by Yusur Ouj | May 7, 2021 | Benefits, Disability Management, First Nations
It is no secret to employers that managing short-term, long-term, and occupational disability, as well as other absence-related matters, can be overwhelming – even at the best of times. It is not uncommon for a seemingly simple case to quickly develop into a much more complex and challenging one, for even experienced HR or health & safety professionals. Entrusting your disability claim management to experts in the field alleviates the administrative burden from your organization while guaranteeing exceptional results.
From the onset of a claim through to its conclusion, Disability Management Companies (DMC) proactively manage occupational, non-occupational injuries and illnesses with personalized recover-at-work solutions.
The following benefits are usually provided to our clients through our third party disability management providers:
- A collaborative review of your company’s return-to-work policies and procedures to ensure best practices are in place. This includes establishing/understanding job demands, modified duties and developing comprehensive “Employee return to work” plan development for current and future use.
- Management, record-keeping and constant stakeholders communication from onset of a disability to its conclusion.
- Comprehensive custom reporting includes, but is not limited to, claims activity reports, trend analyses, cost projections, forecasts and annual report summaries.
“ Unfortunately, waiting for appointments and diagnostic procedures is standard practice in Canada’s public health care system. Disability Management services can alleviate the administrative burden from your organization while guaranteeing exceptional results.”
At Eagle Bay Financial Services, we believe the key to reducing cost and lost time by prioritizing your organization and employees is critical for effective health management. Your team members` speedy recovery directly translates into an early and safe return to work.
Unfortunately, waiting for appointments and diagnostic procedures is standard practice in Canada’s public health care system. In response to this barrier, we would like to introduce you to one of our Disability management partners, TeksMed!
TeksMed Services Inc. is an industry leader with over 25 years of disability management experience. TeksMed offers Expedited Health Care with occupational and non-occupational programs at no additional cost. Early access to health care prevents any delays to diagnosis and treatment, which could otherwise impede the employee from returning to work safely and swiftly.
With this exceptional solution, your team will enjoy accelerated access to free diagnostic scans and specialist appointments. They will be supported throughout their recovery and receive additional coverage for services such as MRIs, CT scans, and specialist consultations.
In addition to the disability management programs, TeksMed also offers several wellness solutions for organizations to support their employees before absences occur:
QuikCare Thrive is an app-based mental wellbeing program that was developed to help employees build resilience to stress. Users can access mental health support, information and coping techniques anytime and anywhere.
QuikCare Platinum is an employee benefit that can help workers avoid taking time off work by giving them expedited access to health care. Should one of your employees be suffering from a medical condition causing them stress or, perhaps, worry is developing into something that may require a leave of absence, TeksMed can proactively intervene to arrange for diagnostic scans or specialist appointments in a mere matter of days.
We are thrilled to have a strong relationship with TeksMed and happy to offer their services to our valuable clients. TeksMed shares our commitment to expert knowledge, unparalleled services, integrity, and confidentiality. We would like you to see the return on investment through reduced time loss and administration costs in your Indigenous organization.
Inspired by a never-ending quest to be the best, TeksMed continues to set the standard and raise the bar for integrity, innovation and exceptional service. For more information, visit www.teksmed.com.
To get started, contact our Account Managers Jenny Kellet or Denise Perry.
Jenny Kellett
Account Manager
Group Benefits
Denise Perry
Account Manager
Group Benefits
by Yusur Ouj | Nov 4, 2020 | Benefits, Canada Life Financial, First Nations, Group Benefits Plan, Group Pension Plans, RESP |
Canadians want to give their children a better future and send them to post-secondary education; however, paying high tuition fees makes learning a privilege and put a lot of financial stress on families.
According to Statistics Canada 2019/2020 data, the average tuition cost for Canadian undergraduate programs was $6,463. This number is estimated to go up to $6,610 in 2020/2021. Families struggle to make ends meet and experience challenging times to reach their retirement goals.
RESP(Registered Education Savings Plan) is one of the most powerful savings tools available to families hoping to avoid or minimize student debt. As an employer, you can show support to your employees by adding Canada Life’s new self-directed registered education savings plan (RESP) to your existing Canada Life group benefits or retirement and savings plan with no cost to your business.
“ As of November 1, 2020, Canada Life’s first fully digital employer-sponsored RESP started helping employees advance their long-term savings goals! ”
How Does Canada Life‘s Group Plan RESP Work?
The contributions are placed into a fund designed to lower the risk of a potential decrease in value as students get closer to starting post-secondary education.
In addition, contributions, potential investment growth and compound interest will grow tax-free until the beneficiary withdraws funds to register at a qualifying educational program.
When the time comes, filling up simple forms and a streamlined withdrawal process will release the funds to the beneficiary.
How Your Employees Will Benefit If You Decide to Add RESP to Your Existing Canada Life Group Benefits or Retirement Plan?
Many Canadians think an RESP is more complicated than coordinating after-school activities.
With Canada Life’s new self-directed registered education savings plan, your employees will;
- Gain access to traditional RESP advantages like applicable government education grants and tax-sheltered earnings on contributions including Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) and Canada Learning Bond (CLB),
- Benefit from Canada Life’s low investment fees,
- Have convenient payroll deduction, pre-authorized debit or online banking bill payment,
- Have the ease of fully digital experience,
- Have the flexibility to choose either the family or individual plan,
- Family and friends can also make direct contributions.
How to Add RESP to Your Existing Canada Life Group Benefits or Retirement plan?
If you are an employer or a Plan Administrator, please contact your Account Manager at Eagle Bay Financial Services and add the RESP option to your group benefits or retirement and savings plan.
The rest is simple; plan members need to sign up online, and they are all set!
When the time comes, it will be easy to withdraw the money for children’s education, and your employees will appreciate that you had the foresight to plan for their future.
by Yusur Ouj | Apr 22, 2020 | Benefits, Canada Life Financial, CINUP, COVID19, First Nations, Group Benefits Plan, Sun Life Financial |
Dear Plan Administrators,
Due to COVID-19 pandemic, many dental and health practitioners have been forced to close. As a result, the use of dental and some other extended health care benefits have declined.
Canada`s three major insurance companies, Sun Life, Canada Life and CINUP have recently announced premium deduction for dental and non-drug-related extended health care benefits for their group insurance clients.
Sun Life Financial
Here are the changes Sun Life is making for all non-refund clients:
- Dental: 50% dental premium credit per month.
- Extended Health Care: 20% premium credit on the non-drug coverage portion of extended health care benefit premium
Sun Life is going to apply the April credit to your June 1 invoice and will continue to assess the situation on a monthly basis. For more information, please visit SunLife.ca
Canada Life
- Dental: 50% premium reduction adjustment will be applied.
- Vision: 20% premium reduction adjustment will be applied.
- Healthcare (excluding drugs): A 20% premium reduction adjustment will be applied.
Canada Life is going to apply the premium credit retroactive to April 1, 2020. May premium reduction adjustments will be completed on the June billing.
For more information, please visit Canadalife.com
CINUP
CINUP recognizes the impacts of the pandemic and the ability for plan members to utilize their dental and extended health benefits.
CINUP is providing the following credits, retroactive to April 1st, on May 2020 billing:
- Dental: 50% premium reduction adjustment
- Extended Health: 10% premium reduction adjustment
Your June bill will show the credits applied for April, as well as the full premium for June. The credits will be monitored monthly and you will be notified of any changes.
For any questions and more information, please contact our group benefits managers, Mina Dingle or Denise Perry. They will be more than happy to assist you.
Mina Dingle
Account Manager
Group Benefits
Denise Perry
Account Manager
Group Benefits
by Yusur Ouj | Apr 8, 2020 | Benefits, CINUP, COVID19, First Nations, Group Benefits Plan |
Especially with the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine services became the most convenient and easy access to quality healthcare when and where members need it most.
As Eagle Bay Financial Services, we are excited to announce CINUP’s, one of Canada`s leading insurance companies, partnership with Teladoc™ Health.
Effective immediately, Teladoc telemedicine services will be included for all employees who hold CINUP Extended Health Care coverage. Members can visit with a Canadian certified physician by phone or video for a broad array of episodic healthcare issues. During the visit, employees can receive a diagnosis, treatment recommendation, and even be prescribed medicine when necessary. With Telemedicine Services, members can stop waiting for care and get back to feeling better, faster.
Teladoc : Offering a New Front Door To Healthcare In Canada
Teladoc is the global leader in virtual care, providing convenient access to high-quality healthcare for millions of people in more than 130 countries. With Teladoc, your employees can talk with a doctor within an hour by phone or video conference from wherever they are, in Canada or the US, for non-emergency conditions like the flu, allergies, infections, and much more. Doctors can also prescribe medicine if needed.
- Is your First Nations community located in a remote area?
- Up in the middle of the night with a sick child?
- Or perhaps living or vacationing in a rural location, making it difficult to obtain medical care?
- Self-isolating and can’t get in to see a doctor?
Teladoc is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Because visits are conducted by phone or video, there are no geographic restrictions to getting to high-quality care from anywhere. Employees simply can download the Teladoc app from Apple or Google Play, complete the quick registration, and request a consultation.
“ Effective immediately, Teladoc telemedicine services will be included for all employees who hold CINUP Extended Health Care coverage. ”
How To Set Up Teladoc Account On Your Smartphone: 4 Easy Steps
Here is how your employees can set up Teladoc services and access licenced physicians easily, within an hour by phone or video.;
- Download the app:
Search for “Teladoc” in the App Store or on Google Play.
- Set up your account:
Once you’ve downloaded the app, select “Set up your account.”
- Enter necessary contact information:
Type in your name, date of birth, and postal code
- Type in your security information:
Select your coverage, create a password, type in your phone number, and agree to the terms and conditions.
For more information, you can also call 1-888-983-5236 or visit Teladoc.ca
Employees demand better benefits from their employers, and due to COVID-19, virtual health services became a vital part of health care delivery. Teladoc is designed to help you, your employees and their dependents to receive the medical treatment they need. It is a perfect solution, specifically with the distinct needs of an employer like you in mind. We know your employees are your most valuable asset, so we continually look for more ways to protect them. Teladoc will ensure the best medical support is always at their fingertips.
For more information on how to add Teladoc to your CINUP employee benefits program, you can reach our Managers Mina Dingle or Denise Perry.
Jenny Kellett
Account Manager
Group Benefits
Denise Perry
Account Manager
Group Benefits
by Yusur Ouj | Oct 16, 2015 | Benefits, Health & Wellness |
Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada. In fact, it is responsible for 30% of all total deaths in our country. It is estimated that 2 out of 5 Canadians are expected to develop some form of cancer in their lifetimes, and 1 out of 4 of those diagnosed will die from it.
With those grim figures in mind, it is no surprise that most of us are on the constant look-out for ways to protect ourselves from the disease. Perhaps the best defence, however, is quite simply to live healthy, active lives, and there’s no better place to start than your diet. Although not a magical cure for cancer, certain food items have cancer-fighting properties. Including these in your diet, coupled with regular exercise, are sure-fire ways to decrease your risk of cancer.
A predominantly plant-based diet is ideal for warding off cancer. Meals should contain at least 2/3rd plant type foods. Amongst other health benefits, this ensures a diet low in saturated fats.
Folate-rich foods
There is a correlation between levels of folate in the body and the chances of DNA mutation. Eating folate-rich foods such as cereals, oranges and spinach may decrease your risk of pancreatic cancer by up to 50%.
Source foods
- Cereal
- Pasta
- Orange
- Spinach
- Romaine leaves
- Dried beans
- Asparagus
- Brussels sprouts
Tea
Teas contain antioxidants called flavonoids. Once such flavonoid called kaempferol has been shown to work well against cancer. Women in a study who increased their kaempferol intake showed a lower rate of ovarian cancer, and post-menopausal women had a decreased risk of breast cancer.
The recommended dose for this antioxidant to work well against cancer is an about 10-12 milligrams daily or approximately 4 cups of tea.
Source foods
Vitamin D
Vitamin D has been known to cut the risks of breast cancer by half. It works by curbing the growth of cancerous cells in the body. It is recommended that an adult should receive a minimum daily dose of 1000 IU of vitamin D.
Source foods
- Sunshine
- Milk
- Cod
- Shrimp
- Chinook salmon
- Eggs
Cruciferous vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables such as kale, cabbage and Brussel sprouts have all been shown to help with the prevention of prostate and colon cancer. It is important to note however that studies have shown that these health benefits are activated only by chewing or cutting the vegetables.
Source foods
- Kale
- Turnip greens
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
- Brussel sprouts
Curcumin
Curcumin’s anti-inflammatory properties are its essential trait for fighting cancer. Recent studies have shown that curcumin suppresses the transformation and invasion of cancer cells, by disrupting cell-signalling pathways in the body. Its benefits have been shown to be effective against bladder and gastrointestinal cancer.
Source foods
by Yusur Ouj | Apr 16, 2015 | Benefits, Health & Wellness |
1. Attracts prospective talents and helps retain current ones
Paramedical services are often described as a nice-to-have addition to employee benefits plans instead of must-haves. But more and more employees are seeing the importance of these services. Having Paramedical services in your group benefits not only will attract prospective talents to your First Nations organization but also will help retain your employees.
2. Increases employee morale and loyalty
Creating a Work-Life balance can be difficult for today`s workforce. With services like “Massage Therapy” employees can relieve tension and pain. Giving your employees access to Paramedical services can help them to lead to better health, such as to overcome stress and increase morale.
As a Plan Administrator, are you worried about the cost?
Generally, employees pay a certain portion of the cost. This amount usually reduces the longer employees stay with your Indigenous organization.
3. Costs can be controlled
Making paramedical services work for you and your employees relies on sustainability. In order to include Paramedical Services in your benefits plan, you need to manage the costs and have a budget.
Unfortunately, runaway expenses can quickly derail your plan. Managing and monitoring plan benefits usage is crucial to identifying patterns, which can be used to modify the offerings for future sustainability.
In addition, adding minor restrictions to the plan can also help mitigate bloated costs. Enforcing a per-visit or per-practitioner limit is a good idea, but can still be expensive if the plan members have large families. Many companies have adopted this option instead of a family maximum, which encourages employees to be more responsible for their usage.
Another option for cost control can be to implement a tiered-based coverage based on tenure.
Offering paramedical services to your workforce is a great way to keep them healthy and happy, but being cognizant of the accompanying costs is also extremely important. Finding a balance between employee morale and the costs is the bottom line to the successful employee benefits plan.
