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Why tax refunds aren't always good
It’s important for advisors to help clients understand their finances. Many people think getting a tax refund is good, but that's not always true. Here are some reasons why.
1. Overpaying Taxes
A refund on a tax return means the client paid too much in taxes during the year. This is like giving the government an interest-free loan. Instead, clients could use that money each month for savings or investments.
2. Missed Investment Chances
When clients overpay taxes, they miss chances to invest that money. It could have been earning interest or growing in value instead of sitting with the government.
3. Poor Financial Planning
A big tax refund can show poor financial planning. It's better if clients break even, meaning they don't owe much and don't get a big return. This shows their tax withholdings are accurate.
4. False Sense of Security
A large tax refund can make clients feel falsely secure. They might spend it quickly instead of saving or investing it wisely.
5. Financial Hardship
Overpaying taxes can make it hard for clients to manage their money during the year. They might struggle with monthly expenses or saving for emergencies.
Advisors should teach clients about the downsides of tax refunds. By adjusting their withholdings, clients can manage their money better and take advantage of investment opportunities. Aim for a balanced tax situation to improve financial health.
Help clients make the most of their investment opportunities this tax season. For more information, contact your Director, Investment Sales.
Date posted: March 20, 2025 - [pdf] Advisors Edge Insurance for Children Article
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August 2019 Advisor eNews
Coming soon:
Tech updates for plan members
Technology doesn’t stand still, and neither does your clients' businesses. That’s why we continually invest in technology to make things easier for your clients and their employees.
Faster claims processing on Equitable EZClaim® Mobile
Equitable Life now provides real-time processing of massage therapy, physiotherapy and chiropractor claims submitted via the EZClaim Mobile app.
That means plan members are able to find out the status of their claim almost instantaneously. And, for approved claims, they will receive payment even sooner - often in as little as 24 hours.
In order to allow for instantaneous processing and faster payment, plan members will be prompted to enter some additional information including the practitioner’s name, the date of the expense, and the type and amount of the expense, when submitting their claims for these services.
Equitable Life plan members can submit all types of health and dental claims via EZClaim Mobile, including co-ordination of benefits and Health Care Spending Account claims. Currently, 43% of all claims are submitted through the user-friendly app.
AS part of our ongoing efforts to improve the mobile claims experience for plan members, we've also added biometric login functionality to allow plan members to sign in to the app using their face or fingerprint. And we've redesigned our landing page on the mobile app to make it easier for plan members to navigate the various features of the app.
We will be announcing this enhancement to plan members on EquitableHealth.ca
Introducing InpatProtect:
Health coverage for employees who are new to Canada
For a new employee starting to work in Canada, looking after basic health needs can be difficult.
There’s a waiting period for provincial health coverage, and group benefits plans don’t cover the physician, hospital or emergency services that they or their eligible dependents may need during their initial months in the country. They could end up incurring significant unexpected health expenses.
That’s why Equitable Life has launched InpatProtectTM. InpatProtect provides temporary coverage to look after the basic health needs of employees and their eligible dependents during their transition to Canada. Your clients can recruit from outside the country knowing that their employees will have some protection in the event of a medical need, including an emergency.
For up to 90 days, InpatProtect will cover employees and their eligible dependents for basic services that would normally be reimbursed under provincial health plans, such as:
- Physician services
- Prescriptions for medications
- Diagnosis and treatment for illness or injury
- Hospital services
- In-patient services
- Drugs prescribed and delivered as an inpatient in-hospital
- Out-patient services
- Emergency services
- Ambulance services
- Emergency dental services
Contact your Group Marketing Manager or myFlex Sales Manager for more information about this new product from Equitable Life.
De-listed service providers
As part of our ongoing initiative to have Group Benefits plans only reimburse eligible claims, we conduct reviews of the billing and administrative practices of service providers, including clinics, facilities and medical suppliers.
As a result of these reviews we may de-list certain providers. We will no longer accept, or process claims for services and/or supplies obtained from those providers. The plan member can still choose to obtain services or supplies from these providers, but Equitable Life will not provide reimbursement for the claims.
Review Equitable Life’s de-listed service providers
The delisted service provider list is also posted on EquitableHealth.ca for plan members to review to determine if their claim(s) are eligible for reimbursement under their Group Benefits plan.
For more information about protecting group benefits plans from abuse, check out our articles.
1 Based on Equitable Life health and dental claims submitted between January 2019 – March 2019
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® denotes a trademark of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada unless otherwise indicated. - Physician services
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Equitable Life Group Benefits Bulletin – November 2021
In this issue:
- Deadline to opt out of New Brunswick biosimilar program*
- Web Reports Quick Reference Guide now available for plan administrators*
- Reminder: Review manual allocations for HCSAs and/or TSAs*
- Help your clients take advantage of our convenient digital options*
Reminder: Deadline to opt out of New Brunswick biosimilar program*
Earlier this year, we announced via eNews that on Feb. 1, 2022, we are ending coverage for some originator biologic drugs in New Brunswick in response to the province’s Biosimilar Initiative.* These changes will help protect your clients’ plans from additional drug costs while still providing access to equally safe and effective biosimilars.
Do my clients need to take any action?
No action is required if employers want to have the originator biologics excluded from their plan. Plan members taking these targeted originator biologics will be contacted directly to allow them ample time to transition to the biosimilar. Any cost savings associated with the change will be factored in at renewal.
All groups, except myFlex clients, who wish to opt out of this change and maintain coverage of these originator biologics for existing claimants in New Brunswick 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. This means that their drug plans will continue to cover any additional originator biologics for which we subsequently end coverage as part of the biosimilar program.
Questions?
If you have a question that isn’t answered here, please contact your Equitable Life Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.
* The list of affected drugs or conditions is dynamic and may change.Web Reports Quick Reference Guide now available for plan administrators
A Web Reports Quick Reference Guide is now available for plan administrators on EquitableHealth.ca. This new guide offers a listing of our newest reports available on the plan administrator web. It also provides instructions for plan administrators outlining how to pull the report using the plan administrator portal.
The guide is available under the Quick Links section on both the advisor and plan administrator portals on EquitableHealth.ca.Reminder: Review manual allocations for HCSAs and/or TSAs*
If your client’s Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) and/or Taxable Spending Account (TSA) has manual allocations, they need to allocate these amounts to plan members each year. Please review all your plan members’ profiles on EquitableHealth.ca to ensure they have received their allocation(s) for the current benefit year.
If your clients have Plan Administrator update access on EquitableHealth.ca, they can update these amounts online by doing the following:- Select “View certificate”
- Select “Health Care Spending Account” or “Taxable Spending Account”
- Select “Update Allocation” in Task Center
- Enter amount in “Revised Allocation Amount”
- Override Reason – “Plan Administrator Request”
- Select “Save”
- Select “Reports”
- Select “New”
- Select “Next”
- Select “HCSA” or “TSA Totals by Plan Member”
- Select “Next”
- Enter end date of “12/31/2020”
- Select “Next”
- Select “Finish”
- View “Report”
Help your clients take advantage of our convenient digital options*
We have several 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:- Online Plan Member Enrolment tool – allows all groups to add new plan members without the need for paper forms
- 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
- 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
We’ve created a brochure and a video guide to help plan members access and use their digital resources. For further assistance, plan members can visit www.equitable.ca/go/digital. They can also contact our Web Services team at 1.800.265.4556 ext. 283 or groupbenefitsadmin@equitable.ca. -
Easier group enrolment and more group benefits updates
Make enrolment easier for your clients with online plan member enrolment (OPME)
Enrolling new plan members can be overwhelming – for both you, your clients and their employees. It’s time-consuming to manually load new members and challenging to ensure they complete the necessary paperwork before the enrolment deadline.
Our Online Plan Member Enrolment (OPME) tool is available at no extra cost for all your Equitable Life clients and offers a more secure and efficient alternative to traditional paper enrolment. Using their computer or mobile device, employees can enrol in their benefits plan in just minutes.
The user-friendly tool allows plan members to easily enter all their enrolment information, including:- Dependent details
- Banking information for direct deposit of claim payments
- Details for coordination of benefits
- Beneficiary designation
The days of chasing plan members for their paper enrolment forms are gone. Once plan administrators enter a few employee details, our system automatically sends an email to each plan member, inviting them to enrol in their benefits program. And there will be no need for your clients to send reminders or follow up with employees about their benefits enrolment. It’s all done automatically.Support with using OPME
To learn more about the benefits of using OPME, check out our Online Plan Member Enrolment Flyer. We also encourage you to share more information with your clients: We also have helpful reference guides for plan members, to help them use the tool:- Online Plan Member Enrolment Quick Reference Guide
- myFlex Online Plan Member Enrolment Quick Reference Guide
Help your clients spend less time administering group benefits. Contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager to learn more about our online plan member enrolment.
Coming soon: A survey to help us serve your clients better*
We are committed to providing your clients and their plan members with industry-leading service. We’ve introduced several enhancements over the past year to make it easier to do business with us. And we’re continually looking for ways to improve.
This month, we will conduct a survey of your clients to help us understand how we can better serve them. Plan administrators will receive an email with a link to the survey, which will take between five and 10 minutes to complete.
Please encourage your clients to participate. Their feedback will be confidential, and their responses will help us improve our service and ensure we’re meeting their expectations. We will also allow them to provide their name so that we can follow up with them to address any concerns they’ve identified.
We know your clients’ time is valuable. So, each plan administrator who completes the survey will be entered into a random draw for a chance to win one of 3 prepaid gift cards for $200.
Improved mental assessment features for FeelingBetterNow®*
Mensante has enhanced its FeelingBetterNow® online platform to make it easier for plan members to assess the state of their mental health and talk to their health care provider about treatment options. FeelingBetterNow is part of our Equitable HealthConnector suite of wellness solutions and is available for an additional cost. It can help plan members easily identify if they are at risk for a number of common mental health issues, including depression, anxiety and substance abuse.Upgrades to the platform include:
- New features to help plan members better gauge their progress in the assessment.
- A printable Action Plan that plan members can share with their health care provider to initiate conversations about managing their mental health challenges.
- A new “follow-up” module to help plan members assess the care they’ve received from their health care provider and identify care gaps.
- An Assessment Outcome Page, which allows plan members to view their diagnostic risks across mental health disorders for a more holistic picture of their health.
Over-age dependants losing coverage?*
Your clients’ plan members may have dependants approaching the maximum age for eligibility under their group benefits plan. If so, members should be aware of their options for dependant coverage.Coverage for full-time students and dependants with disabilities
The dependants of your clients’ plan members may be eligible to continue their coverage under the current plan if:- The dependant is attending a post-secondary school full-time; or
- The dependant is disabled.
Coverage2go for over-age dependants
Dependants who aren’t eligible for continued coverage under the plan can apply for Coverage2go®, a month-to-month health and dental plan for individuals losing their group coverage.**
Coverage2go is affordable, reliable and allows the over-age dependants to choose the level of coverage and protection that suits their personal situation. With no medical questions required as long as they apply within 60 days of losing their coverage, your clients’ plan members can ensure that their over-age dependants have the coverage they need.
Plan members can receive a quote within minutes. Please direct your clients to Coverage2go on Equitable.ca to learn more.
**Quebec residents are not eligible for Coverage2go.Forfeiture reports for HCSAs and TSAs on EquitableHealth.ca*
As a reminder, your clients can access forfeiture reports for their Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) and Taxable Spending Account (TSA) usage on EquitableHealth.ca.HCSA summary by plan member
HCSA summary reports provide an overview of each plan member’s account activity and balances. These reports include the total amounts allocated, the amount claimed to date, the net balance, and the amount of funds that will be forfeited based on claims paid to date. Please note that plan members’ claim submissions will remain confidential and will not be viewable by the employer on this summary.
Your clients can provide each plan member with their HCSA summary, if they wish.HCSA account forfeiture by plan member
HCSA forfeiture reports detail the amount that each member will forfeit if they do not use it. The amount is based on claims that have been paid to date within the benefit year period.HCSA account totals by plan member
Your clients may wish to access the HCSA account totals reports, which reflect the information in each plan member’s HCSA summary report. For terminated employees, the Funds Available field will display as zero, regardless of the balance in the account when terminated.
At least three months before the end of the benefits period, your clients should remind their members to use their allocated HCSA and TSA amounts.
If your clients need help accessing these reports, they can reach out to their Regional Office Service team for assistance.
* Indicates content that will be shared with your clients.
- Policy Title Changes
- Investment loans
- Investment loans
- [pdf] WL Annuity Child's 20 Pay
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Equitable Life Group Benefits Bulletin – November 2020
In this issue:
- Telemedicine now included in Travel Assist*
- Take advantage of our convenient digital options*
- 2021 changes to Maximum Insurable Earnings, Maximum Weekly Insurable Earnings and Short Term Disability Benefit*
*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