myFlex clients, who wish to opt out of this change and maintain coverage of these originator biologics for New Brunswick plan members can submit a policy amendment. Amendments must be submitted no later than Nov. 30, 2021.
     
    Advisors with myFlex Benefits clients who wish to maintain coverage of these originator biologics for New Brunswick plan members should speak to their myFlex Sales Manager to confirm their eligibility to opt out of this change.
     
    Groups that opt out of this change are also opting out of any future changes to our New Brunswick biosimilar initiative. Their drug plans will continue to cover any additional originator biologics that we subsequently add to the program.  
     
    Will this change impact my clients’ rates?
    The rate impact of this change and  any cost savings associated with the change will be factored in at renewal.
     
    If plan sponsors opt out of these changes and maintain coverage for the originator biologics, it may result in a rate increase. Any rate adjustment will be applied at renewal.
     
    What is the difference between biologics and biosimilars?
    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” biologic. Biosimilars are also biologics. They 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.
     
    Questions?
    If you have any questions about this change, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.
     

    Helping plan members access our convenient digital options

    Some of your clients’ plan members aren’t benefitting from our secure and convenient digital options to access and use their Group Benefits. They can sign up to submit claims electronically for faster claim payments, get claim payments deposited directly to their bank accounts, easily review their coverage details, quickly access their Group Benefits plan booklet, benefits card and more. We’ve made it easier than ever to sign up, with more resources all conveniently located at Equitable.ca/go/digital.

    Your clients’ plan members can visit this link to view:
    • A brochure with all the high-level instructions they need to get started on EquitableHealth.ca and the EZClaim mobile app
    • A full video guide on how to access and navigate EquitableHealth.ca
    If your clients’ plan members need help activating these services, they can give us a call at 1-800-265-4556 and select the option for web support. We’d be happy to help!
     

    Reminder: Please access forms on EquitableHealth.ca*

    We routinely update our Plan Administrator forms on EquitableHealth.ca based on their feedback and to stay compliant with legal and/or regulatory requirements. If your clients need a form, they should always pull the most recent version from EquitableHealth.ca instead of reusing forms they have saved on their computer. Using an old or outdated form may result in processing delays.
     
    Your clients can access the Plan Administrator forms by following these steps:
    • Login to EquitableHealth.ca
    • Select “Documents”
    • Toggle between English and French forms
    • Click on the document name to download a PDF copy

    Over-age dependents losing coverage?*

    Some of your clients’ plan members may have dependents who are reaching the maximum age for eligibility under their group benefits plan.
     
    If they are attending school full-time or are disabled, they may be eligible for continued coverage. Plan members with over-age dependents can simply complete the Application for Coverage of Dependent Child Over Age 21 (Form #441) and submit it through our online document submission tool. They can access the tool by logging into their Group Benefits account at www.equitablehealth.ca and clicking My Resources. 

    If they are not attending school full-time or disabled, they will no longer be covered under the plan. However, they may be eligible for Coverage2go®. It allows individuals who are losing their group coverage to purchase personal month-to-month health and dental coverage that is affordable, reliable and works like their previous group benefits plan. They can choose the level of coverage and protection that suits their personal situation.

    There are no medical questions – they simply need to apply within 60 days of losing their health coverage under their group benefits plan.*
     
    Help your clients’ plan members and their dependents who are losing coverage by letting them know about Coverage2go. They can visit our website to learn more about Coverage2go and to get a quote.
      
    *Quebec residents are not eligible for Coverage2go
  3. Individual Insurance product enhancements

    Equitable Life has exciting product enhancements that will help you offer more options to clients. 

    Watch our Virtual Product Launch NOW. Grab a coffee and get ready for this exciting news! Hear from our leaders and learn about our exciting product enhancements.

    - Full Product Launch Video (approx. 20 minutes). 
    - Introduction video (View on Vimeo) / Product launch page 


    Highlights of the product changes effective February 12, 2022, include:

     

    NEW! 10 pay premium option with Equimax Estate Builder®

    - The new EquiLiving® 20 pay rider options will be available on Equimax® plans


    NEW! EquiLiving plans and riders enhanced with:

    - 20 pay options with coverage to age 75 or coverage for life
    - Support from Cloud DX to help monitor a client’s well-being from treatment to recovery.
    - Added Acquired Brain Injury as a covered critical condition 
    - 30-day survival period removed for all non-cardiovascular covered conditions
    - No age restriction to claim for Loss of Independent Existence (LOIE)
    - EquiLiving Benefit now pays the higher of the EquiLiving Benefit or the Return of Premium Rider Benefit (not including Return of Premium on Death)          
    - And so much more …

    New Illustration software available on February 11, 2022 
    The updated illustration software will be available for download after 9 a.m. ET on Friday, February 11, 2022, and will include all the Equimax and EquiLiving enhancements.

    See the Equitable Sales Illustrations Update for information on how to download the software or check for updates. 

    Please review updates to the commission schedule A for these new enhancements.

    Learn more Get ready to make 2022 your best year yet for your sales! 

    Please contact your Regional Sales Manager for more information. 
  4. Product Enhancements - 10 Pay Equitable Life has exciting product enhancements that will help you offer more options to clients. 

    Access our Virtual Product Launch NOW. Grab a coffee and get ready for this exciting news! Hear from our leaders and learn about our exciting product enhancements.

    NEW! 10 pay premium option with Equimax Estate Builder®
    • The new EquiLiving® 20 pay rider options will be available on Equimax® plans
    New Illustration software available on February 11, 2022 
    The updated illustration software will be available for download after 9 a.m. ET on Friday, February 11, 2022, and will include all the Equimax and EquiLiving enhancements.

    See the Equitable Sales Illustrations Update for information on how to download the software or check for updates. 

    Please review updates to the commission schedule A for these new enhancements.

    Learn more Get ready to make 2022 your best year yet for your sales! 

    Please contact your Regional Sales Manager for more information. 
  5. Equitable Life Group Benefits Bulletin – November 2021 In this issue: *Indicates content that will be shared with your clients

    Reminder: Deadline to opt out of New Brunswick biosimilar program*

    Earlier this year, we announced via eNews that on Feb. 1, 2022, we are ending coverage for some originator biologic drugs in New Brunswick in response to the province’s Biosimilar Initiative.* These changes will help protect your clients’ plans from additional drug costs while still providing access to equally safe and effective biosimilars.
     
    Do my clients need to take any action?
    No action is required if employers want to have the originator biologics excluded from their plan. Plan members taking these targeted originator biologics will be contacted directly to allow them ample time to transition to the biosimilar. Any cost savings associated with the change will be factored in at renewal.
     
    All groups, except myFlex clients, who wish to opt out of this change and maintain coverage of these originator biologics for existing claimants in New Brunswick can submit a policy amendment. Amendments must be submitted no later than Nov. 30, 2021.
     
    Advisors with myFlex Benefits clients who wish to maintain coverage of these originator biologics for New Brunswick plan members should speak to their myFlex Sales Manager to confirm their eligibility to opt out of this change.
     
    Groups that opt out of this change are also opting out of any future changes to our New Brunswick biosimilar initiative. This means that their drug plans will continue to cover any additional originator biologics for which we subsequently end coverage as part of the biosimilar program.
     
    Questions?
    If you have a question that isn’t answered here, please contact your Equitable Life Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.
     
    * The list of affected drugs or conditions is dynamic and may change.

    Web Reports Quick Reference Guide now available for plan administrators

    A Web Reports Quick Reference Guide is now available for plan administrators on EquitableHealth.ca. This new guide offers a listing of our newest reports available on the plan administrator web. It also provides instructions for plan administrators outlining how to pull the report using the plan administrator portal.
     
    The guide is available under the Quick Links section on both the advisor and plan administrator portals on EquitableHealth.ca.

    Reminder: Review manual allocations for HCSAs and/or TSAs*

    If your client’s Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) and/or Taxable Spending Account (TSA) has manual allocations, they need to allocate these amounts to plan members each year. Please review all your plan members’ profiles on EquitableHealth.ca to ensure they have received their allocation(s) for the current benefit year.
     
    If your clients have Plan Administrator update access on EquitableHealth.ca, they can update these amounts online by doing the following:
    • Select “View certificate”
    • Select “Health Care Spending Account” or “Taxable Spending Account”
    • Select “Update Allocation” in Task Center
    • Enter amount in “Revised Allocation Amount”
    • Override Reason – “Plan Administrator Request”
    • Select “Save”
    If your clients have Plan Administrator reporting access on EquitableHealth.ca, they can determine which plan members have a zero allocation by running the “HCSA Totals by Plan Member” report online by doing the following:
    • Select “Reports”
    • Select “New”
    • Select “Next”
    • Select “HCSA” or “TSA Totals by Plan Member”
    • Select “Next”
    • Enter end date of “12/31/2020”
    • Select “Next”
    • Select “Finish”
    • View “Report”
    To provide us with the amounts to be updated, please have your client contact our Group Benefits Administration Team at GroupBenefitsAdmin@equitable.ca.

    Help your clients take advantage of our convenient digital options*

    We have several digital options available to make it easier for your clients to do business with us and for their plan members to access and use their benefits plan. Over 71% of plan administrators are managing their plan online and 78% of plan members are already using our digital tools.
     
    For plan administrators:
    • Online Plan Member Enrolment tool – allows all groups to add new plan members without the need for paper forms
    • Plan Administrator Portal (EquitableHealth.ca) – plan administrators can easily manage their plan anytime and anywhere
    • Digital Welcome Kits – personalized welcome kits are delivered to plan members via email
    • Easy automated payments – plan administrators can avoid missed payments by setting up pre-authorized debit or electronic funds transfer
    For plan members:
    • Plan Member Portal (EquitableHealth.ca) – plan members get secure, 24/7 access to their claims history, coverage details and health and wellness resources
    • Electronic Claim Payments and Notifications – plan members can get claim updates sooner in their email inbox and payments right into their bank account
    • EZClaim Mobile App – submitting claims from a mobile device is fast, easy and secure
    • Digital Benefits Cards – plan members no longer have to dig through their wallet – they can download their benefits card on their mobile device
    We can help
    We’ve created a brochure and a video guide to help plan members access and use their digital resources. For further assistance, plan members can visit www.equitable.ca/go/digital. They can also contact our Web Services team at 1.800.265.4556 ext. 283 or groupbenefitsadmin@equitable.ca.
  6. Start a Conversation with EZstart – Now Available for Equimax Wealth Accumulator Looking for an easy way to explain insurance? We have a digital tool to do just that!
     
    Start a Conversation with EZstart™
     
    EZstart helps to commence those initial client conversations. Think of it like a digital brochure: you start a conversation about life goals, enter a few details - and within a few clicks - get a quick quote on your phone or tablet instantly.

    We have a NEW EZstart for Equimax Wealth Accumulator® available. Go to the EZstart for Equimax Wealth Accumulator now.

    Don’t forget about our other EZstart tools that are available for you. Learn more. 
     
    ® and TM denote trademarks of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
  7. Product Enhancements - Critical Illness Equitable Life has exciting product enhancements that will help you offer more options to clients. 

    Access our Virtual Product Launch NOW. Grab a coffee and get ready for this exciting news! Hear from our leaders and learn about our exciting product enhancements.

    NEW! EquiLiving plans and riders enhanced with:
    • 20 pay options with coverage to age 75 or coverage for life
    • Support from Cloud DX to help monitor a client’s well-being from treatment to recovery.
    • Added Acquired Brain Injury as a covered critical condition 
    • 30-day survival period removed for all non-cardiovascular covered conditions
    • No age restriction to claim for Loss of Independent Existence (LOIE)
    • EquiLiving Benefit now pays the higher of the EquiLiving Benefit or the Return of Premium Rider Benefit (not including Return of Premium on Death)
    • And so much more …
    New Illustration software available on February 11, 2022 
    The updated illustration software will be available for download after 9 a.m. ET on Friday, February 11, 2022, and will include all the Equimax and EquiLiving enhancements.

    See the Equitable Sales Illustrations Update for information on how to download the software or check for updates. 

    Please review updates to the commission schedule A for these new enhancements.

    Learn more Get ready to make 2022 your best year yet for your sales! 

    Please contact your Regional Sales Manager for more information. 
  8. EXCITING NEWS! Digital Transactions for Universal Life Plans Now Available We are happy to announce a major update to our digital systems that makes managing Equitable Universal Life (UL) policies easier than ever. Starting now, you can use digital transactions to submit your clients’ instructions to change their UL deposit allocations and transfer funds between accounts.
     
    This update builds on the recent launch of our digital policy loan request on EquiNet® and is another step towards making your Equitable® experience easier and more convenient.

    What's New?
    In the past, you had to submit written requests for UL deposit allocation changes and account value transfers using the Universal Life Form 693UL (you can still use this method if you prefer).
     
    Now, you can manage these transactions directly through the secure EquiNet advisor portal. This new process also allows clients to securely approve their requested changes by email.
     
    To get started, simply log into your account on EquiNet and go to the Policy Inquiry tab.
    We have provided a brief user guide to help you through the steps.
     
    We trust that this digital upgrade will enhance the way you work with Equitable. Stay tuned for more digital enhancements in the near future!
     
    Thank you for your continued support and partnership.
     
    Questions? For more information, please reach out to your wholesaler or our customer service team.
     
     
    ® or TM denotes a trademark of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
     
  9. April 2024 eNews

    In this issue:

    • Competitive – and easy – benefits plans for your small business clients
    • Simplifying benefits enrolment for your clients*
    • NEW time-off tracking tool from HRdownloads*
    • Focus on benefits fraud: Protecting your clients’ plans from abuse*
    *Indicates content that will be shared with your clients who receive these benefits.
     

    Competitive – and easy – benefits plans for your small business clients

    Supporting your small business clients can be a challenge. It’s tough to find a competitively-priced benefits plan with the features they want. Small business owners may also need more of your time – especially if this is their first benefits plan.
     
    That’s why we created Equitable EZBenefits™, a benefits solution designed with the needs of small businesses in mind. With a range of plan design options and valuable embedded services for plan sponsors and plan members, EZBenefits is available for groups with 2 to 25 employees. And to make things simpler for you, we’ve created an Advisor Concierge Service exclusively for EZBenefits. Whether you have a question about submitting a quote request for a new client or an issue with an in-force client, our Concierge Service is your go-to resource for EZBenefits support.  

    Don’t have any EZBenefits clients yet?

    To learn more about EZBenefits, watch our video to learn more or view our brochure.

    Simplifying benefits enrolment for your clients*

    Navigating the benefits enrolment period can be overwhelming – for you, your clients and their employees. It’s difficult to ensure all plan members complete the necessary paperwork before the enrolment deadline. 

    That’s why we offer our secure Online Plan Member Enrolment tool at no extra cost to plan sponsors. The tool simplifies the onboarding process for your clients and their plan members by eliminating the need for paper enrolment forms.
     
    It also makes enrolment faster and easier for your clients by:

    • Reducing errors and rework that can occur due to spelling mistakes or missing information on paper forms; and
    • Sending automatic enrolment reminders to plan members, resulting in fewer late applicants. 
    Our user-friendly interface allows plan members to:
    • Enrol in their benefits plan in just minutes from their computer or mobile device;
    • Easily enter all their enrolment information, including dependent details, banking information for direct deposit of claim payments and details for coordination of benefits; and
    • Designate their beneficiary electronically. 

    Ready to share our Online Plan Enrolment Tool with your clients? Get them started with these helpful resources:

    To learn more about how Online Plan Member Enrolment can simplify benefits enrolment for your clients, contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Account Executive.

    NEW time-off tracking tool from HRdownloads*

    Through our partnership with HRdownloads®, EZBenefits clients now have complimentary access to Timetastic —a time-off tracking tool that can make it easier to manage employee vacation time, sick days and more.
     
    Timetastic integrates seamlessly with HRdownloads and includes a mobile app to help manage time-off requests from any mobile device.
     
    To see Timetastic in action, check out this demo.
     
    EZBenefits also includes other helpful resources and tools from HRdownloads that can make daily human resources tasks easier, including:
    • A robust, award-winning HR management platform (HRIS);
    • HR documents, templates, compliance resources and articles; and
    • A live HR advice helpline. 
    All of our other Equitable group benefits clients can get a 10% discount on HRdownloads services. Visit the link below or contact your Account Executive for more information.

    Learn more about accessing HRdownloads.

    Focus on benefits fraud: protecting your clients’ plans from abuse*

    According to the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA), benefits fraud costs insurers and plan sponsors millions of dollars each year, which can lead to increased premium costs.
     

    Resources for your clients

    Both plan administrators and plan members play a role in preventing benefits abuse. So, we’ve compiled some resources you can share with your clients to help them understand what benefits fraud is and how to prevent it: Encourage your clients to educate their plan members about the potential consequences of benefits fraud, including losing their benefits, losing their job and even jail time. 

    How we’re fighting benefits fraud

    Our Investigative Claims Unit (ICU) works to detect and eliminate benefits fraud. We use a variety of investigative techniques, including CLHIA-led industry tools to detect and eliminate benefits fraud: 
    • Joint Provider Fraud Investigation Program: A robust program that allows insurers to collaborate on fraud investigations that affect multiple insurers;
    • Data Pooling Program: An initiative that pools data between insurers and uses advanced artificial intelligence to further identify and reduce benefits fraud; and
    • Provider Alert Registry: A registry that allows insurers to view the results of other insurers’ anti-fraud investigations into specific practitioners. 
    To learn more about benefits fraud and Equitable’s commitment to protecting our benefits plans, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Account Executive.
  10. COVID-19 Group Benefits FAQ