For five straight years now, we’ve asked our readers to vote for their industry favorites. And whether it be a product, provider or administrator, they’ve done just that.
More importantly, this year’s balloting produced an avalanche of votes, at least double last year’s tally.
So, without further ado, we present this year’s Readers’ Choice Award winners.
1. Best group health coverage
WINNER
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is a major medical staple in a number of states across the country. And, apparently enough to garner enough votes to take top honors this year in the best group health category.
Maybe it’s the company’s responsive service, comprehensive offerings or embrace of the Web (see below). Maybe it’s the company’s leadership, on display as it emerged as the first carrier to offer first-dollar coverage of H1N1 vaccines for all its members.
But we’d better let a broker explain. We found one independent agent based out of Ohio who voted for Anthem, explaining, “From my experience in southern Ohio, Anthem does about the best job when it comes to benefit options, pricing, stability of rates and all around service. In addition to that, the Columbus sales office has personnel that have long tenures with Anthem and are very good to work with.”
HONORABLE MENTION
United HealthCare
Although a mainstay in the group health market, United HealthCare isn’t exactly standing still either. Aside from also covering the administrative costs of H1N1 vaccines for its members, this year’s runner-up also just unveiled a new Web portal to better communicate with consumers just in time for enrollment season. Dubbed Health Care Lane (www.healthcarelane.com/) the site breaks down a variety of health care topics for plan participants, in a way that’s educational and entertaining.
2. Best consumer-driven health care products
WINNER
Colonial Life
Colonial Life’s run at dominance among this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards kicks off by taking the consumer-driven title for the second year in a row. Powered largely by the carrier’s indemnity-based limited benefit medical plan, Colonial’s effort to reach out to the uninsured (and underinsured) is more relevant than ever.
Colonial Life prides itself on understanding its customers. The company knows cookie cutter approaches to employee benefits simply don’t work. Employees today need flexible insurance products that can be individualized to meet their personal needs. They need help in better understanding their benefits choices and appreciate the support of personal benefits counselors. In addition, they need an enrollment process that’s simplified and able to meet them where they are, at any time Ñ whether they’re working nights, enrolling from home on the Internet or attending a group meeting with their fellow coworkers.
Colonial Life’s approach to employee benefits has struck a chord with working Americans. At the heart of its value proposition is benefits education and communication, which the company provides through a nationwide network of benefits counselors. The company’s broad portfolio of personal insurance products and enrollment expertise work in tandem to help consumers find the solutions they need.
HONORABLE MENTION
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
Consumer education and motivation also remains a priority for Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. More importantly, the company’s putting its money where its mouth is. Aside from forking over the cash for H1N1 vaccinations as we mentioned earlier Anthem is taking wellness a step further with its battle against obesity. In Ohio, for example, the carrier’s teaming up with Radio Disney’s “Move it” campaign to fight childhood obesity a genuine consumer-centric approach.
3. Best vision coverage
WINNER
VSP
Few carriers define their own niche as clearly (so to speak) as VSP owns the vision market. Aside from sheer size boasting the nation’s largest network by number of doctors and sheer geography VSP remains a leader online, as well, even among carriers outside the vision space. The vision trailblazer not only maintains one of the more user-friendly Web sites (for brokers and employers alike), but an educational blog (over at vspblog.com) and Twitter updates to keep plan members up to date on the latest news and research.
HONORABLE MENTION
EyeMed
This year’s runner-up in the vision category is no slouch, either, despite missing the cut last year. The 20-year-plus company boasts nearly 160 million members nationwide, 5,000-plus clients, more than 400 associates and enough success in the worksite market to earn our readers’ respect.
4. Best dental coverage
WINNER
Delta Dental
It’s pretty clear Delta Dental is to the dental market what VSP is to vision. It doesn’t hurt that Delta still has the largest provider network in the nation, nearly 30 years of growth (even in this most recent economic downturn) and roughly a quarter of the enrollee market. You don’t even have to take our readers’ word for it: Earlier this year, a Delta Dental Plans Association study found brokers ranked the carrier first because of its customer service, sheer network size and quick claims processing (among other things).
HONORABLE MENTION
Guardian
Guardian works with brokers to create flexible and creative plans customized to meet employer needs and prices points down to the smallest case size. The carrier strives to narrow the benefits gap between large and small to mid-sized companies by bringing small and mid-sized business owners features typically available only to larger organizations. Guardian also features one of the nation’s strongest dental networks, with dentists offering savings that average around 30 percent. In fact, according to both LIMRA and NADP, Guardian has had the most in-force plans for six out of the last eight years.
5. Best service from a third-party administrator
WINNER
Ameriflex
Here we go again. Once more, we see the same two companies maintaining their vice-like grip on the third-party administrator category. AmeriFlex’s dominance continues, as they remain the standard-bearer in the TPA market. Consumer-driven health care was hardly a mainstream solution when AmeriFlex pioneered the health care debit card, yet the company has consistently remained at the forefront of innovation within the CDHC industry by adhering to two basic principles: pursue and develop technology that makes it easy and cost-effective for consumers to manage their health care, and provide a superior level of service and support to every AmeriFlex client: brokers, employers and participants. This commitment to technological innovation and customer service continues to position AmeriFlex as a preferred partner within the broker community. But they’re not done. In December, the Mount Laurel, NJ-based TPA will unveil the newest enhancement to its suite of products. Stay tuned.
HONORABLE MENTION
TASC
As consistent as Ameriflex is at dominating this category, Total Administrative Sevices Corp. is equally as adept at securing the runner-up slot. Brokers insist the Madison, Wisc.-based TPA excels at customer service, earning client loyalty and votes.
6. Best limited-benefit medical product
WINNER
Colonial Life
Colonial Life first ventured into the limited benefit medical product arena two years ago to meet the growing need for basic health coverage for uninsured workers. The company heard its traditional voluntary benefits customers Ñ some in industries that didn’t offer major medical insurance, some that had cut back or eliminated benefits because of cost Ñ calling for solutions to provide coverage for basic, routine care such as doctor’s office visits, lab tests and prescription drugs. Recognizing the uninsured as a key issue in the U.S., Colonial Life launched Colonial Health Advantage nationwide, including eight plans with different combinations of coverage and levels of benefits. A year later, four new plans combining the best of the original eight were rolled out. Employers also can choose to offer a critical illness benefit as part of the plan or can package the plan with other supplemental insurance products, such as cancer or disability, to provide broader coverage. A key to Colonial Life’s success in this niche category is its benefits communication and enrollment capabilities. Limited benefit medical plans can offer important, affordable coverage, but are well received only when consumers understand what they are Ñ and aren’t Ñ buying. Colonial Life’s nationwide team of benefits counselors has been able to explain the limited benefit medical plan in one-to-one enrollments, leading to greater participation and satisfaction on the part of employees, employers and their brokers.
HONORABLE MENTION
AFLAC
AFLAC’s sole appearance in this year’s Readers’ Choice balloting landed them the honorable mention in the limited benefits medical product category. It’s not surprising considering the sheer amount of business the company does and how they always manage to stay at the forefront of the benefits business.
7. Best broker relationships
WINNER
Colonial Life
In a word, Colonial Life’s broker relationships are centered on trust at both the local broker rep and the corporate level. The carrier works as a solutions-providing partner with its brokers, freely letting the broker be the hero to the client.
Every year, Colonial Life conducts broker forums, surveys and other forms of feedback to find out exactly what brokers are looking for in a voluntary benefit partner. And year after year, the company acts on that feedback. Increased broker commissions, simpler underwriting, new and improved products Ð these are just a few recent examples of specific actions the carrier has taken based on feedback from brokers. The carrier’s service results and reputation, regular communications with appointed brokers, and no-cost client services also play a key role in establishing trust and maintaining good relationships with its broker partners. As does its use of hard-coded commissions and commitment to honoring Broker of Record letters. That’s key because Colonial Life works hard to be a strong partner to its brokers Ð one that they trust will do what’s in the best interest of the clients, their employees and the broker. Benefits Selling readers clearly agree the company is hitting the mark, and they continue to be captivated with this voluntary benefits leader.
HONORABLE MENTION
United HealthCare
United could probably claim runner-up for this, its second this year, based on its user-friendly Web site alone. Brokers we talked to just appreciated how much easier it was to deal with United on a day-to-day basis, but their exhaustive, easier-to-use-than-Vista interface makes lives easier for brokers and clients alike.
8. Most innovative technology product
WINNER
Colonial Life
Colonial Life’s Senior Vice President of Marketing & Branding Tom Gilligan has two words that best describe how the company’s innovative, Web-based enrollment system makes benefits count for customers: flexibility and control. The Harmony enrollment system offers flexible enrollment options that best fit a client’s business needs and those of its employees, plus a robust reporting system that allows clients to track the enrollment’s progress and provides a complete report at the end of the enrollment. The simple-to-use Harmony enrollment system provides a range of enrollment options to reach every employee. From face-to-face enrollment sessions, co-browsing over the Internet, call center and self-enrollments, Colonial Life can enroll employees anytime, anywhere, even in remote locations without Internet access. Harmony is safe, too. Colonial Life uses the latest security safeguards to protect private information, giving clients the assurance that their data is safe.
HONORABLE MENTION
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
The recent launch of Anthem’s new Web tool goes a long way toward securing the carrier’s runner-up position in this year’s innovative tech category.