Site Search
632 results for access link PROBLEMGO.com how much to make customs overlook a violation
-
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.
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.
What is the difference between biologics and biosimilars?
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. - Choosing the right funds
- [pdf] Pivotal Select Application - FHSA
-
Important notice: Funds with Deferred Sales Charges
The Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators (CCIR) is requiring all insurance companies to discontinue the sale of segregated funds with deferred sales charges (DSC) effective June 1, 2023. This also impacts ongoing or new deposits to some existing segregated fund accounts. Please contact any Equitable Life clients who may be impacted.
How this impacts clients:
In response to the insurance regulator’s recommendation, Equitable Life® will be making changes to the administration of certain segregated fund products, which may impact clients. The details are outlined below:
Pivotal Select™ segregated fund product
On or about May 29, 2023:- Funds with DSC or Low Load (LL) sales charge options will be closed to additional deposits. Future deposits must 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 are not impacted and will retain the existing deferred sales charge schedule outlined in a 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 that a client previously provided include funds with DSC or LL sales charge options, these instructions will be automatically updated to the NL sales charge option of the same fund for all future deposits.
- If a client has pre-authorized scheduled deposits into funds with the DSC or LL sales charge options, these instructions will be automatically updated to the NL sales charge option of the same funds for all future deposits.
- In alignment with our current administrative rules, if a client has DSC or LL funds, they will not be able to make deposits into No Load Chargeback funds (NLCB and NLCB5) within the same policy.
Legacy segregated fund products
Ongoing deposits to DSC funds are permitted 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
If a client plans on making additional deposits, they may be interested in alternative sales charge options that do not include DSC. For example, Equitable Life offers “No Load” (NL) and “No Load Chargeback” (NLCB and NLCB5) sales charge options within the Pivotal Select segregated fund contract. In these situations, a new application would need to be completed and submitted.
Please note that draft regulation in Quebec is currently under review which may impact Equitable Life’s approach for Quebec clients with legacy segregated fund products.
Equitable Life will continue to monitor provincial regulatory developments and adjust our approach as needed.
Client communication
We will be sending clients a letter within their December 31, 2022, statement describing their options, and the impacts to their policy (if applicable). We recommend that you contact clients to discuss the contents of Equitable Life’s letter and provide any advice that they may need regarding ongoing deposits to their segregated funds. You can access a copy of the client letter here:If you have any questions, please reach out to our Advisor Services Team at 1.866.884.7427.
December 23, 2022
™ or ® denote registered trademarks of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada. -
Launching Equitable Life Savings & Retirement Webinar Series
In 2021, Equitable Life’s® S&R team will spotlight various aspects of our competitive fund lineup and product offerings. Each webinar in the series will feature a new topic. This series will also give advisors an opportunity to learn more about various products and product features, hear from industry professionals, learn about investment strategies; and so much more.
This month, Equitable Life welcomes Kimberley West, Senior Client Portfolio Manager for Invesco Canada’s International Companies Fund. West will be joined by Ryan Diamant, Senior Product Manager, Invesco Canada.
Equitable Life is pleased to highlight access to Invesco Global Companies Fund, Invesco International Companies Fund, and Invesco Europlus Fund in the Pivotal Select™ segregated fund line-up.
Learn More
-
Equitable Life Savings & Retirement Webinar Series welcomes Franklin Templeton
In 2021, Equitable Life’s® S&R team will spotlight various aspects of our competitive fund lineup and product offerings. Each webinar in the series will feature a new topic. This series will also give advisors an opportunity to:- learn more about various products and product features,
- hear from industry professionals,
- learn about investment strategies; and so much more.
Join your host Joseph Trozzo, Investment Sales Vice President and Franklin Templeton. Equitable Life is pleased to highlight access to the Bissett Monthly Income and Growth Fund Select, Bissett Canadian Equity Fund and Bissett Dividend Income Fund in the Pivotal Select™ segregated fund line-up.
Learn More
-
Equitable Life Savings & Retirement Webinar Series featuring Dynamic Funds
Equitable Life continues to spotlight various aspects of our competitive fund lineup and product offerings. This series gives advisors an opportunity to:
• learn more about various products and product features,
• hear from industry professionals,
• learn about investment strategies; and so much more.
This month, we welcome Bill McLeod, Vice President & Portfolio Manager, Equity Income, from Dynamic Funds. Join us to hear Bill McLeod discuss:
• North American markets in 2022
• Insights on the current positioning and review of the investment process for Dynamic’s Equity Income Fund.
Learn more
Equitable Life is pleased to offer access to five different Dynamic Funds in the Pivotal Select™ segregated fund lineup including the Equitable Life Dynamic Equity Income Fund.
This webcast is available in English only.
-
Equitable Life Savings & Retirement Webinar Series welcomes Franklin Templeton
In 2021, Equitable Life’s® S&R team will spotlight various aspects of our competitive fund lineup and product offerings. Each webinar in the series will feature a new topic. This series will also give advisors an opportunity to:- learn more about various products and product features,
- hear from industry professionals,
- learn about investment strategies; and so much more.
Join your host Joseph Trozzo, Investment Sales Vice President and Franklin Templeton. Equitable Life is pleased to highlight access to the Bissett Monthly Income and Growth Fund Select, Bissett Canadian Equity Fund and Bissett Dividend Income Fund in the Pivotal Select™ segregated fund line-up.
Learn More