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1. About
2. RRIF Payment Calculator
3. 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
4. Coming March 23, 2020 – Equimax enhancements include 60 months of flexibility to make extra deposits

   The following features will be available on Equimax Estate Builder® and Equimax Wealth Accumulator® plans!   
   
   60 months of Excelerator Deposit Option (EDO) flexibility

   • Up to 60 months to make initial EDO payment or resume stopped or reduced payments. No additional underwriting required. 
   • For approved EDO amounts exceeding $150,000 annually ($12,500 monthly), clients have up to 12 months from the date the EDO application was signed or the date of the last EDO payment to make an EDO payment before a contribution cap may apply.
   • Available on all policies with an effective date of March 23, 2020 or later.
   
   
   
   EDO available on case ratings of 300% or less
   • If a policy already in effect has a rating over 200% and up to and including 300%, the owner can apply to add EDO provided the policy was issued under the 2017 tax rules.
   • Additional underwriting and submission of satisfactory evidence may be required.
   
   
   
   Disability Benefit Disbursement at no extra cost
   • If a life insured becomes disabled from a severe mental or physical impairment as defined in the policy contract, the owner may apply for a tax-free,* lump sum payment of up to 100% of the policy’s cash value.
   • Exclusions apply. See sample policy contract for full details, including the qualifications for the disbursement.
   • Available on all policy issued under the 2017 tax rules.

   
   
   * Tax laws are subject to change. The payment of the disability benefit disbursement may affect the adjusted cost basis (ACB) of the policy as it is considered payment of a capital benefit. Changes in ACB can affect the future taxation of the policy.

   Processing your Application
   To make the transition as smooth as possible, please take a moment to review the following transition rules.
    

5. Policy Title Changes
6. Advisor Guide
7. Responding to Ontario’s biosimilar switch initiative

   We are changing coverage for some biologic drugs in Ontario 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 government policy while providing access to equally safe and effective lower-cost biosimilars.

   Ontario’s provincial biosimilar initiative
   Announced in December 2022, Ontario’s biosimilar switch program ends coverage of eight biologic drugs for Ontario residents covered by the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB). The transition to biosimilar versions of these drugs began on March 31, 2023. ODB recipients using these drugs will be required to switch to biosimilar versions of these drugs by December 29, 2023, to maintain their provincial coverage

   Equitable Life’s response
   To ensure this provincial change doesn’t result in your clients paying additional and avoidable drug costs, we are changing coverage in Ontario for most biologic drugs included in the provincial initiative.
   
   Beginning October 1, 2023, plan members in Ontario 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. 

   Communicating this change to plan members
   We will inform any affected plan members in early August 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. 

   Will this change impact my clients’ rates?
   Any cost savings associated with the change will be factored in 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 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 Ontario includes more biologic drugs in its biosimilar initiative, as new biosimilars come onto the market, and as we make changes in drug eligibility.
8. Dialogue Virtual Healthcare now available to add to Equitable Life benefits plans

   We’re pleased to announce we are partnering with Dialogue, Canada’s leading virtual health provider, to offer unlimited and on-demand virtual access to primary healthcare practitioners.   Virtual Healthcare is the latest addition to our HealthConnector suite of health and wellness services. It is available to add to all Equitable Life benefits plans for an additional cost as of July 1, 2023. Features of Dialogue Virtual Healthcare Available 24/7, 365 days a year, Dialogue Virtual Healthcare provides access to unlimited non-urgent medical care for a wide range of health concerns. Plan members get fast access to the largest, most experienced and bilingual medical team in Canada for non-urgent medical issues. They also benefit from in-app prescription renewals and refills, personalized follow-ups after every consultation, and concierge-level navigation support for all referrals to in-person specialists when needed. Dialogue’s industry-leading platform provides an all-in-one patient journey to address health issues, reducing long wait times and time away for doctor appointments. Plan members and their families can access Dialogue Virtual Healthcare through the secure web portal or mobile app. The Dialogue medical team includes doctors, nurse practitioners and nurses. Plan members can use the service even if they’re already receiving care from a family doctor. Benefits of Virtual Healthcare For your clients By providing access to Virtual Healthcare, plan sponsors can help to: Drive employee engagement; Reduce absenteeism related to in-person medical appointments; Manage chronic health issues; Attract and retain top talent; and Build a healthier workforce. For their plan members By providing easier access to primary healthcare practitioners, Virtual Healthcare can offer extra health and wellness support for plan members. It also supports members that may experience barriers to accessing in-person healthcare, such as: Living in a remote location; Work or family obligations during standard medical clinic hours; Mobility challenges related to a disability; and Transportation challenges. Learn more about bringing Dialogue Virtual Healthcare to your clients Click the link to learn more about Dialogue Virtual Healthcare : Welcome to Dialogue! Questions? To learn more about how your clients can add Virtual Healthcare to their benefits plan, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.

9. 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*
   *Indicates content that will be shared with your clients.
    

   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
   In Underwriting and Claims Management, we finished in the top three for flexibility of underwriting (2nd).
   
   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.