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Earth Day: A simple way to talk about sustainable investing
Earth Day is a great time to talk with clients about investing with purpose. This year’s theme—Our Power, Our Planet—highlights the impact of individual and collective choices, including how we invest.
Many Canadians are interested in sustainable investing, which looks at environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors alongside long term returns. Clients want to understand how the power of their money can support positive change—without sacrificing performance. Sustainable investing can look at things like reducing carbon impact, supporting fair workplaces, and encouraging strong company leadership.
Watch out for greenwashing
Not all investments labeled “sustainable” are the same. Some products may use the term without real environmental efforts or strategies. This is known as greenwashing.
That’s where advisors can add value. By understanding how funds are built and what they hold, you can help clients make informed choices they feel confident about.
How Equitable can help
Equitable® offers sustainable investing fund options that include ESG considerations as part of a disciplined investment approach. Take this opportunity to review available options and fund details.
You can also support sustainability through how you work with clients. Equitable’s paperless tools help reduce paper consumption and improve efficiency:
• Equitable Client Access® for online account viewing
• EZtransact® for fast, digital transactions
• EZcomplete® for easy, paper free applications
Take action
Earth Day is a great time to:
• Start simple conversations about sustainable investing
• Share Equitable’s sustainable fund options with clients
• Promote paperless tools that are better for clients and the environment
Small steps—done consistently—can make a meaningful difference for clients and the planet. If you have questions, speak with your Director, Investment Sales.
Date posted: April 22, 2026 - Introducing Empathy – Compassion and care at time of loss
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All about the changes to the capital gains inclusion rate
Disclaimer: The following content is provided by and is the opinion of Invesco Canada Ltd. Equitable does not guarantee the adequacy, accuracy, timeliness, or completeness of the information. Equitable shall not be liable for any errors or omissions in the information provided by Invesco.
What has changed?
One noteworthy measure to come from Budget 2024 is the proposed change to the capital gains inclusion rate, which was previously held steady at 50% since 2001.
For individuals, capital gains more than $250,000 annually will be subject to an increased 66.67% inclusion rate as of June 25, 2024, while the capital gains up to $250,000 will continue to be subject to the existing 50% inclusion rate. As a transitional measure for 2024, only the capital gains realized by individuals on or after the effective date of June 25 that are above the $250,000 threshold will be subject to the increased inclusion rate.
For trusts and corporations, the inclusion rate on all capital gains will increase from 50% to 66.67% starting on June 25, 2024.

Who is affected?
Impact to individuals
Budget 2024 proposed to add transitional rules which would specifically identify capital gains and losses realized before the effective date (Period 1) and those realized on or after the effective date (Period 2). The effective date is June 25, 2024. Capital gains realized on or after that date will have an inclusion rate of 50% on the amount up to $250,000, and an inclusion rate of 66.67% on the amount above $250,000. All capital gains realized prior to the effective date will have an inclusion rate of 50%.
Take Ontario as an example, the proposed higher inclusion rate on capital gains would effectively increase the average federal-provincial marginal tax rate for Ontario residents on capital gains above $250,000 at the top marginal tax rate from 26.76% to 35.69%. A more detailed analysis on the impact of these changes to an individual’s tax rate is discussed below.
For net capital gains realized in Period 2, the annual $250,000 threshold would be fully available in 2024 (i.e., it would not be prorated) and it would apply only in respect of net capital gains realized in Period 2.
The $250,000 threshold would effectively apply to capital gains realized by an individual, either directly or indirectly via a partnership or trust, net of any: current-year capital losses, capital losses of other years applied to reduce current-year capital gains, and capital gains in respect of which the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption, the proposed employee Ownership Trust Exemption or the proposed Canadian Entrepreneurs’ Incentive claimed.
Two common scenarios of reaching the $250,000 capital gain threshold are the deemed disposition of capital property at death, and the emigration from Canada (i.e., becoming a non-resident for income tax purposes). We have provided additional details on these topics below.
Deemed disposition upon death
When an individual passes away, they are deemed to have sold their capital property (e.g., units or shares of mutual funds, shares of corporations, and real property) at its fair market value (FMV) immediately before their death. If a capital gain arises because of this deemed disposition, that capital gain is reportable on the deceased’s final (terminal) tax return and the taxes owing as a result, if any, would be payable by the estate of the deceased. However, there are provisions that allow taxes to be deferred when the property is transferred to a spouse. For example, if a capital property is transferred to a surviving spouse or common-law partner, subsection 70(6) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) automatically deems the deceased to have disposed of that property and the spouse or common-law partner immediately acquires the same property at the deceased transferor’s adjusted cost base (ACB). This is commonly referred to as the “spousal rollover”. Another potential strategy to manage potential large capital gains taxes at death is life insurance, since the death benefit is typically paid out tax-free.
Without careful planning, the estate value could be substantially reduced by the changes to the capital gains inclusion rate. Furthermore, it would be prudent to ensure there are liquid assets or cash available in the estate to cover the associated tax liabilities.
Non-resident of Canada – Departure tax
Residency in Canada for income tax purposes is a question of fact, which primarily depends on the individual’s residential and social ties in Canada. When an individual becomes a non-resident of Canada, they are deemed to have disposed of and immediately reacquired certain types of property at FMV. The tax incurred because of this deemed disposition and reacquisition is also known as the departure tax. Some examples of properties subject to departure tax include securities inside a non-registered investment portfolio, shares of Canadian private corporations, and real estate situated outside of Canada. Note that there are some properties that are exempted from the departure tax, including: pensions and similar rights (including registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs), registered retirement income funds (RRIFs), and tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs)) and Canadian real property.
The departure tax rules coupled with the increased capital gain inclusion rate above the $250,000 threshold may incur additional tax payable for emigrants. However, there is an option to defer the payment of departure tax on income associated with the deemed disposition upon emigration. By making an election, the individual would pay the tax later, without interest, when the property is disposed of. This election can be done by completing CRA Form T1244, “Election Under Subsection 220(4.5) of the Income Tax Act, to Defer the Payment of Tax on Income Relating to the Deemed Disposition of Property," on or before April 30 of the year following their departure from Canada.
Impact to Entities
Corporations and trusts will also be impacted by the increased inclusion rate as of June 25, 2024. Unlike individuals, corporations and trusts will not have access to the old inclusion rate on the first $250,000 of capital gains: they will be subject to the new 66.67% inclusion rate from the very first dollar.
With the above in mind, there will be options available to shelter corporate and trust capital gains from the new inclusion rate.
For corporations:
The lifetime capital gains exemption (LCGE) can be used to eliminate capital gains taxes on the sale of qualified small business corporation shares (generally, these are shares of a Canadian-controlled private corporation that carries on an active business). The LCGE is also available on the sale of qualified farm or fishing property. The current lifetime limit for the LCGE is $1,016,836. Budget 2024 proposed to increase that limit to $1,250,000 starting on June 25, 2024, so certain business owners will be able to reduce or eliminate their exposure to the new inclusion rate if they are able to make use of the increased LCGE limit.
For trusts:
Budget 2024 suggests that capital gains allocated by a trust to its beneficiaries on or after June 25, 2024, will be included in the beneficiaries’ income at the old 50% rate up to the beneficiaries’ first $250,000 of capital gains for the year. While the specifics are not yet available, this opportunity will likely create further planning considerations surrounding the allocation of capital gains from a trust to its beneficiaries to reduce taxes. Capital gains can generally be allocated to a beneficiary for tax purposes when they are actually paid to the beneficiary, or when they are payable to a beneficiary (i.e., the beneficiary hasn’t received it, but has a right to demand payment of the capital gain). The option of making income paid (or payable) to its beneficiaries and allocating such income to be taxed in their hands will largely depend on the trust terms.
Historical reference: capital gains inclusion rate
Those of us around long enough, understand that this recent change was not the only time the capital gains inclusion rate has deviated from the 50% inclusion rate. Over the years, capital gains tax rate has ranged from nil to as high as 75% as indicated in the table below. In fact, the first instance of capital gain tax was introduced in 1972!

Excluding the 2024 tax year, we have given a rough estimate on the percentage of time spent at each of the various capital gains inclusion rates over the last 42 years. As we can see, for most of the time, the capital gains inclusion rate has remained at the 50 % inclusion rate. In fact, for the last 23 consecutive years, the inclusion rate has remained untouched with the last change being back in tax year 2000 with various changes introduced that year.

Tax impact by province/jurisdiction
With the increase in the capital gains inclusion rate, we want to demonstrate the potential tax impact of those changes across jurisdictions in Canada. The table below shows the 2024 marginal tax rate for the highest individual income earners in each jurisdiction at both the 50% and 66.67% capital gains inclusion rate, respectively. The average difference is an increase in taxes payable by 8.45%.

Next, we look at the additional taxes payable because of the inclusion increase, assuming varying capital gains income levels. Of course, this assumes that the capital gains do not otherwise benefit from a reduced inclusion rate or an outright exemption such as eligible in-kind donations of securities to registered charities, or shares that qualify for the lifetime capital gains exemption, to name a few.

Understanding the tax implications of investing is an essential part of financial planning and reinforces the importance of working with a knowledgeable financial advisor to understand the long-term impact of these changes as it applies to personal situations. No doubt, tax rates influence capital allocation decisions. Canadians who take more inherent risk with their capital have traditionally been afforded preferred taxation rates promoting innovation through capital investment, something the government can do with good tax policy to encourage business growth and spur economic expansion. This is evident in the breakdown of the tax rates depending on the characterization of the income as noted in the table below.

Clearly the tax rates reflect the added capital risk investors and business owners take. We can clearly see the preferred taxation rates afforded on small business income and at the general corporate tax rates on income over the small business limit, compared to the tax rate on interest income or that of employment income. That tax-preference also extends to investors of “riskier” allocations of capital in marketable securities such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and exchange traded funds, to name a few. The tax rates of less-risky investments (such as money market instruments) do not benefit from the capital gains tax-preferred inclusion rates. With the latest move, there is not much difference in earning eligible dividend income from Canadian resident corporations and from dispositions resulting in capital gains.
Some pundits have declared the move as a disincentive to capital and business investment and may encourage businesses to move into more tax-favoured jurisdictions outside Canada. The Federal government has promoted the change as impacting a very small overall percentage of investors, estimated at 0.13% of Canadian individuals and 12.6% of corporations. Further, the move has been argued by the Liberals as necessary to work towards “intergenerational fairness”.
How to prepare for the changes?
For now, advisors may want to start educating their clients about the basics of the changes, which starts with comparing the current inclusion rates with the new inclusion rates.
Individual investors with large unrealized capital gains will also likely ask if they should crystallize their capital gains before June 25th to save money on taxes in the long run. The assumption that selling now will result in overall savings will not be correct in all cases, however. There is an opportunity cost to paying taxes upfront, rather than deferring those taxes to a later year.
For example, let’s assume an Ontario client owns a $2.5 million non-registered equity portfolio with $2,000,000 in unrealized capital gains. They had no intention of selling those investments for another 5 yeas, but in light of the upcoming changes, they are considering selling immediately, paying the capital gains taxes now, then reinvesting the net amount after taxes back into those same investments for the 5-year investment period. They are currently in the top marginal tax bracket in Ontario (53.53%) and expect to continue to be in 5 years’ time. The assumed average rate of return on their investments is 6% annually over the next 5 years.


As can be seen in this example, at 6% annual compound growth rate, the option to realize much of the capital gains now resulted in a higher overall return in the amount of $61,992.66 over the 5-year period due to the lower inclusion rate. Alternatively stated, if the investor does not crystallize the gains today, the equivalent rate of return needed to have the exact net after tax amount at the end of the 5-year period (the “breakeven return”) would be a 6.60% compound annual return. While this certainly will not be true in all cases, this is the sort of analysis that will have to be conducted when assessing whether it makes sense to realize capital gains in 2024. The rate of return on investment and the investment horizon, among other things, are important determining factors.
Although we used securities investment in our example, a similar analysis can be done for other kinds of property held, such as a vacation property that is unlikely to benefit from the principal residence exemption. In addition, taxes often take a back seat to other planning considerations. These conversations should be had with the primary goals of the client in mind, which may supersede tax planning considerations.
For corporate investors, it will be important to emphasize the impact the capital gains inclusion increase will have on small business owners. As a refresher, a corporation is a separate legal entity from the shareholders who own it and is subject to tax on the income it generates. Income is first taxed within the corporation before it can be passed to the shareholders in the form of dividends out of its retained earnings. To avoid double tax on income that passes through a corporation to shareholders (and to prevent any unintended tax advantages), a dividend gross-up and tax credit model is applied at the individual level, along with a tax refund mechanism to the corporation on passive investment income. This is designed to integrate the tax system between the two entities: individual and corporation. Ideally, perfect integration is achieved when after-tax income is equal, whether it is earned individually or through a corporation. In reality, depending on the province and type of income earned, there could be a tax cost in earning passive investment income through a corporation, including earning passive investment capital gains income. Currently there is a tax cost of earning capital gains income through a corporation across all Canadian provinces/jurisdictions.
The latest change further increases the cost of earning passive investment income inside a corporation, though we do not yet know what changes will be made to the corporate tax refund mechanisms. As noted in the table below, the increase averages approximately 8.43% and closely equates the rate on eligible dividends. This rate reflects the initial tax rate on passive investment income earned within an active business.

For many small businesses, and perhaps to long-term individual investors, this increase in the tax rate will feel unfair as the accumulation of earning a pool of assets for retirement is often done within their small business corporation, and in many cases the sole source of retirement funds.
If an immediate crystallization of accumulated capital gains is not desired, what should investors consider in the longer run? Although many details of the new proposed rules are yet to be clarified, here are some general considerations.
For individuals, it may be helpful to plan the timing of future dispositions to stay below the annual $250,000 threshold. Also, it may seem obvious but maximizing investments within registered plans, including the new first home savings plan (FHSA) where eligible, can reduce exposure to future capital gains tax. Moreover, estate planning becomes even more important as the potential tax payable on the deemed disposition of capital property at death rises. On that front, strategies to reduce capital gains at death could be considered, such as inter-vivos gifting, charitable donation, spousal rollover, and acquiring life insurance to provide sufficient liquidity to the estate.
For business owners, some strategies to limit future capital gain exposure may include contributing to an individual pension plan (IPP), conducting an estate freeze to pass on future capital gains to succession owners, and ensuring the small business shares qualify for the LCGE. The suitable strategies are highly dependent on the business needs and personal situation of the business owner.
Acting too soon or not fast enough?
Finally, there is what many in the industry have been calling a “change of law” risk. That is, within the next year and a half, a federal election is scheduled, and this capital gains inclusion tax policy will surely be a primary election issue. As part of that election platform, parties may promise to repeal it outright or alter its scope and application. Consider also that any changes in the capital gains inclusion rate could be retroactive or simply not apply in all cases.
The information provided is general in nature and may not be relied upon nor considered to be the rendering of tax, legal, accounting or professional advice. Invesco Canada is not providing advice. Readers should consult with their own accountants, lawyers and/or other professionals for advice on their specific circumstances before taking any action. The information contained herein is from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses may all be associated with mutual fund investments. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Please read the simplified prospectus before investing. Copies are available from your advisor or from Invesco Canada Ltd
Date posted: May 23, 2024 -
December 2023 eNews
Insights on EZBenefits from our Executive Vice-President, Group Insurance
When it comes to advising small business owners, it can be tough to find the right group benefits solution. Offering a competitive benefits plan is more important than ever to help small business owners attract and retain talent. They need an affordable solution that’s easy to implement, renew and maintain.
That’s why we launched EZBenefits for small business earlier this year. It’s a unique group benefits solution designed with you and your small business clients in mind.Marc Avaria, Executive Vice-President, Group Insurance, explains:
Find out more
Visit info.equitable.ca/EZBenefits for more details or to request a quote. If you have questions, contact your Equitable Group Account Executive.
Now that cold and flu season is here, many Canadians will start calling in sick or missing work to visit their doctor – if they can get an appointment. Now’s the time to remind your clients that Equitable offers Dialogue Virtual Healthcare. It can be added to any Equitable plan for an additional cost.
Supporting plan members through cold and flu season with Dialogue Virtual Healthcare*
Eligible plan members and dependants receive fast, on-demand access to virtual primary medical care—24/7, 365 days a year. Available for a variety of non-urgent health concerns, Dialogue Virtual Healthcare can make it easier to navigate cold and flu season by providing:- Access to the largest, most experienced bilingual medical team in Canada,
- In-app prescription renewals and refills,
- Personalized follow-ups after each consultation, and
- An all-in-one patient journey to address health issues. This reduces long waits and means less time away for doctor appointments.
Benefits of Virtual Healthcare for plan sponsors
When your clients provide Virtual Healthcare for their plan members, they can help:- 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.
Learn how it works
Adding Dialogue Virtual Healthcare to your clients' plans
To learn more about adding Virtual Healthcare to your clients’ benefits plans, contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex® Account Executive. You can also share this resource from Dialogue on managing cold and flu season.
The Canada Employment Insurance Commission and Canada Revenue Agency have announced the 2024 changes to Maximum Insurable Earnings, and premiums for employment insurance. The following changes to Employment Insurance (EI) will take effect January 1, 2024:
Changes to Short-Term Disability benefits calculations*
How does this affect your clients?
To comply with client policy provisions, Equitable will revise Short-Term Disability (STD) benefits with the updated maximums based on the percentage of EI Maximum Weekly Insurance Earnings for policies that meet these conditions:- Policies that include a STD benefit that is tied to the EI Maximum Weekly Insurable Earnings, and
- Policies with a classification of employees that has less than a $668 maximum.
- The additional premium for any increase from their previous STD amounts and new STD amounts will be shown on your clients’ January 2024 Group Insurance Billings (as applicable).
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 Issue and Special Projects.
*Indicates content that will be shared with your clients. - [pdf] Service you can count on
- Submission to Commission - How fast is it?
- [pdf] Advisors Edge Insurance for Children Article
- How to videos
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April 2026 eNews
In this issue:
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Coming soon: Enhancements to Equitable EZBenefits plans for small business
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Register now: Free webinar connects nutrition and employee health
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Reminder: One-time passcodes will be added to our login experience*
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Service-related survey will go to clients in May*
*Indicates content we will share with your clients.
Coming soon: Enhancements to Equitable EZBenefits plans for small business
Equitable EZBenefits® was created to provide a better benefits experience for small businesses in Canada. With a range of plan designs to fit the needs and budgets of companies with 2-25 employees, this unique solution is affordable, sustainable and easy to manage.
Now, we’re enhancing EZBenefits to deliver even greater value for more small businesses.
Overview of enhancements
We’re making the following updates:
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Dental coverage for new Bronze plans: Basic dental coverage will be available for Bronze-level EZBenefits plans. Coverage will be 70% with a $750/year maximum, 12-month recall and six scaling units.
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Definition of earnings for long-term disability (LTD) coverage: Earnings for LTD coverage will include bonuses and commissions, to reflect common small business pay structures.
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Part-time eligibility for Saskatchewan employers: For Saskatchewan-based employers with 10 or more employees, the definition of part-time employment will shift to 15 hours per week to match the province’s definition.
These enhancements will be included in new EZBenefits plans with effective dates of June 1, 2026, or later.
In-force EZBenefits clients can also access these enhancements starting June 1, 2026, by requesting a plan amendment.
You may wish to discuss these enhancements with your EZBenefits clients so they can make the best decisions for their plans.
An “EZ” solution for you
EZBenefits is also designed with advisors’ needs in mind. By providing fast quotes, a streamlined implementation process and an advisor concierge service, we’ve reduced your administrative burden and made supporting your small business clients easier.
To learn about EZBenefits or the upcoming enhancements, please contact your Group Account Executive.
Register now: Free webinar connects nutrition and employee health
Plan to attend this special virtual session where Dr. Jeffrey Alfonsi, Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder of RxFood, will share research that links overall health and nutrition.Poor nutrition is often connected to chronic disease. And chronic disease is heavily affecting the Canadian workforce—impacting productivity, driving up incidence of disability among employees and health benefits costs for employers.
During his presentation, Dr. Alfonsi will underscore the difference healthy eating can make in several areas, including:
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Chronic disease management and prevention
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Early return to work from disability leave
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GLP-1 agonist need and usage rates
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Mental health and wellness
You’ll also learn how employers can make good nutrition more accessible to employees and support their holistic health.
Nutrition mattersThe powerful connection between diet and employee health
When: Thursday, May 21, 2026,
10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ETWhere: Online (register here)
The webinar will be presented in English only. CE credits will be available.
Reminder: One-time passcodes will be added to our login experience
Soon, you may need to complete a new security step when you log in to your account on EquitableHealth.ca® and the Equitable EZClaim® mobile app. Anyone who logs in with an email address and password may be required to enter a one-time passcode that’s provided via email.
By adding this form of multi-factor authentication (MFA) to the login process, we’re further enhancing our digital security and helping safeguard your account access and our clients’ personal data.
Skip the one-time passcode. Create a passkey.
However, you won’t need to enter a one-time passcode if you create a passkey to log in. Passkeys are another form of MFA. They are safe and provide a quicker, easier, secure way to access your account, using either biometrics – your face or fingerprint – or a PIN authenticator to confirm your identity.
Learn more about passkeys. You’ll see how easy it is to set up on your mobile device or computer. Please reach out to your Group Account Executive if you have any questions.
Service-related survey will go to clients in May
At Equitable, we’re committed to providing clients and plan members industry-leading service. And we’re continually looking for ways to improve.
On May 11, we’ll invite clients to complete a survey to help us understand where we’re delivering exceptional service, and how we can better meet their needs and those of their plan members. Their feedback will be kept confidential. However, we may follow up with some clients to address any concerns they identify.
Every client who completes the survey will be entered into a random draw for a chance to win one of three pre-paid $200 gift cards. Clients will have through May 25 to complete the questionnaire for a chance to win a gift card.
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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 coverageEquitable 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 conditionsQuestions?
** 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.
If you have any questions about this change, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.