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1. Update: Improved Employee Assistance from Homewood Health

   As we announced in June, we are expanding our relationship with Homewood Health to help you meet the mental health and wellness needs of your employees and their families. Beginning Oct. 1, 2019, Homewood will be the new provider of both our Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) and our online health and wellness services.

   Following the transition to Homewood, plan members will benefit from added features:

   • Signing in to Homewood Health online allows the platform to customize content unique to your interests.
   • All plan members will have access to a Health Risk Assessment to help identify health and wellness barriers.
   • i-Volve, Homewood's online cognitive behavioural therapy program is available for all plan members to help them manage anxiety and depression.

   Learn more about Homewood Health and how they will be providing your plan members with exceptional EFAP and online health and wellness resources.

   What does the transition to Homewood mean for you and your plan members?

   We will be working with you in the coming months to facilitate the transition and support your employees. Most importantly, there will be no disruption of service delivery to employees who are currently in short-term counselling with our current EFAP provider.

   The transition timeline

   Groups without an EFAP

   Online health and wellness resources will be available through EquitableHealth.ca just as they are now. Here's what you can expect in the coming months.

   September   

   • We will send plan administrators an email with more details about the resources available to assist in the transition, including:
     • How to register for Homewood Health online
     • A video orientation for plan members

   October

   • October 1^st – plan members can access the Homewood online resources! They simply need to visit homeweb.ca/Equitable to sign up and create their unique login.

   The transition timeline

   Groups with an EFAP

   We’ve created a helpful infographic that outlines the steps involved in the transition to the Homewood Health EFAP over the coming months. Please save or print it for easy reference. Below are some of the highlights.

   August

   • We will send plan administrators an email with official notice that the enrolment certificate for our current EAP provider, LifeWorks, will terminate on Sept. 30, 2019, and that Homewood Health Inc. will be our new Employee Assistance Program provider as of Oct. 1.

   September   

   • Homewood will send you a welcome email, including how to access the EFAP, who to contact for support and where to find resources to help share the news with plan members.
   • Homewood will follow up directly to answer any questions you may have.
   • Homewood will begin offering orientation and training sessions for both plan administrators and plan members. These will be running throughout the fall so you can attend at your convenience. 

   October

   • October 1^st – plan members can access the Homewood EFAP and online resources! They simply need to visit homeweb.ca/Equitable to sign up and create their unique login.
   • Orientation and training sessions will continue to be available for both plan administrators and plan members throughout October.

   Learn More

   The resources listed below answer common questions about Homewood and our EFAP transition:

   • EFAP Transition Infographic
   • Homewood Health - Improving Life
   • EFAP Transition FAQ
   • About Homewood

   If you have a question that is not addressed here, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.

2. [pdf] Equitable GIF Contract Provisions and Information Folder
3. Tools to manage mental health

   As we all continue to manage the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to remind your clients of the valuable supports available to help their plan members cope through this challenging time.

   Free trusted information and COVID-19 resources

   Our partner FeelingBetterNow® is responding to the pandemic by providing trusted public resources that offer mental health support. They are available to anyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and include:

   • What to do if you’re anxious or worried about COVID-19;
   • Resources for parents and caregivers; and
   • National and Provincial Public Health resources.

   Access COVID-19 resources from FeelingBetterNow.

   FeelingBetterNow Mental Health Assessment

   In addition to these public resources, Equitable Life clients with FeelingBetterNow as part of their group benefits plan have access to online mental health resources. FeelingBetterNow can help plan members identify their risk for mental health concerns and work with their doctor on diagnosis and treatment. It’s an anonymous tool developed by mental health experts which provides:

   • Emotional and mental health assessments;
   • Practical, evidence-based tools employees and their doctor can use to assess, treat, and follow-up on emotional and mental health concerns; and
   • Convenient online access to information and effective resources.

   FeelingBetterNow is easy to use and completely anonymous. It takes less than 20 minutes to complete the assessment and view your results.

   Learn more about FeelingBetterNow, then contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager to discuss how your clients can add this service to their plan.

4. Advisor Guide
5. [pdf] UL Transfers & Allocations How To
6. Invesco
7. There is still time for your clients to contribute to their Tax-Free Savings Account

   
   If you have clients that have not contributed to their Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) this year, great news… there is still time!
   
   You know that an Equitable Life® TFSA is a great way to save. Each year residents of Canada who are at least 18 years of age are eligible to invest up to $6,000* into their TFSA, in addition to any previously unused contribution room. Deposits made into a TFSA are made with after-tax dollars. This means that withdrawals can be made at any time on a tax-free basis.
   
   Interested in increasing an existing Pre-Authorized Debit (PAD) TFSA deposit?
   Clients with an existing PAD (or who had one in the previous six months), can go online to make any adjustments to a scheduled deposit to their TFSA. Clients can simply login to Equitable Life’s Client Access®. Client Access is Equitable’s secure online client site that connects clients to tools and policy information.
    
   Consider a one-time deposit or set up a PAD?
   To get started with one-time deposit, clients simply log in to their online bank account and select the option to add a new bill/payee and search for Equitable Life Savings Plan. The Equitable Life savings plan policy number will serve as the account number.
   
   Clients that complete their deposits using online banking do not have to worry about mailing a cheque or missing the deadline. Deposits are applied based on the investment direction on file.
   
   If you have clients that would like to set up a PAD, simply complete Form #378. For details on how to submit forms during COVID-19, refer to the NEW APPLICATIONS & TRANSACTION AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS webpage.
    
   If you have any questions, please reach out to your local Regional Investment Sales Manager or Advisor Services at 1.866.884.7427 Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET or email savingsretirement@equitable.ca.
    

   *The annual TFSA limit is set by Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and is currently $6,000. Your notice of assessment will tell you if you have unused contribution room from previous years. Contributions over the maximum will be charged a monthly penalty of 1% by CRA.
    
   ® denotes a trademark of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada

8. Responding to Ontario’s biosimilar switch initiative

   We are changing coverage for some biologic drugs in Ontario in response to the province’s biosimilar initiative. These changes will help protect your clients’ plans from additional drug costs that may result from this government policy while providing access to equally safe and effective lower-cost biosimilars.

   Ontario’s provincial biosimilar initiative
   Announced in December 2022, Ontario’s biosimilar switch program ends coverage of eight biologic drugs for Ontario residents covered by the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB). The transition to biosimilar versions of these drugs began on March 31, 2023. ODB recipients using these drugs will be required to switch to biosimilar versions of these drugs by December 29, 2023, to maintain their provincial coverage

   Equitable Life’s response
   To ensure this provincial change doesn’t result in your clients paying additional and avoidable drug costs, we are changing coverage in Ontario for most biologic drugs included in the provincial initiative.
   
   Beginning October 1, 2023, plan members in Ontario will no longer be eligible for most originator biologic drugs 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 the drug to maintain coverage under their Equitable Life plan. 

   Communicating this change to plan members
   We will inform any affected plan members in early August of the need to switch their medications so that they have ample time to change their prescriptions and avoid any interruptions in treatment or coverage. 

   Will this change impact my clients’ rates?
   Any cost savings associated with the change will be factored in 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 known as the “originator” biologic. Biosimilars are highly similar to the drugs they are based on and Health Canada considers them to be equally safe and effective for approved conditions

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

   ** The list of affected drugs is dynamic and will change as Ontario includes more biologic drugs in its biosimilar initiative, as new biosimilars come onto the market, and as we make changes in drug eligibility.
9. Claims payments and notifications will go fully digital on July 1, 2023 We are committed to providing a better benefits experience. We have secure and convenient digital options to make it easier for plan members to access and use their benefits plan, including EquitableHealth.ca and the EZClaim Mobile app.
   
   Most plan members are already using these tools to set up email claim notifications and direct deposit. They get their claim updates faster and their claims paid more quickly, right into their bank account.
   
   To help ensure that all plan members benefit from faster claim payments and notifications, we are making these services fully digital as of July 1, 2023. That means, in most cases, we will no longer mail paper claim cheques or explanation of benefits (EOB) notifications.**
   
   Plan members who haven’t already activated direct deposit and email notifications will need to activate these services via their plan member account on EquitableHealth.ca. 

   How we’ll help plan members get set up

   Fortunately, it’s simple for plan members to set up these features. And it only takes a few minutes. To make it even easier, we’ve created a Plan Member Guide to Getting Started Online. It includes simple instructions to help plan members use our digital features and get the most from their benefits plan. 
   
   We have also created a toolkit that plan administrators can email to their plan members to walk them through the simple steps. Access the toolkit here.
   
   And we’re available to guide plan members who may need help. They can call us at 1.800.265.4556 and select “Plan Member Web Support”. Our Client Care Centre Team is happy to help them activate these services. 

   How we’ll communicate with plan members

   We will start communicating this change to plan members in April. For plan members who aren’t taking advantage of these convenient features, we will send them an email to let them know about the change, with instructions and support on getting set up.
   
   We will also include an insert with all mailings of paper cheques and EOB notifications sent out. And we will post an announcement and banner on EquitableHealth.ca to let plan members know about the change.
    

   How we’ll support plan members who need extra help or accommodations

   After July 1, 2023, we will follow up with plan members who have not yet activated direct deposit or email notifications for their claims and provide any extra help and support they may need. And, of course, we’ll make exceptions for plan members who aren’t willing or reasonably able to use these features. 

   Questions?

   If you have any questions, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.
   
   ** Disability claimants will continue to receive paper Explanation of Benefits notifications in the mail. Some pay-direct drug claims will also continue to be paid by cheque.
10. The average FHSA balance is $3,899—Let’s help clients aim higher The First Home Savings Account (FHSA) is a powerful tool for Canadians working toward homeownership. With tax-deductible contributions and tax-free withdrawals for qualifying purchases, it’s designed to make saving easier and more rewarding.
    
    Yet, with a lifetime contribution limit of $40,000 and an annual cap of $8,000, many clients may not be taking full advantage. The average FHSA balance currently sits at just $3,899*, leaving plenty of room for growth.
    
    Equitable offers three straightforward strategies to help clients boost their FHSA contributions and get closer to their first home—faster:
    
    Set it and forget it with automated contributions
    Consistency is key. By setting up automatic monthly deposits of up to $667, clients can effortlessly reach the annual maximum of $8,000. Equitable makes it easy to schedule recurring transfers from a bank account, helping clients stay on track without the hassle of manual deposits.
    
    Make the most of windfalls with lump sum deposits
    Bonuses, tax refunds, or inheritances can be powerful savings tools. Equitable allows clients to make one-time contributions anytime, helping them catch up on unused FHSA room from previous years and accelerate their savings.
    
    Transfer from RRSPs—tax-free
    Clients who’ve already been saving in an RRSP can transfer those funds into their FHSA—up to their available contribution room—without triggering taxes. This strategy lets them benefit from the FHSA’s tax-free withdrawal feature while staying within their overall savings plan.
    
    Bonus Opportunity: Win big with the Close to Home contest
    From May 1 to September 30, 2025, clients who contribute to an Equitable FHSA will be entered to win one of two $8,000 prizes. Whether opening a new account or making a contribution, it’s a great chance for clients to get closer to homeownership.
    
    Advisors, your efforts matter too!
    You have a chance to win a $1,000 prize if the client you are assisting, in alignment with their unique homeownership needs, is selected as a winner. At Equitable, we believe that when we grow together, success is mutual.
    Don’t forget about Equitable’s user-friendly online application platform, EZcomplete^®, or process an online transaction with ease using Equitable’s EZtransact^®. These tools are fast, simple, and could bring clients closer to achieving their goals.
    
    Want to learn more? Speak to your Director, Investment Sales.
    
    * Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/first-home-savings-account/fhsa-statistics.html
    ® and ™ denote trademarks of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
    Equitable’s Close to Home Contest: No purchase necessary. Contest period May 1, 2025 to September 30, 2025.  Clients enter by making a deposit to an Equitable FHSA during the contest period or by submitting a no-purchase entry. Two prizes of $8,000 CAD each to be drawn on October 15, 2025 will be awarded. The servicing advisor for the policy to which the selected entrants made the deposit is also an eligible winner and will receive a $1,000 CAD prize. For example, if an Equitable client is a winner of the $8,000 prize, the client’s servicing advisor wins a $1,000 prize.  Open to legal residents of Canada of the age of majority. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received during the Contest Period.  For full contest rules, including no-purchase method of entry, see here.  
    Date posted: September 4, 2025