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February 2020 Advisor eNews

In this issue:

Provincial biosimilar update
Legislative changes for Alberta’s Coverage for Seniors program
Coming soon: enhancements to Equitable EZClaim® Online

Provincial biosimilar update

Alberta Biosimilar Initiative

On December 12, 2019, the Alberta government introduced the launch of the Alberta Biosimilar Initiative. This program will require patients using several originator biologic drugs to switch to a biosimilar, and patients using a non-biologic complex drug (NBCD) to switch to its subsequent entry version before July 1, 2020 in order to maintain coverage.

Biologics are drugs that are engineered using living organisms like yeast and bacteria. The first version of a biologic developed is also known as the “originator” drug. Biosimilars are highly similar to the originator drug they are based on and have been shown to have no clinically meaningful differences in safety or efficacy.

Alberta Health will initially cover both the originator and biosimilar or subsequent entry version of a NBCD drug as patients start the switching process.

The following table outlines the affected originator drugs, their biosimilars or subsequent entry, and the conditions affected by the program.

Biosimilar Drug	Originator	Biosimilar/Subsequent Entry	Indications Affected
etanercept	Enbrel	Brenzys	Ankylosing Spondylitis Rheumatoid Arthritis
etanercept	Enbrel	Erelzi	Ankylosing Spondylitis Psoriatic Arthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis
infliximab	Remicade	Inflectra Renflexis	Ankylosing Spondylitis Plaque Psoriasis Psoriatic Arthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis Crohn’s Disease Ulcerative Colitis
insulin glargine	Lantus	Basaglar	Diabetes (Type 1 and 2)
Filgrastim	Neupogen	Grastofil	Neutropenia
pegfilgrastim	Neulasta	Lapelga	Neutropenia
glatiramer*	Copaxone	Glatect	Multiple Sclerosis

*Glatiramer is a non-biologic complex drug where the originator is Copaxone and the subsequent entry is Glatect.

Equitable Life is actively investigating the benefit, risk and appropriate plan changes associated with this new policy on private drug plans and will keep you informed.

For more information about the Alberta Biosimilars Initiative, consult the Alberta government website.

British Columbia

In 2019, BC Pharmacare introduced a Biosimilars Policy that impacted coverage of three biologic drugs – Remicade, Enbrel and Lantus. As of November 25, 2019, these drugs were no longer eligible in BC for most conditions for which lower cost biosimilar versions are available. Patients in the province with these conditions were required to switch to biosimilar versions of these drugs in order to maintain their coverage.

The second phase of the BC Biosimilar Policy takes effect March 6, 2020 when Remicade will be delisted for Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Patients in the province with these conditions will be required to switch to Inflectra or Renflexis in order to maintain their coverage.

Biosimilar Drug	Originator	Biosimilar	Indications Affected
infliximab	Remicade	Inflectra Renflexis	Crohn’s Disease Ulcerative Colitis

We have communicated with the affected plan members, informing them of the need to switch medications. If plan members have any questions or concerns, our Customer Care team is here to help and support them through the transition.

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

Ontario

In November 2019 Ontario Minister of Health Christine Elliot indicated that the government was planning to launch consultations to explore solutions in managing biologics.

Equitable Life will continue to monitor these developments and keep you informed of any impact on private drug plans.

Legislative changes for Alberta’s Coverage for Seniors program

The government of Alberta has announced that as of March 1, 2020, seniors’ family members (such as spouses and dependents) who are younger than 65 will no longer be covered by the provincial Coverage for Seniors program. Albertans 65 years of age and older will continue to be covered under the provincial plan.

Equitable Life plan members and their dependents will continue to be covered under the parameters of their group benefits plan.

For more information, please see the Alberta Seniors Health Benefits website.

Coming soon: enhancements to Equitable EZClaim^® Online

Faster vision claims processing and payment

Equitable Life will soon provide real-time processing of vision claims submitted via EZClaim Online.

This means plan members will be able to 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 instantaneous processing and faster payment, plan members will be prompted to enter some additional information including the 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 EZClaim, including coordination of benefits and Health Care Spending Account claims.

This enhancement will be coming to our EZClaim Mobile app in the coming months.

New printable claims extract

As part of our ongoing efforts to improve customer experience for plan members, we will also offer a claims extract in a printable format within the plan member site. Plan members will be able to select a date range and claimant, then generate and download a detailed list of health and dental claims. This is a helpful way to keep track of claims, especially when reviewing them in preparation for income tax filing.

Once these enhancements are live you will be notified in an eNews, and an announcement will be posted on the plan member section of EquitableHealth.ca.

Elimination of Out-of-Country Travellers Program in Ontario

Effective January 1, 2020, the Ontario government eliminated OHIP coverage for emergency services for Ontarians travelling outside of Canada.

Previously, the Out-of-Country Travelers Program provided some reimbursement for services required to treat conditions that are acute, unexpected, arose outside Canada and require immediate treatment. The program covered between $200 and $400 per day for inpatient services and $50 per day for outpatient and doctor services.

For groups who have out-of-country coverage from Allianz, this change will not impact the cost to your plan members, or the process plan members follow in the event of an emergency while travelling.

Plan members should still call Allianz in the event of an out of country emergency. Allianz will deal with their claim as usual and will now pay for the portion of the claim previously paid by OHIP. Plan members will not have any additional out-of-pocket costs.

We will be sharing this information with plan members as a news item on our plan member website, equitablehealth.ca.

Manage more details within Contract Delivery for New Business applications We are excited to announce further enhancements to our eDelivery process to empower you, the advisor, the ability to manage client details more easily within Contract Delivery.

Effective January 15, 2022, advisors will need to create a Password within Contract Delivery when choosing “eDelivery” as the contract delivery method and provide the password to the client to use as their password:

The Password must be between 4 and 100 alpha/numeric characters, and cannot be the Policy number. For multiple signers the password (and email address) must be unique per each signer.

Advisors can now edit and/or update an email address within Contract Delivery, in the event of a bounce back or email change, to keep the eDelivery process moving and avoid delays in processing time. If a lock out occurs, advisors can trigger a resend of the signing email once they add a new valid email address in Contract Delivery. Simply click the pencil icon beside the Email field to enter the valid email address:

Another new feature- in the event a client has declined, the advisor will get an email from Equitable Life^®. Click through to EquiNet^® within the email to view the message within Contract Delivery that the client provided as the reason for decline under a new “Declined Details” section. This enables you to connect with the client to proceed with the sale by discussing the reasons for decline with them directly.

Also new for clients with this enhancement, policy owners of a policy created after January 15 will be able to see a PDF copy of their policy within client access. Note: this PDF copy is as the policy was originally issued.

Resources:
- eDelivery of a Contract - New Business
- eDelivery FAQ
[pdf] Payout Annuity Application
New online course available
Boost your knowledge and earn CE Credits
Looking to deepen your understanding of Universal Life insurance and get a new CE Credit?

Equitable is excited to offer a new addition to our online learning center: The mechanics of Universal Life. Whether you are new to the concept or looking to refresh your expertise, this course will help provide the knowledge you need to start conversations with clients.

Our CE credit courses allow you to learn at your own pace and earn CE credits quickly and easily.

Available Courses:
• The mechanics of Universal Life *NEW*
• Introduction to Whole Life Insurance
• Participating Whole Life for the Children’s Market – A head start for tomorrow
• Path to Success - Expert Advice on Navigating CI Sales
• Ensuring a Compliant, Needs-based Insurance Sale
• Where UL Fits in your product portfolio
• Building your business with Critical Illness insurance
• Harness the Power of Whole Life Cash Value

A few important notes before you get started:
• The programs are hosted on Teachable: https://equitable-life-education.teachable.com
• Username: Please use your email address that you are contracted with
• Password: Equitable
• Please use Google Chrome to access the courses

You can earn CE credits right away when you complete these courses.
Start earning CE Credits!

Check out the individual insurance online learning centre on EquiNet to stay up to date on new courses.

All courses are accredited by Alberta Insurance Council, Insurance Council of Manitoba, The Institute for Advanced Financial Education, and Chambre de la sécurité financière*.

Questions?
Contact your local wholesaler.

Are you having trouble logging in?
Email equitableiimarketing@equitable.ca for assistance.
Your year-end momentum starts today! Just 79 days left to go in 2025!

As the air turns crisp and the leaves change color, we hope you’re enjoying our beautiful Canadian fall season. But before you get too swept up in the season's fun, remember that the final quarter is also a great time of year to boost your business.

Harvest season for success
Many clients are reviewing their financial goals and plans now. According to LIMRA, nearly 30% of life insurance applications are submitted between October and December¹. This means you have a huge sales opportunity.

Why choose Equitable^® ?
Clients expect competitive solutions that fit their unique needs well. Equitable offers great products, digital tools, and outstanding service and support. Learn more here.

Act now to finish 2025 on a strong note:
• Review your client list: Identify who needs a check-in before the year ends.
• Spot the opportunities: Year-end financial planning opens doors—don't miss out.
• Leverage our resources: From our e-apps to marketing materials and digital tools, we're here for you.

So, grab your client list (and your pumpkin spiced latte) and make the most of this final quarter. Your Equitable team is here to support you all the way to 2026 — let's finish 2025 strong!

¹LIMRA, "Life Insurance Applications by Month," 2025.
EAMG Market Commentary August 2022

August 2022

The S&P 500 fell into bear market territory over the first half of 2022 with the index down -20.6%. This represented a top 10 ranking amongst the most dismal back-to-back quarterly performances going back to 1928. While comparisons have been made to the inflation driven bear market of 1973-74, the economic backdrop today has some significant differences including greater production capacity (factory utilization rates are running about 20% lower vs the 70’s) and a meaningful decline in raw industrial prices which have fallen -11% over the quarter. While these economic anecdotes are potential positives for the future, it’s important to remain cognizant that prices remain elevated.

As such, the US Federal Reserve seems to be taking every opportunity to telegraph their intentions of raising interest rates at the expense of both market and economic performance, so long as inflation remains a threat. Given this hawkish tone, the market narrative has morphed from fears of inflation to a fed driven recession. As a result, the move in the bond market has been swift with the 10-year treasury yield peaking at approximately 3.5% in June to today’s level of 2.7% (lower rates = higher bond prices). This positive bond performance reflects the consensus view that inflation is temporary (2023 CPI forecasts are approximately 3.6% vs the second quarter’s 8.7% CPI reading) and could allow the Fed to adjust their higher interest rate trajectory downward. The Fed also remains confident that a soft landing is achievable, and a recession avoidable.

Investors seem less convinced however, given the Fed has never been able to engineer a soft landing before, and so it’s no surprise equity markets entered a bear market over the quarter, and currently remain in a technical correction (defined as losses greater than -10%). To better assess future performance, we closely monitor earnings results to understand how companies are navigating these economic trends. With nearly 80% of the S&P 500 reported, the results have been better than expected, but still the EPS beat rate and magnitude of beats (actual vs expectation) remain below 5-year averages. This tells us companies are finding today’s economic conditions more challenging than the recent past. Consumer sectors including marketing, retail, autos and textiles posted the 2nd worst performance vs other sectors while the Financials sector saw the greatest challenges with aggregate EPS falling by -15% year-over-year. Wall Street analysts have started to revise S&P 500 forward growth estimates lower, a trend which we expect will continue for several quarters ahead. The forward (12-month blended) P/E ratio of 17.5 times remains 1.5 multiple points above the long-term average which potentially suggests risks may not be fully priced in.

In terms of the S&P/TSX Composite, after declining nearly -14% in Q2 as recession fears around the world jeopardized the global demand outlook, its’ since rebounded over 4.0%. Still, valuation remains below longer-term averages at 11.8x forward earnings with the heavier weighted Financials and Energy sectors trading at 9.5x and 7.9x, respectively. TSX earnings expectations have stalled as of late but downward revisions are lagging US and European counterparts. Additionally, the domestic labour market remains tight which has allowed the Bank of Canada to continue its aggressive rate hike path to curb soaring inflation. For most of 2022 the TSX has benefitted from surging commodity prices but an economic slowdown in China resulting from its commitment to a zero-Covid policy and a potential global recession could prove to be a challenge for the Canadian market.

Equity markets on average lose 30% of their value in recession led bear markets. If we use this as a potential road map, it suggests the S&P 500 could have further to fall. Using past performance as a forward-looking tool however is an imperfect technique and used in isolation of what’s happening today can often mislead.

Accounting for today’s backdrop, we come up with three scenarios of varying probabilities. The first is the most optimistic and includes an engineered soft landing by the Fed, meaning no recession and inflation cools. A less optimistic view is the fed tames inflation with higher interest rates but tips the economy into a mild-to-moderate recession. The outcome would be consumer spending and corporate hiring slow as a result of tighter financial conditions, and therefore financial results are negatively impacted. The least optimistic scenario is one where stagflationary conditions emerge as inflation continues to accelerate at the expense of growth despite higher interest rates, in other words the Fed loses control. The net result would be similar to our second scenario but with much more dire results in terms of unemployment, household spending and impacts to corporate profitability. While we don’t rule out any of the above scenarios completely, we assign the highest probability to the second one where macro economic issues get resolved at some point in the future, but the full effects of inflation and a possible recession have yet to be priced into the market. Currently, this view translates into a slight underweight equity position versus our benchmark with a tilt towards low volatility and defensive strategies along with an overlay of value and dividend paying securities. In other words, we’ve de-risked the portfolios relative to our benchmark to manage potential downside risks but remain meaningfully invested an on absolute basis. As always, time in the market tends to overcome trying to time the market, and so employing a strategic and diversified strategy is often the most prudent approach.

Downloadable Copy

ADVISOR USE ONLY
Any statements contained herein that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements represent the portfolio manager’s best judgment as of the present date as to what may occur in the future. However, forward-looking statements are subject to many risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and are based on the portfolio manager’s present opinions and views. For this reason, the actual outcome of the events or results predicted may differ materially from what is expressed. Furthermore, the portfolio manager’s views, opinions or assumptions may subsequently change based on previously unknown information, or for other reasons. Equitable Life of Canada® assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained herein. The reader is cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully and not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Investments may increase or decrease in value and are invested at the risk of the investor. Investment values change frequently, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Professional advice should be sought before an investor embarks on any investment strategy.
[pdf] GIA versus GIC
NEW – Online courses for CE Credits from Individual Insurance Needing continuing education credits?
Equitable^® is excited to introduce two new online courses focusing on Universal Life and Critical Illness insurance that provide immediate CE credits upon completion. The courses allow you to learn at your own pace and earn CE Credits quickly and easily. Both courses are accredited by AIC, ICM, the Institute, and La Chambre*.

New courses:
1) Where UL fits in your product portfolio
2) Building your business with Critical Illness insurance

A few important notes before you get started:
● The programs are hosted on Teachable: https://equitable-life-education.teachable.com/
● Username: Please use your email that you are contracted with.
● Password: Equitable
● Please use Google Chrome to access the courses.

Check out our new individual insurance online learning centre on EquiNet^® to stay up to date on new courses and find out more information on the topics provided. While you’re there, don’t forget to take our Path to Success course!

Questions?
Contact your local wholesaler.

Are you having trouble logging in?
Email equitablelifemarketing@equitable.ca for assistance.

*Please select the course with “QC credits” in the title for La Chambre credits.
^® or ™ denotes a trademark of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
[pdf] Equitable GIF Registered Application
How to talk to clients about CI when they don’t want to
Does this sound familiar?

You’re having a chat with your client about Critical Illness insurance. They suddenly interject: “Critical illness insurance isn’t for me.”

“Why is that?” you ask.

“Because….
- Critical Illness insurance is expensive!
- I don’t understand what it covers exactly.
- I have money to cover me if I get sick, so I don’t need this.
- I’m healthy enough.
- It’s not life insurance, so I don’t need it right now.
- I already have disability coverage through my work.”

If you’ve heard any of these responses, and didn’t know how to respond, we can help.

Our Path to Success program covers all these objections and more with simple-to-follow PDFs and videos. You’ll learn conversation strategies and tips on how to navigate the sale. Most importantly, you’ll know exactly what to say the next time a client objects to Critical Illness insurance.

Want to learn more? Check out our CI Path to Success modules here!

Need CE credits? Take our Path to Success program here.