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1. 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.

   • Self-isolation and quarantine: What you need to know
   • Quelling COVID-19 Anxiety
   • Managing stress and anxiety
   • How to speak to children
   • How to stay productive and motivated when working from home
   • The COVID-19 Pandemic: Managing the Impact
   • Support for First Responders, Front Line Workers and Public Facing Employees
   • Financial tips for your financial health
   • Increases in Domestic Violence
   • Those with family members in long-term care facilities
   • Parenting during a pandemic
   • COVID-19: Employee Fatigue, Isolation and Loneliness
   • COVID-19 Back to School - Considerations and tips for parents and caregivers
   • COVID-19: Back to School Support for Kids
   ​​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
2. 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.

3. 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

   There 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.

4. 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 21^st 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.

5. Update: Employment Insurance (EI) Sickness Benefit Extension As it proposed in its 2022 Budget, the federal government has confirmed it is extending the Employment Insurance (EI) Sickness Benefits period from 15 weeks to 26 weeks later this year. The official implementation date and details have not yet been confirmed by the government and we will share further details once they are available. In the meantime, here’s what you need to know.
    
   We will not require or implement any changes to our disability plan designs based on this extension. However, plan sponsors may wish to amend their short-term disability (STD) and long-term disability (LTD) plans and policies to align with the new 26-week EI period. 

   Impact to short-term disability (STD) benefits integrated with EI

   Plan sponsors with EI-integrated STD may wish to adjust their benefits to line up with the new 26-week extension. 

   Impact to plans with no STD benefits

   For plan sponsors who do not offer STD, they have the option of adjusting their LTD plans to the new 26-week elimination period if members claim EI prior to LTD. This adjustment would help to avoid the plan member receiving disability and EI payments at the same time and potentially being required to return funds due to overpayment. 

   Considerations for plan sponsors

   Plan sponsors who amend their STD or LTD policies to align with the new 26-week EI period should note that there may be inadvertent delays to their employees’ return to work. While collecting EI, injured or ill employees do not benefit from our early intervention services or rigorous claims management practices that could help them get back to work sooner. So, by delaying the availability of STD or LTD coverage, the advantages that these programs are intended to provide could also be delayed. 

   Impact to Premium Reduction Program (PRP)

   The Premium Reduction Program (PRP) allows employers with eligible short-term disability plans to pay lower EI premiums. The eligibility criteria have not changed at this time. The government plans to review the PRP in 2024.

   Questions

   If you have questions about these changes or what they mean for your clients’ disability plans, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.
    
6. New year tune-up for Equimax participating whole life

   It’s a new year and time for an Equimax^® tune up! We have made some exciting changes for new sales of Equimax Estate Builder^® and Equimax Wealth Accumulator^® effective February 11, 2023.

   
   These exciting enhancements make Equimax even more robust, simpler and cost effective, to ensure it continues to be the preferred participating whole life solution for clients and advisors alike.
   
   Watch our informative video to learn more.
    
   Check out our Equimax splash page for complete details on all the enhancements, our transition rules, and much more.
    
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   What’s new?
   • All new children’s policies will now be issued as non-smoker for life – we will no longer request a non-smoker declaration for new children's policies.
   • We have also removed the policy fees on new Equimax sales, reducing total premium payments – allowing clients to buy even more coverage for the same payment.
   But there’s more to our Equimax tune-up!
   The following enhancements add more value, making it easier for you to recommend Equimax as your preferred whole life solution.
   • Monthly Excelerator Deposit Option(EDO) payments and EDO payments received off anniversary will now buy more paid-up additional insurance,
   • Dividends earned on EDO payment paid-up additions, and credited on the base policy, can now buy even more paid-up additions,
   • New clients now have the option to elect individual policies on joint last to die (JLTD) plans if their personal situation changes,
   • We have also changed the way we calculate monthly premiums – resulting in lower premium payments across the board,
   • And we have added our KIND™ benefit program to Equimax, as we did for our newest Generations Universal Life  solution last September – making it easier for families and beneficiaries at claim time.
   • And, finally, we are introducing some new sales illustration features, a Web-based software and more to help you market Equimax!
   Visit our splash page and watch our informative video to learn more and start selling the enhanced Equimax today.
    
   Plus, visit our Equimax product page on EquiNet^®, then click on the Marketing Materials tab for the latest Equimax marketing materials.
    
   Need more information? Please contact your local wholesaler.
    
    _{® and} ™ _{denotes a trademark of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.}
7. IMPORTANT NOTICE: FUNDS WITH DEFERRED SALES CHARGE OPTIONS

   The Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators require all insurance companies to discontinue the sale of segregated funds with Deferred Sales Charge (DSC) effective June 1, 2023*.  

   PIVOTAL SELECT™ SEGREGATED FUND PRODUCTS 

   On May 29, 2023, funds with a DSC or Low Load (LL) sales charge option will be allocated to the No Load (NL) sales charge option of the funds available within the policy. 

   • Any existing amounts held in DSC or LL funds will retain the existing DSC schedule, outlined in the client’s contract. The annual 10% available (20% for RIF policies) for withdrawal without fees continues to apply through to the expiry of the fee schedule. 
   • If the default deposit instructions and/or pre-authorized scheduled deposits the client previously provided include funds with DSC or LL, these instructions will automatically update to NL of the same fund for all future deposits. 

   In alignment with Equitable's current administrative rules, if the client has DSC or LL funds, the client will not be able to deposit No Load Chargeback funds (NL-CB and NL-CB5) within the same policy. 
   
   For more information, please click here.

   LEGACY SEGREGATED FUND PRODUCTS 

   Ongoing deposits to DSC funds continue when a segregated fund product does not have an alternative sales charge option available within the contract. This applies to the following products: 

   • Personal Investment Portfolio 
   • Pivotal Solutions II 
   • Pivotal Solutions DSC 

   Clients may continue to make new deposits to the DSC funds within the policy. Any new segregated fund deposits, as well as any existing segregated fund amounts within the policy, will retain the DSC schedule outlined in the contract. 
   
   For more information, please click here.
   
   Equitable's Advisor Services Team is available Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET at 1.866.884.7427 or by email at savingsretirement@equitable.ca. You can also contact your Regional Investment Sales Manager. 
    

   *Draft regulation in Quebec is currently under review which may affect Equitable Life’s approach for clients in the Province of Quebec with legacy segregated fund products. We will continue to monitor provincial regulatory developments. 

   ™ or ® denote registered trademarks of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada. 

   Date posted: May 4, 2023
    

8. Responding to Ontario’s biosimilar switch initiative

   We are changing coverage for some biologic drugs in Ontario in response to the province’s biosimilar initiative. These changes will help protect your clients’ plans from additional drug costs that may result from this government policy while providing access to equally safe and effective lower-cost biosimilars.

   Ontario’s provincial biosimilar initiative
   Announced in December 2022, Ontario’s biosimilar switch program ends coverage of eight biologic drugs for Ontario residents covered by the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB). The transition to biosimilar versions of these drugs began on March 31, 2023. ODB recipients using these drugs will be required to switch to biosimilar versions of these drugs by December 29, 2023, to maintain their provincial coverage

   Equitable Life’s response
   To ensure this provincial change doesn’t result in your clients paying additional and avoidable drug costs, we are changing coverage in Ontario for most biologic drugs included in the provincial initiative.
   
   Beginning October 1, 2023, plan members in Ontario will no longer be eligible for most originator biologic drugs if they have a condition for which Health Canada has approved a lower cost biosimilar version of the drug.** These plan members will be required to switch to a biosimilar version of the drug to maintain coverage under their Equitable Life plan. 

   Communicating this change to plan members
   We will inform any affected plan members in early August of the need to switch their medications so that they have ample time to change their prescriptions and avoid any interruptions in treatment or coverage. 

   Will this change impact my clients’ rates?
   Any cost savings associated with the change will be factored in at renewal.

   What is the difference between biologics and biosimilars?
   Biologics are drugs that are engineered using living organisms like yeast and bacteria. The first version of a biologic developed is known as the “originator” biologic. Biosimilars are highly similar to the drugs they are based on and Health Canada considers them to be equally safe and effective for approved conditions

   Questions?
   If you have any questions about this change, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.

   ** The list of affected drugs is dynamic and will change as Ontario includes more biologic drugs in its biosimilar initiative, as new biosimilars come onto the market, and as we make changes in drug eligibility.
9. Announcing Equitable Life's National Biosimilar Program Beginning March 1, 2024, we are expanding our biosimilar switch program nationally** to protect all our clients and to make our coverage consistent across Canada.
   
   Our national biosimilar initiative will simplify drug plan coverage, replacing our provincial programs with one program across the country.
    

   Why now?

   Over the past few years, most provinces have introduced policies to delist some originator biologic drugs. They require most patients to switch to biosimilar versions of those drugs to be eligible for coverage under their public drug plans. Soon, it is expected that all provincial drug plans will cover only biosimilars.
   
   In response, we have implemented biosimilar switch initiatives in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to align with these provincial changes. Our initiatives are designed to protect our clients from additional drug costs that may result from these government policies while providing access to equally safe and effective lower cost biosimilars.
    

   How will this affect clients’ drug plans?

   Because we have already introduced biosimilar switch initiatives in most provinces, the impact of this change will be minimal. It will primarily affect plan members in provinces or territories where we haven’t already required the switch to biosimilars, and plan members who are taking biosimilars that were not originally included in the switch initiative for their province. 
   
   Regardless of where they live, plan members across Canada will no longer be eligible for most originator biologic drugs if they have a condition for which Health Canada has approved a lower cost biosimilar version of the drug. Plan members already taking the originator biologic will be required to switch to a biosimilar version of the drug to maintain coverage under their Equitable plan. We will support their transition with education, personalized communication, and resources.
    

   Will this change affect clients' rates?

   Any cost savings associated with the change will be factored in at renewal.

   
   What is the difference between biologics and biosimilars?

   Biologics are drugs that are engineered using living organisms like yeast and bacteria. The first version of a biologic developed is known as the “originator” biologic. Biosimilars are highly similar to the drugs they are based on, and Health Canada considers them to be equally safe and effective for approved conditions.
    

   Advance notice

   We will be communicating with affected claimants in early December to allow them 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 Account Executive.
   
   
   **Excludes plan members in Quebec who participate in a separate provincial program. 
10. Important Information Regarding FHSA Contributions Many clients have already taken advantage of Equitable’s First Home Savings Account (FHSA), available on Pivotal Select™ Investment Class (75/75) and Pivotal Select Estate Class (75/100).
     
    Below, we answer questions we have received regarding cut-off dates for 2023 FHSA contribution tax receipts.
    
    1. The client submitted an application with a deposit before 11:59 p.m. ET on December 29, 2023. Will they get a 2023 FHSA contribution tax receipt?
    Yes, the client will receive a 2023 FHSA contribution tax receipt.
    
    2. The client submitted an application with a deposit on December 30 or 31, 2023. Will they get a 2023 FHSA contribution tax receipt?
    No, the client will not receive a 2023 FHSA contribution receipt. The client’s deposit will be made effective the next business day, January 2, 2024. The client will receive a FHSA contribution tax receipt for the 2024 tax year.
    
    However, since the client signed the application on or before December 31, 2023, they are eligible to take advantage of the 2023 contribution room in 2024 (up to $16,000 total*).
    
    
    
    3. The client submitted an application with a deposit after January 1, 2024, but it was signed on or before December 31, 2023. Will they be eligible for the 2023 contribution room?
    Yes. Any FHSA application received on or before 4:00 p.m. ET on January 12, 2024 that was signed on or before December 31, 2023 will be eligible to take advantage of the 2023 contribution room in 2024*.
    
    4. The client received a confirmation letter stating their deposit was effective in January, but the application and contribution was submitted on or before December 29, 2023, will they receive a 2023 tax receipt for their contribution?
    Yes, if the client received a confirmation letter stating their deposit was effective in January but the application and deposit was received at Equitable® on or before December 29, 2023, they will receive a 2023 tax receipt for their contribution. We are currently updating any impacted FHSA policies to reflect a December trade date. The client will receive a revised confirmation letter reflecting the December trade date.
    
    5. When will 2023 FHSA contribution tax receipts be issued?
    FHSA contribution receipts for the 2023 tax year will be mailed to clients by February 29, 2024.
    
    If you have further questions,  please contact your Regional Investment Sales Manager or one of our Client Services Representatives at 1.866.884.7427.  
     
    *Clients must consider all eligible FHSAs with any other institutions to determine their remaining contribution room.
     
    ^® or ™ denotes a trademark of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
    
    Posted January 2, 2024