EquiNet Equitable Life's advisor site

Site Search

486 results for MAKEMUR.COM How to bribe a guard to get extra privileges in prison Franklin County Jail

  1. Policy Change eDelivery
  2. Homewood Health COVID-19 Resources

    As the COVID-19 situation continues to rapidly evolve, you may need  information from a trusted source to support your clients, their organizations and their employees.

    Through our partnership with Homewood Health, the Canadian leader in mental health and addiction services, all of our clients and their plan members have access  to a number of tools and resources designed to provide guidance and support.

    Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

    For plan members dealing with increased anxiety during these uncertain times, Homewood’s Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy tool, i-Volve, can help. Through self-paced, web-based therapy, i-Volve can help plan members identify, challenge and overcome anxious thoughts, behaviours and emotions.

    All Equitable Life clients and their plan members have access to i-Volve. It’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, wherever you choose to access it.

    Learn more about Online CBT or access i-Volve at Homeweb.ca/Equitable.

    COVID-19 Support Resources

    Drawing on their expertise in mental health, as well as guidance from trusted sources including Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization, Homewood has created a number of resources to help support your clients and their plan members.

    ​​If you have any questions, or wish to discuss the tools, please reach out directly to Homewood. They are here to help support you, your clients and their employees through these unprecedented times. Contact your Homewood Health Account Manager or Homewood’s Customer Experience Team by phone at 1.833.375.0270 or email customersupport@homewoodhealth.com
  3. From Insight to Inclusion: Engaging Women Investors with Confidence Ready to help future‑proof your practice?
    Create an experience that truly resonates with women investors.

    Join our February Master Class, “From Insight to Inclusion: Engaging Women Investors with Confidence.” Learn how to design strategies that help attract, retain and deepen advisory relationships with women – today and for the long term. We will explore why women are essential to building and sustaining a successful advisory business. We will also share practical steps to help you engage them effectively.

    We’ll cover:
    • Why women remain an underserved client group,
    • Why inclusion is critical to your business growth, and
    • How to develop strategies that help attract and retain women as value clients.

    Why attend?
    • Turn research into real conversations that can build trust.
    • Create a clear plan that speaks to women investors.
    • Build a repeatable process for prospecting, onboarding and reviews – one that includes women in a meaningful way.
     
    Join Joseph Trozzo, Vice President, National Investment Sales at Equitable, for an insightful conversation with Susan Silma – lawyer, former regulator, client‑experience strategist and regular columnist for Investment Executive.
    Don’t miss this opportunity.


    Learn more

    Continuing Education Credits 
    This webcast has been submitted for continuing education (CE) approval for all provinces excluding Quebec via the Insurance Council of Manitoba and Alberta Insurance Council. Upon approval, you will be sent an email notification to come back to the webcast presentation console to download your personalized certificate from the tool bar. To be eligible for CE credits, you must register individually, watch the webcast in full, and complete a short quiz. It is the advisor's responsibility to ensure Continuing Education credits being offered are accepted by their licensing body. Alberta Insurance Council (AIC) credits are valid in Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. Insurance Council of Manitoba (ICM) credits are valid in Manitoba only. 

    This webcast is available in English only. 
     
  4. Equitable Life Group Benefits Bulletin – March 2022 In this issue: *Indicates content that will be shared with your clients
     

    CLHIA launches industry anti-fraud initiative*

    In February, the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA) announced a new anti-fraud initiative that is using advanced artificial intelligence (AI) to further identify and reduce benefits fraud.
     
    Equitable Life is excited to be a part of this important initiative. It will enhance our own fraud detection analytics by using AI to connect the dots across a huge pool of anonymized claims data. This will lead to more investigations and actions to mitigate the impact of fraud on your clients’ plans.
     
    The initiative is being led by the CLHIA and member insurers and is supported by technology provider Shift Technologies. It will be further rolled-out and expanded over the next three years.
     
    Benefits fraud affects more than just insurers. The costs of fraud are felt by employers and their employees as well. We are looking forward to being able to better identify and reduce benefits fraud.
     

    Provincial biosimilar update*

    BC expands its biosimilar initiative
    BC Pharmacare recently announced it is adding two rapid-acting insulins to the list of drugs included in its ongoing initiative to switch patients to biosimilar versions of high-cost biologics. Patients taking Humalog or NovoRapid for Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes will be required to switch to a biosimilar version of the drugs by May 29, 2022 to maintain coverage under the public plan.

    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 biologic drugs they are based on, and Health Canada considers them to be equally safe and effective for approved conditions.

    How we are responding to protect our clients
    To help prevent this change from resulting in additional costs for our clients’ drug plans while still providing plan members with access to safe and effective medications, we will no longer cover Humalog or NovoRapid for plan members in BC. Effective June 1, 2022, claimants currently taking Humalog or NovoRapid will be required to switch to a biosimilar version of the drugs to maintain coverage under their Equitable Life plan and their BC Pharmacare plan.

    We will be communicating this change to plan administrators later this week. And we will be communicating with affected claimants in early April to allow ample time to change their prescription and avoid any interruptions in their treatment or their coverage.
    If you have any questions about this change, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.

    Nova Scotia and Northwest Territories introduce biosimilar initiatives
    The governments of Nova Scotia and the Northwest Territories each recently announced they are launching biosimilar initiatives to switch patients from certain originator biologic drugs to biosimilar versions of the drugs.

    Patients in Nova Scotia using affected originator biologic drugs will have until February 2023 to switch to a biosimilar version of their medications in order to maintain coverage under the province’s public drug plans. Patients in the Northwest Territories will have until June 20, 2022, to switch.

    Equitable Life® actively monitors and investigates all biosimilar policy changes and the ongoing evolution of biosimilar drugs entering Canada.  We will keep you informed of any impact on private drug plans and how we are responding.
     

    Quebec decreasing insurance premium tax*

    The Quebec Government has announced that it plans to decrease its Insurance Premium Tax rates effective April 1, 2022. The premium tax rates for group life and accident and sickness insurance are expected to decrease from 3.48% to 3.3%. The new tax rates will be applied to premiums for the billing period beginning on or after April 1, 2022.
     

    Coming soon: A survey to understand how we can better serve your clients’ needs*

    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.
     
    In the coming weeks, we will conduct a survey of your clients to help us understand how we can better serve them. On March 28, we will send plan administrators an email with a link to the survey. The survey will remain open until the end of the day on April 11 and 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 may also follow up with plan administrators directly 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 25 prepaid gift cards for $25.
     

    Remind your clients’ plan members in BC, Manitoba and Saskatchewan to register for Pharmacare*

    If your clients have plan members in British Columbia, Manitoba or Saskatchewan, the provincial government offers a Pharmacare program to support prescription drug costs.  Plan members in these provinces must register for their provincial Pharmacare program to maintain coverage under their Equitable Life drug plan.
     
    Registration is easy! We will send two registration reminder messages directly to plan members’ pharmacists and post them on their Explanation of Benefits. We’ve also created a step-by-step guide that your clients can share with their plan members.
     
    English version
    French version
     
    For more information about the provincial Pharmacare programs, including how plan members can register, please visit:
     
    For British Columbia residents: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/pharmacare-for-bc-residents  
     
    For Manitoba residents: https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/pharmacare/apply.html
     
    For Saskatchewan residents: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/health/prescription-drug-plans-and-health-coverage/extended-benefits-and%20drug-plan/drug-cost-assistance#eligibility
     
     
  5. [pdf] Payout Annuity Application
  6. [pdf] Service is our business
  7. [pdf] myFlex Options Guide
  8. Equitable Life Group Benefits Bulletin – December 2021 In this issue: *Indicates content that will be shared with your clients

    Supporting plan members affected by the flooding in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland*

    The recent flooding in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland is having a devastating impact on the province’s residents.

    Here are some of the ways we can help support your clients’ plan members who are affected by the flooding.
     
    Prescription refills
    Until Dec. 31, our pharmacy benefit manager, TELUS Health, will allow early refills for plan members who have been evacuated and/or lost their medication due to the flooding.
     
    Replacement of medical or dental equipment and appliances
    If plan members in Nova Scotia or Newfoundland need to replace any eligible medical or dental equipment or appliances (e.g. prescription eyeglasses, dentures, etc.) due to the flooding, they can call us at 1.800.265.4556 before incurring additional expenses to see how we can support them.

    Disability or other benfit cheques
    If plan members affected by the flooding are receiving disability benefits or other benefit reimbursements by cheque, they can visit www.equitable.ca/go/digital for easy instructions on how to sign up for direct deposit. It’s easy and takes just a few minutes. They can call us at 1.800.265.4556 if they need help. We can also arrange for a different mailing address or replacement cheques if necessary.
     
    Mental Health Support
    A natural disaster can also take a serious toll on people’s mental health. All of our plan members have access to the Homeweb online portal and mobile app, including numerous articles, tools and resources designed to provide guidance and support in difficult times. Homewood has put together some suggestions on how to help employees affected by a natural disaster. 
     
    For your clients with an Employee and Family Assistance Program, remind them that their plan members have 24/7 access to confidential counselling through a national network of mental health professionals. Whether it’s face-to-face, by phone, email, chat or video, plan members will receive the most appropriate, most timely support for the issue they’re dealing with.
     
    If a client wishes to add the EFAP to their plan, we can do this quickly – often in just a few days. Simply contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.
     
    Plan Administrator support
    We realize that the flooding may also be having an impact on the regular business operations of your clients in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. If any of your clients are unable to carry out day-to-day plan administration, they can call us at 1.800.265.4556 to see how we can support them.
     
    We know this is a challenging time for many of your clients and their plan members. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide additional updates as appropriate. 
     

    Update: Changing certificate numbers on EquitableHealth.ca*

    Effective Dec. 10th, plan administrators will no longer be able to update or change plan members’ certificate numbers on EquitableHealth.ca. This change will ensure we can manage these changes more effectively to provide a smoother plan member experience.
     
    If your clients need to update a plan member’s certificate number, please have them reach out to Group Benefits Administration for assistance at groupbenefitsadmin@equitable.ca.
     

    Help plan members take advantage of 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.
     
    To help build awareness among plan members, we’ve created two posters that your clients can post on their intranet sites or in their office. The posters provide easy instructions on how to activate our secure, digital options.
     
    Please click on the links below to download the posters.
     
    EquitableHealth.ca posters:                                         EZClaim mobile app posters:
    EquitableHealth.ca English                                             EZClaim mobile app English poster                   
    EquitableHealth.ca French poster                                  EZClaim mobile app French poster
     

    Ontario optometrists and government to restart negotiations*

    The Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO) announced it has paused its job action and will restart negotiations with the Ontario Ministry of Health on funding for optometry services.
     
    In September, Ontario optometrists began withholding services from patients covered by OHIP, including children, senior citizens and other patients with certain medical conditions, after negotiations with the Ministry of Health over compensation broke down.
     
    Residents of Ontario between the ages of 20 to 64 who aren’t eligible for coverage of eye services under OHIP were not affected by the job action. They were able to continue to receive eye exams from their optometrist and submit eligible claims to their benefits plan.
     

    QDIPC updates terms and conditions for 2022*

    Every year, the Quebec Drug Insurance Pooling Corporation (QDIPC) reviews the terms and conditions for the high-cost pooling system in the province. Based on its latest review, QDIPC is revising its pooling levels and fees for 2022 to reflect trends in the volume of claims submitted to the pool, particularly catastrophic claims.
     
    Size of group (# of certificates) Threshold per certificate 2022 Annual factor (without dependents Annual factor (with dependents)
    Fewer than 25 $8,000 $276.00 $771.00
    25 – 49 $16,500 $188.00 $527.00
    50 – 124 $32,500 $97.00 $328.00
    125 – 249 $55,000 $66.00 $223.00
    250 – 499 $80,000 $51.00 $173.00
    500 – 999 $105,000 $39.00 $153.00
    1,000 – 3,999 $130,000 $34.00 $133.00
    4,000 – 5,999 $300,000 $18.00 $71.00
    6,000 and over Free market – Groups not subject to Quebec Industry Pooling
     
    We will apply the new pooling levels and fees to future renewal calculations that involve Quebec plan members.
  9. Market Comments - October 2024
    Key Takeaways for Q3
    · Central banks eased monetary policy by reducing their target interest rates.
    · Bond markets performed very well during the quarter as interest rates fell.
    · Risk markets experienced some volatility, but stock markets had robust returns.
    · Canadian stocks outperformed U.S. stocks in Q3, while the sources of returns in the U.S. market were more balanced and diversified than in the first half of the year.
     

    Views From the Frontline

    Bond Markets: During the third quarter, interest rates in both Canada and the U.S. moved significantly lower as markets anticipated that the Bank of Canada would continue – and the Federal Reserve would start – cutting rates. Additionally, the expectation became that the central banks would end up lowering rates more aggressively than previously assumed. That’s because inflation data has softened sufficiently to give the central banks the scope to ease policy, and other economic data, especially from the labour market, indicated the need for them to ease policy in order to prevent economic activity from cooling too much. For instance, in Canada, inflation slowed to the Bank of Canada’s 2% target, while the labour market showed warning signs with the unemployment rate rising to 6.6%. The Bank of Canada cut its target interest rate by 0.25% at each of its July and September meetings. Governor Macklem indicated that if growth does not materialize as expected, “it could be appropriate to move faster on interest rates”. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve kicked off its easing cycle by cutting its target rate by 0.50% in September. The growing signs of a cooling labour market amidst slowing inflation motivated the larger-than-typical move. That said, consumer spending in the U.S. continued to be strong, and GDP is still tracking a healthy growth rate.

    While interest rates fell, bonds returns were also boosted by solid behaviour of corporate bonds. Credit spreads (i.e. the risk premium for corporate bonds versus government bonds) continued to grind lower over the quarter. Tightening credit spreads reflected the generally positive risk-on tone to the market, despite some volatility.  Lower-rated BBB bonds performed better than higher-quality A-rated bonds.  Credit spreads have now generally fallen back to levels that are largely consistent with the tight post-pandemic levels experienced in 2021.  The on-going appetite of investors for the extra yield offered by corporate bonds over government bonds is indicated not just by falling credit spreads, but also by investors’ enthusiasm to support the primary issuance market. Corporate bond supply continues to be very robust, with $29B (billion) in new issuance during the quarter, resulting in an impressive $119B issued year-to-date, a new record.  Nonetheless, on balance, we do not think the current risk premium adequately compensates for downside risk, particularly in longer-dated corporate bonds, and have a bias towards shorter-dated credit where we view the risk / reward trade-off as being more favourable.

    Stock Markets: In the U.S., we continue to caution against heavily concentrated sources of market returns and emphasize a diversified portfolio. Last quarter, diversification proved essential as a multitude of factors heightened market volatility. These factors – which included the unwind of the yen carry trade, investor reactions to mixed mega-cap earnings, and concerns of a slowing labour market – drove investors away from mega-cap technology names and into defensive areas of the market. Following the Federal Reserve’s decision to reduce interest rates by 0.5%, sources of investment returns continued to broaden as investors rotated into economically-sensitive baskets. Underpinned by decelerating inflation and easing monetary policy, we believe the rotation away from the mega-cap tech names is likely to persist and we continue to emphasize portfolio diversification. In Canada, high-quality, high-yielding businesses – composed of the financial sector and non-financial dividend payers – outperformed over the quarter as investors rewarded companies that demonstrated a strong ability to sustain dividends, as well as greater efficiency generating profits. While we continue to favour these businesses, we have taken profit on our financial sector dividend exposure after a sharp reversion in the premium between value creation and current yield. In addition, Chinese officials introduced a wave of stimulus to revitalize growth, bringing life back to the metals and luxury goods sectors. Accordingly, Canadian and European equities have benefitted recently.

    Market Update
    chart1.pngRates & Credit: In Q3, interest rates in both Canada and the U.S. decreased significantly, with front-end interest rates declining faster than long-end interest rates amid cooling inflation and a weakening labour market. As a result, the FTSE Canada Universe Index posted a positive return of 4.7%. Coincidentally, Canadian corporate bonds and government bonds each also generated returns of 4.7%, totally in-line with the Universe index. On the other hand, despite short-term interest rates falling much more than long-term interest rates, the higher price sensitivity of long-dated bonds had them outperform shorter-dated bonds, with the Long-Term bond index up 5.8% while the Short-Term bond index gained 3.4%.  Similarly, within corporate bonds, industries that have longer-dated debt (e.g. energy and infrastructure) outperformed those that tend to have shorter-dated debt (e.g. real estate and financials).

    Chart2.pngEquity Overview: Underpinned by decelerating inflation data and easing monetary policy – including the outsize 50-basis cut from the Federal Reserve – prospects for an economic soft landing increased over the quarter. That favourable outlook spurred global equity markets to all-time highs, with previously lagging areas of the market narrowing the performance gap compared to the U.S. mega-cap technology names that had led returns in the first half of the year. Canadian equities outperformed their U.S. counterpart last quarter, rising 10.5% as strength in the banking and materials sectors pushed the index higher. Major developed markets from Europe, Australasia, and the Far East (EAFE) were more subdued, gaining 0.9% (in local currency terms) last quarter. That said, grand expectations for further interest rate cuts in the U.S. pushed the greenback to its lowest level in over a year, boosting EAFE returns to over 7% in U.S. dollar terms. Within the U.S., sources of market returns broadened as well, with investors rotating out of concentrated AI companies and into more economically sensitive businesses.  

    U.S. Fundamentals: Outside of the Magnificent 7, investors are interpreting downside earnings surprises as a normalization of financial performance rather than a deterioration. For example, McDonald’s share price rallied over 17% into quarter-end following its earnings release despite announcing declining sales and contracting earnings per share. Within the AI-ecosystem, investors are beginning to look for opportunities beyond chip manufacturers, such as nuclear energy providers. At an index level, our work shows that members of the Russell 1000 index, excluding the Mag-7, posted a median earnings growth of nearly 9% year-over-year, expanding from the ~6% witnessed in Q2. Furthermore, the number of companies from this group reporting positive earnings growth grew to approximately 67%, up from 60% in the prior quarter. In our view, the ongoing broadening of earnings strength outside of the Mag-7 can provide tailwinds to current market rotations into previously left-behind companies. Within the mega-cap tech space, investors have become more discriminant than in prior quarters, rewarding businesses with greater success monetizing their AI-investments. This trend was evident through the divergence of returns from IBM and Alphabet (Google’s parent company) following their quarterly earnings.

     
    U.S. Quant Factors: Decelerating U.S. inflation data prompted a rotation out of highly concentrated areas of the market (growth) and into more economically-sensitive companies (value). Then, concerns of a slowing U.S. labour market and the unwind of the yen carry trade increased market volatility, leading investors to shelter their positions by reallocating to low volatility. As the quarter progressed, expectations of easing monetary policy and stabilizing employment data helped calm return to the market and the rotation from mega-cap tech sector resumed, albeit at a lesser pace. Notably, this “catch-up” trade also benefitted dividend-paying companies, particularly those with a lengthy and established history of increasing dividends, as investors favoured those more mature operations.

    Canadian Fundamentals: Investors returned to the Canadian market after Canadian companies showed signs of recovery last quarter with earnings expanding by more than expected. With inflation showing clearer signs of deceleration and the outlook regarding the path of monetary policy increasingly implying lower interest rates going forward, investors are allocating toward high-quality, dividend-paying companies. From a sector level, surging gold prices provided a tailwind for Canadian miners, helping the materials sector outperform over the quarter. More recently, the materials sector has benefitted from elevated base metal prices following the arrival of Chinese stimulus. In contrast, oil prices declined over 16% last quarter as fears of an oversupplied market swelled following speculation that OPEC+ would look to dial back production cuts. As a result, investors looked past lingering geopolitical risks and the energy sector underperformed.

    Canadian Quant Factors: Amid an improving Canadian macroeconomic backdrop and clearer outlook on the trajectory of monetary policy, dividend-yielding businesses became sought after. More specifically, investors continued to emphasize dividend sustainability last quarter, rewarding dividend-paying businesses that demonstrated strong financial performance and the ability to support future payouts. For example, the major Canadian banks sharply outperformed in Q3 after reporting earnings growth that mostly exceeded expectations. In essence, investors have become more constructive on this high-yielding group as their ability to create value relative to financing costs improves.

    Downloadable Copy

     
    Mark Warywoda, CFA
    VP, Public Portfolio Management    		 Ian Whiteside, CFA, MBA
    AVP, Public Portfolio Management    		 Johanna Shaw, CFA
    Director, Portfolio Management    		 Jin Li
    Director, Equity Portfolio Management
     
    Tyler Farrow, CFA
    Senior Analyst, Equity    		  
    Andrew Vermeer
    Senior Analyst, Credit    		  
    Elizabeth Ayodele
    Analyst, Credit    		  
    Francie Chen
    Analyst, Rates
    ADVISOR USE ONLY

    Any statements contained herein that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements represent the portfolio manager’s best judgment as of the present date as to what may occur in the future. However, forward-looking statements are subject to many risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, and are based on the portfolio manager’s present opinions and views. For this reason, the actual outcome of the events or results predicted may differ materially from what is expressed. Furthermore, the portfolio manager’s views, opinions or assumptions may subsequently change based on previously unknown information, or for other reasons. Equitable® assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained herein. The reader is cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully and not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Investments may increase or decrease in value and are invested at the risk of the investor. Investment values change frequently, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Professional advice should be sought before an investor embarks on any investment strategy.

     
  10. Equitable Life Group Benefits Bulletin - July 2021

    In this issue:

    *Indicates content that will be shared with your clients
     

    Fabien Jeudy takes over as President and CEO*

    In March, we announced that Fabien Jeudy was appointed as Equitable Life’s next President and CEO. Jeudy officially took over on July 5th, succeeding Ronald Beettam, who is retiring after 16 years with the company.

    Jeudy is a collaborative leader with more than 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, leading actuarial, finance, risk management, distribution, marketing teams and operational teams in the Life & Health Insurance, Wealth Management and Group Benefits markets in Canada, the US, and Asia.

    Reminder: Equitable Life’s Guide to Accessing Virtual Healthcare*

    The demand for virtual healthcare services has increased as the pandemic is driving more people to access their health care providers from home.
     
    Thankfully, many virtual healthcare services are available for free to Canadians with provincial health care coverage. We have created a Guide to Accessing Virtual Healthcare for plan members to easily access a variety of virtual healthcare services. Our guide includes information and links to both free and paid virtual medical care options, including video appointments, health advice over the phone, emergency dental services, and more.
     
    You can find the guide on our website. It’s also available on our plan member website at EquitableHealth.ca.

    Mental health resources for plan members*

    Many Canadians have been experiencing increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through our partnership with Homewood Health®, all of our clients and their plan members have access to a number of health and wellness resources designed to provide guidance and support.
     
    Homewood’s Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy tool, i-Volve, can help plan members identify, challenge and overcome anxious thoughts, behaviours and emotions. Learn more about Online CBT or access i-Volve at Homeweb.ca/Equitable.
     
    As well, Homewood has a number of resources available to help support plan members dealing with increased anxiety during these uncertain times: Please encourage your clients to share these resources with their plan members. They are also available on our plan member website at EquitableHealth.ca.

    Recall of Philips CPAP machines*

    Last month, electronics company, Philips, issued a recall with Health Canada of some of its Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), BiLevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiLevel PAP) devices and Mechanical Ventilators. The recall was issued due to a foam abatement within the machines that can become loose and cause potential health risks.

    To qualify for repair or replacement of these devices, users must register their machine on the Philips website. 
     
    CPAP, BiLevel PAP devices and Mechanical Ventilators are eligible for coverage under an HCSA and under some Extended Health Care plans. Plan administrators may want to inform plan members of this recall if the devices are eligible for coverage under their plan.