Site Search
424 results for see web PROBLEMGO.com Buying better housing in prison North Carolina
- Updates
-
Equitable Life Group Benefits Bulletin – March 2022
In this issue:
- CLHIA launches industry anti-fraud initiative*
- Provincial biosimilar update*
- Quebec decreasing insurance premium tax*
- Coming soon: A survey to understand how we can better serve your clients’ needs*
- Remind your clients’ plan members in BC, Manitoba and Saskatchewan to register for Pharmacare *
CLHIA launches industry anti-fraud initiative*
In February, the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA) announced a new anti-fraud initiative that is using advanced artificial intelligence (AI) to further identify and reduce benefits fraud.
Equitable Life is excited to be a part of this important initiative. It will enhance our own fraud detection analytics by using AI to connect the dots across a huge pool of anonymized claims data. This will lead to more investigations and actions to mitigate the impact of fraud on your clients’ plans.
The initiative is being led by the CLHIA and member insurers and is supported by technology provider Shift Technologies. It will be further rolled-out and expanded over the next three years.
Benefits fraud affects more than just insurers. The costs of fraud are felt by employers and their employees as well. We are looking forward to being able to better identify and reduce benefits fraud.
Provincial biosimilar update*
BC expands its biosimilar initiative
BC Pharmacare recently announced it is adding two rapid-acting insulins to the list of drugs included in its ongoing initiative to switch patients to biosimilar versions of high-cost biologics. Patients taking Humalog or NovoRapid for Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes will be required to switch to a biosimilar version of the drugs by May 29, 2022 to maintain coverage under the public plan.
Biologics are drugs that are engineered using living organisms like yeast and bacteria. The first version of a biologic developed is also known as the “originator” biologic. Biosimilars are also biologics. They are highly similar to the originator biologic drugs they are based on, and Health Canada considers them to be equally safe and effective for approved conditions.
How we are responding to protect our clients
To help prevent this change from resulting in additional costs for our clients’ drug plans while still providing plan members with access to safe and effective medications, we will no longer cover Humalog or NovoRapid for plan members in BC. Effective June 1, 2022, claimants currently taking Humalog or NovoRapid will be required to switch to a biosimilar version of the drugs to maintain coverage under their Equitable Life plan and their BC Pharmacare plan.
We will be communicating this change to plan administrators later this week. And we will be communicating with affected claimants in early April to allow ample time to change their prescription and avoid any interruptions in their treatment or their coverage.
If you have any questions about this change, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.
Nova Scotia and Northwest Territories introduce biosimilar initiatives
The governments of Nova Scotia and the Northwest Territories each recently announced they are launching biosimilar initiatives to switch patients from certain originator biologic drugs to biosimilar versions of the drugs.
Patients in Nova Scotia using affected originator biologic drugs will have until February 2023 to switch to a biosimilar version of their medications in order to maintain coverage under the province’s public drug plans. Patients in the Northwest Territories will have until June 20, 2022, to switch.
Equitable Life® actively monitors and investigates all biosimilar policy changes and the ongoing evolution of biosimilar drugs entering Canada. We will keep you informed of any impact on private drug plans and how we are responding.
Quebec decreasing insurance premium tax*
The Quebec Government has announced that it plans to decrease its Insurance Premium Tax rates effective April 1, 2022. The premium tax rates for group life and accident and sickness insurance are expected to decrease from 3.48% to 3.3%. The new tax rates will be applied to premiums for the billing period beginning on or after April 1, 2022.
Coming soon: A survey to understand how we can better serve your clients’ needs*
We are committed to providing your clients and their plan members with industry-leading service. We’ve introduced several enhancements over the past year to make it easier to do business with us. And we’re continually looking for ways to improve.
In the coming weeks, we will conduct a survey of your clients to help us understand how we can better serve them. On March 28, we will send plan administrators an email with a link to the survey. The survey will remain open until the end of the day on April 11 and will take between five and 10 minutes to complete. Please encourage your clients to participate. Their feedback will be confidential, and their responses will help us improve our service and ensure we’re meeting their expectations. We may also follow up with plan administrators directly to address any concerns they’ve identified.
We know your clients’ time is valuable. So, each plan administrator who completes the survey will be entered into a random draw for a chance to win one of 25 prepaid gift cards for $25.
Remind your clients’ plan members in BC, Manitoba and Saskatchewan to register for Pharmacare*
If your clients have plan members in British Columbia, Manitoba or Saskatchewan, the provincial government offers a Pharmacare program to support prescription drug costs. Plan members in these provinces must register for their provincial Pharmacare program to maintain coverage under their Equitable Life drug plan.
Registration is easy! We will send two registration reminder messages directly to plan members’ pharmacists and post them on their Explanation of Benefits. We’ve also created a step-by-step guide that your clients can share with their plan members.
English version
French version
For more information about the provincial Pharmacare programs, including how plan members can register, please visit:
For British Columbia residents: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/pharmacare-for-bc-residents
For Manitoba residents: https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/pharmacare/apply.html
For Saskatchewan residents: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/health/prescription-drug-plans-and-health-coverage/extended-benefits-and%20drug-plan/drug-cost-assistance#eligibility
-
Our Critical Illness Insurance Path to Success Program
Our Critical Illness Insurance Path to Success program was designed with you, the Advisor, in mind.
Path to Success: Expert Advice on navigating CI Sales provides you with actionable ideas and scripts that you can implement immediately into your critical illness insurance meetings. CE Credits are available if you review the program in its entirety and complete the quizzes at the end of each section.
Learn more about the CI Path to Success Program
Next steps:
If you have any questions or are interested in getting access to this program, please reach out to your Regional Sales Manager directly.
Enhancements to our Critical Illness Insurance product EquiLiving®
The timing couldn’t be better for connecting with your Regional Sales Manager to gain access to this program, as we have made recent enhancements to our Critical Illness product that will help you offer more options to clients. We’ve enhanced our EquiLiving plans and riders with:
• 20 pay options with coverage to age 75 or coverage for life
• Support from Cloud DX to help monitor a client’s well-being from treatment to recovery
• Added Acquired Brain Injury as a covered critical condition
• 30-day survival period removed for all non-cardiovascular covered conditions
• No age restriction to claim for Loss of Independent Existence (LOIE)
• Adult Covered Conditions definitions updated to 2018 CLHIA definitions
• Increased the number of Early Detection Benefit covered conditions from 4 to 8
• And so much more …
Contact your Regional Sales Manager to get set up in the program and learn about other CE accredited presentations happening each week. -
Let’s talk about Critical Illness insurance, the Equitable way.
Having critical illness insurance benefits in an important time of need is so valuable. Get the right critical illness insurance coverage for your clients.
In 2022, we made some significant updates to our EquiLiving® Critical Illness insurance plans to provide better choices and features for clients.
These significant updates included:
● The addition of Acquired Brain Injury as a covered condition
● The addition of 20 pay options allowing more choice when choosing the right plan for your clients
● The removal of the age restriction for juveniles to claim for Loss of Independent Existence
Plus, a Canadian first, the addition of Cloud DX. Cloud DX is a value-added service that provides remote patient monitoring to claimants in addition to the full critical illness benefit paid by Equitable Life®. Cloud DX delivers medical grade hardware directly to the client so that Cloud DX can remotely monitor their vitals to help ensure they are on and stay on the road to recovery.
View our new Critical Illness video on YouTube or Vimeo!
With these updates and more, EquiLiving Critical Illness Insurance is there for clients, not only at time of their claim but also during their recovery. To learn more about Critical Illness insurance, the Equitable way, contact your local wholesaler.
*Cloud DX is a non-contractual benefit and may be withdrawn or changed by Equitable Life® at any time. To be eligible for the Cloud DX offering, a claimant must be age 12 or older and have received payment on or after February 12, 2022 for a covered critical condition benefit under an individual critical illness insurance policy issued by Equitable Life. An early detection benefit payment does not qualify. Equitable Life pays for 6 months of Cloud DX subscription fees. If the claimant wishes to continue the Cloud DX service after 6 months, they will be responsible for the cost.
® and TM denote trademarks of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
-
Colaiacovo to lead Equitable’s Eastern Group Sales Team
We are pleased to announce that Sofia Colaiacovo has been appointed our new Group Sales Vice President, Eastern Canada.
In her role, Colaiacovo will lead the Eastern sales team. She will focus on working with distribution partners to grow our business together while continuing to provide clients and their plan members with a better benefits experience.
Colaiacovo brings to her role 18 years of experience with Equitable Life, building strong distribution partnerships and delivering exceptional client service.
She joined Equitable Life in 2005 and has held roles of increasing responsibility in our Group distribution organization.
Since 2011, she has served as our Group Account Executive for the Ottawa territory. In that role, she quadrupled the size of our client base in the region and established strong and lasting relationships with key distribution partners. She was recognized as Equitable Life’s Group Account Executive of the Year three consecutive times – in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
“Sofia will further strengthen our Group Leadership Team and reinforce our ongoing commitment to building enduring distribution partnerships and delivering great service,” says Marc Avaria, Equitable Life’s Senior Vice-President, Group.
“Sofia’s success has come from taking the time to understand the needs of her partner advisors and their clients,” he adds. “By asking the right questions and listening, she has been able to provide valuable and practical solutions to meet their needs.”
Colaiacovo graduated from Carleton University with a Degree in Psychology. She holds the Group Benefits Associate (GBA) designation through the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans. -
Cloud DX, Signs Contract with Heart Centre
Our partner, Cloud DX, has signed a 3-year contract with an Ontario hospital to help put patients with congestive heart failure at ease.
Cloud DX’s digital health platform works to improve healthcare delivery, provide better care outcomes, and lessen the burden on our national healthcare system. Now, an Ontario heart centre will use the Cloud DX platform to improve its patient monitoring services.
Cloud DX is a value-added service for Equitable Life’s Critical Illness claimants. Cloud DX delivers clinical grade hardware directly to the client so that they can remotely monitor the client’s vitals to help ensure they stay on the road to recovery*.
To learn more about our partnership with CloudDX, click here or contact your local wholesaler.
Watch our video on YouTube or Vimeo!
*Cloud DX is a non-contractual benefit and may be withdrawn or changed by Equitable Life® at any time. To be eligible for the Cloud DX offering, a claimant must be age 12 or older and have received payment on or after February 12, 2022 for a covered critical condition benefit under an individual critical illness insurance policy issued by Equitable Life. An early detection benefit payment does not qualify. Equitable Life pays for 6 months of Cloud DX subscription fees. If the claimant wishes to continue the Cloud DX service after 6 months, they will be responsible for the cost. The claimant must supply their own device to connect to Cloud DX app– a laptop, tablet or cellphone. As well, the claimant needs to supply their own data or internet service.
® and TM denote trademarks of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada. -
Secure your GIA rate with Equitable today!
The Bank of Canada (BOC) recently cut its key interest rate for a second time this year to 4.5%. As inflation cools and the BOC hints at more interest rate cuts this year, the time has never been better to secure a Guaranteed Interest Account (GIA) rate.
Equitable’s fresh client-focused approach to guaranteed investing means:- market leading interest rates1, with even higher rates available for larger deposits,
- a full suite of available account types including the First Home Savings Account, and
- options to invest up to age 952.
GIAs are simple fixed-income investment products that can provide increased choice and value to a client’s portfolio. Choosing Equitable provides competitive interest rates and protection from market volatility. For more information visit EquiNet® and don’t forget to register for our interest rate change alert email.
1 Equitable has made every effort to ensure accuracy of competitive information as of July 22, 2024. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
2 Some available term lengths may be limited starting at age 90.
® or ™ denotes a trademark of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
Posted August 15 - About
-
A message from Cam Crosbie
What an exciting year it’s been at Equitable®. There’s more to come in 2025!
In this short video, I share with you some of the things we’ve done to show our commitment to you in 2024 and some of the great things we’ve got planned for 2025.
I want to thank you again for your continued support and trust in us. We value our partnership and are always working hard to make things better.
Please take a few minutes to watch the video.
.png "cam-(1).png")
Cam Crosbie,
Savings & Retirement Holiday Hours
Executive Vice-President, Savings and Retirement Division
Equitable
All transaction requests to be handled same business day must be submitted in good order by:- • December 24, 2024, 11:00 a.m. ET
- • December 31, 2024, 11:00 a.m. ET
- • December 31, 2024, 11:59 p.m. ET
- • December 24, 2024, 4:00 p.m. ET
RRSP deposits to be considered for the 2024 tax year must be:- Dated March 3, 2025, or before
- Must be submitted to Head Office in good order by March 7, 2025, by 4:00 p.m. ET
- March 3, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET
- RRSP loan deposits must be received by March 14, 2025, by 4:00 p.m. ET
Note: Transactions submitted after these dates will not receive a 2024 contribution receipt
Date posted: December 5, 2024 -
A message from Cam Crosbie WFG
What an exciting year it’s been at Equitable®. There’s more to come in 2025!
In this short video, I share with you some of the things we’ve done to show our commitment to you in 2024 and some of the great things we’ve got planned for 2025.
I want to thank you again for your continued support and trust in us. We value our partnership and are always working hard to make things better.
Please take a few minutes to watch the video.
Cam Crosbie,
Savings & Retirement Holiday Hours
Executive Vice-President, Savings and Retirement Division
Equitable
All transaction requests to be handled same business day must be submitted in good order by:- • December 24, 2024, 11:00 a.m. ET
- • December 31, 2024, 11:00 a.m. ET
- • December 31, 2024, 11:59 p.m. ET
- • December 24, 2024, 4:00 p.m. ET
RRSP deposits to be considered for the 2024 tax year must be:- Dated March 3, 2025, or before
- Must be submitted to Head Office in good order by March 7, 2025, by 4:00 p.m. ET
- March 3, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET
- RRSP loan deposits must be received by March 14, 2025, by 4:00 p.m. ET
Note: Transactions submitted after these dates will not receive a 2024 contribution receipt
Date posted: December 5, 2024