Distribution

Des Moines, Iowa - The Principal Financial Group is introducing an online tool--called the Treatment Cost Advisor--designed to help members evaluate the price of specific procedures as well as medications. The tool responds to a growing need from employers who are encouraging employees to make smarter health decisions."Understanding health care costs is complicated, so we wanted to offer a way for our members to identify and compare pricing for everything from minor procedures to surgeries and hospital stays," says Carey Jury, senior vice president of the health division for the Principal Financial Group. "As consumer driven health care continues to evolve and more responsibility shifts to employees, we must provide tools and resources to help our members make informed health decisions."

Worcester, Mass. - The Hanover Insurance Group Inc. is trying to make it easier and faster for independent agents to do business with the company by revamping its point-of- ale (POS) system for Avenues Commercial Auto. Using the enhanced POS system, it takes agents just minutes to fill-out five pop-up, screens and obtain a commercial auto quote for a client."We are pleased to provide agents with the latest improvements to our Commercial Auto POS system because it makes placing business with The Hanover simpler and more efficient," says Marita Zuraitis, president of The Hanover's property and casualty companies.

San Mateo, Calif. - Progressive Insurance ranked as the No. 1 site in two studies conducted by Keynote Systems Inc., an Internet performance firm. The two studies line provide a comparative examination of online customer experience and best practices implementation by leading automobile insurance Web sites.Keynote's customer experience study shows that consumers are turning away from obtaining auto insurance quotes over the phone and increasingly turning to the Web for those same quotes. This study uncovered that in the highly competitive $158 billion auto insurance industry, price competitiveness and the online quote process are the leading indicators of success in landing new customers online.

Kansas City, Mo., - Health insurance--critical to the peace of mind of most Americans--has become increasingly complex and expensive, according to The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). A maze of options and cost considerations--from health maintenance organizations to health savings accounts--now confront consumers.To help individuals clear up the confusion and gain a better understanding of the costs of their coverage, the NAIC has assembled useful information about health insurance--all organized by life stage needs--on its new consumer education Web site called Insure U at http://www.insureuonline.org/.

Chicago - InsuranceNoodle Inc. is introducing the new AIG "WorldRisk" portfolio of international products which provides insurance protection for small U.S.-based companies that sell products or whose employees travel overseas.InsuranceNoodle is an Internet-based distributor of small business insurance. More than 2,500 active NoodleNetwork agencies across the country use the e-broker's patented proprietary, Web-based technology platform to write and service small commercial business. InsuranceNoodle's current line of commercial products includes property, general liability, package, business owners' policy (BOP), directors' and officers' liability, commercial auto, umbrella liability, workers' compensation, employment practices liability (EPLI), professional liability and surety bonds.

Jacksonville, Fla. - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida is introducing what it claims is an industry first capability called CareCalc. a tool designed to help BCBSF providers and members understand the financial responsibility for a particular service prior to or at the time of an office visit."Providers of health care and their office staff want simple and effective processes so they can focus on their work instead of navigating the payment system. At the same time, our members want to be sure they are paying the right amount when they go to the doctor's office," says Elana Schrader, M.D., vice president, provider services, BCBSF. "CareCalc will not only help our members better understand their financial responsibilities, but it also will help streamline processes for those who serve them -- our physicians and providers."

Phoenix - A new tool is available for Arizona employers who seek to improve employee wellness and boost productivity in the workplace. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) has introduced My BluePrint, a virtual health advisor and health measurement tool. By inviting employees to take an interactive assessment, employers receive an overall summary of results so they can identify risk factors in four key areas--fitness, sleep, nutrition and stress management--and implement the most appropriate wellness programs."Employers who offer the My BluePrint program are becoming increasingly engaged in the health of their employees while helping to improve company performance," says Dick Hannon, senior vice president of marketing and provider affairs for BCBSAZ. "Employers have the ability to take more control over the invisible costs of health care by promoting simple steps toward healthier living."

Ipswich, Mass. - A report on online customer respect found the insurance industry scored lowest in respecting Web site visitors.That's the finding of a second quarter 2006 online customer respect study of Insurance firms conducted by The Customer Respect Group, an international research and consulting firm. The firm analyzed 52 health care, life and health, and property/casualty insurer Web sites.

Hartford, Conn. - Skyrocketing gasoline prices, the ever-changing competitive business environment, soaring health care costs--those are just a few of the high-pressure issues facing today's employers. The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. understands that business owners often don't have the resources--or expertise--to track and analyze the health and disability trends of their employees.That's why the company provides its group disability customers with free annual analyses, tracking health, absence and productivity trends, such as frequency and type of disability claims. After the review, the insurer provides extensive reporting to update employers on trends impacting their business, as well as recommended strategies to help keep employees healthy and productive.

Philadelphia - CIGNA International Expatriate Benefits (CIEB) has introduced ePayment Plus, a new service that speeds payments for expatriates' health claims through electronic deposits to members' bank accounts. The service is available for expatriates working in the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, France, Belgium, Canada, Portugal, Hong Kong and Singapore."This new service is designed to provide added convenience and peace of mind to our expatriate members on assignment around the world, with deposits made to our members' bank accounts in the currency of the countries where they work," says Kelley Crowley, vice president of global service operations.