How Getting a Group Benefits Plan Works A company that is looking for a benefits plan engages an advisor (e.g. a broker or agent) who then submits that company’s details to several insurance companies for a quote. (An experienced advisor will know which insurance companies are best suited for that particular company’s details). It is then the job of the advisor to present the resulting quotes to the employer along with a recommendation of which group benefits plan that company should choose. Of course, the cheaper the insurance premiums are, the more attractive that plan is to a company. Ther ..read more

Can I Cancel My Personal Health Insurance Plan? Yes, absolutely. You can cancel your plan at anytime. Generally, 30 days notice is required but depending on the insurance carrier your coverage is with and the date your next premium is due it could be shorter than this. Are There Any Penalties If I Cancel My Plan? When you provide the notice required, there are no financial penalties, however; some insurance carriers will not let you apply for another health and dental plan with them for at least 2 years (24 months). Pro Tip! It is highly recommended to give the insurance company the reason yo ..read more

We want to take a moment to thank you for your business and continued support during 2022, another year filled with challenges and opportunities. As a gesture of appreciation to all our clients, we have once again partnered with our local homeless shelter Inn From the Cold to sponsor the nights of December 25th & 26th. We are honoured to be able to provide this sponsorship on behalf of you and all our awesome clients! For each night we sponsor, our most vulnerable neighbours will receive: A warm and safe place to sleep Three nutritious meals (hot dinner and breakfast, and a bagged lunch ..read more

What is Cost Plus? Group benefit plans, also called group insurance or employee benefits, offer company employees coverage for various healthcare costs. These benefit plans commonly cover dental and prescription drug costs, and they may also cover costs resulting from vision care expenses and paramedical expenses (for example, chiropractors, massage therapists, etc.). Sometimes, however, healthcare expenses may be incurred that are not covered by a benefits plan. Group benefit plans are highly customizable, and what one plan covers another plan may not. Business owners in particular might wan ..read more

For many Canadians retirement is a time of change and excitement. Some have travel plans, while others have things they want to accomplish at home. One important aspect about retirement that sometimes goes unmentioned is the loss of employee benefits and healthcare. Oftentimes those who are retiring are 65 years old and have pre-existing health conditions along with prescription drug medications. Another consideration at retirement age is provincial healthcare which (usually) covers things like prescription drugs and some vision care costs (OHIP covers eye exams at age 65 but does not cover g ..read more

Guaranteed Issue Enhanced Health & Dental Insurance We’re happy to announce that we can now offer Canadians a new “no medical” health insurance plan from Manulife called Guaranteed Issue Enhanced. What is “Guaranteed Issue”? Guaranteed issue health insurance is health and dental insurance with guaranteed acceptance. There are no medical questions asked, and everyone automatically qualifies for coverage, regardless of their state of health. Also referred to as “no medical insurance”, guaranteed health insurance is ideal for people with pre-existing medical conditions who need health, denta ..read more

What Every Small Business Owner Needs to Know The current labour market has shifted and is now in favour of the employee. Coming out of the pandemic, there are more jobs available than there are people willing to fill them. What does this mean to the average small business owner? In a nut shell, it is increasingly difficult to find the right employees for positions that need to be filled. There are a couple of ways companies can overcome this: Increase salaries. Offer better employee benefit plans. Increased salaries certainly do attract top-end talent. Unfortunately, they also result in hi ..read more

A life insurance policy is instrumental when it comes to protecting your family and providing for them financially in the event that one or both parents pass away. How much coverage is required depends on many different factors. Simply put, when a person dies , that person’s estate (consisting of assets minus liabilities) when combined with the life insurance payout, should cover all outstanding debts and also provide for a desired standard of living for the surviving dependents for a given amount of time. What many Canadians fail to do is update their life insurance coverage when major life ..read more

Although planning your will can be an unpleasant idea, it is the only way to protect your loved ones and ensure that your wishes are carried out. Choosing an executor is a very important component of planning your will. The executor (or executors) will be responsible for all the financial arrangements and notifications. It is important that who you choose is aware of what exactly is entailed with this job, and that everyone is comfortable with this decision. So, who should you choose? You can choose more than one person. You may decide to choose a close friend or relative that you trust, as w ..read more

Introduction Welcome to our latest blog article. Today we are looking at a Health and Wellness program called Vitality®, which can now be obtained when individuals or families purchase certain Manulife personal or group insurance plans. This Vitality program can be used as an aid to improving health and also save you some money along the way! What Is Manulife Vitality? Vitality® is a well-known Health and Wellness program that is now available via Manulife when purchasing one of their group or individual life insurance or health insurance plans (for full eligibility requirements see the eligi ..read more