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  1. [pdf] FundSERV - Schedule "B" Commission Schedule
  2. [pdf] Limited Trading Authorization
  3. About
  4. Paramedicals are Re-opening Shortly We are pleased to announce that face-to-face insurance testing paramedical services, including the collection of vitals & fluids, are resuming shortly.  Our service providers, Dynacare and ExamOne, have been monitoring the public health standards and have established standards they will operate under to protect the health of both the applicant and health professionals.
     
    Our commitment to your client’s safety
    It is Equitable Life's commitment that both clients and advisors will be provided clear and thoughtful communication before initiating any testing. Clients should fully understand the potential risks associated with having a paramedical test taken at this time and are always able to choose not to attend the appointment if they do not feel comfortable or safe.
     
    How will paramedical services be conducted?
    Dynacare is conducting appointments at fixed site facilities where clients will travel to the health professional for their appointment. The paramedical questions will be covered by video or telephone to minimize the time spent in the fixed site facility. For more information, see Dynacare’s COVID-19 client guide that will be provided to the client directly.
     
    ExamOne examiners will travel to the client’s home for their appointment and the entire paramedical will be conducted at that time. Information about ExamOne’s COVID-19 processes and their Preparing for my exam client guide will also be provided to the client directy.
     
    When are paramedical services re-opening?
    In person paramedical services for Equitable Life cases will begin opening gradually. We have worked closely with our service providers, the CLHIA & provincial governments and believe it is prudent to begin re-opening services in the provinces that have a lower incidence of COVID-19.  We will expand the schedule as the incidence of COVID-19 lowers or is expected to lower in specific regions.
     
    Please note if you had an order in process prior to services shutting down, the provider will be looking to re-open and complete those orders. If requirements are no longer needed given the non-med limit changes, the order will remain closed.
     
    Schedule for re-opening paramedical services:
    Province Start Date
    Saskatchewan June 1-Dynacare, June 11-ExamOne
    New Brunswick June 8-Dynacare, June 11-ExamOne
    PEI and Newfoundland June 15, Dynacare and ExamOne
    Manitoba June 15, Dynacare and ExamOne
    Alberta June 18, Dynacare and ExamOne
    British Columbia June 22, Dynacare and ExamOne
    Nova Scotia June 22, Dynacare and ExamOne
    Ontario* By June 30, Dynacare and ExamOne
    Quebec * By June 30, Dynacare and ExamOne
     
    Note: Start dates are subject to change based on the progress of COVID-19.
     
    *Ontario & Quebec to re-open regionally (starting with areas with lower incidence of COVID-19). Specifics for Ontario and Quebec will be communicated closer to the implementation dates for these provinces. Further details can be found in this communication.
  5. Extending premium relief for Dental and Extended Health Care benefits

    We know this continues to be a challenging time for Canadian employers and we remain committed to looking for ways to help your clients manage while still supporting their employees.

    Although many health practitioners have re-opened as pandemic restrictions are lifted, plan member use of dental benefits and some health benefits still remains lower than normal in June.

    We are pleased to announce that we are extending premium relief for all Traditional and myFlex insured non-refund customers for Health and Dental benefits for the month of June, as follows:

    • A 25% reduction on Dental premiums; and
    • A 5% reduction on Extended Health Care premiums.

    These reductions are effective for June 2020 and will appear as a credit on the July bill, or against the next available billing. We will assess the situation monthly and will continue with monthly refunds for as long as the current crisis period continues. The size of the credit may change over time as dentists and other health practitioners gradually reopen their offices. We will confirm premium credits for July (if any) at a later date. Credits for subsequent months will be communicated on a month-by-month basis.

    In order to be eligible for the monthly credit calculation and payout, a policy must be in force on the first of the month and remain in force thereafter. The monthly credit calculation is based on employees in force on the June bill. If employees experienced layoffs during the month, that would not affect eligibility for a premium credit as long as the benefit itself is not terminated.

    We expect that claims experience and premiums will return to normal once the current pandemic restrictions are lifted.

    In the meantime, plan members will continue to have full access to their benefits coverage throughout the pandemic. In many cases, dental offices have remained open for emergency services, and a variety of healthcare providers are available virtually.

    Commissions

    We know the pandemic has put financial strain on your business as well, so we will continue to pay full compensation. Although your overall commission will be unaffected by these premium reduction adjustments, you may see a temporary reduction in your commission payments if you are on a pay-as-earned basis.

    Communication

    We will be communicating this premium relief program to your clients later this week.

    Questions?

    If you have any questions, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager. You can also refer to our online COVID-19 Group Benefits FAQ.

  6. Insights from a pandemic: Drug trends during COVID-19

    We were expecting drug costs to rise this year due to the increase in “specialty” drugs, the shift to more expensive treatments for common conditions, and the introduction of new, costly medications. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused drug costs to rise even more than expected. While this was partly due to increased claims for certain drug categories, the most significant factor was the increase in dispensing fees as the provinces imposed 30-day refill limits.

    Costs and claimants surge, drop, then climb again

    Initially, as COVID-19 started to spread, we saw an overall spike in the volume and paid amounts for drug claims in March as plan members rushed to stock up on their medications. On our block, the average amount paid per certificate increased 16% in March, compared with the previous year.

    This spike was followed by a drop in April after most provinces put 30-day refill limits in place. This led to a decrease in both average paid amounts and quantity per claim as people were limited to smaller refills. But the dispensing fee portion of drug cost tripled for many plan members who had to refill their prescriptions every month instead of every 90 days.

    The April plunge was short-lived. Drug claims started to climb again in May as some provinces removed their 30-day refill limits. We’ve seen a continued increase so far in June as all remaining provinces have lifted their 30-day limits.

    Claims for “specialty” drugs increase

    COVID-19-Drug-Claims-Graphs-EN.pngThere were some notable exceptions to this trend. For example, both claimants and paid amounts for high-cost “specialty” drugs increased in March, April and May. Thirty-day refills are the norm for these drugs, so they weren’t impacted by the re-fill limits.

    Claims for asthma drugs had the largest surge of any common disease category in March but had no subsequent drop in April. Not surprisingly, claims for mental health drugs increased throughout the pandemic, including a 33% increase in the number of claimants in May.

    Going forward, we should see the average quantity per prescription stabilize in future months and return to normal, provided pharmacies return most patients to refills of more than 30 days.

    The full impact of COVID-19 remains to be determined. We will continue to provide timely updates on any developments that impact our clients and their plan members or their benefits coverage. In the meantime, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager if you have questions.

  7. Insights from a pandemic: Long-term COVID-19 drug risks

    For the remainder of 2020 and beyond, COVID-19 will continue to add to the existing pressures driving up drug costs. Examples of contributing factors include:

    • Claims for acute drugs will likely increase as elective surgeries resume and plan members address non-emergency health issues that were left unattended during COVID-19.
    • Plan members whose employers are facing financial strain due to COVID-19 may stock up on their prescriptions in anticipation of losing their job and/or their benefits.
    • An ongoing increase in the prevalence and severity of mental health issues and chronic conditions. In May and June, we saw a dramatic increase in the number of claimants for depression, ulcers, blood pressure and diabetes, and depression was associated with 1 in 5 claimants.

    All trends thus far suggest we can expect about a 10% increase in average paid amounts per certificate in 2020 compared with 2019. But the impact won’t be the same for all groups. There will be significant variations, particularly for smaller groups, and some may see much larger cost increases.

    Unknown COVID-19-related risks

    Another risk exposure may come from the costs associated with drugs used to treat or prevent COVID-19. There are currently numerous vaccines in development, and more than 300 clinical trials are underway for both new and existing drugs to determine their effectiveness in treating the virus.

    The cost of any vaccine or whether government or private plans will pay for it is unknown. Regardless, there will likely be other drugs indicated for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19 that private plans will be expected to cover. The cost of this impact for private payers is unknown, but potentially high.

    Another unknown is what will happen with dispensing fees. While most provinces have lifted their 30-day prescription refill limits, it remains to be seen whether pharmacies will resume dispensing 60- and 90-day refills at pre-COVID levels for private plans. If not, this would mean the dispensing fees will continue to drive up drug costs.

    COVID-19-Drug-Claims-Graphs-Part-2.png

    Advisor opportunity

    Despite the increase in drug plan risk in recent years, little has changed in plan design trends. Very few plan sponsors have adopted managed plans or other plan design options that could help manage risk.

    This presents an opportunity for advisors to educate their clients about the risks their drug plan may be exposed to and the options available to manage that risk.

    A practical starting point for those conversations is our Drug Plan Design Tool. With two simple questions, it can help confirm your client’s objectives and identify some best-fit solutions for their plan.  Ask your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager for a copy of the tool.

  8. Equitable Life awarded seven Fundata FundGrade A+ awards
     
    FundGradeAPlus2020Logo-(1).png

    Equitable Life® has won seven Fundata FundGrade A+® awards for 2020. The first four funds are currently available on Equitable Life’s Pivotal Select™ fund lineup. The remaining three awarded funds are part of Equitable’s legacy products. These funds are available to existing Equitable Life contracts only.
    • Equitable Life Dynamic Power Global Growth Fund
    • Equitable Life Accumulative Income Fund
    • Equitable Life Common Stock Fund
     
    The annual awards are presented by Fundata Canada Inc. to investment funds that have shown consistent, outstanding, risk-adjusted performance throughout the previous calendar year.
     
    Equitable Life invests for the big picture and offers a complete range of investment and annuity products designed to meet the savings, accumulation and income needs of clients. Our strength as a company along with our many investment guarantees can help your clients achieve their financial goals with confidence.
     
    FundGrade A+® is used with permission from Fundata Canada Inc., all rights reserved. The annual FundGrade A+® Awards are presented by Fundata Canada Inc. to recognize the “best of the best” among Canadian investment funds. The FundGrade A+® calculation is supplemental to the monthly FundGrade ratings and is calculated at the end of each calendar year. The FundGrade rating system evaluates funds based on their risk-adjusted performance, measured by Sharpe Ratio, Sortino Ratio, and Information Ratio. The score for each ratio is calculated individually, covering all time periods from 2 to 10 years. The scores are then weighted equally in calculating a monthly FundGrade. The top 10% of funds earn an A Grade; the next 20% of funds earn a B Grade; the next 40% of funds earn a C Grade; the next 20% of funds receive a D Grade; and the lowest 10% of funds receive an E Grade. To be eligible, a fund must have received a FundGrade rating every month in the previous year. The FundGrade A+® uses a GPA-style calculation, where each monthly FundGrade from “A” to “E” receives a score from 4 to 0, respectively. A fund’s average score for the year determines its GPA. Any fund with a GPA of 3.5 or greater is awarded a FundGrade A+® Award. For more information, see www.FundGradeAwards.com. Although Fundata makes every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained herein, the accuracy is not guaranteed by Fundata.® ”Equitable Life” and “Pivotal Select” are trademarks of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
  9. Equitable Life awarded FundGrade A+ awards for 2021
    Equitable Life® is the proud recipient of the Fundata FundGrade A+® in 2021 for Equitable Life Dynamic Power Global Growth Fund and Equitable Life Accumulative Income Fund. These funds are part of our legacy products and no longer available to purchase for new contracts.
     
    Each year, Fundata looks for Canadian investment funds that uphold an outstanding performance rating over the course of the year. Equitable Life invests for the big picture and offers a complete range of investment and annuity products designed to meet the savings, accumulation and income needs of clients. Our strength as a company along with our many investment guarantees can help your clients achieve their financial goals with confidence.
     
    FundGrade A+® is used with permission from Fundata Canada Inc., all rights reserved. The annual FundGrade A+® Awards are presented by Fundata Canada Inc. to recognize the “best of the best” among Canadian investment funds. The FundGrade A+® calculation is supplemental to the monthly FundGrade ratings and is calculated at the end of each calendar year. The FundGrade rating system evaluates funds based on their risk-adjusted performance, measured by Sharpe Ratio, Sortino Ratio, and Information Ratio. The score for each ratio is calculated individually, covering all time periods from 2 to 10 years. The scores are then weighted equally in calculating a monthly FundGrade. The top 10% of funds earn an A Grade; the next 20% of funds earn a B Grade; the next 40% of funds earn a C Grade; the next 20% of funds receive a D Grade; and the lowest 10% of funds receive an E Grade. To be eligible, a fund must have received a FundGrade rating every month in the previous year. The FundGrade A+® uses a GPA-style calculation, where each monthly FundGrade from “A” to “E” receives a score from 4 to 0, respectively. A fund’s average score for the year determines its GPA. Any fund with a GPA of 3.5 or greater is awarded a FundGrade A+® Award. For more information, see www.FundGradeAwards.com. Although Fundata makes every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained herein, the accuracy is not guaranteed by Fundata.® ”Equitable Life” and “Pivotal Select” are trademarks of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
  10. A New Universal Life Solution for the 21st Century – Coming Soon

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

     

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


    Our new Equitable Generations
    Equitable Generations is a Universal Life product that offers investment options that resonate with today’s 21st century client while reducing every fee possible. It also reduces the cost of insurance to help clients maximize their opportunity to purchase coverage and build tax-advantaged wealth.

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


    Supporting you at claim time with KIND™

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

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

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

    Learn more
    Transition rules are available

     

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

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

    Please contact your Regional Sales Manager for more information. 

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