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1. Flexibility for a client’s ever-changing life

   Term life insurance offers full and partial conversion options to meet changing needs

   
   Life is always changing—whether a client is buying their first home, welcoming a new baby, or sending the kids off to college. While most clients think of term life insurance as a solution to meet a temporary need, they don’t necessarily consider the power of term conversion options to meet their future needs. 
   
   Full and partial conversion options can help meet a client’s needs as their life journey and insurance needs change, without having to provide proof of continued good health. 
   
   Full conversion:
   •    With full conversion, clients can convert all of their term coverage from their policy or rider to permanent life insurance. This allows the client to lock in a level premium rate for life.
   
   
   
   
   Partial conversion:
   •    With a partial conversion, clients can convert a portion of their term coverage from their policy or rider to a permanent plan. This allows them to help cover off both a short-term need and also provides lifetime protection.
   
   Did you know?
   Our partial conversion with a term rider carryover is now more flexible than ever. Read more about it here!
   
   For more information, please consult the Equitable Term Life insurance admin guide.

2. [pdf] Converting Your Savings into Retirement Income
3. Product Enhancements - 10 Pay Equitable Life has exciting product enhancements that will help you offer more options to clients. 
   
   Access our Virtual Product Launch NOW. Grab a coffee and get ready for this exciting news! Hear from our leaders and learn about our exciting product enhancements.
   
   NEW! 10 pay premium option with Equimax Estate Builder®
   • The new EquiLiving® 20 pay rider options will be available on Equimax® plans
   New Illustration software available on February 11, 2022 
   The updated illustration software will be available for download after 9 a.m. ET on Friday, February 11, 2022, and will include all the Equimax and EquiLiving enhancements.
   
   See the Equitable Sales Illustrations Update for information on how to download the software or check for updates. 
   
   Please review updates to the commission schedule A for these new enhancements.
   
   Learn more
   • Transition rules are available
   • Watch our virtual launch event video now! (Approx. 20 minutes)
   • Watch our product launch intro video here
   • Visit our launch event page with product change details and more here
   • Marketing Materials
   Get ready to make 2022 your best year yet for your sales! 
   
   Please contact your Regional Sales Manager for more information. 
4. DBRS Morningstar reaffirms Equitable Life’s Financial Strength Rating and Issuer Rating
   DBRS Morningstar confirms Equitable Life’s Financial Strength Rating and Issuer Rating at A (high) with Stable Trends. Equitable Life of Canada is pleased to be able to maintain the confidence of the global credit rating agency DBRS Morningstar.
    
   A Financial Strength Rating is DBRS Morningstar’s assessment of an insurance company’s ability to make timely and full payment of its obligations on policyholder claims and benefits as well as financial contract guarantees and benefit obligations. An Issuer Rating reflects DBRS Morningstar’s assessment of that issuer’s likelihood of default and considers the issuer’s fundamental creditworthiness and business and financial risks.
    
   For more information, please see the DBRS Morningstar Media Release.
    
5. About
6. EZtransact enhancements: New “Internal Transfer” and “Other Institution” options

   At Equitable^®, we’re always looking for ways to make it easier to support clients. That’s why we’re excited to share new enhancements in EZtransact^® that give you more flexibility and simplify transfer processes. 
   
   What’s new
   As of January 22, EZtransact now offers:   
   •  Internal Transfers that streamline digital movement of investments between eligible client accounts within Individual Wealth.
   •  An “Other Institution” option when you’re initiating an external transfer. This means you can request transfers from financial institutions that are not listed in our existing dropdown menu.
   
   These enhancements remove the need for manual workarounds and help ensure transfers are captured clearly and accurately the first time. 
   
   These updates support:
   •  Advisors working with Individual Wealth clients
   •  Clients who need to move investments either within Equitable or from another financial institution
   
   To transfer funds between existing Equitable contracts, simply go to EZtransact, select Make a Transfer on the policy you want to receive the funds, and view your client’s existing contracts all in one place. 

   
   
   Use the new “Other Institution” option to start transfers from any financial institution, even if it’s not part of the standard list.
   
   You’ll see these enhancements in the “Make a Transfer” flow within EZtransact on EquiNet^®. It appears right at the point where you select the financial institution for the transfer. 
    

   
   These updates are designed to:
   •  Give you more flexibility when managing external transfers
   •  Remove the need for manual steps or workaround solutions
   •  Help reduce errors that can happen during manual processing
   •  Improve efficiency for you and deliver a smoother experience for clients 
   
   You asked, and we listened! Keep providing us with your feedback on our digital tools. When we grow together, success is mutual. Get to know EZtransact! If you have any questions, please contact your Director, Investment Sales.
   
   Date posted: April 1, 2026

7. 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.
   The additional premium for any increase from their previous STD amounts and new STD amounts will appear on their January 2023 Group Insurance Billing (as applicable).
    
   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.
8. All about the changes to the capital gains inclusion rate Disclaimer: The following content is provided by and is the opinion of Invesco Canada Ltd. Equitable does not guarantee the adequacy, accuracy, timeliness, or completeness of the information. Equitable shall not be liable for any errors or omissions in the information provided by Invesco.
   
   
   What has changed?
   One noteworthy measure to come from Budget 2024 is the proposed change to the capital gains inclusion rate, which was previously held steady at 50% since 2001.
   
   For individuals, capital gains more than $250,000 annually will be subject to an increased 66.67% inclusion rate as of June 25, 2024, while the capital gains up to $250,000 will continue to be subject to the existing 50% inclusion rate. As a transitional measure for 2024, only the capital gains realized by individuals on or after the effective date of June 25 that are above the $250,000 threshold will be subject to the increased inclusion rate.
   
   For trusts and corporations, the inclusion rate on all capital gains will increase from 50% to 66.67% starting on June 25, 2024.
   
   
   
   
    
   Who is affected?
   
   Impact to individuals
   Budget 2024 proposed to add transitional rules which would specifically identify capital gains and losses realized before the effective date (Period 1) and those realized on or after the effective date (Period 2). The effective date is June 25, 2024. Capital gains realized on or after that date will have an inclusion rate of 50% on the amount up to $250,000, and an inclusion rate of 66.67% on the amount above $250,000. All capital gains realized prior to the effective date will have an inclusion rate of 50%.
   Take Ontario as an example, the proposed higher inclusion rate on capital gains would effectively increase the average federal-provincial marginal tax rate for Ontario residents on capital gains above $250,000 at the top marginal tax rate from 26.76% to 35.69%. A more detailed analysis on the impact of these changes to an individual’s tax rate is discussed below.
   For net capital gains realized in Period 2, the annual $250,000 threshold would be fully available in 2024 (i.e., it would not be prorated) and it would apply only in respect of net capital gains realized in Period 2.
   The $250,000 threshold would effectively apply to capital gains realized by an individual, either directly or indirectly via a partnership or trust, net of any: current-year capital losses, capital losses of other years applied to reduce current-year capital gains, and capital gains in respect of which the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption, the proposed employee Ownership Trust Exemption or the proposed Canadian Entrepreneurs’ Incentive claimed.
   Two common scenarios of reaching the $250,000 capital gain threshold are the deemed disposition of capital property at death, and the emigration from Canada (i.e., becoming a non-resident for income tax purposes). We have provided additional details on these topics below.
    
    
   Deemed disposition upon death
   When an individual passes away, they are deemed to have sold their capital property (e.g., units or shares of mutual funds, shares of corporations, and real property) at its fair market value (FMV) immediately before their death. If a capital gain arises because of this deemed disposition, that capital gain is reportable on the deceased’s final (terminal) tax return and the taxes owing as a result, if any, would be payable by the estate of the deceased. However, there are provisions that allow taxes to be deferred when the property is transferred to a spouse. For example, if a capital property is transferred to a surviving spouse or common-law partner, subsection 70(6) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) automatically deems the deceased to have disposed of that property and the spouse or common-law partner immediately acquires the same property at the deceased transferor’s adjusted cost base (ACB). This is commonly referred to as the “spousal rollover”. Another potential strategy to manage potential large capital gains taxes at death is life insurance, since the death benefit is typically paid out tax-free.
   Without careful planning, the estate value could be substantially reduced by the changes to the capital gains inclusion rate. Furthermore, it would be prudent to ensure there are liquid assets or cash available in the estate to cover the associated tax liabilities.
   
   Non-resident of Canada – Departure tax
   Residency in Canada for income tax purposes is a question of fact, which primarily depends on the individual’s residential and social ties in Canada. When an individual becomes a non-resident of Canada, they are deemed to have disposed of and immediately reacquired certain types of property at FMV. The tax incurred because of this deemed disposition and reacquisition is also known as the departure tax. Some examples of properties subject to departure tax include securities inside a non-registered investment portfolio, shares of Canadian private corporations, and real estate situated outside of Canada. Note that there are some properties that are exempted from the departure tax, including: pensions and similar rights (including registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs), registered retirement income funds (RRIFs), and tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs)) and Canadian real property.
   The departure tax rules coupled with the increased capital gain inclusion rate above the $250,000 threshold may incur additional tax payable for emigrants. However, there is an option to defer the payment of departure tax on income associated with the deemed disposition upon emigration. By making an election, the individual would pay the tax later, without interest, when the property is disposed of. This election can be done by completing CRA Form T1244, “Election Under Subsection 220(4.5) of the Income Tax Act, to Defer the Payment of Tax on Income Relating to the Deemed Disposition of Property," on or before April 30 of the year following their departure from Canada.
   
   Impact to Entities
   Corporations and trusts will also be impacted by the increased inclusion rate as of June 25, 2024. Unlike individuals, corporations and trusts will not have access to the old inclusion rate on the first $250,000 of capital gains: they will be subject to the new 66.67% inclusion rate from the very first dollar.
   With the above in mind, there will be options available to shelter corporate and trust capital gains from the new inclusion rate.
   
   For corporations:
   The lifetime capital gains exemption (LCGE) can be used to eliminate capital gains taxes on the sale of qualified small business corporation shares (generally, these are shares of a Canadian-controlled private corporation that carries on an active business). The LCGE is also available on the sale of qualified farm or fishing property. The current lifetime limit for the LCGE is $1,016,836. Budget 2024 proposed to increase that limit to $1,250,000 starting on June 25, 2024, so certain business owners will be able to reduce or eliminate their exposure to the new inclusion rate if they are able to make use of the increased LCGE limit.
   
   For trusts:
   Budget 2024 suggests that capital gains allocated by a trust to its beneficiaries on or after June 25, 2024, will be included in the beneficiaries’ income at the old 50% rate up to the beneficiaries’ first $250,000 of capital gains for the year. While the specifics are not yet available, this opportunity will likely create further planning considerations surrounding the allocation of capital gains from a trust to its beneficiaries to reduce taxes. Capital gains can generally be allocated to a beneficiary for tax purposes when they are actually paid to the beneficiary, or when they are payable to a beneficiary (i.e., the beneficiary hasn’t received it, but has a right to demand payment of the capital gain). The option of making income paid (or payable) to its beneficiaries and allocating such income to be taxed in their hands will largely depend on the trust terms.
   
   Historical reference: capital gains inclusion rate
   Those of us around long enough, understand that this recent change was not the only time the capital gains inclusion rate has deviated from the 50% inclusion rate. Over the years, capital gains tax rate has ranged from nil to as high as 75% as indicated in the table below.  In fact, the first instance of capital gain tax was introduced in 1972!
   
   
    
   Excluding the 2024 tax year, we have given a rough estimate on the percentage of time spent at each of the various capital gains inclusion rates over the last 42 years. As we can see, for most of the time, the capital gains inclusion rate has remained at the 50 % inclusion rate. In fact, for the last 23 consecutive years, the inclusion rate has remained untouched with the last change being back in tax year 2000 with various changes introduced that year.
   
   
   
   Tax impact by province/jurisdiction
   With the increase in the capital gains inclusion rate, we want to demonstrate the potential tax impact of those changes across jurisdictions in Canada. The table below shows the 2024 marginal tax rate for the highest individual income earners in each jurisdiction at both the 50% and 66.67% capital gains inclusion rate, respectively. The average difference is an increase in taxes payable by 8.45%.
   
   
   
   Next, we look at the additional taxes payable because of the inclusion increase, assuming varying capital gains income levels. Of course, this assumes that the capital gains do not otherwise benefit from a reduced inclusion rate or an outright exemption such as eligible in-kind donations of securities to registered charities, or shares that qualify for the lifetime capital gains exemption, to name a few.
   
   
   
   Understanding the tax implications of investing is an essential part of financial planning and reinforces the importance of working with a knowledgeable financial advisor to understand the long-term impact of these changes as it applies to personal situations. No doubt, tax rates influence capital allocation decisions. Canadians who take more inherent risk with their capital have traditionally been afforded preferred taxation rates promoting innovation through capital investment, something the government can do with good tax policy to encourage business growth and spur economic expansion. This is evident in the breakdown of the tax rates depending on the characterization of the income as noted in the table below.
   
   
   
   Clearly the tax rates reflect the added capital risk investors and business owners take. We can clearly see the preferred taxation rates afforded on small business income and at the general corporate tax rates on income over the small business limit, compared to the tax rate on interest income or that of employment income. That tax-preference also extends to investors of “riskier” allocations of capital in marketable securities such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and exchange traded funds, to name a few. The tax rates of less-risky investments (such as money market instruments) do not benefit from the capital gains tax-preferred inclusion rates. With the latest move, there is not much difference in earning eligible dividend income from Canadian resident corporations and from dispositions resulting in capital gains.
   Some pundits have declared the move as a disincentive to capital and business investment and may encourage businesses to move into more tax-favoured jurisdictions outside Canada. The Federal government has promoted the change as impacting a very small overall percentage of investors, estimated at 0.13% of Canadian individuals and 12.6% of corporations. Further, the move has been argued by the Liberals as necessary to work towards “intergenerational fairness”.
   
   How to prepare for the changes?
   For now, advisors may want to start educating their clients about the basics of the changes, which starts with comparing the current inclusion rates with the new inclusion rates.
   Individual investors with large unrealized capital gains will also likely ask if they should crystallize their capital gains before June 25th to save money on taxes in the long run. The assumption that selling now will result in overall savings will not be correct in all cases, however. There is an opportunity cost to paying taxes upfront, rather than deferring those taxes to a later year.
   For example, let’s assume an Ontario client owns a $2.5 million non-registered equity portfolio with $2,000,000 in unrealized capital gains. They had no intention of selling those investments for another 5 yeas, but in light of the upcoming changes, they are considering selling immediately, paying the capital gains taxes now, then reinvesting the net amount after taxes back into those same investments for the 5-year investment period. They are currently in the top marginal tax bracket in Ontario (53.53%) and expect to continue to be in 5 years’ time. The assumed average rate of return on their investments is 6% annually over the next 5 years.
   
   
   
   
   
   As can be seen in this example, at 6% annual compound growth rate, the option to realize much of the capital gains now resulted in a higher overall return in the amount of $61,992.66 over the 5-year period due to the lower inclusion rate. Alternatively stated, if the investor does not crystallize the gains today, the equivalent rate of return needed to have the exact net after tax amount at the end of the 5-year period (the “breakeven return”) would be a 6.60% compound annual return. While this certainly will not be true in all cases, this is the sort of analysis that will have to be conducted when assessing whether it makes sense to realize capital gains in 2024. The rate of return on investment and the investment horizon, among other things, are important determining factors.
    
   Although we used securities investment in our example, a similar analysis can be done for other kinds of property held, such as a vacation property that is unlikely to benefit from the principal residence exemption. In addition, taxes often take a back seat to other planning considerations. These conversations should be had with the primary goals of the client in mind, which may supersede tax planning considerations.
    
   For corporate investors, it will be important to emphasize the impact the capital gains inclusion increase will have on small business owners. As a refresher, a corporation is a separate legal entity from the shareholders who own it and is subject to tax on the income it generates. Income is first taxed within the corporation before it can be passed to the shareholders in the form of dividends out of its retained earnings. To avoid double tax on income that passes through a corporation to shareholders (and to prevent any unintended tax advantages), a dividend gross-up and tax credit model is applied at the individual level, along with a tax refund mechanism to the corporation on passive investment income. This is designed to integrate the tax system between the two entities: individual and corporation. Ideally, perfect integration is achieved when after-tax income is equal, whether it is earned individually or through a corporation. In reality, depending on the province and type of income earned, there could be a tax cost in earning passive investment income through a corporation, including earning passive investment capital gains income. Currently there is a tax cost of earning capital gains income through a corporation across all Canadian provinces/jurisdictions.
    
   The latest change further increases the cost of earning passive investment income inside a corporation, though we do not yet know what changes will be made to the corporate tax refund mechanisms. As noted in the table below, the increase averages approximately 8.43% and closely equates the rate on eligible dividends. This rate reflects the initial tax rate on passive investment income earned within an active business.
   
   
   
   For many small businesses, and perhaps to long-term individual investors, this increase in the tax rate will feel unfair as the accumulation of earning a pool of assets for retirement is often done within their small business corporation, and in many cases the sole source of retirement funds.
   If an immediate crystallization of accumulated capital gains is not desired, what should investors consider in the longer run? Although many details of the new proposed rules are yet to be clarified, here are some general considerations.
   For individuals, it may be helpful to plan the timing of future dispositions to stay below the annual $250,000 threshold. Also, it may seem obvious but maximizing investments within registered plans, including the new first home savings plan (FHSA) where eligible, can reduce exposure to future capital gains tax. Moreover, estate planning becomes even more important as the potential tax payable on the deemed disposition of capital property at death rises. On that front, strategies to reduce capital gains at death could be considered, such as inter-vivos gifting, charitable donation, spousal rollover, and acquiring life insurance to provide sufficient liquidity to the estate.
   For business owners, some strategies to limit future capital gain exposure may include contributing to an individual pension plan (IPP), conducting an estate freeze to pass on future capital gains to succession owners, and ensuring the small business shares qualify for the LCGE. The suitable strategies are highly dependent on the business needs and personal situation of the business owner.  
   
   Acting too soon or not fast enough?
   Finally, there is what many in the industry have been calling a “change of law” risk. That is, within the next year and a half, a federal election is scheduled, and this capital gains inclusion tax policy will surely be a primary election issue. As part of that election platform, parties may promise to repeal it outright or alter its scope and application. Consider also that any changes in the capital gains inclusion rate could be retroactive or simply not apply in all cases.
    
   The information provided is general in nature and may not be relied upon nor considered to be the rendering of tax, legal, accounting or professional advice. Invesco Canada is not providing advice. Readers should consult with their own accountants, lawyers and/or other professionals for advice on their specific circumstances before taking any action. The information contained herein is from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses may all be associated with mutual fund investments.  Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.  Please read the simplified prospectus before investing. Copies are available from your advisor or from Invesco Canada Ltd
   
   Date posted: May 23, 2024
9. Equitable Life Group Benefits Bulletin – May 2020

   In this issue:

   • Digital options for your clients and their plan members*
   • Alberta delaying biosimilar initiative*
   • Yukon increasing insurance premium tax*
   • Manitoba and New Brunswick relaxing drug limits*
   • Free guide to accessing virtual healthcare*
   • Homeweb for plan members who are losing coverage*

   *Indicates content that will be shared with your clients

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

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

   
   For plan administrators:

   
   Plan administrator portal (EquitableHealth.ca)

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

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

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

   Digital Welcome Kits

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

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

   Easy automated payments

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

   We can help

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

   
   For plan members:

   
   Plan member portal (EquitableHealth.ca)

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

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

   Electronic claims payment and notifications

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

   EZClaim Mobile App

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

   Digital Benefits Cards

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

   We can help

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

   
   Alberta government delaying biosimilar initiative

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

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

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

   
   Yukon increasing Insurance Premium Tax

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

   
   Manitoba and New Brunswick relaxing drug limits

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

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

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

   
   Free guide to accessing virtual healthcare

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

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

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

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

   
   Homeweb for plan members who are losing coverage

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

   That’s why we were pleased to announce that Homewood Health^® and Equitable Life will extend access to Homeweb, a personalized online mental health and wellness portal, for up to 120 days for plan members who have temporarily lost their benefits coverage due to COVID-19.

   Employees and their family members will continue to have access to the Homeweb website and mobile app, including:

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

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

10. Equitable Life Group Benefits Bulletin - September 2020

    In this issue:

    Enhancements to Equitable EZClaim Mobile
    New reports available on EquitableHealth.ca

    * Indicates content that will be shared with your clients.

    Enhancements to Equitable EZClaim^® Mobile*

    We’ve updated our Equitable EZClaim mobile app to process vision claims faster, to provide a new option for submitting documents and to increase password security.

    Faster vision claims processing and payment

    Equitable Life now provides faster processing of vision claims submitted via EZClaim Mobile.

    This means plan members can find out the status of their vision claim almost instantaneously. And, for approved claims, they will receive payment even sooner – often in as little as 24 hours.

    In order to allow for instant processing and faster payment, plan members will be prompted to enter some additional information, including their practitioner’s name, the date of the expense, the type of expense and amount of the expense when submitting their claims for these services.

    Equitable Life plan members can submit all vision claims via Equitable EZClaim, including coordination of benefits and Health Care Spending Account claims.

    Submit documents from a mobile device

    We have added our Document Submission tool to EZClaim Mobile so plan members can conveniently submit documents directly from their mobile device. Applications, change forms, statement of health forms and more can all be easily uploaded whenever and wherever they are.

    Improved security with stronger passwords

    To help you, your clients and plan members better protect personal information, we have increased the maximum length of passwords for both EZClaim Online and EZClaim Mobile from 12 to 32 characters. This longer character limit makes it easier to create stronger and more secure passwords.

    There is no change for plan members, plan administrators or advisors. All existing passwords will continue to function. However, if you choose to update your password you will now be able to choose longer passwords or passphrases.

    Why should I change my password?

    Changing your password frequently helps keep your information safe. The longer and more random the password, the more secure it is. To improve security even more, a passphrase is recommended.

    A passphrase is a series of words or other text used like a password. Because it is much longer, a passphrase is more secure. Although the words in the phrase may be meaningful to you and easy to remember, they can be random enough that the full phrase is difficult for someone else to guess. It’s even better if you use numbers or other characters in your passphrase.

    Your passphrase should be:

    • Long enough to be hard to guess;
    • Not a famous quotation;
    • Easy to remember and type; and
    • Not used in multiple places.

    To change your password:

    1. Log in to EquitableHealth.ca
    2. Click on My Information > User Profile
    3. Click Edit
    4. Confirm your information and enter your new password
    5. Click Save

    We will be announcing this enhancement to plan members on EquitableHealth.ca.

    New reports available on EquitableHealth.ca*

    Plan administrators and advisors with reporting access can now download three additional reports any time via the plan administrator and advisor websites on EquitableHealth.ca:

    • Premium and Tax – This report provides a breakdown of premiums and taxes paid per plan member for any specific time period for all applicable benefits.
    • Occupation and Earnings – This report provides current plan member earnings and occupation information and gives plan administrators an efficient way to report updates to us.
    • Employee listing – This report lists all plan members’ information, including name, certificate number, date of birth, province, occupation and salary, as well as benefit coverage currently in place and HCSA allocations.

    These reports can be downloaded in Excel format for easy updating, filtering or sorting.

    For more information, please contact your Client Relationship Specialist.

     

    *Indicates content that will be shared with your clients