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Equitable Life Group Benefits Bulletin – September 2021
In this issue:
- Right drug, right dose*
- Responding to New Brunswick’s Biosimilar Initiative*
- Helping plan members access our convenient digital options*
- Reminder: Please access forms on EquitableHealth.ca*
- Over-age dependents losing coverage?*
Right drug, right dose
Equitable Life partners with Personalized Prescribing Inc. to help plan members avoid treatment trial and error
Patients suffering from mental health conditions often need to try several medications before they find one that works for them. This is frustrating and can result in negative side-effects, a longer recovery, lost productivity, or a delayed return to work.
To help plan members avoid this treatment trial and error, we have partnered with Personalized Prescribing Inc. to provide easier access to pharmacogenomic testing for plan members with mental health conditions.
Pharmacogenomics 101
Pharmacogenomics is the study of how an individual’s genes influence their response to medications. Pharmacogenomic testing can help determine how compatible a patient’s body may be to a particular drug, and helps their physician prescribe the most appropriate medication. The goal is to ensure the right drug is prescribed to deliver the most positive outcome with the fewest side effects.
Easier access to pharmacogenomic testing
Through our partnership with Personalized Prescribing Inc., any Equitable Life plan member diagnosed with a mental health condition can purchase a pharmacogenomic test for a discounted price of $399 plus HST – a 20% savings.
We are also introducing the option for plan sponsors to add coverage of pharmacogenomic tests provided by Personalized Prescribing Inc. for mental health conditions.
With this coverage, plan members are eligible for pharmacogenomic testing if:- They have been diagnosed with a mental health condition;
- They are currently taking or have stopped taking a medication for a mental health condition that does not work or has side effects; and
- The pharmacogenomic test is conducted by Personalized Prescribing Inc.
Getting a test is easy. The plan member starts by visiting www.personalizedprescribing.com/equitablelife to request a test kit.
Once they receive their test kit from Personalized Prescribing Inc., they simply provide a saliva sample and send it back (postage is pre-paid). Within 7-10 business days, they receive an Rx Report™ that they can share with their doctor. This report includes details to help their doctor prescribe the right drug and the right dose for them.
Benefits for plan members:- The plan member and their physician receive a full report that is easy to understand;
- The report identifies the most compatible medications for the plan member’s condition and the medications to avoid;
- The physician is able to prescribe the most appropriate medication with the fewest side effects; and
- The plan member avoids medication trial and error.
- Pharmacogenomic testing can be an effective prevention strategy to help employees stay healthy and potentially avoid a mental health-related work absence; and
- Employees suffering from mental health conditions may be more productive when they are on the right medication for them.
Responding to New Brunswick’s Biosimilar Initiative
We are changing coverage for some biologic drugs in New Brunswick in response to the province’s Biosimilar Initiative. These changes will help protect your clients from additional drug costs while still providing access to equally safe and effective biosimilars.
What is New Brunswick’s Biosimilar Initiative?
New Brunswick’s Biosimilar Initiative will end provincial coverage of several originator biologic drugs for some or all conditions beginning on December 1, 2021. Patients who are using these drugs for the affected conditions will be required to switch to biosimilar versions of the drugs to maintain coverage under the province’s government drug plan.
What is the impact on private drug plans?
The most significant risk to plan sponsors who maintain coverage of originator biologics is coordination of benefits (CoB) risk. If other insurance carriers follow suit with the province and delist the originator biologics, it could expose a plan that doesn’t delist them to significant coordination of benefits risk.
For example, consider a patient who is covered under two private plans – their employer plan and a spousal plan. If their employer plan was the first payer for the originator biologic but delists the drug, the spousal plan now becomes the first payor. If the spousal plan continues to cover the cost of the originator, it now pays most or all of the cost of the drug.
How is Equitable Life responding?
To protect your clients’ plans from paying additional and avoidable drug costs, we are changing coverage in New Brunswick for most biologic drugs included in the provincial initiative.
Beginning Feb. 1, 2022, plan members in New Brunswick will no longer be eligible for coverage of Humira, Lantus, Humalog and Copaxone 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 those drugs to maintain coverage under their Equitable Life plan.
How will Equitable Life communicate this change to plan members?
We will be communicating with affected claimants in early-December 2021 to allow them ample time to change their prescriptions and avoid any interruptions in their treatment or their coverage.
Can my client maintain coverage of these biologic drugs?
All groups, except myFlex clients, who wish to opt out of this change and maintain coverage of these originator biologics for New Brunswick plan members can submit a policy amendment. Amendments must be submitted no later than Nov. 30, 2021.
Advisors with myFlex Benefits clients who wish to maintain coverage of these originator biologics for New Brunswick plan members should speak to their myFlex Sales Manager to confirm their eligibility to opt out of this change.
Groups that opt out of this change are also opting out of any future changes to our New Brunswick biosimilar initiative. Their drug plans will continue to cover any additional originator biologics that we subsequently add to the program.
Will this change impact my clients’ rates?
The rate impact of this change and 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.
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 also known as the “originator” biologic. Biosimilars are also biologics. They are highly similar to the originator drug they are based on and have been shown to have no clinically meaningful differences in safety or efficacy.
Questions?
If you have any questions about this change, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.
Helping plan members access our convenient digital options
Some of your clients’ plan members aren’t benefitting from our secure and convenient digital options to access and use their Group Benefits. They can sign up to submit claims electronically for faster claim payments, get claim payments deposited directly to their bank accounts, easily review their coverage details, quickly access their Group Benefits plan booklet, benefits card and more. We’ve made it easier than ever to sign up, with more resources all conveniently located at Equitable.ca/go/digital.
Your clients’ plan members can visit this link to view:- A brochure with all the high-level instructions they need to get started on EquitableHealth.ca and the EZClaim mobile app
- A full video guide on how to access and navigate EquitableHealth.ca
Reminder: Please access forms on EquitableHealth.ca*
We routinely update our Plan Administrator forms on EquitableHealth.ca based on their feedback and to stay compliant with legal and/or regulatory requirements. If your clients need a form, they should always pull the most recent version from EquitableHealth.ca instead of reusing forms they have saved on their computer. Using an old or outdated form may result in processing delays.
Your clients can access the Plan Administrator forms by following these steps:- Login to EquitableHealth.ca
- Select “Documents”
- Toggle between English and French forms
- Click on the document name to download a PDF copy
Over-age dependents losing coverage?*
Some of your clients’ plan members may have dependents who are reaching the maximum age for eligibility under their group benefits plan.
If they are attending school full-time or are disabled, they may be eligible for continued coverage. Plan members with over-age dependents can simply complete the Application for Coverage of Dependent Child Over Age 21 (Form #441) and submit it through our online document submission tool. They can access the tool by logging into their Group Benefits account at www.equitablehealth.ca and clicking My Resources.
If they are not attending school full-time or disabled, they will no longer be covered under the plan. However, they may be eligible for Coverage2go®. It allows individuals who are losing their group coverage to purchase personal month-to-month health and dental coverage that is affordable, reliable and works like their previous group benefits plan. They can choose the level of coverage and protection that suits their personal situation.
There are no medical questions – they simply need to apply within 60 days of losing their health coverage under their group benefits plan.*
Help your clients’ plan members and their dependents who are losing coverage by letting them know about Coverage2go. They can visit our website to learn more about Coverage2go and to get a quote.
*Quebec residents are not eligible for Coverage2go -
Extending Homeweb to plan members who are losing coverage
We know these are difficult times for Canadian employers and their employees.
As businesses temporarily suspend operations to help stop the spread of COVID-19, some employers have had to make the difficult decision to temporarily lay off employees or put their benefits coverage on hold.
So we are pleased to announce that Homewood Health® and Equitable Life® will extend access to Homeweb, a personalized online mental health and wellness portal, for up to 120 days for plan members who have temporarily lost their benefits coverage due to COVID-19.
Employees and their family members will continue to have access to the Homeweb website and mobile app, including:
- iVolve, Homewood’s online self-directed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy treatment tool to help manage mild to moderate anxiety and depression;
- Resources and information to support themselves and their family members through the COVID-19 pandemic;
- An interactive online Health Risk Assessment to help identify and address health risks; and
- An online library of interactive tools, assessments and 20 different e-courses that allow each user to learn at his/her own pace.
This will allow businesses undergoing financial hardship to provide some support to employees who are temporarily without benefits coverage.
- Sales Strategies
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A New Universal Life Insurance Solution for the 21st Century – Available NOW!
Introducing a new universal life solution built for the 21st century: Equitable Generations™ universal life insurance is available for sale NOW!
Check out our Equitable Generations universal life splash page: www.equitable.ca/ul
Our new Equitable Generations universal life insurance
Equitable Generations is a universal life product that offers investment options that resonate with today’s 21st century client while reducing every fee possible. It also reduces the cost of insurance to help clients maximize their opportunity to purchase coverage and build tax-advantaged wealth.
NEW: EZstartTM Generations
Today we are launching EZstart Generations which is:
- A mobile-optimized tool for advisors
- Designed to start a conversation and provide a possible universal life solution in under one minute
- Goals based - you can see how Equitable Generations™ universal life insurance can perform at different stages of a client’s life.
NEW: SMS
Effective today, September 26, 2022 when you submit an application, you can opt-in to receive text message updates for your new business applications.
That’s a text message when:- The application is received,
- A decision has been made by Equitable Life,
- The policy is ready for delivery, and
- The commissions have been triggered.
Learn more
Find all the exciting details on our virtual launch splash page (www.equitable.ca/ul) and watch our informative videos to get all the information you need to start selling Equitable Generations universal life.
Check out our Equitable Generations universal life splash page: www.equitable.ca/ul
Click on the Marketing Materials tab on EquiNet® for all of our new Equitable Generations marketing materials.Please contact your Regional Sales Manager for more information.
TM and ® denote trademarks of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
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GIA Coming to the Equitable FHSA
Many clients have already taken advantage of Equitable’s First Home Savings Account (FHSA), available on Pivotal Select™ Investment Class (75/75) and Pivotal Select Estate Class (75/100).
And now, we’ve got some more great news. We’re working to expand the Equitable® FHSA to include our Guaranteed Interest Account (GIA). But clients don’t need to wait to start earning tax-free income in a FHSA.
If clients want to open a FHSA now but may be interested in an Equitable GIA, simply choose the No-Load Equitable Money Market Fund Select investment option while we work on including the GIA on FHSA. The current yield to maturity is 5.41% gross.1
We will let you know when the GIA is available in FHSA in the coming months. Once it is available, advisors can speak to clients about the GIA options available in the FHSA and select what best suits their needs.
Don’t forget, clients who make a contribution to their FHSA, RRSP or TFSA between January 1 and February 29, 2024, could win $5,000 and you could win $1,000 in Equitable’s New Year’s Resolution, New Year’s Contribution Contest.2
For more information, please contact your Regional Investment Sales Manager.
1 As of January 16, 2024, 4.06% net after deducting the management expense ratio. Yield to Maturity: the market value weighted-average yield to maturity includes the coupon payments and any capital gain or loss that the investor will realize by holding the bonds to maturity.
2 Equitable’s New Year’s Resolution, New Year’s Contribution Contest: No purchase necessary. Contest period January 1, 2024, to February 29, 2024. Enter by making a deposit to an Equitable FHSA, TFSA or RRSP during the contest period or by submitting a no-purchase entry. One prize for a total value of $5,000 CAD to be drawn on March 8, 2024, will be awarded. The servicing advisor for the policy to which the selected entrant made the deposit is also an eligible winner and will receive a $1,000 CAD prize. For example, if an Equitable client is a winner of the $5,000 prize, the client’s servicing advisor wins a $1,000 prize. Open to legal residents of Canada of the age of majority. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible Entries received during the Contest Period. For full contest rules, including no-purchase method of entry, see the full contest rules.Posted January 17, 2024
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With the Equitable Life FHSA, you don’t have to wait to get clients’ money working for them
The Equitable™ First Home Savings Account is off and running! Thanks to your amazing support, many clients have already taken advantage of the great benefits the FHSA has to offer. Let’s keep the momentum going.
Clients don’t need to wait to start making their dream of home ownership a reality!
With the Equitable FHSA they can put their money to work right away. Available on Pivotal Select™ Investment Class (75/75) and Pivotal Select Estate Class (75/100), the Equitable FHSA offers clients an array of investment products to suit their individual needs and risk tolerance.
Don’t wait. Get clients started today!
And, clients who open a FHSA before December 31, 2023, have a chance to win $8,000 towards their 2024 FHSA contribution. And, the advisor wins $2,000!
To open a FHSA for clients, log into EZcomplete®, our highly rated online application tool. It is easy to use, convenient, and fast.
For more information on FHSA, including a FAQ, and client materials, visit EquiNet® or contact your Regional Investment Sales Manager.
® and ™ denotes a trademark of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
Equitable FHSA Contest: No purchase necessary. Contest period September 11 to December 31, 2023. Enter by making a deposit to an Equitable FHSA during the contest period or by submitting a no-purchase entry. One prize for a total value of $8,000 CAD to be drawn on January 16, 2024, will be awarded. The servicing advisor for the policy to which the selected entrant made the deposit is also an eligible winner will receive a $2,000 CAD prize. For example, if an Equitable client is a winner of the $8,000 prize, the client’s servicing advisor wins a $2,000 prize. Open to legal residents of Canada of the age of majority. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible Entries received during the Contest Period. For full contest rules, including no-purchase method of entry, see full contest rules.
Posted November 7, 2023