Podcast Center
Video Center
Webcasts
Resource Center
Events
July 12, 2013 at 01:31 PM
The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian) will now permit brokers and plan holders to request plan changes online through the Guardian Anytime website.
Brokers and plan holders can now request benefits plan changes, such as waiting period, termination of coverage, dependent age limit, open enrollment period, and legal plan name and address through the website. Users are updated throughout the process with email notifications and transaction logs to ensure the experience is efficient and seamless. The new online capabilities take the place of previously manual tasks, which were paper intensive and difficult to keep track of.
In other industry news:
Digital Benefit Advisors, a division of Digital Insurance, is launching Digital Benefits Marketplace, a private exchange to help employers of all sizes control rising benefits costs through defined contributions and fostering consumer engagement.
DBA Managing Principal Bob Gaydos will lead the initiative and coordinate the roll out, naming him national director of private marketplaces. In his new role, Gaydos will work closely with Digital’s leadership, carriers and technology solutions to drive adoption.
Digital already has the infrastructure, operational capability and distribution system to effectively launch and manage private marketplaces in multiple states for an employer segment for both middle market and small employers. The company is negotiating with health insurance carriers in additional states, as well as providers of ancillary and voluntary products. Offerings will include health, life, disability, accident, critical illness, long-term care, dental and vision insurance, along with other products and services.
Digital Benefits Marketplace will be introduced in the coming months in many states across the country. Gaydos has been part of the Digital family since February 2011 when his company, Benefits Group of New England (BGNE), was acquired by Digital Insurance.
Assurant Health promoted Charles Steele to senior vice president-executive sales officer. Steele will be responsible for developing, expanding and enhancing Assurant Health’s distribution capabilities to grow sales. Steele previously was vice president-sales. Steele, who joined Assurant Health in 2005, has held leadership positions in marketing, product and sales areas, and has been involved in a number of significant product launches, new distribution partnerships and strategic business opportunities. Steele has a bachelor’s in history from Whitman College and an MBA from the University of Denver. Prior to joining Assurant Health, he worked for GreatWest Healthcare, now part of Cigna, for 15 years.
Scott W. Schuetz joined the Phoenix Companies Inc. (NYSE:PNX) as vice president, Growth Delivery and Operations.
Schuetz will be responsible for quality and efficiency of operations for all actively sold lines of business from submission through claims. In addition, he will be responsible for bringing new products to market and improving processes and technology to meet distributor needs cost effectively while driving competitive advantage for the company.
Schuetz was previously senior vice president, Life & Annuity Operations & Services, Aviva Life & Annuity Company and held senior positions at Wells Fargo Bank and Citigroup. He began his career in business development, sales and marketing at Procter & Gamble. He earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Kansas.
