Digital Insurance arm launches private insurance exchange

Digital Benefit Advisors (DBA) of Vermont, a division of Digital Insurance, is launching Digital Benefits Marketplace, a private exchange for businesses with 50 or more employees.

The Digital Benefits Marketplace enables employers to offer a comprehensive array of benefits – including health insurance plans from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont – at a fixed cost. It also streamlines administrative processes and empowers individuals to spend their benefits dollars where they determine they’ll receive the greatest value.

Supported by a call center with customer advocates to guide them, employees choose – from an online portal – the plans and options that work best for them. Offerings include health, life, disability, accident, critical illness, dental and vision insurance, along with other products and services.

In other industry news:

LIMRAand LOMA named Ian Watts to be senior vice president of International Operations, succeeding Gary Aluise, who is retiring in September 2013. As head of LIMRA and LOMA’s International Operations, Watts will be responsible for developing and expanding business opportunities in Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. In this role, Watts will engage in-country as well as multinational companies to ensure prudent growth of LIMRA and LOMA’s international offerings. Prior to joining LIMRA and LOMA, Watts was Global CEO at ACE Life International, where he was responsible for day-to-day operations and new business development. He has held CEO positions in India and China for AIG and AIA, and had extensive global experience in the UK, EMEA and Latin America.

New York Life named senior vice president Scott Berlin head of the company’s Group Membership Association Division. He reports to Paul Pasteris, senior vice president of New York Life’s Insurance Group.

Berlin replaces John Cassagne who is retiring after more than 35 years of service with New York Life.