This article is part of a series of case studies—real stories of how managed care companies increased profits by using Summit Re’s resources to increase sales, decrease expenses, and manage claims. Although our primary focus is protecting your company’s balance sheet through excess of loss reinsurance coverage, we also help you accomplish your strategic objectives with a broad array of other products and services.
This case study addresses adding ancillary benefits to your group medical plans, such as group term life, disability, dental and vision coverage. Summit Re provides these ancillary programs through Companion Life Insurance Company, rated A+ (superior) by A.M. Best. Companion Life offers competitive benefit programs which can be customized to fit your market needs.
Why Ancillary Benefits?
Most employers prefer the simplicity of one source for all their employee benefits, if possible. Agents appreciate the reduction in paperwork associated with working with one entity and are pleased when told that their ancillary sales through the health plan qualifies for the same bonuses as any other sale.
Customized Programs
Here are a few examples of ways the program can be customized:
- Separate or combined billing
- Propriety benefit and rate options
- Proprietary brochure with your branding, e.g. logo, colors, typeface.
- Flexible sales compensation, bonus and incentive trip options
- Rating ability in your sales office
Companion Life has the experienced personnel to help you successfully market these products, including dedicated sales specialists in these product lines.
One Company’s Story
ABC Health Plan previously worked with a major HMO excess reinsurer with ancillary product capabilities in these product lines. However, the company was sold and service deteriorated. The new owner put less emphasis on ancillary products.
This health plan in the past was very successful at marketing these programs and had even assumed risk through a captive arrangement. Over time, they decided they prefer the non-risk approach where they’re strictly a distributor of the products and have no ongoing administrative role or underwriting risk.
As service issues persisted, they put their ancillary products out to bid. Summit Re assisted the client in development of the RFP, which was then used as a template to evaluate carrier bids. Companion Life’s bid included not only a formal response to the RFP, but also on-site presentations to personally address all product and service options, issues and concerns.
ABC Health Plan moved all of its ancillary product business (life, dental, and disability) to Companion Life Insurance Company. The relationship has “worked well” and ABC Health Plan is “very happy” with Companion Life.