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100 years strong
As COVID-19 continues, we want to reassure you that Equitable Life remains financially strong and committed to supporting our clients.
We are financially strong and stable
Our commitment to your health, wealth and overall well-being remains unchanged. This global pandemic has impacted the way we do business, but we continue to focus on our strategic goals while meeting the needs of Canadians. These three factors speak to our financial strength and stability:
• Equitable Life has a global credit rating of ‘A’ with a positive trend from DBRS Morningstar in recognition of our ability to adapt to the current business environment and prudent risk profile;
• We are maintaining our current dividend scale for the period July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021; and
• Our Life Insurance Capital Adequacy Test (LICAT) ratio remains well above our goal and the minimum that is required at 152.5% at the close of the first quarter.We pride ourselves on our customer service
Being recognized for its service culture across all lines of business is a point of pride for a company that includes ‘customer focus’ as one of its three corporate values. In 2019, our dedication to customer service was recognized with these outstanding survey results, proving we have the We have the knowledge, experience and ability to find solutions that work for you:- Equitable Life ranked in the top quartile for segregated fund service in 2019 survey of advisors and MGAs1 ;
- In a 2019 survey of customers from 15 life insurance companies,2 Equitable Life ranked #1 on the Net Promoter Score, a measure used across industries to gauge the loyalty of a firm's customer relationships; and
- A survey of Group consultants, brokers and third-party administrators 3 ranked Equitable Life in the top two insurers across all categories.
We have adjusted our business to become digital
Since the pandemic began, our IT and operations teams have digitally enhanced more than 20 different processes and services to make it easier for us to integrate with our distribution partners in this new reality. Our sales and customer service teams remain open and available to support you and your customers.
We are here with you and for you- To commemorate our 100th Anniversary this year, we donated $4.5 million to purchase and install a new MRI for Grand River Hospital and, as part of our Equitable Gives Back Contest, we donated $50,000 – $10,000 each – to five charities in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. As well, we are celebrating by randomly selecting policyholders to receive a $100 and three grand prizes. For more information about our celebrations, check out our website at www.equitable100.ca.
As the global situation continues to evolve, rest assured that Equitable Life is unwavering in our commitments to you and the communities we serve. We are here with you and for you.
2 LIMRA CxP Customer Experience Benchmarking Program, Life Insurance In-Force Experience 2019
3 NMG Consulting’s Canadian Group Benefits Survey 2019
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Two options for supporting plan members during the pandemic
We know these are difficult times. In addition to concerns about their health and the health of their family, working Canadians are worried about their jobs and their finances. Fortunately, through our partnership with Homewood Health®, we have two options for employers to support their employees through this crisis.
Below is an overview to refer to when you're meeting with your clients. Or you can download this PDF version.
Homewood Online (Homeweb)
All Equitable Life® clients and their plan members have access to Homeweb, a personalized online mental health and wellness portal. Accessible via the web or mobile app, Homeweb includes an online library of interactive tools, assessments, e-courses and resources to support plan members through the pandemic.
Homewood Health Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
Employers can provide additional support by adding the Homewood Health EFAP. In addition to full access to Homeweb, it offers confidential short-term counselling through a national network of mental health professionals, plus other resources and tools.
To make it easier to understand the options, here’s a detailed summary of what’s included with each:
Service Description Homeweb EFAP Homeweb.ca A secure and personalized online portal that includes hundreds of articles and resources, including e-books, toolkits, self-assessments, podcasts and more. 
Homeweb Mobile App One of Canada’s newest EFAP mobile apps that allows users to access every one of Homewood’s online tools and resources wherever they are. i-Volve Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Tool An online self-directed treatment tool that helps coach plan members to identify, challenge and overcome anxious thoughts, behaviours and emotions. Online Health Risk Assessment An online tool that helps plan members identify and address their health and wellness risks and barriers. Short-Term Counselling Short-term counselling provided face-to-face, by phone, email, chat or video through a national network of counsellors and clinical professionals. Life Smart Coaching A suite of telephonic and online services including coaching and resources to help employees manage their life balance, finances, health and career. Online resources only. Trauma response Prompt, compassionate and effective response to traumatic events, consisting of one three-hour block with one counsellor at one location per year. Legal Resources One-on-one consultation with a lawyer for guidance on issues such as family law, civil litigation, real estate and immigration. Online resources only. Key Person Advice Line (KPAL) Designed for HR, managers and supervisors, this service provides Online Management Resources and Workplace Situation Professional Support. Resource Locator Online childcare and eldercare resources locators. For more information, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.
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Equitable Life Group Benefits COVID-19 Update
The test of a great partner is one who stands tall when you and your clients need to rely on them most. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we thought you might find it helpful to have a summary of where we are during this crisis.
You can download this PDF version to refer to when meeting with your clients.
We are here with you and for you
We’ve taken several steps to support you, your clients and their plan members during this crisis, including:
- Providing premium refunds for insured, non-refund Health and Dental benefits;
- Waiving the waiting period for short-term disability claimants who tested positive for COVID-19;
- Extending out-of-country travel coverage for plan members who were unable to return to Canada;
- Providing increased flexibility for premium payments; and
- Keeping you and your clients informed with timely Q&As and announcements, webinars, and insights into the impact of COVID-19 on benefits plans.
As well, to commemorate our 100th Anniversary this year, we donated $4.5 million to purchase and install a new MRI for Grand River Hospital. And we donated $50,000 – $10,000 each – to five charities in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. For more information about our celebrations, check out our website at www.equitable100.ca.
We have adjusted our business to become digital
Our business is near 100% digital, so the vast majority of our employees are now working remotely from home and are fully functional. Since the pandemic began, our IT and operations teams have digitally enhanced more than 20 different processes and services to make it easier for us to integrate with our distribution partners in this new reality.
We pride ourselves on our customer service
In 2019, our dedication to customer service was recognized with outstanding survey results.
- In a 2019 survey of customers from 15 life insurance companies,1 Equitable Life ranked #1 on the Net Promoter Score, a measure used across industries to gauge the loyalty of a firm's customer relationships; and
- A survey of Group consultants, brokers and third-party administrators 2 ranked Equitable Life in the top two insurers across all categories.
For 2020, we continue to deliver service at the same level with no disruptions during this crisis. Our Customer Care Centre remains open to support plan members and can be reached at 1.800.265.4556. And our Client Relationship Specialists are available for Plan Administrator questions and support.
We are financially strong and stable
We remain financially strong and continue to focus on meeting the needs of Canadians. At the end of the first quarter, our Life Insurance Capital Adequacy Test (LICAT) ratio is at 152.5%, well above our goal and the regulatory requirement.
As the global situation continues to evolve, rest assured that Equitable Life is unwavering in our commitments to you and the communities we serve. We are here with you and for you. Please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager if you have questions or need assistance.
1 LIMRA CxP Customer Experience Benchmarking Program, Life Insurance In-Force Experience 2019
2 NMG Consulting’s Canadian Group Benefits Survey 2019
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Insights from a pandemic: COVID-19 and group benefits plans
We’ve received numerous questions about the impact of COVID-19 and what it will mean for benefits plans in the months ahead. Below is a summary of what we’re seeing so far. In the coming weeks, we’ll explore each of these topics in greater depth.
Disability
Initially, as COVID-19 started to spread, we saw STD claims ramp up quickly. Since then, we’ve seen the number of COVID-19-related STD claims slow significantly. As for LTD, we believe both the incidence and duration of those claims will increase in both the short term and medium term due to COVID-19.
Health and Dental Claims
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. This was followed by a drop in April after most provinces put 30-day refill limits in place. One exception was claims for asthma drugs which surged in March but had no drop in April. Overall, the April plunge will be short-lived; drug costs have already begun to rise in May.
While paramedical and dental claims are down, we are seeing an increase in claims for virtual treatments and emergency dental services. We expect that claims will spike once the current pandemic restrictions are lifted. We’ve already started to see claims rise in provinces that are allowing health providers to re-open.
Despite the shift to more virtual services, we haven’t seen an increase in fraudulent activity. But we continue to be vigilant. Our investigative practices – verifying with the plan member that they received the treatment and have a valid receipt, and that the practitioner has treatment notes – remain the same whether treatment is provided in person or virtually.
Technology
During this time of physical distancing, people are looking for ways to interact with their providers virtually. Fortunately, our business model is almost entirely electronic, and we have several convenient digital options available for plan members and plan sponsors. Our focus in recent weeks has been to remind clients and plan members about these tools and make it as easy as possible for them to activate and use them. And we are continually adding functionality that will allow us to serve our customers even better.
Mental Health/Wellness
Usage of i-Volve, Homewood’s online cognitive behavioural therapy tool, increased significantly in March before levelling back down in April and May. And while EFAP cases fell in April and early-May, the number of cases has begun to climb in recent weeks, particularly for anxiety. In the coming weeks and months, we expect an eventual increase in marital and family issues, as well as depression. We’ve also seen an increase in mental-health-related prescriptions.
Plan Design
It’s too early to predict how the COVID-19 pandemic will impact benefits plan design and how it will change in the coming months. We would love to get your feedback and insights about how benefit plans will evolve and what new features or provisions they should include.
Please share your thoughts and suggestions with your Group Account Executive or myFlex Marketing Manager. Or, you can email your ideas to GroupCommunications@equitable.ca.
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Meghan Vallis named head of distribution for myFlex Benefits and other group benefits updates
Meghan Vallis named head of distribution for myFlex Benefits
We are pleased to announce that Meghan Vallis, our Group Sales Vice President for Western Canada, will head national distribution for myFlex Benefits in addition to her existing responsibilities.
As part of her expanded role, Meghan will lead the myFlex Benefits sales team and develop and implement strategies to achieve the growth of this offering. Meghan and the myFlex team will continue to focus on delivering market leading services for our clients and advisors.
Meghan joined Equitable Life in 2020 and brings more than 15 years of experience in the group benefits industry to her expanded role. She is passionate about helping Advisors succeed to transform their clients' employee benefit experience.
myFlex Benefits is one of the most unique and versatile benefits solutions for small businesses in Canada. It is fully pooled, includes a two-year renewal and features a user-friendly portal for plan members to make their benefit selections. And it’s simple to use: Plan sponsors set a budget and choose from a selection of benefit options. Plan members then use flex dollars to select from the options offered by their employer. Any leftover flex dollars are saved in a health care spending account (HCSA).
If you have any questions or are interested in learning more about myFlex Benefits, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.Changes to Short Term Disability (STD) benefit calculations for 2023*
The Canada Employment Insurance Commission and Canada Revenue Agency have announced the 2023 changes to Maximum Insurable Earnings and premiums for employment insurance.
The following changes to Employment Insurance (EI) will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2023:
How does this affect your clients?
Your clients’ STD benefit will be revised with the updated maximums based on the percentage of EI Maximum Weekly Insurable Earnings shown in their policy if:- Their Equitable Life Group Policy includes an STD benefit that is tied to the EI Maximum Weekly Insurable Earnings, and
- At least one classification of employees has a maximum of less than $650.
If their STD maximum is currently higher than $650 or based on a flat amount instead of 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 if they have questions about the process, they can email Kari Gough, Manager, Group Issue and Special Projects.Coming soon: Survey for Plan Administrators with recent disability claims*
We’ve enhanced our communication processes to help your clients with disability plans manage their workplace absences more effectively. In early December, we will distribute a short survey to plan administrators who may have submitted an approved disability claim in the past six months. The survey will ask recipients about their satisfaction with the frequency and detail of our disability management communications.
The email will come from GBClientFeedback@equitable.ca, and the survey will remain open until the end of the day on December 16, 2022. All responses will be confidential. We plan to use the feedback to help ensure that we’re meeting your clients’ expectations and delivering industry-leading service.
We may also follow up with survey respondents directly, to address any concerns they’ve identified.
* Indicates content that will be shared with your clients. -
December 2023 eNews
Insights on EZBenefits from our Executive Vice-President, Group Insurance
When it comes to advising small business owners, it can be tough to find the right group benefits solution. Offering a competitive benefits plan is more important than ever to help small business owners attract and retain talent. They need an affordable solution that’s easy to implement, renew and maintain.
That’s why we launched EZBenefits for small business earlier this year. It’s a unique group benefits solution designed with you and your small business clients in mind.Marc Avaria, Executive Vice-President, Group Insurance, explains:
Find out more
Visit info.equitable.ca/EZBenefits for more details or to request a quote. If you have questions, contact your Equitable Group Account Executive.
Now that cold and flu season is here, many Canadians will start calling in sick or missing work to visit their doctor – if they can get an appointment. Now’s the time to remind your clients that Equitable offers Dialogue Virtual Healthcare. It can be added to any Equitable plan for an additional cost.
Supporting plan members through cold and flu season with Dialogue Virtual Healthcare*
Eligible plan members and dependants receive fast, on-demand access to virtual primary medical care—24/7, 365 days a year. Available for a variety of non-urgent health concerns, Dialogue Virtual Healthcare can make it easier to navigate cold and flu season by providing:- Access to the largest, most experienced bilingual medical team in Canada,
- In-app prescription renewals and refills,
- Personalized follow-ups after each consultation, and
- An all-in-one patient journey to address health issues. This reduces long waits and means less time away for doctor appointments.
Benefits of Virtual Healthcare for plan sponsors
When your clients provide Virtual Healthcare for their plan members, they can help:- Drive employee engagement;
- Reduce absenteeism related to in-person medical appointments;
- Manage chronic health issues;
- Attract and retain top talent; and
- Build a healthier workforce.
Learn how it works
Adding Dialogue Virtual Healthcare to your clients' plans
To learn more about adding Virtual Healthcare to your clients’ benefits plans, contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex® Account Executive. You can also share this resource from Dialogue on managing cold and flu season.
The Canada Employment Insurance Commission and Canada Revenue Agency have announced the 2024 changes to Maximum Insurable Earnings, and premiums for employment insurance. The following changes to Employment Insurance (EI) will take effect January 1, 2024:
Changes to Short-Term Disability benefits calculations*
How does this affect your clients?
To comply with client policy provisions, Equitable will revise Short-Term Disability (STD) benefits with the updated maximums based on the percentage of EI Maximum Weekly Insurance Earnings for policies that meet these conditions:- Policies that include a STD benefit that is tied to the EI Maximum Weekly Insurable Earnings, and
- Policies with a classification of employees that has less than a $668 maximum.
- The additional premium for any increase from their previous STD amounts and new STD amounts will be shown on your clients’ January 2024 Group Insurance Billings (as applicable).
If your clients wish to provide direction regarding revising their STD maximum, or have questions about the process, they can email Kari Gough, Manager, Group Issue and Special Projects.
*Indicates content that will be shared with your clients.