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  1. [pdf] Health Care Spending Account - Plan members
  2. Equitable Life Group Benefits Bulletin – May 2020

    In this issue:

    *Indicates content that will be shared with your clients


    Easy and convenient digital resources for your clients and their plan members

    During this time of physical distancing, people are looking for ways to interact with their providers virtually. We have several convenient digital tools available to make it easier for your clients and their plan members.


    For plan administrators:


    Plan administrator portal (EquitableHealth.ca)

    Our secure portal allows plan administrators to easily manage their plan anytime and anywhere. Instead of printing and mailing forms, they can make real-time updates at their convenience. The site also makes it easy to:

    • View or upload forms and other important documents;
    • Retrieve billing information;
    • Estimate monthly premium costs; and
    • View announcements, tips and reminders.

    Plan administrators can visit www.equitablehealth.ca to activate their account.

    Digital Welcome Kits

    Instead of paper kits that can easily get lost or quickly become outdated, plan members receive personalized welcome kits via an interactive email, including instructions on how to:

    • Activate their online group benefits account;
    • Download their digital benefits card;
    • Submit claims from their computer or mobile device;
    • Review their coverage details; and
    • Explore health and wellness resources.

    Easy automated payments

    Automated payments are a convenient way to avoid missed payments, suspended claims and disruption. Plan administrators simply complete the pre-authorized debit form and send to GroupCollections@equitable.ca. Or contact Group Collections about online banking and electronic funds transfer (EFT).

    We can help

    For assistance, plan administrators can contact their Client Relationship Specialist or our Web Services team at 1.800.265.4556 ext. 283 or groupbenefitsadmin@equitable.ca.


    For plan members:


    Plan member portal (EquitableHealth.ca)

    By logging into EquitableHealth.ca, plan members have secure 24/7 access to their personalized Group Benefits account. They can:

    • View and submit claims;
    • Review their coverage details; and
    • Access health and wellness resources.

    Electronic claims payment and notifications

    Once plan members have activated their Group Benefits account on EquitableHealth.ca, they can easily set up receiving their claim payments via direct deposit, and their claim notifications via email.

    EZClaim Mobile App

    Submitting claims is fast, easy and secure with the Equitable EZClaim® mobile app for iOS and Android devices. Plan members can view and submit health and dental claims and review their coverage details.

    Digital Benefits Cards

    Instead of digging through their wallets, plan members can download a digital version of their benefits card to their mobile device.

    We can help

    We’ve created a video guide to help plan members access and use their digital resources. For further assistance, plan members can contact our Web Services team at 1.800.265.4556 ext. 283 or groupbenefitsadmin@equitable.ca.


    Alberta government delaying biosimilar initiative

    As we announced in the February 2020 issue of eNews, the Alberta Biosimilar Initiative will require patients using several originator biologic drugs to switch to a biosimilar in order to maintain coverage through their Alberta government sponsored drug plan.

    Due to the increased demands the COVID-19 pandemic is placing on healthcare providers, the Alberta government has postponed the switching requirement. Affected patients will now have until January 15, 2021 to switch to the biosimilar version of their drug in order to maintain provincial coverage.

    We continue to investigate appropriate options to help ensure this provincial change does not unreasonably impact Equitable Life groups and patients and will keep you informed.
    For more information about the Alberta Biosimilars Initiative, consult the Alberta government website.


    Yukon increasing Insurance Premium Tax

    The Yukon Government has announced that it plans to increase its Insurance Premium Tax rates effective January 1, 2021. The premium tax rates for group life and accident and sickness insurance are expected to increase from 2% to 4%. The new tax rates will be applied to premiums paid on or after January 1, 2021.


    Manitoba and New Brunswick relaxing drug limits

    In order to protect the drug supply during the COVID-19 crisis, residents of most provinces were temporarily limited to receiving a 30-day supply of drugs when filling a prescription. Normally, doctors prescribe a 90-day supply for most maintenance-type drugs.

    The Government of Manitoba and the Government of New Brunswick are now relaxing this 30-day limit for prescription drugs where shortages do not exist. They will address potential shortages of specific drugs if necessary.

    As the situation continues to evolve, there may continue to be changes to provincial legislation and prescription limits. Plan members should speak to their pharmacist for the most up to date information.


    Free guide to accessing virtual healthcare

    With many health clinics closed and the healthcare system under strain, people are looking to access a doctor and other health providers virtually.

    As we announced previously, we’ve made it easier for plan members to find the information they need using our Guide to Accessing Virtual Healthcare. This online resource provides information about and links to a range of virtual health services they need to take care of their health and the health of their family during these challenging times.

    The Guide also indicates which services are covered by public health plan, so there’s no cost to the patient to access them if they provide their valid provincial health card.
    We will continue to update the Guide as more virtual healthcare providers and services become available.

    The Guide is available on both EquitableHealth.ca and Equitable.ca.


    Homeweb for plan members who are losing coverage

    We know these are difficult times for Canadian employers and their employees. As businesses temporarily suspend operations, some employers have had to make the difficult decision to temporarily lay off employees or put their benefits coverage on hold.

    That’s why we were 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, online self-directed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy;
    • Resources to support themselves and their family members through the COVID-19 pandemic;
    • An interactive online Health Risk Assessment; and
    • An online library of tools, assessments and e-courses.

    This will allow businesses undergoing financial hardship to provide some support to employees who are temporarily without benefits coverage.

  3. Get to know our large case experts

    New episode in our Ask our Experts video series

    At Equitable®, we’re committed to the large case market. Our dedicated team of experts is here to support you from application through to policy placement.

    Today, we are thrilled to share the second episode of Ask our Experts. This mini docuseries features key members of our large case team. They talk about their work, their perspectives, and their role in the large case experience.

    Watch Ask our Experts Episode 2 featuring Kevin Till, AVP of Individual Life Pricing.

    Kevin chats with us about:
         • What he finds interesting about large case pricing.
         • How quickly Equitable can turn around a large case quote.
         • The difference between a mutual and a stock insurance company.
         • Equitable’s reinsurance strategy.



    In case you haven’t seen it…
    Watch Ask our Experts Episode 1 with Cindy Shirley, Chief Underwriter and Claims Risk Management.

    Learn more:
    Visit our large case markets webpage to learn more about our team of dedicated experts.

    Do you have a large case opportunity? Talk to your wholesaler to learn more.

    ® and ™ denote trademarks of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
     
  4. Equitable Life offers more than 60 years of RSP innovation


    In 1957, Equitable Life® began offering a Retirement Savings Plan (RSP). That is more than 60 years of RSP innovation in the Canadian marketplace. Today, Equitable Life offers two great accumulating RSP products to meet your clients’ needs.

    These products provide both protection and flexibility for your clients. They also provide the tax savings and benefits of an RSP. Get your clients to start saving to their RSP now. Make RSP contributions a financial priority each year. 

    This year’s RSP deadline is March 1, 2022. This will be the last day that an RSP deposit can reduce your clients’ 2021 taxable income.

    If your client is looking to convert registered savings to guaranteed income, click here to learn more about Equitable Life’s payout annuity options.

    Need additional support? Contact your local Regional Investment Sales Manager today.

  5. Crunch the numbers with Equitable Life of Canada  

    Whether helping your client determine net worth or reviewing to see if your client’s retirement plan is on track, Equitable Life® is here to help with our online calculators. These number crunching tools can help you answer some of those challenging questions you get asked by your clients. From an RSP loan calculator to home budgeting to even figuring out if your client will be a future millionaire, check out our latest tools.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Amesh just celebrated his 71st birthday. He is looking for a product that provides continued growth in a tax-sheltered environment. What should he do with his existing Registered Retirement Savings Plan?

     

    Did you know?
    It is mandatory that you convert your RRSP to a RRIF by December 31st in the year you turn 71. Check out Equitable Life’s RRIF Payment Calculator.

     

    Share calculators using your Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn account.


     
  6. Equitable Life Group Benefits Bulletin – November 2021 In this issue: *Indicates content that will be shared with your clients

    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”
    If your clients have Plan Administrator reporting access on EquitableHealth.ca, they can determine which plan members have a zero allocation by running the “HCSA Totals by Plan Member” report online by doing the following:
    • 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”
    To provide us with the amounts to be updated, please have your client contact our Group Benefits Administration Team at GroupBenefitsAdmin@equitable.ca.

    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
    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
    We can help
    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.
  7. Do you have clients considering a First Home Savings Account in 2024?

    We want to help clients save money for their first home. A First Home Savings Account (FHSA) is a registered plan allowing prospective first-time homebuyers to save for their first home tax-free up to $8,000 a year or a lifetime contribution limit of $40,000.

    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) and Daily/Guaranteed Interest Account (DIA/GIA), Equitable offers clients an array of investment products to suit their individual needs and risk tolerance.

    Do not wait. Get clients started today!

    To open a FHSA or DIA/GIA for clients, log in to EZcomplete®, our highly rated online application tool. It is easy to use, convenient, and fast.  

    For more information on FHSA or DIA/GIA, including a FAQ and client materials, visit EquiNet® or contact your Director, Investment Sales.   

    Date posted: October 16, 2024

  8. There is still time to set up a First Home Savings Account in 2024

    A First Home Savings Account (FHSA) allows prospective first-time homebuyers to save for their first home. The plan is tax-free and allows annual contributions up to$8,000 a year or a lifetime contribution limit of $40,000. If you have a client who wants to buy a first home, start them on their path to home ownership with a FHSA.

    With Equitable’s FHSA or Daily/Guaranteed Interest Account (DIA/GIA), they can put their money to work right away. Available on Pivotal Select™ Investment Class(75/75) and Pivotal Select Estate Class (75/100) and Daily/Guaranteed Interest Account (DIA/GIA), Equitable offers clients an array of investment products to suit their individual needs and risk tolerance.

    Do not wait. Get clients started today!

    For more information on FHSA or DIA/GIA, including a FAQ and client materials, visit EquiNet® or contact your Director, Investment Sales.   

    Date posted: November 13, 2024

  9. Large insurance case? Expert help starts here.

    Ask our Experts Episode 3

    At Equitable, we’re committed to the large case market. Our dedicated team of experts have a wealth of knowledge and experience. They’re here to support you and to help get your large case from application through to policy placement. 

    Today, we are thrilled to share the third episode of Ask our Experts featuring Mark Warywoda, Public Investments VP. Watch it now! 

    Mark shares his thoughts on:
    • The benefits of Equitable’s PAR fund
    • The key advantages of mutuality
    • The golden rule of investing: staying focussed on the long term.

    In case you haven’t seen it…
    • Watch Ask our Experts Episode 1 with Cindy Shirley, Chief Underwriter and Claims Risk Management. 
    • Watch Ask our Experts Episode 2 with Kevin Till, AVP of Individual Life Pricing. 





    Learn more:
    Visit our large case markets webpage to learn more about our team of dedicated experts. 

    Do you have a large case opportunity? Talk to your wholesaler to learn more. 
  10. [pdf] Equinet FAQ