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  1. Vanguard
  2. Equitable Life Group Benefits Bulletin – November 2020

    In this issue:

    *Indicates content that will be shared with your clients

    Telemedicine now included in Travel Assist*

    Medical emergencies can be particularly stressful while travelling. Making your way to a medical facility can be a struggle. And once you get there, you could face long wait times, language barriers or even the risk of COVID-19 infection.

    That’s why Allianz Global Assistance®, our Travel Assist provider, is adding two new virtual care options to provide plan members with timely and appropriate medical support.

    As always, when a travel medical emergency strikes, plan members call Allianz for assistance. During the intake process plan members will be guided through a series of questions to triage their unique medical situation. Options for care now include two different virtual care services:

    • TeleConsultation – Video and chat consultation with a locally licensed physician. This physician can diagnose simple medical conditions and provide a prescription. Available across Canada and in some high travel states in the United States.
    • TeleAdvice – Video and chat consultation for situations which are not likely to require a prescription. The physician can diagnose simple medical conditions and provide medical guidance.

    Plan members who use virtual care may benefit from:

    • Reduced wait times;
    • Care from the comfort of their current location;
    • Reduced language barriers;
    • No need to arrange transportation to a medical facility;
    • Reduced impact on travel itinerary; and
    • Reduced risk of exposure.

    Both TeleConsultation and TeleAdvice will be available for all Equitable Life plan members beginning January 1st, 2021. There is no additional cost, no changes required to your client’s plans, and no change to the way plan members contact Allianz in the event of a travel medical emergency.

    This PDF plan member update will also be included in the eNews to plan administrators.

    If you have any questions about these new features, please contact your Equitable Life Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.

    Allianz Global Assistance is a registered business name of AZGA Service Canada Inc. and AZGA Insurance Agency Canada Ltd.

    Help your clients take advantage of our convenient digital options*

    During this time of physical distancing, people are looking for ways to interact with their providers virtually. We recently enhanced our Online Plan Member Enrolment tool, allowing all groups to add new plan members without the need for paper forms.

    Did you know, we have several other digital options available to make it easier for your clients to do business with us and for their plan members to access and use their benefits plan? Over 71% of plan administrators are managing their plan online and 78% of plan members are already using our digital tools.

    For plan administrators:

    • Plan Administrator Portal (EquitableHealth.ca) – plan administrators can easily manage their plan anytime and anywhere
    • Digital Welcome Kits – personalized welcome kits are delivered to plan members via email
    • Easy automated payments – plan administrators can avoid missed payments by setting up pre-authorized debit or electronic funds transfer 

    For plan members:

    • Plan Member Portal (EquitableHealth.ca) – plan members get secure, 24/7 access to their claims history, coverage details and health and wellness resources
    • Electronic Claim Payments and Notifications – plan members can get claim updates sooner in their email inbox and payments right into their bank account
    • EZClaim Mobile App – submitting claims from a mobile device is fast, easy and secure
    • Digital Benefits Cards – plan members no longer have to dig through their wallet – they can download their benefits card on their mobile device

    Learn more about how we’re making it easier for your clients to do business with us

    2021 changes to Maximum Insurable Earnings, Maximum Weekly Insurable Earnings and Short Term Disability Benefit*

    The Canada Employment Insurance Commission and Canada Revenue Agency have announced the 2021 changes to Maximum Insurable Earnings, and premiums for employment insurance. These changes take effect January 1st, 2021.

    Maximum Insurable Earnings (MIE)

    The MIE will increase from $54,200 to $56,300.

    Maximum Weekly Insurable Earnings (MWIE)

    The MWIE will increase from $1,042 to $1,083.

    EI Benefit (55% of the MWIE, rounded to the nearest dollar)

    EI benefit will increase from $573 to $595

    Information for Plan sponsors

    If your client’s Group Policy with Equitable Life includes a Short Term Disability (STD) benefit which is tied to the EI MWIE, and at least one classification of employees has less than a $595 maximum:

    • To comply with the provisions of their policy, their STD benefit will be revised with the maximums updated based on the percentage of EI MEIW shown in their policy.
    • The additional premium for any increase from their previous STD amounts and new STD amounts will be show on their January 2021 Group Insurance Billing (as applicable).

    If their STD maximum is currently higher than $595 or based on a flat amount (not based on a percentage or regular earnings):

    • No change will be made to their plan unless otherwise directed.

    If your clients wish to provide direction regarding revising their STD maximum, or have questions about the process, they can email Kari Gough, Manager, Group Quotes and Issue.

     

    *Indicates content that will be shared with your clients

  3. [pdf] Segregated Fund Semi-annual Report - June 30, 2025
  4. A New Universal Life Solution for the 21st Century – Coming Soon

    Introducing a new Universal Life solution built for the 21st century: Equitable Generations™ universal life insurance will be available for sale September 26, 2022.

     

    Check out our Equitable Generations universal life splash page: www.equitable.ca/ul


    Our new Equitable Generations
    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.

    Features of Equitable Generations:
    • 34 fund options, including 18 new investment options, tracking funds managed by Fidelity™, Dynamic™, Invesco™ and more.
    • 3 sustainable investment “ESG” (Environmental, Social & Governance) options – because today’s buyer cares as much about impact as they do about returns.
    • Target date funds that auto-rebalance over time so that as a client approaches retirement, the fund adjusts its risk automatically.
    • A lower cost insurance with no policy fee, with the opportunity to purchase insurance protection, more opportunity to build wealth, or both.


    Supporting you at claim time with KIND™

    This service will include the following components:
    ● Living Benefit
    ● Bereavement Counselling benefit
    ● Snap Advance*
    ● Compassionate Advance*

    * Snap Advance and Compassionate Advance are non-contractual and may be altered or terminated by Equitable Life at any time without notice.

    New illustration software available
    The updated illustration software will be available for download after 9 a.m. ET on Tuesday, September 6, and will include the new Equitable Generations product. See the Equitable Sales Illustrations Update for information on how to download the software or check for updates.  

    Learn more
    Transition rules are available

     

    Check out our Equitable Generations universal life splash page: www.equitable.ca/ul

    Watch for more information and get ready to sell Equitable Generations universal life as it becomes available on September 26.

    Please contact your Regional Sales Manager for more information. 

    Invesco® and all associated trademarks are trademarks of Invesco Holding Company Limited, used under licence. Invesco is a registered business name of Invesco Canada Ltd.
    Dynamic Funds is a registered trademark of its owner, used under license, and a division of 1832 Asset Management L.P.
    Fidelity is a registered trademark of 483A Bay Street Holdings LP. Used with permission.
    Equitable Life, Equitable Life of Canada, KIND and Equitable Generations are registered trademarks of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.

  5. Advisor Compensation after the DSC/LL ban May 29, 2023 As of May 29, 2023, Pivotal Select segregated fund contracts will not allow new deposits to the Deferred Sales Charge (DSC) and Low Load (LL) sales charge options. This is in response to the ban on deferred sales charges by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA). The following sales charge options will continue to be available:
    • No Load (NL)
    • No Load – 3 year chargeback (NL-CB)
    • No Load – 5 year chargeback (NL-CB5)
     
    Advisors may be wondering how compensation compares under various sales charge options.
     
    Here is an example of advisor compensation for a $100,000 segregated fund contract in the Equitable Life Active Balanced Portfolio Select.* 
    Year No Load DSC Low Load No Load CB No Load CB5
    1 $1,008 $5,544 $3,024 $3,500 $5,600
    2 $1,008 $504 $504 $504 $504
    3 $1,008 $504 $504 $504 $504
    4 $1,008 $504 $1,008 $504 $504
    5 $1,008 $504 $1,008 $1,008 $504
    6 $1,008 $504 $1,008 $1,008 $504
    7 $1,008 $504 $1,008 $1,008 $504
    8 $1,008 $504 $1,008 $1,008 $504
    Contract Value Total Compensation Paid
    $100,000 $8,064 $9,072 $9,072 $9,044 $9,128
    *For illustration purposes, this assumes a 0% return over the period shown.
     
     
    Over an 8-year period, total advisor compensation with the CB5 sales charge option is $9,128 versus $9,072 and $8,064 with DSC and NL respectively.
     
    Below is the chargeback schedule for NL-CB and NL-CB5: 
     
    Month (age of units) Commission Chargeback Schedule
    NL-CB    		 Commission Chargeback Schedule
    NL-CB5
    1 - 12 100% 100%
    13 - 24 97.2% - 66.4% 98.3% - 82.0%
    25 – 36 63.6% - 32.8% 80.5% - 64.0%
    37 – 48 0% 62.5% - 46.0%
    49 – 60 0% 44.5% - 28%
    61+ 0% 0%
     
    For more information, please contact your Regional Investment Sales Manager.
     
    ™ or ® denote registered trademarks of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
     
    Date posted: June 15, 2023 
     
  6. Gathering paperwork for a new application
  7. [pdf] B2B RSP Loan Product Brochure
  8. [pdf] DSC and Transfer Fee Reimbursement Request
  9. Responding to Alberta's Biosimilar Initiative

    Beginning March 15, 2021, we are changing coverage for some biologic drugs in Alberta in response to the province’s Biosimilar Initiative. These changes will help protect your clients from additional drug costs that may result from this new government policy while still providing access to equally safe and effective biosimilars.

    What is Alberta’s Biosimilar Initiative?

    Alberta’s Biosimilar Initiative will end provincial coverage of several originator biologic drugs for some or all conditions beginning on Jan. 15, 2021. Patients 18 and over 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?

    Industry response to Alberta’s Biosimilar Initiative has the potential to significantly impact your clients’ drug plan costs. 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. (See Case Study below.)

    How is Equitable Life responding?

    To protect your clients’ plans from paying additional and avoidable drug costs, we are changing coverage in Alberta for most biologic drugs included in the provincial initiative.

    As of March 15, 2021, several originator biologic drugs will no longer be covered for plan members of all ages in Alberta. Plan members taking these biologics will be required to switch to the biosimilar versions of these drugs to maintain eligibility under their Equitable Life plan.

    What drugs and conditions are affected?

    The following table outlines the drugs and conditions that will be affected by this change. The list of affected drugs or conditions is dynamic and will change as Alberta includes more biologic drugs in its Biosimilar Initiative, as new biosimilars come onto the market, and as we make changes in drug eligibility.

    Drug name Originator biologic
     
    These drugs will no longer be covered in Alberta for the conditions listed in this table.    		 Biosimilar
     
    Plan members will need to switch to these medications to maintain coverage under their Equitable Life plan.
         		 Affected health conditions
     
    The changes in coverage apply to these conditions.
     Etanercept  Enbrel Brenzys
    Erelzi    		 Ankylosing Spondylitis
    Rheumatoid Arthritis
    Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)
    Psoriatic Arthritis
    Plaque Psoriasis (adults and children)
     Infliximab  Remicade Inflectra
    Renflexis
    Avsola    		 Ankylosing Spondylitis
    Plaque Psoriasis
    Psoriatic Arthritis
    Rheumatoid Arthritis
    Crohn's Disease (adults and children)
    Ulcerative Colitis (adults and children)
     Insulin glargine  Lantus Basaglar Diabetes (Type 1 and 2)
     Filgrastim  Neupogen Grastofil
    Nivestym    		 Neutropenia
     Pegfilgrastim  Neulasta Lapelga
    Fulphila
    Ziextenzo    		 Neutropenia
     Glatiramer*  Copaxone Glatect
    TEVA-Glatiramer Acetate    		 Multiple Sclerosis

    *Glatiramer is a non-biologic complex drug.

    How will Equitable Life communicate this change to plan members?

    We will be communicating with affected claimants in January 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?

    Traditional groups who wish to opt out of this change and maintain coverage of these originator biologics for Alberta plan members can submit a policy amendment. Amendments must be submitted no later than January 15, 2021. Advisors with myFlex Benefits clients who wish to maintain coverage of these originator biologics for Alberta plan members should speak to their myFlex Sales Manager to confirm their eligibility to opt out of this change.

    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.

    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.

    CASE STUDY: The Alberta Biosimilar Initiative and Coordination of Benefits (CoB) risk

    CoB risk is real and can be significant, even if a pharmaceutical savings program exists.

    The industry response to Alberta’s Biosimilar Initiative has the potential to significantly impact your clients’ drug plan costs. Some insurers may follow the province’s lead and delist these originator biologics. Others may cut back coverage to the cost of the biosimilars or maintain coverage of the originators. These differences could expose a plan that doesn’t delist the originator biologics to significant coordination of benefits risk. Here’s how:

    Let’s assume there are two private drug plans – Plan A and Plan B. Both plans are open plans with no deductible. Plan A has 80% co-insurance and Plan B has 100% co-insurance.

    BEFORE Alberta’s Biosimilar Initiative

    Before Alberta’s Biosimilar Initiative, both plans cover the originator biologics listed above.

    Plan A is the first private payer for an Alberta plan member taking an originator biologic drug for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Plan B is the second private payer. The cost of the originator biologic for the plan member is $30,000 annually. Here’s how the coordination of benefits would look before Alberta’s Biosimilar Initiative.


    AFTER Alberta’s Biosimilar Initiative

    In response to Alberta’s Biosimilar Initiative, the insurer for Plan A delists the originator biologic and requires plan members to switch to the biosimilar. The insurer for Plan B maintains coverage of the originator biologic. Under this scenario, if the plan member doesn’t switch, Plan B essentially becomes the first payer and sees their annual cost increase by 400% (from $6,000 to $30,000).


    Even if the insurer for Plan B cuts back coverage to the cost of the biosimilar or adjusts the paid amount because they have a savings program in place with the drug manufacturer, the impact could be significant. For example, if the insurer cuts back coverage to 50% (or $15,000 annually), Plan B would see a 150% annual cost increase (from $6,000 to $15,000):