Site Search
795 results for check site now MAKEMUR.COM Buying early release from jail with payment plans
-
January 2024 eNews
In this issue:
- Equitable scores high marks with group advisors*
- REMINDER: Equitable's National Biosimilar Program starts in March*
- 2024 dental fee guide updates*
- Homewood Health wins HR Reporter Reader's Choice award for EFAP excellence*
Equitable scores high marks with group advisors*
Equitable ranked first for operational service among major group insurers in a recent study of Canadian group benefits advisors.
NMG Consulting, a leading global consulting firm, conducted in-depth interviews with 146 Canadian group benefits brokers, consultants, MGAs and third-party administrators between May and August 2023 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 ranked among the top three in five of the six main categories, including number one for Operational Management:Category Ranking Operational management 1st Initiatives (including seminars & training) 2nd Technology 3rd Underwriting & claims management 3rd Relationship management 3rd
“Advisors regard us highly in many categories. That’s a testament to our mutual status and ability to focus exclusively on our clients and advisor partnerships,” said Marc Avaria, Executive Vice President, Group Insurance Division. “We are truly working together to build strong, enduring and aligned partnerships with our clients and advisors.”
“We’re delighted with these results and are committed to continuously advancing our delivery of a better benefits experience for our clients and advisors,” added Avaria.More highlights from the latest NMG survey
Nationally, we ranked first in seven subcategories in Operational Management, including:- Overall service to intermediaries,
- Overall service to plan sponsors,
- New quote process,
- Plan implementation,
- Renewal process,
- Accuracy and timeliness of reporting and billing, and
- Administration quality and responsiveness
And we were rated strongly in Technology, finishing in the top three for:- Overall technology for Intermediary (2nd)
- Member experience (3rd)
- Quality of technology for the plan sponsor (2nd)
- Quality of mobile application (2nd)
REMINDER: Equitable's National Biosimilar Program starts in March*
In October 2023 we announced the upcoming launch of our national biosimilar program. Starting March 1, 2024, we are expanding our biosimilar switch initiatives to provide a single, nationwide** program.
Why we’re making the switch
Over the past few years, most provinces have introduced policies to delist some originator biologic drugs. They require most patients to switch to biosimilar versions of those drugs to be eligible for coverage under their public drug plans. Soon, it is expected that all provincial drug plans will cover only biosimilars.
Equitable’s National Biosimilar Program simplifies drug plan coverage by replacing our provincial programs. It also protects clients from additional drug costs while offering access to lower-cost biosimilars deemed equally safe and effective by Health Canada.
How will this affect clients' drug plans?
Because we have already introduced biosimilar switch initiatives in most provinces, the impact of this change will be minimal. It will primarily affect plan members in provinces or territories where we haven’t already required the switch to biosimilars. It will also affect plan members who are taking biosimilars that were not originally included in the switch initiative for their province.
Regardless of where they live, plan members across Canada 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. Plan members already taking the originator biologic will be required to switch to a biosimilar version of the drug to maintain coverage under their Equitable plan. We will support their transition with education, personalized communication, and resources.
Advance notice for plan members
We contacted affected claimants in early December to give them enough time to change their prescriptions 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 Account Executive.
** Excludes plan members in Quebec who participate in a separate provincial program.
2024 dental fee guide updates*
Each year, Provincial and Territorial Dental Associations publish fee guides. Equitable uses these guides to help determine the reimbursement limits for dental procedures.
For your reference, you may wish to refer to the 2024 list of the average dental fee increases for general practitioners.
Homewood Health wins HR Reporter Reader's Choice award for EFAP excellence*
Equitable is proud to congratulate our Employee and Family Assistance Plan (EFAP) partner, Homewood Health®, for winning the Canadian HR Reporter 2023 Reader’s Choice Award in Employee Assistance Plan services. Homewood’s EFAP provides confidential support for a range of health, family, money, and work issues through face-to-face, phone, email, chat, or video counselling. The award recognizes their high standards in counselling and mental health support services.
The annual Reader’s Choice Awards identify organizations that provide outstanding expertise and services for HR professionals and employers across Canada. Those organizations provide valuable information on useful, innovative HR and employee benefits products and programs, in categories such as recruitment, mental health services, employee engagement programs, and more.
Sharing Homewood Health with your clients
Since 2019, we have worked with Homewood to provide mental health services for Equitable benefits plan members.
Your clients can access Homewood Health’s award-winning EFAP for an additional fee by adding it to their benefits plan. Services are available 24/7, 365 days a year.
All Equitable clients also have free access to Homewood Health Online in their benefits plan. Homewood Online provides a variety of helpful wellness resources, including:
- Homeweb, an online and mobile health and wellness portal,
- Health Risk Assessment, a group of assessment tools to help plan members identify and overcome health and wellness barriers, and
- Online Internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) through Sentio to manage symptoms of anxiety and/or depression.
Questions
To learn more about Homewood Health’s services, contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Account Executive.
-
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. - [pdf] Introducing Equitable
-
A new look and feel for EZtransact, our digital self-serve tool
We’re excited to introduce a new look and feel for EZtransact™, our digital self-serve tool. EZtransact allows you to:
- • Help a client set up a one-time or recurring deposit or edit an existing pre-authorized debit.
- • Manage client segregated fund policies conveniently and eliminate the hassle of filling out forms and facilitating signatures.
EZtransact now has a simplified and modern design that will make managing pre-authorized debit requests even easier!
Check out EZtransact. And stay tuned for more exciting digital enhancements coming soon!
If you have any questions, please contact your Regional Investment Sales Manager.
Posted November 27, 2023 -
Let’s “Talk Money”: From first savings to retirement income
Financial Literacy Month may be ending, but the conversation shouldn’t.
Talking with an advisor helps normalize money conversations— including discussions on saving, spending, managing debt, and more. This can help clients feel better and make smarter financial choices. As an advisor, you can guide clients from their first savings through to retirement with Equitable® .
Starting out? Clients can consider:
Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA)
Save for short- or long-term goals and take out money anytime, tax-free.
First Home Savings Account (FHSA)
Save up to $40,000 tax-free for a first home. Contributions may be tax-deductible, and withdrawals are tax-free for buying a qualifying home.
Growing wealth? Clients can consider:
Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP)
Contributions may be tax-deductible. Good for long-term savings—money grows tax-free until retirement.
Guaranteed Interest Account (GIA) / Daily Interest Account (DIA)
Earn steady interest with flexible terms. Available in a TFSA, RRSP, and FHSA.
Retirement ready? Clients can consider:
Payout annuities
Guaranteed income for life or a set time. Helps make sure savings last.
Resources to support these conversations
Use our easy online tools: EZcomplete® to apply and EZtransact™ for transactions. Let’s help Canadians save smarter—one step at a time. When we work together, success is mutual.
Reach out to your Director, Investment Sales if you have questions. -
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. - About
-
Feel confident and at ease with Cloud DX
We’re making it easier for clients to access our Cloud DX services
At Equitable®, our clients are our top priority. As part of this commitment, EquiLiving® Critical illness claimants can choose to have Cloud DX virtually monitor their vitals while they recover. This includes receiving tailored medical grade devices and six months of continuous virtual care monitoring.
Empowering our clients
We understand that receiving a diagnosis can be overwhelming, leaving clients feeling stressed and uncertain. Our streamlined process helps empower clients to feel more in control of their situation. Clients can feel calm and confident as they focus on their recovery.
We’ve made the process to access the Cloud DX service easier!
An Equitable client care specialist will:
1. Reach out to the client when their claim has been received and explain the Cloud DX services that may help with their recovery.
2. Ask if they are interested in being contacted by Cloud DX to learn more and start the service if their claim is approved.
3. Coordinate the client’s access with Cloud DX. Cloud DX will reach out to the client for an onboarding callLearn more
For more information, please see the Cloud DX and Equitable advisor guide, or ask your Equitable wholesaler for more information.
Connected Health is a trademark of Cloud Diagnostics Canada ULC. Used with permission. EquiLiving and Equitable are registered trademarks of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
Cloud DX is a non-contractual benefit and may be withdrawn or changed by Equitable at any time. To be eligible for the Cloud DX offering, a claimant must have received payment on or after February 12, 2022, for a covered critical condition benefit under an EquiLiving critical illness insurance plan issued by Equitable. An early detection benefit payment does not qualify. -
RRIF minimum withdrawal changes in response to COVID-19
Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and retirees concerned about withdrawing from their portfolios during the market sell-off, the federal government recently announced a 25% reduction in the minimum withdrawal rate for Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs) for 2020. This reduction only applies to funds that have not yet been withdrawn.
If your client chooses to leave the payment at the current minimum payment for the 2020 calendar year, no further action is required.
If your client has already received the unreduced payment for the year, your client cannot return the excess amount.
If your client would like to reduce the minimum, you can contact our Advisor Services Team at 1.866.884.7427, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET or email savingsretirement@equitable.ca to advise us of the change. Taxes will not be withheld on the payment.
- [pdf] Daily/Guaranteed Interest Account Client Brochure