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  1. How to talk to clients about CI when they don’t want to
    Does this sound familiar? 

    You’re having a chat with your client about Critical Illness insurance. They suddenly interject: “Critical illness insurance isn’t for me.”

    “Why is that?” you ask. 

    “Because….
    -  Critical Illness insurance is expensive!
    -  I don’t understand what it covers exactly.
    -  I have money to cover me if I get sick, so I don’t need this.
    -  I’m healthy enough.
    -  It’s not life insurance, so I don’t need it right now. 
    -  I already have disability coverage through my work.”

    If you’ve heard any of these responses, and didn’t know how to respond, we can help. 


    Our Path to Success program covers all these objections and more with simple-to-follow PDFs and videos. You’ll learn conversation strategies and tips on how to navigate the sale. Most importantly, you’ll know exactly what to say the next time a client objects to Critical Illness insurance. 

    Want to learn more? Check out our CI Path to Success modules here!

    Need CE credits? Take our Path to Success program here
  2. [pdf] Introducing Equitable
  3. Exchanges
  4. Termination
  5. May 2023 eNews

    Update: Introducing changes to our Diabetes Management Program

    Beginning June 1, 2023, we are introducing additional standard drug plan controls as part of our Diabetes Management Program.
     
    The controls will apply to GLP-1 agonists approved by Health Canada for the treatment of diabetes, such as: Adlyxine, Mounjaro, Ozempic, Rybelsus, Trulicity, and Victoza. 
     
    This change will help manage the impact of these high-cost diabetes medications for your clients while continuing to provide plan members with access to effective treatments to manage their disease.
     

    Why are we introducing this change?

    GLP-1 agonists are the highest cost diabetes drugs on the market. Current Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines recommend that most Type 2 diabetics begin treatment with lower-cost and equally effective first-line therapies, such as Metformin.
     
    Some GLP-1 agonists are also used “off-label”. In other words, they are often prescribed for conditions for which they have not been approved by Health Canada, such as weight loss.
     
    These additional controls will help ensure that these drugs are used appropriately – only for the treatment of diabetes and only after other first-line treatments have been tried.
     
    If a client wishes to provide coverage for drugs specifically approved by Health Canada for weight loss, we have coverage options available.    
     

    How will this program work?

    Plan members who receive a new prescription for a GLP-1 agonist will need to try a first-line diabetic treatment before they are eligible for coverage of the GLP-1 agonist. If the plan member has previously tried first-line therapies and found them ineffective, they will be eligible for a GLP-1 agonist.
     
    Plan members who are already taking a GLP-1 agonist to treat diabetes will continue to be eligible for coverage. Some claimants may need to provide confirmation of their diabetes diagnosis from their physician or pharmacist in order to maintain coverage. We will provide claimants ample time to confirm their diagnosis.
     

    Questions?

    If you have any questions about these additional standard controls or how they will impact your clients, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.
     

    Coming soon: Survey for plan administrators with recent disability claims

    We are regularly enhancing our communication processes to help your clients with disability plans manage their workplace absences more effectively. Later this month, we will distribute a short survey to plan administrators who have submitted a disability claim in the past six months. The survey will ask recipients about their satisfaction with the frequency and detail of our disability management communications.

    The email will come from GBClientFeedback@equitable.ca, and the survey will remain open until the end of the day on May 19, 2023. All responses will be confidential. Survey respondents will receive the option to provide their contact information so that we can follow up on feedback they have provided.

    We plan to use the feedback to help ensure that we’re meeting your clients’ expectations and delivering industry-leading service.

    In a previous issue of eNews, we published a list of the average dental fee increases for general practitioners based on the latest Provincial and Territorial Dental Association fee guides.

    Since then, the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA) has updated the 2023 dental fees for some provinces. Provinces with dental fee updates since our previous eNews are bolded and italicized. Equitable Life uses these guides to help determine the reimbursement limits for dental procedures. For your reference, below is the list of the average dental fee increases for general practitioners that will be used by Equitable Life for 2023.
     
  6. Expanding Online Annuity Quotation Eligibility Equitable Life® is pleased to announce the following three enhancements to our Online Annuity Quotation eligibility, effective November 1, 2022:
     
    ●  Single Premium Quotes increased to $2million
    ●  Increased Allowed Annual Amount for Income Annuities
    ●  Alberta Locked-In Funds Available from Age 50 reduced from age 55

    Increasing income limits for our Online Annuity Quotation provides advisors with more flexibility to serve the various needs of clients. To learn more, visit Equitable’s Online Annuity Quotation

    For more information contact your Regional Investment Sales Manager or our Advisor Services team Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET at 1.866.884.7427.

    ® denotes a trademark of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.

    ​November 24, 2022
  7. [pdf] Daily/Guaranteed Interest Account Client Brochure
  8. Supporting plan members affected by the British Columbia and Northwest Territories wildfires

    Wildfires across Canada are disrupting the lives of many Canadians. During this difficult time, Equitable Life is providing additional support to help affected clients and plan members.

    Prescription refills

    Plan members who have been evacuated and/or lost their medication due to the wildfires will be able to make early refills until September 17, 2023, through TELUS Health, our pharmacy benefit manager.

    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 first call 1.800.265.4556 to confirm coverage.

    Disability or other benefit cheques

    Plan members receiving disability benefits or other benefit reimbursements via cheques can visit www.equitable.ca/go/digital for instructions on how to sign up for direct deposit. It just takes a few minutes. Plan members can also call us at 1.800.265.4556 if they need help, a replacement cheque or assistance arranging a different mailing address.

    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 Life plan member who needs mental health support can visit Homeweb.ca/equitable to access online resources or contact Homewood at 1.888.707.2115.  

    For plan sponsors who have 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. Whether it’s face-to-face, by phone, email, chat or video, plan members will receive the most appropriate, most timely support for the issue they’re dealing with. 
     

    Plan Administrator support

    We realize that the fires are having a profound impact on regular business operations in B.C. and N.W.T. If you have clients that are unable to carry out day-to-day plan administration, they can call us at 1.800.265.4556. They can also contact their Customer 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, contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.

  9. April 2023 eNews

    Vision care discounts from Bailey Nelson for Equitable Life plan members*

    We are pleased to announce we are partnering with Bailey Nelson to provide Equitable Life plan members with discounts on prescription and non-prescription eyewear. Bailey Nelson is a leading provider of prescription glasses, contact lenses and sunglasses with locations across Canada, as well as an online store.
     
    All Equitable Life plan members will have access to the following discounts from Bailey Nelson:

    Bailey-Nelson-table-EN.JPG
    *Includes anti-reflection and anti-scratch treatment. Glasses offers are based on 2 pairs of single vision or 1 pair of premium progressive lenses. Lens add-ons, such as high-index lenses and prescription tinted lens tints may involve additional costs.

    **Non-prescription glasses only. Cannot be combined with 2 for $200 discount.
     
    Plan members can provide their Equitable Life discount code in-store or at online checkout. Your clients may wish to distribute this convenient flyer with an overview of the available discounts to their plan members.
     
    Plan members can bring their prescription to a Bailey Nelson location or provide it online to order glasses and contact lenses. Bailey Nelson also provides eye exams in-store for $99.
     
    If you have any questions, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.
     

    Equitable Life helps tackle benefits fraud through Joint Provider Fraud Investigation (JPFI) initiative*

    Protecting your clients’ plans is important to us. That’s why Equitable Life is working with other Canadian life and health insurers to conduct joint investigations into health service providers that are suspected of fraudulent activities through the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association’s (CLHIA’s) Joint Provider Fraud Investigation (JPFI) initiative. This collaborative initiative between major Canadian life and health insurers through the CLHIA is a major step toward reducing benefits fraud in the life and health benefits insurance industry. 

    How the JPFI works

    The JPFI builds on the 2022 launch of a CLHIA-supported industry program. The program uses advanced artificial intelligence to help identify fraudulent activity across an industry pool of anonymized claims data. Joint investigations will examine suspicious patterns across this data.
     
    Through this project, Equitable Life can initiate a request to begin a joint fraud investigation when we: 
    • See suspected provider fraud in our own data or the pooled data, or
    • Receive a substantiated tip about potential provider fraud 
    Other life and health insurers that have joined the JPFI will then have the option to join the investigation if they are also impacted by the provider under investigation. By sharing expertise and resources across insurers, the participating carriers will be able to determine the most appropriate next steps. 

    How Equitable Life protects your clients’ benefits plans from fraud

    Benefits fraud is a crime that affects insurers, employers and employees and puts the sustainability of workplace benefits at risk. CLHIA estimates that employers and insurers lose millions each year to benefits fraud and abuse.

    Our Investigative Claims Unit (ICU) consists of security and fraud experts who use data analytics and artificial intelligence to proactively identify and investigate suspicious billing patterns or claims activity to open investigations. We de-list healthcare providers who are engaged in questionable or fraudulent practices, pursue the recovery of improperly obtained funds, and report practitioners to regulatory bodies and law enforcement where appropriate.

    Learn more about benefits fraud, or contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager for more information.

    Second phase of TELUS eClaims transition*

    In June 2022, we switched to TELUS Health eClaims as our digital billing provider to give our plan members a faster and more convenient option for submitting paramedical and vision claims. The switch has allowed our plan members to take advantage of TELUS’s extensive network of over 70,000 paramedical and vision providers.
     
    We’ve now begun the second phase of our TELUS Health eClaims implementation. This phase will focus on improving the experience for paramedical and vision providers. We will begin issuing reconciliation statements for the claims they submit on behalf of their patients. These statements will make it easier for them to use the TELUS Health eClaims portal and provide incentive for even more providers to sign up.
     
    Please encourage your clients to remind their plan members about this convenient option. We have created a helpful one-pager that plan members can bring with them next time they have an appointment with their healthcare provider. 
     
    If you have any questions about TELUS Health eClaims, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.
     

    Changes to STD application process for COVID-19 cases*

    As the COVID-19 situation evolves, we continue to adjust our disability management practices to ensure ongoing support and a fair experience for all our plan members.
     
    As of May 1, 2023, we will begin managing COVID-19-related short-term disability (STD) claims the same way that we manage disability claims for any other illness or condition. If a plan member is unable to work due to COVID-19 symptoms or a positive COVID-19 test, they must now use the standard STD application, including the Attending Physician Statement portion.
     
    Once we receive the claim, we will adjudicate it according to our standard process.
     
    If you have any questions, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.

    * Indicates content that will be shared with your clients.


     
  10. January 2023 eNews

    Responding to Saskatchewan’s biosimilar switch initiative*

    We are changing coverage for some biologic drugs in Saskatchewan 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 new government policy while providing access to equally safe and effective lower-cost biosimilars. 

    Saskatchewan’s provincial biosimilar initiative
    Announced in October 2022, the Saskatchewan Biosimilars Initiative ends coverage of ten biologic drugs beginning on April 30, 2023.

    Patients in the province who are using these drugs will be required to switch to biosimilar versions of these drugs by April 30, 2023, in order to maintain their Saskatchewan Drug Plan coverage.
     
    Equitable Life’s response
    To ensure this provincial change doesn’t result in your clients’ plans paying additional and avoidable drug costs, we are changing coverage in Saskatchewan for most biologic drugs included in the provincial initiative.

    Beginning April 30, 2023, plan members in the province 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 February 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. 

    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 Saskatchewan includes more biologic drugs in its biosimilar initiative, as new biosimilars come onto the market, and as we make changes in drug eligibility.
     

    Ontario announces 2023 biosimilar switch program*

    The government of Ontario recently announced the launch of a biosimilar initiative to switch patients from eight originator biologic drugs to biosimilar versions of the drugs.

    Patients in Ontario using affected originator biologic drugs will have until December 29, 2023 to switch to a biosimilar version of their medications in order to maintain coverage under the province’s public drug plans.

    We are actively monitoring and investigating the impact of this new policy on private drug plans in Ontario. We plan to implement changes to coverage of biologic drugs in the province in 2023 to help prevent this change from resulting in additional costs for our clients’ drug plans. We will provide more details in the coming months.

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

    Dental fee guide updates*

    Each year, Provincial and Territorial Dental Associations publish fee guides. Equitable Life® uses these guides to help determine the reimbursement limits for dental procedures. For your reference, below is the list of the average dental fee increases for general practitioners that will be used by Equitable Life for 2023.*** 

    Dental fee guide increases over 2022***



    ***Data for all provinces and territories was not available at the time of publication. This chart will be updated on EquitableHealth.ca as more information becomes available.
     

    Equitable Life ranks high with Canadian group advisors*

    Equitable Life ranked second nationally and first in Ontario among major insurers in a recent survey of Canadian group benefits advisors.
     
    NMG Consulting, a leading global consulting firm, conducted in-depth interviews with 130 leading group consultants, brokers and third-party administrators across the country between May and August 2022 for its annual Canadian Group Benefits Study. Based on these interviews, NMG ranked group insurers in six categories, ranging from operational management to technology.

    Nationally, Equitable Life ranked either first or second in four of the six main categories:

    Advisors in Ontario, in particular, scored Equitable Life very favourably. We ranked #1 overall in the province, finishing first in four of the six overall categories, including: Relationship Management, Operational Management, Underwriting and Claims Management and Technology.
     
    “The fact that advisors regard us so highly in so many categories is a testament to our mutual status and our ability to focus exclusively on our clients and advisors,” said Marc Avaria, Senior Vice President of Group. “We are truly working together to build strong, enduring and aligned partnerships.”
     
    “While we are happy with these results, we won’t rest on our laurels,” added Avaria. “We will continue to dedicate ourselves to providing our clients and advisors with a better benefits experience.”

    Here are more of the highlights from this year’s results:
     
    Nationally, we ranked first in all 10 subcategories in Operational Management, including:
    • Overall service to intermediaries,
    • Overall service to plan sponsors,
    • New quote process,
    • Plan implementation,
    • Renewal process,
    • Information shared at renewal,
    • Accuracy and timeliness of reporting and billing,
    • Administration quality and responsiveness,
    • Taking ownership and
    • Management information quality and availability.
    We also ranked first in Relationship Management, getting top marks in 7 of 10 subcategories, including:
    • Company relationship management,
    • Ease of doing business,
    • Account executive capability,
    • Market knowledge,
    • Visit/call quality,
    • Effective coordination and
    • Advice.
    We ranked second in Underwriting and Claims Management, finishing in the top three for all subcategories, including:
    • Fairness and timeliness of disability claims (1st)
    • Fairness and timeliness of health claims (2nd)
    • Fraud management (2nd)
    • Competitiveness of pooling charges (2nd)
    • Group underwriting flexibility (3rd)
    • Health and dental TLR competitiveness (3rd)
    And we ranked second in Technology, finishing in the top three for:
    • Overall technology – Intermediary (2nd)
    • Member experience (2nd)
    * Indicates content that will be shared with your clients.