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Update on delivery of Pivotal Select segregated fund client statements
We continue to work on resolving the issue relating to our Pivotal Select™ segregated fund client statements. We understand the importance for you and clients to receive statements in a timely manner. That is why we are working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. We will provide a further update on February 12, 2025.
We appreciate your understanding and patience during this time. If you have questions or need further assistance, reach out to our Client Care Team at 1.866.884.7427.
Best Regards,
Cam Crosbie,
Executive Vice-President, Savings and Retirement Division
Equitable
Posted February 7, 2025 -
Quickly calculate first home savings with Equitable
Have clients thinking about buying a first home? Equitable® has a calculator that can help.
Check out our new First Home Savings Account (FHSA) calculator to see how much clients could save. It’s simple to use and shows how money can grow when invested in an Equitable FHSA.
With the calculator, you can:
• Show clients how much they might save• Demonstrate how savings can grow over time
• Motivate clients to reach their goal
Try the FHSA calculator with clients today. Want to learn more? Talk to your Director, Investment Sales.
Date posted: September 8, 2025
- Path to Success Module 3
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Insights from a pandemic: STD claims during COVID-19
The spread of COVID-19 has had a significant impact on short-term disability (STD) claims. We’re providing an update on what we’ve seen so far in terms of STD experience on our block.
Claim volumes
Initially, as COVID-19 started to spread, STD claims ramped up quickly as plan members tested positive for or developed symptoms associated with the virus and were unable to work. Overall, we saw a 34% increase in the volume of claims on our block in Q1, compared with the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to COVID-19-related claims.
Since then, we’ve seen the number of COVID-19-related STD claims slow. Claims levelled off to a 21% year-over-year increase by the end of May. We haven’t seen any meaningful increase in STD claims related to mental health.
Most of the COVID-19-related STD claims so far have been in the manufacturing, retail and healthcare and social assistance sectors where physical distancing can be challenging.
Somewhat surprisingly, Alberta had for the largest share of STD claims on our block, accounting for 40% of claims, followed by BC with 28% and Ontario with 21%.
Claim durations
While STD claim volumes have increased, we’ve seen a notable decrease in claim durations so far this year. As of the end of May, 59% of closed claims resolved in the first two weeks, compared with only 20% the previous year. This is expected given the nature of COVID-19 and that, for most people, symptoms dissipate within about two weeks./p>
Of the STD claims we’ve approved, approximately 25% were paid for the full 14 days. In most cases, this meant the plan member had tested positive for COVID-19.The remaining 75% of paid claims were paid based on the elimination period in the contract, with the most common elimination period of 7 days accounting for 35% of paid claims.
We will continue to provide timely updates on any development/p>
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Changes to Short Term Disability Benefit Calculations
The Canada Employment Insurance Commission and Canada Revenue Agency have announced the 2022 changes to Maximum Insurable Earnings, and premiums for employment insurance. These changes take effect January 1, 2022.
2021 Amount As of Jan. 1, 2022 Maximum Insurable Earnings (MIE)
$56,300 $60,300 Maximum Weekly Insurable Earnings (MWIE)
$1,083 $1,160 EI Benefit
(55% of the MWIE, rounded to the nearest dollar)$595 $638
How does this affect your clients?
If your client’s Group Policy with Equitable Life includes a Short Term Disability (STD) benefit which is tied to the EI Maximum Weekly Insurable Earnings, and at least one classification of employees has less than a $638 maximum, then to comply with the provisions of their policy, their STD benefit will be revised with the maximums updated based on the percentage of EI Maximum Weekly Insurable Earnings shown in their policy.
The additional premium for any increase from their previous STD amounts and new STD amounts will be show on their January 2021 Group Insurance Billing (as applicable).
If their STD maximum is currently higher than $638 or based on a flat amount (not based on 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 have questions about the process, they can email Kari Gough, Manager, Group Quotes and Issue. -
Our Critical Illness Insurance Path to Success Program
Our Critical Illness Insurance Path to Success program was designed with you, the Advisor, in mind.
Path to Success: Expert Advice on navigating CI Sales provides you with actionable ideas and scripts that you can implement immediately into your critical illness insurance meetings. CE Credits are available if you review the program in its entirety and complete the quizzes at the end of each section.
Learn more about the CI Path to Success Program
Next steps:
If you have any questions or are interested in getting access to this program, please reach out to your Regional Sales Manager directly.
Enhancements to our Critical Illness Insurance product EquiLiving®
The timing couldn’t be better for connecting with your Regional Sales Manager to gain access to this program, as we have made recent enhancements to our Critical Illness product that will help you offer more options to clients. We’ve enhanced our EquiLiving plans and riders with:
• 20 pay options with coverage to age 75 or coverage for life
• Support from Cloud DX to help monitor a client’s well-being from treatment to recovery
• Added Acquired Brain Injury as a covered critical condition
• 30-day survival period removed for all non-cardiovascular covered conditions
• No age restriction to claim for Loss of Independent Existence (LOIE)
• Adult Covered Conditions definitions updated to 2018 CLHIA definitions
• Increased the number of Early Detection Benefit covered conditions from 4 to 8
• And so much more …
Contact your Regional Sales Manager to get set up in the program and learn about other CE accredited presentations happening each week. -
Equitable Life Group Benefits Bulletin - October 2022
Introducing new Gender Affirmation Coverage for group benefits plans
Providing an inclusive benefits plan can play a critical role in fostering a workplace culture that welcomes diversity and helps employees thrive. While most provinces cover the cost of gender-affirming surgery, each person has unique needs. Some may require procedures that are not publicly covered.
That’s why we’re pleased to introduce a new coverage option for gender affirmation surgical procedures that are not covered by provincial health plans. Gender Affirmation Coverage helps plan sponsors to close the gap where provincial health coverage ends.Coverage details and eligibility
Gender Affirmation Coverage can be added to any Equitable Life plan with an in-force Extended Health Care plan. It provides coverage for gender-affirming procedures that are not covered by provincial health plans. This might include tracheal (Adam’s apple) shaving and voice surgery. It will also cover some additional procedures to further align the plan member’s features to the transitioned gender, such as facial bone reduction and cheek augmentation. This makes a wider variety of gender-affirming surgeries accessible to plan members and helps minimize their out-of-pocket costs.
Plan members are eligible for coverage with a diagnosis of gender dysphoria from a qualified health care professional.Offering a more inclusive benefits plan
The coverage provides one more way for your clients to offer more inclusive coverage and to offer holistic support to their plan members undergoing a gender transition. We have developed this coverage as a complement to our existing coverage options, including Health Care Spending Accounts (HCSAs), Taxable Spending Accounts (TSAs), Extended Health Care and drug coverage, and Employee and Family Assistance Programs, all of which can provide support to plan members undergoing gender affirmation.
We regularly review our products to ensure that they’re meeting your clients’ needs, and we’re committed to offering products that support diversity, equity and inclusion.
We also continue to review our forms, documents and processes to make them more inclusive. This includes reviewing our online plan member enrolment (OPME) tool to allow for more flexibility with the way plan members identify their gender.Gender affirmation and mental well-being
Gender affirmation procedures can lead to improved mental health outcomes for those with gender dysphoria, as most report an improvement in their quality of life following the procedures. Gender dysphoria may occur when a person’s assigned sex at birth does not match their identity, and people experiencing gender dysphoria typically report psychological and emotional distress, including symptoms of depression or anxiety. By offering coverage where provincial health coverage ends, your clients can support plan members as they seek procedures that align their body presentation with their self-identified gender.
Advantages at a glance
Advantages for plan members include:- Reimbursement for some procedures and expenses, leading to fewer out-of-pocket costs
- May experience improved mental health outcomes after surgery
- A benefits plan that promotes a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion, which may build employee loyalty
- Support for plan member mental health to help those with gender dysphoria thrive
The Benefits Canada 2022 Health Care Survey results are in!
Equitable Life is proud to be a Platinum sponsor for The Benefits Canada 2022 Health Care Survey, Canada’s leading survey on workplace benefits plans. This year’s survey report highlights many fascinating insights across a wide variety of benefits topics, including:- A focus on mental health for both plan sponsors and plan members
- The repercussions of the "shadow" pandemic due to health care delays
- Trends in plan members' overall perceptions of their health benefits plans
- The types of benefits getting more attention from plan members
- The role of remote work in plan member satisfaction
We’re committed to helping you and your clients navigate the evolving landscape of employee benefits in Canada by contributing to this vibrant industry community. To read the full report, visit Benefits Canada.
HCSA and TSA manual allocation reminder
If your clients’ Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) and/or Taxable Spending Account (TSA) have manual allocations, they need to allocate these amounts to plan members each year. Clients should review their plan members’ profiles on EquitableHealth.ca to ensure they have received their allocation(s) for the current benefit year. Your clients may also order HCSA and TSA forfeiture reports on EquitableHealth.ca.
If your clients have Plan Administrator update access on EquitableHealth.ca, they can update these amounts online by doing the following:- Select View certificate
- Select Health Care Spending Account or Taxable Spending Account
- Select Update Allocation in Task Center
- Enter amount in Revised Allocation Amount
- Override Reason – Plan Administrator Request
- Select Save
- Select Reports
- Select New
- Select Next
- Select HCSA or TSA Totals by Plan Member
- Select Next
- Enter end date of 12/31/2022
- Select Next
- Select Finish
- View Report
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Announcing our new Travel Assist provider
We are pleased to announce that we are partnering with Trident Global Assistance as our new Travel Assist provider, effective June 1, 2023.
Based in Etobicoke, Ontario, Trident provides travel assistance for thousands of Group Benefits plan members. Trident has an experienced leadership team with decades of combined industry expertise. They have both the operational know-how and global networks to provide your clients and their plan members with 24/7 support for their travel health assistance needs.
No action is required from plan sponsors or plan members. For clients with Travel Assist included in their plan, the transition to Trident will be seamless. The phone numbers for Travel Assist will remain the same and there is no requirement to download a new benefits card.
As we previously announced, Allianz Global Assistance, our current Travel Assist provider, is exiting the Canadian group travel administration market. Allianz will continue to accept and support claims and inquiries received before June 1, 2023. All claims and inquiries received June 1 or later will be supported by Trident.
In the meantime, we are working closely with Allianz and Trident to help ensure a smooth and seamless transition for our clients and their plan members.
If you have any questions about the transition to Trident as our new Travel Assist provider, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager. -
Saving time with our fully digital group benefits application
On May 1, 2023, we are launching Equitable BenefitsApply™, our fully digital group benefits application.
This enhancement to the benefits application process will help both you and your clients save time when applying for an Equitable Life group benefits policy. We designed and developed BenefitsApply with input and feedback from several advisors and clients, who tested the tool for themselves.
In most cases, BenefitsApply will replace our traditional paper implementation process.*
BenefitsApply eliminates the need for clients to complete and sign multiple, lengthy paper forms. Time-saving features for you and your clients include:- A fully digital online application that you can access wherever and whenever you need it,
- Pre-filled standard fields,
- Only one signature required from plan sponsors,
- A smart application that only includes the sections relevant to the client and the plan design they have chosen, and
- Automatic notifications of any missing fields.
We will continue improving BenefitsApply’s features based on feedback from the people who use it—you and your clients. We encourage you to share any feedback you have with your Group Account Executive or your Client Relationship Specialist.
*BenefitsApply is currently available for groups with up to four divisions and up to four classes. It is not available for myFlex Benefits plans, or for clients with a customized master application. -
Build more meaningful connections with help from Equitable and Franklin Templeton Academy
Equitable® Savings & Retirement and Franklin Templeton Academy have teamed up with two On-Demand webcasts that can easily fit into any summer schedule.
Reaction to Reason
Emotional intelligence is the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically.
Jenn Louth, Senior Learning Consultant, will discuss how advisors can incorporate emotional intelligence into their practice to foster deeper client relationships.
Register to watch
The Intergenerational Divide
It’s critical to develop meaningful relationships with valued clients’ families, loved ones, and heirs.
Presented by Jocelyn Duncan, Learning Consultant, this session is designed to help you build a bridge with the next generation and equip you with tools and resources.
Register to watch
Join your host, Joseph Trozzo, Investment Sales Vice President, Equitable, along with the Franklin Templeton Academy this summer to learn how you can foster deeper client relationships and more meaningful connection in your practice.
Continuing Education Credits
These webcasts have been accredited for 1 Life continuing education (CE) credit with the Insurance Council of Manitoba and Alberta Insurance Council for all provinces excluding Quebec. To be eligible for CE credits, you must register individually, watch the webcast in full and complete a short quiz. These webcasts are available in English only.
Date posted: July 17, 2024