Sales of the product are rising, with opportunities for agents and brokers Everyone fears the big three: heart attack, stroke and cancer—and those serious medical conditions account for 70% to 90% of claims filed under critical illness insurance products, underwriters say. But critical illness insurance, sold primarily as a supplemental voluntary benefit, is evolving rapidly, covering more illnesses to fill the expanding gaps in employer-paid medical benefits. “Employee deductibles have
Benefits Lead

Product and tech enhancements bring employer and employee value High-deductible health plans help employers contain employee benefit costs. They also help motivate employees to be better consumers of healthcare. But when a medical emergency hits, the consumer-driven coverage can leave employees and their families with thousands of dollars in uncovered expenses. Concerned for the long-term financial well-being of their employees and interested in offering more flexible benefit choices, many employers

Stop-loss insurers help small to medium-sized companies self-fund their benefits A generation ago, large corporations realized that they could reduce their health benefits costs by paying their own medical claims—usually with the help of a third-party administrator or administrative services provided by experienced health insurers. Self-funding became one of the most common cost containment tools for companies with good cash flow and a consistent claims history. Stop-loss insurance, coverage for

P-C agency teams up with benefits expert to meet clients’ needs Build a base of experience and a strong reputation. Then let youthful energy drive the future. It’s a natural cycle that invigorates agency operations and introduces them to a new generation. For example, Carlisle Insurance in Corpus Christi, Texas, has spent the last five years creating a solid base of employee benefits business that both supplements and energizes its

Product serves vital need in high deductible health plans As deductibles in employer health plans continue to rise, employees are increasingly vulnerable to the financial consequences of accidents. Many live paycheck-to-paycheck and can ill afford to self-insure the accident risk; those who do manage to save money do so for vital purposes, such as educating children or their own retirement. Accident-related expenses can seriously derail those plans. This below-the-deductible gap