HFG February 2024 Newsletter
IMPORTANT CHAMBERS PLAN UPDATES!
**IMPORTANT**Change to Employee Definition
& Open Enrolment 
In order for the Plan to be inclusive of part-time employees in all provinces, effective March 1, 2024, the definition of an Employee for all plans in force prior to March 1, 2024, will be adjusted to the following: 
Employee means a person who is domiciled in Canada and 
a. Is a proprietor of, or partner in, a Covered Firm, or 

b. Is employed by a Covered Firm on a permanent, full-time basis for not less than 20 hours per week, or 
c. If elected by the Covered Firm, is employed by a Covered Firm on a permanent, part-time basis for not less than 15 hours per week. 
As shown in the wording above, you are not obligated to adopt this change to include part-time employees, but you certainly have the option to do so.
We will offer an open enrolment from February 15 to April 30, 2024.
During this period, we will allow “late entrants” to the Plan without penalty. This could be part-time employees who only become eligible due to the definition change on March 1, or other employees who have not been added to your plan for one reason or another and are now considered late.
NEW Diabetes Step Therapy Program
Current Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines recommend that most Type 2 diabetics begin treatment with available first-line “step-1” therapies such as Metformin. However, a group of “step-2” drugs, referred to as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists, such as Ozempic®, are often prescribed.

GLP-1 agonists are among the highest-cost diabetes drugs on the market. In addition, some of them are often used “off-label,” meaning in a way not approved by Health Canada to treat certain conditions, particularly for weight loss.

Effective April 1, 2024, we are introducing a new Diabetes Step Therapy program. Through this program, members starting a diabetes treatment will be required to try step-1 therapies before a more expensive GLP-1 agonist “step-2” therapy will be adjudicated. 


COMMON QUESTIONS:

WHAT DRUGS WILL BE AFFECTED?
HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THE PLAN?
HOW DOES THIS CHANGE AFFECT PLAN MEMBERS?
WHAT TYPE OF MEDICAL CONFIRMATION IS NEEDED?
WHERE DO THEY SEND THEIR MEDICAL CONFIRMATION?
CAN A PLAN MEMBER REQUEST AN EXEMPTION?
When grey skies and blah weather keep people indoors, about 15% of Canadians get the “winter blues,” while 2-3% of people in Canada experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD), according to Canadian Mental Health Association. 

Lack of sunlight is commonly identified as a cause of seasonal depression, as this can upset a person’s circadian rhythm that regulates their mood and sleep patterns. Per Canadian Psychological Association, lack of exposure to sunlight can affect serotonin and melatonin levels, which influences mood and sleep. Mood changes are also linked to people being cooped up inside and deprived of their regular outdoor activities. 
Recently hired a new employee? Add them quickly and easily using online enrolment, found on my-benefits.ca. Just fill out the Employer sections, have the employee complete their section, and submit! 
Hynek Financial Group
5500 North Service Road, Suite 209, Burlington, ON  L7L 6W6
PH: (905) 319-9999
Email: info@hfgb.ca