Dear Subscriber,
Happy almost September. I'm sending this e-mail a day early so that it gets to all before memberships expire today.
If you do not renew by the end of the day, this will be your last e-mail (as well as the end of Slack, HR resources, access to the new CHIP benefits etc.). We don't want to lose you, and I know the new system can be a bit of a challenge, so if you need help, just shout.
Our fall "in-person" events (Wed. Oct. 6th and Wed. Nov. 3rd) will open for reservations on Sept. 2nd. 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 with these events while keeping people safe. At this point only CGIB members (that pass screening) are welcome to attend these events. If you are not double vaccinated at least 2 weeks before the event, please take a pass at attending. If you do not renew before booking your spot, you will also pay non-member rates (double).
We will have more news about the new CGIB / BBD hybrid program in the coming days. 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. There is info here https://cgib.ca/cgib-catastrophic-hybrid-insurance-plan-chip-0, as well as on the Members Only site.
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.
JUST ADDED: Effective August 27, 2021, all basic employee handbooks and comprehensive employee manuals now include a COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Policy template. 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.
Thursday September 2nd @ 2pm (EDT) Tuesday September 21st @ 2pm (EDT)
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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.
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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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WEBINARS
National Group Benefits Meeting! Sep 30th 2021 @12:00 EST Sign up early, Space is limited
When you sign up you will be asked for an agenda topic that if picked we will discuss it at the meeting. It can be anything on your mind that is benefit related.
Blake Waddell, from Waddell Insurance and Lindsay Gibson from BBD, and Jay Nadler from Naviguide are pleased to announce the National Group Benefit Meetings! These have been run around the GTA, starting off with CGIB for over a decade and the loyal attendees find them to be way more valuable than any webinar they could attend. To sign up (for free) please click the sign up here button below.
A little bit about the meetings: The National Benefits meeting is for plan advisors, TPA's, and insurers to meet once a quarter to network, meet your peers, share information and stay up to date with industry trends and news. Whether you are a seasoned vet, or a newbie to the industry this is worth 2 hours a quarter to increase your knowledge. It will be held on the last workday of the month at 12:00pm EST. The first meeting will be a quick one hour introduction and if dialogue continues we can spill over. When you sign up, a day before the meeting you will be sent a Zoom link. Upon registering you will be asked to provide a topic to help form the agenda. This event does not contain any CE credits.
____________________________________________________________ Upcoming CGIB Events: Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we will be launching our Toronto fall events on September 2nd. 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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OPTOMETRISTS PULL OUT OF OHIP The Ontario Association of Optometrists plans to withdraw from the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) effective September 1, says the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association. This will affect individuals who have been eligible to receive one major eye exam every 12 months, plus any minor assessments. It will also affect those of any age with certain medical conditions including glaucoma and retinal disease who receive eye exams covered under OHIP. Those affected should be aware that these services cannot, by Ontario law, be charged to private health insurance. Ontario regulation prohibits optometrists from billing direct to patients, to workplace health insurance, or to individual private insurance for any services provided to those eligible under OHIP. Residents of Ontario between the ages of 20 to 64 may continue to receive eye examinations under the terms of their workplace health insurance or individual private insurance plan.
PHARMACISTS CALL FOR PHARMACARE The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) is calling for the implementation of a universal national pharmacare plan that features a blend of public and private plans. This is among its 2021 federal election priorities to strengthen the healthcare system now and into the future. Other key priorities are the creation of a national testing strategy in parallel with Canada’s vaccine program that will provide Canadians with broad access to at-home rapid COVID-19 tests; amending federal regulations to enable pharmacists to provide safe opioid-related care to patients by making the CDSA exemptions permanent and enhancing access to safe supply, and addressing drug shortages by reducing the frequency of shortages and supporting health professionals in managing those that do occur.
VACCINATION CAN POSE LEGAL THREAT While many employers perceive the vaccine as a great tool for medical protection, it is clear that it can also pose a legal threat, says a Borden Ladner Gervais ‘Newsletter.’ Other options are available which, in the absence of clear science on the vaccine’s efficacy, may well protect the workplace just as efficiently, or even more so. Employers should certainly not rely on the fact that their employees are vaccinated to let sanitary and distancing measures fall to the wayside, especially for employees in areas where these procedures are is still mandatory or recommended. Ultimately, employers imposing any measure that potentially affects their employees’ rights should be prepared to defend their decisions in case of a legal challenge. To assist them in doing so, they should notably ask themselves if the measures imposed are necessary and justifiable, given the specific circumstances of the workplace, in light of the business context and reality; is imposing the vaccine on employees in the most efficient way to avoid the risk of contagion; and whether it is complying with all other applicable legislation and up-to-date government/labour board/health authorities’ guidelines. It suggests that all employers should seriously consider having a telecommuting or remote work policy to help manage the return to the office, especially with the reduced health measures planned by the various governments. In addition, this approach considers the most effective method to curb the transmission of the virus in a work environment. Despite the legal risks of imposing the vaccine onto employees, some will decide to proceed in this way. Some employers may be justified in doing so, keeping in mind that they are not immune to legal challenges. A well-thought-out plan in preparation for return to work could help employers demonstrate to the court or tribunal that the decision was considered and weighed appropriately before taking action.
VACCINATION POLICIES MUST ACHIEVE BALANCE Creating a workplace vaccination policy touches on many complex legal and human rights issues and employers could unknowingly infringe on employees’ rights, says Beneplan. Mandatory workplace vaccination policies can be part of a larger program for preventing workplace spread of infectious diseases. However, such policies are usually only enforceable where they are based on evidence that demonstrates there is a serious risk of infection in the workplace and that the effectiveness of the vaccine prevents the spread of infection. The policies must also achieve a balance between workplace safety, employee privacy, and human rights protection. Not all workplaces are on the same legal footing and most employers would be better off creating non-punitive alternatives to mandatory policies or incentivizing employees to get their shots. Essentially those workplaces that will be able to justify a mandatory vaccination policy if challenged, will probably not have any issues. However, for all employers to assume they can do it is not a good approach to take and may result in unnecessary legal issues. Thus it is going to be industry and context dependent, with workplace specific assessments made on an employer-by-employer basis.
BUSINESSES MUST COMPLY WITH MEDICAL OFFICER Ontario now requires businesses or organizations to operate in compliance with “any advice, recommendations and instructions” issued by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health or by a medical officer of health after consultation with the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, says a Hicks Morley ‘FTRNow.’ Regulation (O. Reg. 577/21) amends the ‘Rules for Areas at Step 3 and at the Roadmap Exit Step’ with respect to the establishment and implementation of vaccination policies by businesses or organizations. Specifically, it requires the business or organization to establish, implement, and ensure compliance with a COVID-19 vaccination policy or set out the precautions and procedures that the business or organization must include in its COVID-19 vaccination policy. |
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The internet is filled with puppy quandaries.
You can get a puppy at a pet mill/pet shop in about an hour (please don’t). But over the course of your lifetime with that dog, you’ll need about 3,000 hours of time and money to take care of him.
The same time/money math applies to doing a good job on any social network. It only takes a few minutes to sign up for an account, but most users put in just enough time to be wasteful and not nearly enough time to generate anything of value as a result.
Accepting international orders, supporting a different category of industrial customers, putting your customer service phone number on the box, opening a conflict or litigation–these are all puppy questions.
The cool kids waste a lot of time because they forgot to think about them.
My Take on Seths Post
We often discuss this in webinars and workshops. If you are going to do it, DO IT RIGHT! If you start a newsletter, blog or marketing campaign, keep at it. Don't "set and and forget it" as it will only make you look bad.
A second message is also lurking here. In most cases the sale is only a small part of it. The purchase price of a puppy is nothing compared to the long-term costs of ownership. Employee benefits are no different. A cheap price today can drive costs, and limit options, a year or two in the future. |
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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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Emerging Trends in Drugs and Disability.
Date: Thursday, September 23, 2021 Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT
In this session you will learn more about the disability trend studies that have been completed by Canada Life and their key findings, and the impact of Covid-19 on those trends in 2020. We’ll look at the health of Canadians pre pandemic and how Covid-19 is exacerbating already challenging trends. You’ll learn about Canada Life’s response to emerging trends as well as how plan sponsors can also take proactive steps to manage their own health risks.
Participants will receive a PDF copy of recent Canada Life trend studies as well as a written summary of the content.
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TD 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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