Carrier Developments

Wynsure Goes Live at Symetra

January 25, 2012

Symetra Life Insurance Company has recently taken MphasiS-Wyde’s Wynsure live, letting it handle all aspects of policy administration and billing.

The completion of phase one was eight months in the making, replacing a legacy system that called for more customization and flexibility as opportunities for expansion arose, according to Symetra.

Wynsure provides an efficient, flexible platform underpinning our major growth initiative in the group marketplace,” said Michael Fry, executive vice president of Symetra’s Benefits Division.

The Wynsure solution supports list-billed and self-administered plans, including coverage for employees’ spouses and dependents, and multiple employee classes.

Allstate Opens Up Shop in Auto Dealerships

February 6, 2012

Auto dealers now have the opportunity to open full-service Allstate agencies inside their dealerships, according to Allstate Insurance and Allstate Dealer Services.

Allstate says agent offices will be placed inside the dealerships, typically on the showroom floors, and operate during regular hours of the dealerships. Licensed insurance professionals and a team of support staff employed by the agency owner will be onsite to help customers assess their insurance portfolios and help assure they have the protection they want.

The program combines the power of an Allstate Exclusive Agency, a Good Hands Network Repair Facility, and Allstate Dealer Service products with dealer F&I offerings as well as the ability to integrate Allstate Benefits into the dealer's employee benefits platform, says Allstate.

Allstate and Allstate Dealer Services say they have tested and modified this program during the last two years with Allstate agents in 11 dealerships around the country. The pilot revealed that the dealer program delivers the convenience of a one-stop shop along with the face-to-face interaction customers want.

Online Insurance Aggregator Adds Blues

January 30, 2012

Online health insurance purveyor eHealth Inc. is now offering individual and family health insurance plans from Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Illinois, Texas and Oklahoma.

Through the company’s website, individuals and families will be able to get free quotes, detailed comparisons of plan benefits. The site also features a 'Plans with My Doctor' tool, enabling shoppers to search for plans that are accepted by their doctors.

"eHealth has had a great, long-standing relationship with these plans," said Gary Lauer, president and CEO of eHealth Inc. said in a statement. "We're very pleased to have these products in Illinois, Texas and Oklahoma once again available to eHealth members. Having the trusted Blue Cross and Blue Shield brands in these states provides consumers an even richer set of options and quality health insurance plans from which to choose."

AIG Forms New Group Benefits Organization

January 24, 2012

To form a single organization that will market insurance and benefits products for employees, employers and affinity groups, American International Group Inc. (AIG) units Chartis U.S. Accident and Health, and American General Life Companies will merge their group benefits organizations.

The new organization, AIG Benefit Solutions, combines Chartis Corporate Benefits’ portfolio—AD&D, business travel accident, critical illness, accident, limited health care, expatriate medical, stop loss, organ transplant, vision and travel insurance—and American General Benefit Solutions’ portfolio—plans and programs for life (term and universal), AD&D, accident, hospital indemnity, dental, vision, limited health care, group and personal disability (including FMLA administration), critical illness and cancer insurance and employee assistance.

“The combination of Chartis’ benefits units with Benefit Solutions will give brokers, employers and group managers access to a wide range of products and resources, with efficiencies that can help reduce costs,” said Curtis Olson, American General Benefit Solutions president and CEO, and on-tap leader of the new organization. “The benefits market is changing rapidly, and we’ll be able to draw on vast resources, including underwriting and product experts, to meet the needs of the market.”

AIG Benefit Solutions, to be based in Neptune, N.J., will offer underwriting, enrollment and plan administration resources and nearly two dozen insurance products and programs, many available on both employer-funded and voluntary, employee-paid platforms. AIG says the products and services will be offered through two segments: U.S. Employee Benefits, which will offer group and individual employee benefits, including many voluntary/worksite products; and U.S. Affinity Benefits, which will offer products and services to affinity groups.

AIG President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Benmosche commented on the new organization, “AIG Benefit Solutions is an excellent example of how we can innovate and take advantage of the expertise that spans our entire company, leverage the talent in these two units, leaders in the group benefits markets, and deploy this for the benefit of our customers.”

Chartis Emphasizes Growth Economies

January 20, 2012

Chartis now will be organized under three major geographic areas, the Americas, Asia and EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), in order to execute commercial and consumer strategies and focus more on its growth economies initiatives.

Peter Eastwood, president and CEO of the U.S. and Canada, will assume responsibility for the Americas, which includes the U.S., Canada, Latin America and Bermuda. Jose Hernandez, president and CEO of the Far East Region, now will have responsibility for Japan and Chartis’ Asia Pacific region.

Robert Schimek has been named president and CEO of EMEA, with responsibility for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Schimek had been Chartis’ CFO for the last six years. James Bracken, who has served as a deputy CFO for Chartis, has been appointed CFO for the company and will report to David Herzog, CFO for AIG.

In addition, Alexander Baugh will become Chartis' chief risk officer and head of strategic planning, reporting to Sid Sankaran, AIG’s chief risk officer. In this capacity, Baugh will lead Chartis’ efforts to ever improve its risk profile, and to drive its strategic plans in concert with AIG. Baugh had been president and CEO of Europe since Chartis’ restructuring last year.

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