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  1. Tax impacts of the Canadian Dental Care Plan for your clients

    Tax impacts of the Canadian Dental Care Plan for your clients*


    Earlier this year, the government shared its progress on the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). 

    The CDCP will be available to Canadians with an annual family income of less than $90,000 who do not have dental benefits. Co-pays will be waived for eligible Canadians with a family income of less than $70,000. 

    Canadians who have access to private dental coverage are not eligible for the CDCP. This means that your clients must now report on T4s/T4As if dental coverage** was available on December 31 of the reporting tax year for:
    • Employees,
    • Employees’ spouses and/or dependents,
    • Former employees, and
    • Spouses of deceased employees.
    **Potential dental coverage includes Health Care Spending Accounts.

    This new tax reporting requirement is mandatory starting with the 2023 tax year. Employee tax slips will include new boxes for employers to complete:
    • Box 45 (T4): Employer Offered Dental Benefits. This new box will be mandatory.
    • Box 015 (T4A): Payer Offered Dental Benefits. This new box will be mandatory if plan sponsors report in Box 016, Pension or Superannuation. The box will otherwise be optional.
    Your clients should complete the boxes using the code system below. They should choose the appropriate code based on whether Dental coverage was available to the plan member – not whether the plan member has chosen to participate in the coverage.  For example, if a plan member has waived coverage or has chosen not to participate in the plan, they would still have access to coverage.
    • Code 1: The plan member has no access to dental care insurance or coverage of dental services of any kind.
    • Code 2: Only the plan member has access to any dental care insurance, or coverage of dental services of any kind.
    • Code 3: The plan member, their spouse and their dependents have access to any dental care insurance, or coverage of dental services of any kind. 
    • Code 4: Only the plan member and their spouse have access to any dental care insurance, or coverage of dental services of any kind. 
    • Code 5: Only the plan member and their dependents have access to any dental care insurance, or coverage of dental services of any kind. 
    Your clients can find further information about completing tax slips for employees on the Canada Revenue Agency’s website:

    Reports for dependents

    We have a report available for plan members who have enrolled their dependents in benefits coverage. Your clients can contact their local service team representative to receive a copy of the report. We are working to make it available on our Advisor and PA websites.
     

    Questions

    For guidance on your tax slips and reporting obligations, please encourage your clients to contact their accountant, payroll provider or tax advisor.
     

    Supporting plan members affected by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict*


    Traumatic events continue to unfold in the Middle East. Enduring ongoing news of conflict and suffering could challenge many Canadians. During this difficult time, Equitable encourages affected clients and plan members to access the mental health support they need. 


    Support available to all Equitable plan members

    Large-scale traumatic news events can cause people to experience intense reactions. This puts a lot of strain 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.  
     

    Support available to plan members with the Homewood Health EFAP

    For your clients that have purchased Homewood Health’s Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), remind them that 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 and their dependent family members will receive appropriate, timely support for the issue they’re dealing with. 
      

    Questions? 

    If you need more information, contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex account executive.

    *Indicates content that will be shared with your clients. 
  2. [pdf] Pivotal Select Application - TFSA
  3. [pdf] Pivotal Select Application - FHSA
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Delegation Requests Now Available on EquiNet We are excited to announce a new feature that will help make it easier for you to do business with Equitable Life.
     
    This new feature allows you, to submit a delegation request through the “Access” tab under your EquiNet profile. 

    Once the delegation request has been completed, the specified people will be able to view and manage the policies of the Advisor who submitted the request, as long as they have codes of their own within the system.
     
    Please contact the customer service team at customerservice@equitable.ca for more information.
  7. February 2023 eNews

    Responding to Nova Scotia’s biosimilar switch initiative

    We are changing coverage for some biologic drugs in Nova Scotia 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. 

    Nova Scotia’s provincial biosimilar initiative

    Announced in February 2022, the Nova Scotia Biosimilar Initiative ends coverage of seven biologic drugs for residents enrolled in Pharmacare programs.

    Pharmacare patients in the province using these drugs will be required to switch to biosimilar versions of these drugs by February 3, 2023, in order to maintain their Nova Scotia Pharmacare 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 Nova Scotia for most biologic drugs included in the provincial initiative.

    Beginning June 1, 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.  

    Can my client maintain coverage of these biologic drugs?

    Traditional groups who wish to opt out of this change and maintain coverage of these originator biologics for Nova Scotia plan members can submit a policy amendment. Amendments must be submitted no later than April 1, 2023. Advisors with myFlex Benefits clients who wish to maintain coverage of these originator biologics for Nova Scotia plan members should speak to their myFlex Sales Manager to confirm their eligibility to opt out of this change.

    Groups that choose to maintain coverage of these originator biologics for existing claimants will also maintain coverage for any originator biologics that we subsequently add to our Nova Scotia biosimilar initiative.  

    Will this change impact my clients’ rates?

    The rate impact of this change in coverage will be relatively insignificant. 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.

    Communicating this change to plan members

    We will inform any affected plan members in April 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 Nova Scotia includes more biologic drugs in its biosimilar initiative, as new biosimilars come onto the market, and as we make changes in drug eligibility.
     

    Changes to New Brunswick drug interchangeability rules

    We are introducing changes to help ensure that your clients with voluntary or mandatory generic pricing for their drug plans will benefit more from the cost savings of these two features, regardless of the province where the drugs are dispensed.

    Currently, when determining whether a lower-cost alternative is available for a brand-name drug, most insurers only consider drugs that the provincial drug plan identifies as interchangeable.

    However, the public drug plan in New Brunswick does not identify a drug as interchangeable if the drug is not listed on its formulary – even if Health Canada has deemed the drug interchangeable.

    As a result, plans with mandatory or voluntary generic pricing have continued to reimburse some drugs in New Brunswick based on the cost of the brand-name drug, even if a lower-cost generic alternative is available.

    Effective March 20, 2023, if your clients have drug plans with mandatory or voluntary generic pricing, we will adjudicate any drug claims in New Brunswick using the lowest cost alternative that Health Canada approves as bioequivalent. This will occur even if the public drug plan has not identified the drug as interchangeable.

    To benefit from this more robust drug plan control, plan sponsors must have mandatory or voluntary generic pricing in place.

    For more information about this change or about implementing mandatory or voluntary generic pricing for your clients, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.
     

    New template: plan members eligible for additional coverage

    Often, based on salary, some plan members may become eligible to apply for extra Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), Short Term Disability or Long Term Disability coverage. If this occurs, your clients receive a notification from Group Benefits Administration. We have now developed a template that your clients can provide to applicable plan members if they become eligible for extra coverage. The template makes it simpler for your clients to pass on these details to their plan members efficiently.

    The new template is available for download under the Quick Links section of EquitableHealth.ca. It is a fillable PDF form that your clients can complete and provide to their plan members when necessary. The document is called Over the Non-Evidence Limit for Plan Members Notification.

    If you have any questions about the template, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.
  8. Reminder: Deadline to opt out of Alberta biosimilar coverage changes

    In November 2020, we announced via eNews that on March 15, 2021, we are changing coverage for some biologic drugs in Alberta in response to the province’s Biosimilar Initiative. These changes will help protect your client’s plans from additional drug costs while still providing access to equally safe and effective biosimilars.

    Do my clients need to take any action?

    Traditional groups who wish to opt out of this change and maintain coverage of these originator biologics for Alberta plan members can submit a policy amendment. Amendments must be submitted no later than January 15, 2021.

    Advisors with myFlex Benefits clients who wish to maintain coverage of these originator biologics for Alberta plan members should speak to their myFlex Sales Manager to confirm their eligibility to opt out of this change.

    Otherwise, no action is required on their part. Plan members taking these biologics will be contacted directly to allow them ample time to change their prescription. Any cost savings associated with the change will be factored in at renewal.

    Questions?

    We have compiled a list of frequently asked questions to help you understand Alberta’s Biosimilar Initiative. If you have a question that isn’t answered here, please contact your Equitable Life Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.

  9. Critical Illness - More Covered Conditions
  10. 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 1st – 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 1st – 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:

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