Dear Subscriber,
Can you believe we are in Mid-August already? Time is flying by and we are trying to get things set up for our fall in-person events (Wed. Oct. 6th and Wed. Nov. 3rd). It's a challenge as we watch vaccination numbers stall and case counts rise again with all things pointing to another lockdown in the latter part of September (the 20th?). We might see the events cancelled, limited to 50 or 100, or some other model, but we'll do all we can to move forward while keeping people safe.
At this point only CGIB members (that pass screening) are going to be invited to these events to maintain control. Watch for more details in the coming weeks as we open for registrations on September 1st.
It's also that time of year to renew your membership (they end August 31st). I know the new system can be a bit of a challenge the first time you use it, so if you need help renewing, just shout.
We will have more news about the new CGIB / BBD hybrid program in the coming weeks. This is a transparent, fully pooled, hybrid program that will provide the insurance coverage of benefits like life and LTD coverage, and a pooled catastrophic health plan combined with an HSA for the day to day expenses. There is no vision, dental, parameds, orthotics etc. as they will all be covered through the HSA.
The plus to clients and employers is that the catastrophic health coverage (100% drug coverage with a $1,000/person deductible) will be fully pooled (no good, bad and ugly pool) which provides rate stability to those that encounter claims over $1,000 (NOT $10,000). The transparent part of the pool is that we will report both the paid premium and claims on the entire CGIB block of business. This means there will be no individual reporting of claims except the HSA. We are anticipating the pooled rates to increase at 4-5% a year in line with inflation. The program will be available starting September 1st and you can reach out to your BBD rep for more details. Don't have one yet, just drop me a note, or post in the Slack channel.
I think that's it for now. As always, if you have questions, just reach out.
Dave |
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GIVE YOUR CLIENTS HR & DIFFERENTIATE YOUR OFFERING
CGIB has entered into partnership with ConnectsUs HR to offer our members a program to provide your employers with access to the proven HR package made for Canadian small business and compliant for Ontario, Alberta and BC.
From employment contracts, to employee handbooks, to manager guides, to recruiting tools, ConnectsUs HR is a well-written cohesive HR toolkit that helps your employers easily manage their workforce and keep them out of legal hot water. Your employers need HR! FIND OUT how to get them started. |
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OUR EVENTS
CGIB COFFEE CHATS
Coffee chats are like a virtual breakfast. Log in and talk about what's on your mind. Best done from a computer, with a camera and a microphone. No CE credits, but also no cost, just show up.
Tuesday August 17th @ 2pm (EDT) Thursday September 2nd @ 2pm (EDT) Tuesday September 21st @ 2pm (EDT)
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LOOKING FOR PEOPLE
We are hiring! Come and join a great team!!!
Positions include:
- Regional Director/Partnership Development - Quoting Specialist - Claims Adjudication/Finance - Client Specialist/Client Services - Implementation Specialist/Core
Please let me know if you or someone you know may be interested!
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CGIB WEBINARS
CGIB SLACK and Website tour - Tuesday August 31st, 2021 - 2:00 to 3:30pm (EDT)
- Are you looking to find out how to use the CGIB Slack?
- Do you know how to subscribe to the 50+ channels?
- Did you know you can text message and video call?
- Do you know how to post messages and share files?
- Do you want to see how to navigate the new CGIB site?
- Looking for the documents, templates and videos on the new site?
- Booking for events (starting this fall) etc.
Learn how to use the CGIB benefits better and more easily.
We will not record this, but WILL create a video to refer to at a later date.
____________________________________________________________ Upcoming CGIB Events: Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we will be launching our Toronto fall events in September. Please note and hold the following dates.
Toronto - Wednesday October 6th
Toronto - Wednesday November 3rd
Calgary - Tuesday March 29th - TBC
Vancouver - Thursday March 31st - TBC
Watch for more more details. |
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GET ON SLACK
The CGIB SLACK channel is a great place to pose questions, share info and learn a ton from your fellow members. The info and discussions that are posted there are unlike anywhere in the industry. Sadly, about 25% of CGIB members are still missing out on all the info being shared. Others have not taken a look at all the documents, videos and information available in MEMBERS ONLY to make their life easier.
NOTE TO ALL SLACK USERS: We now have 40+ channels in Slack to handle different topics. Please take a moment to add these channels to your menu. To do so, just click on the + next to Channels on the top left. Browse the channels and then click JOIN to add each of them. By doing so you won’t be missing some really great info. |
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SUGGESTED READING
We think the information contained below is of great value and encourage you to read the articles and check out the events that interest you. In most cases, these articles and events are not run by CGIB, so please contact the organizers for more information. We take no responsibility for the websites, events, organizations or their content. |
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BROADER HEALTHCARE VISION NEEDED Canada needs a broader vision of healthcare that balances restoring health, the current focus, with promoting health, says a working paper by the C.D. Howe Institute. In ‘Best in Health: Creating a Comprehensive Health Information Ecosystem,’ authors Don Drummond, Duncan Sinclair, and Philipp Gladkov discuss how this balance can be corrected, while consolidating Canada’s fragmented health data and information. “Like others, Canada’s healthcare ‘system’ is reactive. It is focused on restoring to good health people who become ill or injured. It does relatively little to keep people healthy – to promote good health,” they say. They call for striking a balance between the two objectives, with policies and/or practices/procedures based on data that assess the health status of individuals and populations in all their diversity throughout the length and breadth of the country.
PEI PROVIDES PHARMACARE LESSONS The federal government has signed an agreement with Prince Edward Island to accelerate the implementation of national universal pharmacare. Through this agreement, the province will receive $35 million over four years in federal funding to add new drugs to its list of covered drugs and lower out of pocket costs for drugs covered under existing public plans. Prince Edward Island currently operates more than 25 different public drug plans. However, the list of drugs covered under these plans is less comprehensive than those in other Atlantic provinces and the rest of Canada. Residents also face some of Canada’s highest co-pays and deductibles for drugs covered on their plans. With this agreement, those who are most vulnerable ‒ like uninsured Islanders, seniors, and families with high burden of medication cost ‒ will benefit from improved access to drugs and a reduction or removal of co-pays for some medications. The early lessons from PEI’s efforts to inform its ongoing work to advance national universal pharmacare.
CANCER CARE SUPPORT EXPANDED The government of Nova Scotia is expanding support for cancer care in the province through its cancer care program, says an Eckler ‘GroupNews.’ It will establish a CAR T (chimeric antigen receptor T cells) treatment program ─ a potentially curative method of immunotherapy that modifies immune cells (T cells) to help fight cancer ─ allowing eligible adult lymphoma patients who might otherwise seek treatment in the United States to receive treatment close to home. As well, it is increasing the household income threshold for the existing boarding, transportation, ostomy, and drug assistance for cancer patients program from $25,500 to $35,000. Nova Scotia is the only province in Atlantic Canada to offer CAR T therapy to help recognize and fight cancer. The province’s minister of health and wellness says discussions are underway with other Atlantic provinces about the possibility of expanding access to CAR T therapy/treatment to those provinces. As the program helps those without drug coverage access certain cancer-related drugs, the change is not expected to have any significant impact on private plan sponsors. However, the expanded program will help to reduce out-of-pocket costs for travel, accommodation, ostomy supplies, and cancer drugs for patients. |
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That doesn’t happen very often.
When someone combines generosity, insight and bravery to provide something before we know that’s what we need, we are particularly grateful.
It’s a special form of leadership.
My Take on Seths Post
This is exactly the type pf leadership that group specialists can provide. not always giving clients and prospects what they WANT, but what they NEED. Helping clients to understand the risks we see, and that they might not even be aware of, is a big part of our role. As an example, many will not see the value in disability coverage until we explain the cost of disability, the duration or even most importantly, how many of us will be disabled at soem point in our working life.
Want to stand apart from the rest? Be that kind of a leader. |
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EDUCATIONAL EVENTS
ONLINE CE CREDITS
Looking for benefits dedicated online CE courses? Want to provide your admin and support staff with basic knowledge? Want to dig into something more detailed for your benefits/insurance business? Business Career College (BCC) has an extensive catalogue of online CE courses with a number of group benefits specific courses covering topics ranging from contractual concerns, plan designs, and underwriting requirements, to product specifics and integration with government benefits. Courses consist of narrated videos with short, online quizzes. The full catalogue includes over 60 courses, podcasts, and videos covering topics from the world of insurance, investments, financial planning, taxation, and ethics with a focus on technical content and real-world application. Courses are accredited for the maximum categories of credits and can include provincial Life and A&S credits, FP Canada, Advocis, and more! Use code CGIB on registration for your first three months free! |
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Best practices for a changing drug world
A free webinar on how to capitalize on emerging drug plan opportunities while managing inflation risk Two dates to choose from: Tuesday, September 21 and Thursday, September 23 1 PM - 2 PM ET YOU'RE INVITED!
Join us for a free webinar.
The drug plan world continues to rapidly evolve with several notable developments in recent months. This presentation will examine these changes and discuss the emerging opportunities and risks they present for drug plan sponsors. The presenter will share best practices that advisors can use to help their clients capitalize on these opportunities while managing inflation risk. Presenter: Martin Chung, AVP, Strategic Health Management, Equitable Life of Canada
CE credits will be provided.
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LTD VISION OFFERED William Lindsay, a plan sponsor services advisor, and Ron Cashin, an account executive, at Desjardins Financial Security will provide a ‘Futuristic Vision’ of long-term disability (LTD) benefits at the CPBI Atlantic virtual conference. As well, Frances Donald, global chief economist and global head of macroeconomic strategy for the multi-asset solutions team, at John Hancock Investment Management and Manulife Investment, will offer ‘An Economist’s view in the Age of COVID 19, how the global pandemic will continue to impact the economy. Theme of the event is The Path Ahead: Rock On. It takes place October 7. Information is at https://www.cpbi-icra.ca/Events/Details/Atlantic/2021/10-07-2021-CPBI-Atlantic-Virtual-Conference ____________________________________________________________ |
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Need help? Have questions? Looking for something?
Reach out to CGIB - Dave Patriarche - dave@cgib.ca - 905-886-9203 |
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