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  1. 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.
  2. New Online Policy Loan Form
    Advisors will now have access to a new digital policy loan form on EquiNet™.

    On eligible policies, you can launch a customized policy loan form through the Values tab in Policy Inquiry. (login required)

    This form is quick and intuitive. You tell us the loan amount, how your client wants to receive the funds, then confirm your client’s contact info and submit! Once your client signs, it is sent for review and processing within our current service standards.

    This is the first form to be digitalized and we plan to continue this work with more forms later this year.


    ® and ™ denotes trademarks of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
  3. Show term and critical illness illustrations with ratings


    Rating options are now available in term and critical illness web illustrations. When you add a rating, the premium changes so clients can see the difference. This makes it easier to compare options and set expectations early.

    What’s new
    You can apply ratings to your term and critical illness web illustrations. When you choose a rating, the illustration and report update right away with the new premium.

    Benefits
       • Clear side‑by‑side comparisons
       • Illustrated options better fit client’s needs
       • Talk about options with more confidence

    How to use the rating feature
      1. In the web illustration, go to Personal Information.
      2. Select the Ratings checkbox.
         • This option also appears when adding a term rider or critical illness rider.

      3. Choose the rating type you want to illustrate:
         • Permanent amount (term)
         • Permanent percentage (term and critical illness)
         • Temporary amount (term)
    Once applied, the premium updates automatically and appears in the illustration report.

    Important to know
       • Illustrated ratings are for comparison purposes only.
       • When you submit an application, the system removes the illustrated rating.
       • The final rating is determined through underwriting.

    Improving your experience with more digital enhancements
    We’re always working to improve the web illustration experience based on your valued feedback.
    Here are some improvements you've asked for:
       • A confirmation box appears showing the rider selected is included in the illustration report.
       • When you’re signed into EquiNet your name and advisor code are included at the bottom of the illustration report.
    New design updates to the illustration reports now make it easier for you and clients to review. Use these clear and refreshed illustrations to help clients get the protection that best meets their needs.

    Questions
    Contact your Equitable wholesaler. For specific case support be sure to include:
       • the client name (if applicable);
       • the product (term or CI);
       • screenshot of the illustration settings.

  4. About
  5. Equitable Life creates guide to accessing virtual healthcare at no cost

    With many health clinics closed and the healthcare system under strain, people are looking to access a doctor and other health providers virtually.

    To make it easier for plan members, we’ve created the Guide to Accessing Virtual Health Care Services on the plan member section of EquitableHealth.ca. This online resource provides information about and links to a range of virtual health services they need to take care of their health and the health of their family during these challenging times.

    The Guide also indicates which services can be accessed for free. In some provinces, online doctor visits are now covered by the public health plan, so there’s no cost to the patient to access them as long as they provide their valid provincial health card. In other provinces, the nominal fee can be claimed on a Health Care Spending Account.

    We will continue to update the Guide as more virtual healthcare providers and services become available.

    View our Guide to Accessing Virtual Healthcare

  6. Help your clients this tax season with Equitable Life
    It is tax time, and your clients should be receiving tax slips and deposit receipts by now. Check out the Tax Slips: A Quick Reference Guide which gives a taxation breakdown by product. Review Insights into Non-Registered Taxation that offers a detailed explanation on investment income, and why T3 tax slips generate on non-registered segregated funds. Does your client have questions about contribution limits? Retirement Income Fund minimums? or Canada pension maximums? Check out Equitable’s handy 2022 Facts & Figures guide.

    Did your clients sign up for tax slips on Equitable Client Access before December 31, 2021?
    If so, your clients can download or print their tax slips quickly and easily from their Equitable Client Access Inbox.
     
    For questions, contact Equitable's Advisor Services Team Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET at 1.866.884.7427 or by email at savingsretirement@equitable.ca. or your Regional Investment Sales Manager.
  7. Tax Slips – What you need to know
    It is tax time, and clients should be receiving tax slips and deposit receipts by now. Check out the Tax Slips: A Quick Reference Guide for a taxation breakdown by product and Insights into Non-Registered Taxation for a detailed explanation on investment income, and why T3 tax slips are generated on non-registered segregated funds.

    Clients who registered for tax slips on Equitable Client Access before December 31, 2022, can download or print tax slips quickly and easily from their Equitable® Client Access Inbox.  Advisors can download tax receipts on Document Lookup on EquiNet®.
     
    For questions about contribution limits, Retirement Income Fund minimums and Canada pension maximums check out Equitable Life®’s helpful 2023 Facts & Figures guide.
     
    Equitable's Advisor Services Team is available Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET at 1.866.884.7427 or by email at savingsretirement@equitable.ca. You can also contact your Regional Investment Sales Manager.

     ® denotes a trademark of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
    Posted: February 15, 2023
  8. Request standard in-force illustrations with the click of a button
    At Equitable®, we are making continuous improvements to our advisor and client services. We are excited to share an upcoming enhancement. 


    What’s new?


    Beginning on August 15, 2024 , you and your clients will be able to request standard, current in-force illustrations—at any time—for your clients’ whole life and universal life policies with the click of a button.

    Currently, standard in-force illustrations for whole life and universal life policies are autogenerated only on policy anniversaries. These in-force illustrations will no longer be autogenerated after August 15, 2024.

    Please note: For specialized illustrations—such as those with segregated funds, D2000/D2000+ policies, policies where the insured’s age falls outside existing illustration parameters, or policies that were originally from Clarica—you will still need to use the in-force illustration request form  for whole life or universal life policies.  


    How do I access this?


    You can request an in-force illustration by logging into EquiNet® and going to the Policy Details page via Policy Inquiry. Under the Coverage tab, you will now see a button called Inforce Illustration Request. Click the button to request the illustration. Learn more about how to access here. 
     
  9. [pdf] The Right Time To Buy And Sell
  10. Mental health support for all plan members

    As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many Canadians are dealing with increased stress and anxiety. Now, more than ever, plan members need easy to access resources to help them cope with these uncertain times.

    Through our partnership with Homewood Health®, the Canadian leader in mental health and addiction services, all of our clients and their plan members have access to tools designed to provide guidance and support, including i-Volve, Homewood’s Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy tool.

    Proven therapy, at your own pace

    Included with Homewood Online resources in every Equitable Life® plan, i-Volve can help plan members identify, challenge and overcome anxious thoughts, behaviours and emotions. It encourages incremental changes in behaviour and is proven to be an effective therapeutic approach for dealing with mild to moderate anxiety or depression. Plan members work at their own pace through a series of web-based exercises, ultimately helping to change the ways in which they think, feel and react in various situations.

    Free for all Equitable Life plan members

    All Equitable Life clients and their plan members have access to i-Volve. It’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, wherever you choose to access it.

    Contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager to learn more about Homewood Health and i-Volve Online CBT.