 |
February 14, 2007
GUARDIAN ANNOUNCES SMALL GROUP DENTAL ENHANCEMENTS
New Limits, Deductibles and 2-Year Rate Guarantees Make Benefits Affordable, Flexible for Small Businesses
| For Media Inquiries, Please Contact:
|
Jennifer McClellan
Manning Selvage & Lee
Tel: 212.468.3554
Fax: 212.468.3654
Jennifer.McClellan@mslpr.com
|
| Anayo Afolabi
The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
Tel: 212.598.8329
Fax: 212.919.2790
anayo_afolabi@glic.com
|
NEW YORK, February 14, 2007 — The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), a leading provider of employee and voluntary benefits to small and mid-sized companies, today announced three key enhancements to its Small Group dental products offering. Available through its Small Group Sales (SGS) program — which now serves 48 geographic markets — the enhancements are for groups with 2-9 lives.
Effective immediately for groups with 2-9 lives:
 | Maximum benefits: In addition to the $1,000 and $1,500 limits already offered, Guardian now offers maximum benefits of $750, $1,200, $1,250 and $2,000. |
|
| Deductibles: In addition to the $50 and $100 deductibles already offered, Guardian now offers deductibles of $0, $25, and $75. Deductible can be waived for preventive treatment. |
|
| Rate guarantees: Two-year rate guarantee. |
|
"It's all about creating more flexibility and choice for small businesses," said Clancy Merrill, Executive Director, Marketing and Sales, Guardian. "We're big on small business at Guardian and the Guardian Small Group dental products are now more affordable and offer a broader array of options that enable producers to better serve their small business clients.
These enhancements are in addition to other innovative offerings introduced by Guardian, including its Maximum Rollover feature, which allows Guardian and First Commonwealth PPO members to roll over a portion of their unused annual maximum into a personal Maximum Rollover Account, in case the need for more extensive dental care arises in the future. Traditionally, many plans offered by other carriers employ a "use it or lose it" model for their dental products.
"Americans are more interested in dental hygiene than ever," said John Foley, Vice President, Group Dental, Guardian. "According to a recent Guardian survey, almost 90% of Americans associate overall health with proper oral care, so we're trying to make dental benefits more accessible to America's small businesses and small business owners."
Other benefits of Guardian's Small Group dental products are: over 78,000 provider locations nationwide; three-day average claims turnaround; network fee discounts averaging 30% less than usual charges; and 97% satisfaction rate among members who've seen a dentist (according to a 2006 Guardian Member Survey).
About Guardian
Founded in 1860, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY (Guardian) is one of the largest mutual life insurance companies in the United States. As of December 31, 2005, Guardian and its subsidiaries had $36.9 billion in assets (on a consolidated statutory basis). With more than 5,000 employees and 3,000 financial representatives, as well as over 85 agencies nationwide, Guardian and its subsidiaries protect individuals, businesses, and their employees with life, disability, health, long-term care, and dental insurance products, and offer 401(k), financial products and trust services. More information about Guardian can be obtained at: www.guardianlife.com.
| |
