IHC Unit To Underwrite Destiny Plans

Independence Holding Company has signed on to efforts to help a health account pioneer expand in the United States.

IHC, Stamford, Conn., has agreed to have its Madison National Life Insurance Company subsidiary underwrite high-deductible health insurance designed for users of health account plans from Destiny Health, Chicago.

Destiny is the U.S. arm of Discovery Holdings Ltd., Sandton, South Africa, the company that developed the modern approach to using specialized accounts to give employees a stake in controlling the cost of their own health care.

Destiny helped create the U.S. health account plan market, but it has been struggling to get employers’ attention.