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1. February 2026 eNews

   In this issue:

   Save time and add protection — log in to your Equitable account with a passkey*
   New form offers a simpler way for clients to submit special claims*
   2026 dental fee guide updates*
   
   *Indicates content that will be shared with your clients.
    

   Save time and add protection — log in to your Equitable account with a passkey

    

   Passkeys offer an easier, faster way for you and your clients to log in to EquitableHealth.ca^®. They also add an extra layer of account protection.

    

   Easy set-up. Secure access.

    

   If you haven’t created a passkey yet – now is a great time. You can create one on both your computer and mobile device.

    

   When you set up a passkey on your mobile device, you’ll use biometrics –your face or fingerprint–to log in. This verifies your identity, so only you can access your account on your device.

    

   Setting up a passkey on your computer is slightly different. You may have more options to verify your identity, such as biometrics, a personal identification number (PIN) or a password.

   
   To learn more about  passkeys, visit Equitable.ca/effortless.

    

   You hold the ‘key’ to further protecting your account

    

   You’re the only one who can create passkeys. We can’t create them for you.

    

   The set-up process is quick and easy. The videos below guide you through creating a passkey on your mobile device and computer.
   
    

   
   
   If you use the same email address to log in to your accounts on EquitableHealth.ca, EquiNet^® and Equitable Client Access^®, you can use the same passkey. Equitable Client Access is our secure site for Individual Insurance and Individual Wealth clients.
   
    

   New form offers a simpler way for clients to submit special claims

    
   
   Equitable has simplified the special claim process for clients by introducing an interactive Special Claims Services form.
   
   
   The new form, which replaces our previous online calculator, automatically calculates the fees and taxes based on province, so clients can clearly see the total of a special claim – and how much they need to pay.
    

   What is a special claim?

    
   A plan sponsor can submit a claim for Special Claims Services – sometimes referred to as Cost Plus – to pay for a plan member’s health and dental expenses that are either not included or not covered in full by their group benefits plan.
   
   
   When submitting the claim, the plan sponsor also pays us for the cost of the expense, plus a service fee and taxes. Then, we reimburse the plan member or another designated payee.
   
   
   Anything eligible under a health-care spending account (HCSA) is eligible under Special Claims Services. Our HCSA list of eligible expenses matches the Canada Revenue Agency’s list of eligible medical expenses that can be claimed on a tax return.
   
   
   When a plan sponsor submits a special claim, there is no impact to the claims experience, pooling or taxes. Given that every situation is unique, however, the plan sponsor is responsible for consulting with an accountant on tax impacts and/or claim limitations that may apply.
   
   
   For more information on Special Claims Services, check out this brochure or email SpecialClaimsServices@equitable.ca.
    

   2026 dental fee guide updates

    
   Several Canadian dental associations have published their 2026 fee guides. We use these guides to help set benefits reimbursement limits for dental procedures.
   
   For your reference, here is the list of this year’s fee increases for general practitioners.
   
   Source: Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA) 2026 Dental Fee Increase Guide
   
   If you have any questions, please contact your Group Account Executive.
2. Path to Success modules now available on EquiNet!
   The Path to Success Critical Illness course module PDFs and videos are now available on the Critical Illness EquiNet page. The Path to Success program gives you access to specialized topics about Critical Illness Insurance, why it matters for your clients, and how to make an effective sale.
   
   Learn about:
   - Overcoming objections to Critical Illness Insurance
   - Pivoting from other products to Critical Illness Insurance
   - How to position and design the Critical Illness solution
   …and more!
   
   We have made the expert information from Path to Success available to you to review at anytime. However, if you wish to earn CE credits, you may continue to access the course through our Path to Success program website.
   
   Questions about the program? Visit the Critical Illness page on EquiNet or contact your local wholesaler.
3. 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.

4. Equitable Life Group Benefits Bulletin – January 2022

   Short-term disability coverage for plan members with COVID-19*

   Please note: This announcement applies only to groups with short-term disability coverage through Equitable Life
    
   As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, and the situation evolves, we continue to adjust our practices to ensure ongoing support for our plan members.
    
   PCR tests no longer required for COVID-related STD claims
    
   Some provinces have recently restricted access to COVID-19 PCR testing to only high-risk individuals. To ensure your clients' eligible plan members receive their short-term disability benefits in a timely manner, we no longer require a positive PCR test for plan members submitting COVID-19-related STD claims.
    
   Plan members who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or who have tested positive for the virus (either with a PCR test or with an at-home rapid test) and are unable to work from home should complete the Short Term Disability Plan Member COVID-19 Claim Form (#421A). 
    
   They should indicate the date of the onset of symptoms or date of their positive test result. Where applicable, they should also indicate the date they have been cleared by public health to end their self-isolation. The form includes an attestation that the information they have provided is accurate.
    
   The employer needs to complete the Short Term Disability Employer COVID-19 Claim Form (#421B). They should indicate the expected return-to-work date according to their provincial health guidelines, or using the date provided by a public health official.
    
   Waiting periods for COVID-related STD claims
    
   To support your clients' plan members during the initial stages of the pandemic, we waived the STD waiting period if a plan member’s absence was due to symptoms or a diagnosis of COVID-19.  Now that COVID-19 has become the “new normal,” we are returning to our standard practices and treating the virus as we would any other illness.
    
   Effective Jan. 1, 2022, standard waiting periods will apply for COVID-related STD claims, according to the terms of the Group policy. This ensures that all plan members submitting a STD claim are treated fairly, no matter what the cause of the claim.
    
   Eligible plan members will receive STD benefits up to a maximum of 10 days from the date of the onset of symptoms or a positive COVID-19 test result, minus the waiting period.
    
   For example, if the plan has a five-day waiting period, and the plan member returns to work nine days after a positive test result, they would be eligible for four days of benefits payments.
    
   If the claimant is still unwell after 10 days, then the standard Short Term Disability Claim Form (#421) needs to be completed.  
    
   If a plan member is admitted to hospital, benefits will be paid following the waiting period applicable to hospital claims. 
5. Deposits to the Fidelity Special Situations mutual fund are being limited but the segregated fund is
   Fidelity Investments^® recently said they would no longer accept deposits from new investors into the Fidelity^® Special Situations Fund. This notice however does not affect Equitable Life^® clients.
   
   The Special Situations Fund will continue to be open to new and existing Equitable Life clients. This includes clients with Pivotal Select™, Pivotal Solutions* or Personal Investment Portfolio segregated funds contracts.
   
   Why is Fidelity limiting access to the mutual fund?
   This award-winning mutual fund has grown significantly and now has $3.6 billion of managed assets. To preserve the integrity of the fund’s investment strategy, Fidelity^® decided to limit inflows to the fund. Limiting the amount of managed assets held within the fund allows the fund’s portfolio manager to focus on what he does best - finding special situation investment opportunities and capitalizing on positive change within companies and industries across Canada and around the world.
   
   If you like the Special Situations mutual fund, you will value the Equitable Life Fidelity^® Special Situations segregated fund. Segregated funds are similar to mutual funds but offer different features and guarantees. To learn about these features, check out the Investment Advantage. To learn more about the Special Situations segregated fund, click here.
   
   
   For more information about Equitable Life’s segregated funds, speak to your Regional Investment Sales Manager or visit our segregated funds page on EquiNet^®.
    
   References:
   Fidelity’s press release announcing the limited fund closure
   Fidelity^® Special Situations portfolio management strategy, webinar featuring Mark Schmehl, Portfolio Manager.

   
   
   *No Load, Deferred Sales Charge, Pivotal Solutions II
   ® or ™ denotes a trademark of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada, except as noted below.
   Fidelity and Fidelity Investments are registered trademarks of 483A Bay Street Holdings LP. Used with permission.

6. Equitable 2024 dividend scale!

   Equitable’s Board of Directors has approved a new dividend scale for the period of July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.

   ● The interest rate* we use for the dividend scale will change. It will go from 6.25% to 6.40% on July 1, 2024.
   ● Other factors used to decide the dividend scale will remain the same.
   ● The interest rate for policies with dividends on deposit will change. It will go from 2.25% to 3.50% on July 1, 2024.
   ● The interest rate for most policy loans will remain at 6.50%. This applies to both new and existing policy loans, and automatic premium loans. It specifically applies to Equimax^® policies with a 9-digit policy number that starts with either "3" or "8". Older policies may have different loan rates as they are based on the prime interest rate.
   
   Learn more:
   ● 2024 Advisor Dividend Scale Notice
   ● 2024 Client Dividend Scale Notice
   ● Dividend Information Page 
   
   
   
   
   
   Did you miss our Spring update & 2024 Dividend Scale announcement? Watch it now: 
     
   (*The French and Chinese events will be partially in English, with sub-titles on screen).
   
    
   
   
   
   
   
   *The dividend scale interest rate (DSIR) is different from the participating account (PAR) rate of return. The PAR rate of return is the return on the investments in the participating account over the calendar year. The DSIR smooths out the ups and downs of the participating account experience.
7. Making it easier to do business with us At Equitable^® we are always looking for ways to improve your experience with us. We’ve made the following enhancements to make it easier for you to put your business with us.  
   
   New and Improved UL Fund Performance page
   
   Access more fund performance information faster and easier on our new and improved Fund Overview & Performance website for funds held within Equitable universal life policies. 
    
   We partnered with Fundata to build a central location for fund performance, fund information (available in web and PDF) and Management Expense Ratios (MERs). This fund reporting will be available for all our universal life business (both legacy products and products currently being sold).
   
   Highlights include: 
   ● Save your favourite funds for easy access. 
   ● Fund search and tools to filter by product, asset class and sustainability. 
   ● Share feature allows you to easily share fund information with clients. 
   ● Ability to compare fund performance. 
   
   Check out the new Fund Overview & Performance website today. See how Equitable is making fund information faster and easier to access. 
   
   New “Update Payment” feature for banking changes has launched!
   
   Great news! We have launched a new self-serve "Update Payment" feature in Client Access and on EquiNet^®. This new online capability enables clients and advisors to easily submit key banking change requests for eligible insurance policies*, with no need to complete a physical form.  
   *The Update Payment transactions are only available for eligible policies: those that have not lapsed, are not on Automatic Premium Loan, and are not owned by a corporation or other entity.
   
   What’s new? Clients and advisors can now submit banking changes via EquiNet under Policy Inquiry. It allows them to easily submit requests for the following: stop and resume pre-authorized payments or change banks. Learn more. 
   
   Speak to your individual life wholesaler to learn more about these great enhancements!
   
   ^® or ^TM denotes a trademark of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada
8. Message from Ron Beettam
   As COVID-19 continues to spread, we want to reassure you that we remain ready and committed to support you and your clients.
   
   We have a robust and well-tested business continuity plan in place and our business is almost 100% digital. Almost 90% of our employees are now working remotely from home and are maintaining the high level of service you have come to expect from us. We still have a fully functioning Document Services Centre that is managing our incoming and outgoing mail. Our sales and customer service teams remain open to support you and your clients. 
   
   Equitable Life’s online application process, EZcomplete®, offers non face-to-face capability and continues to be your go-to resource for managing your business virtually. We are receiving a record number of online applications and are committed to helping you maintain a certain degree of daily activity. EZcomplete® non-face-to-face works for all life, critical illness and segregated fund applications.
   
   Advisors will be pleased to know that we have increased non-medical limits for life insurance. We are also looking at other underwriting changes, digital delivery of life insurance contracts and additional digital payment options.
   
   Our Savings & Retirement advisors will find our new Transaction Authorization Requirements table a valuable resource for submitting forms and documents. Can’t meet with your client in person to get a signature? Not to worry. You can have your  client sign a letter of direction and take a picture to authorize a number of transactions.
   
   Transacting in a non face-to-face environment can be a challenge but we will continue to revisit existing processes and look for ways to modify requirements to help you to continue managing your business. All of us are facing an unprecedented number of urgent situations where there is no established protocol. Our commitment to you and your clients is to respond quickly, and to be flexible where we can, tailoring solutions to specific needs.
   
   To stay up-to-date, please refer to Equitable Life’s COVID-19 information page. There you will find the latest information for all lines of business. 
   
   As the global situation continues to evolve rapidly, we ask for your patience as our solutions also evolve quickly and accordingly. Rest assured that Equitable Life is unwavering in our support, and we will be here to help you protect what matters most to Canadians.
   
   Ron Beettam, President and CEO
9. Equitable explains individual life and critical illness insurance with client-focused videos! In today’s busy world, clients need guidance to help them pick the right solutions for their needs. They need quick, easy-to-understand information. With so many options out there, it can get overwhelming to make the right choice.
   
   The same goes for individual life and critical illness insurance. Which type of insurance is right for the client? Advisors can help provide that support and guidance. But perhaps, to get that conversation started, you just need to give clients a little nudge.
   
   We get it. That’s why Equitable has produced a series of client-focused videos to help advisors start those conversations.
   
   Check out our explainer videos below and share them with clients today!
   
   ●  Equimax^® participating whole life for children
   ●  Dividends
   ●  EquiLiving^® critical illness insurance
   ●  Term life insurance
   ●  Equitable Generations^™ universal life insurance
   
   
   
   Want to learn more?
   Contact your Equitable Wholesaler – we’re here to help!
   
    
   ^® or ^™ denote trademarks of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.