choice awards t s November, so it must be time for another round of Readers Choice madness. we take

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1 Readers choice awards I t s November, so it must be time for another round of Readers Choice madness. we take user-generated content to a new level and let each and every one of you decide who belongs on the following pages. Who boasts the products you re willing to stake your rep on? Who s breaking boundaries when it comes to new design? Which TPA do you trust to handle your business? And who treats you like a customer and not a hassle?>> 49

2 best disability product on the market With an estimated $820 million in sales for voluntary short-term disability accounts Col on i a l L i f e h a s based on Eastbridge Consulting Group numbers apparently done an carriers are often forced to make their excellent job at setting product stand out in a sea of competitors. themselves on top with their variety of voluntary short-term disability products. Offering options such as guaranteed issue, simplified issue or fully underwritten according to the account size and participation has certainly paid off, with brokers overwhelmingly choosing as the best disability product in the market. Chosen by 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies, UNUM s disability plans cater to companies of all sizes. Some of the added benefits? Vocational rehabilitation assistance and return-to-work support services. With perks like these, UNUM clearly earns its honorable mention in the disability category. UNUM Taking the same ingredients as everyone else and producing the best results is the trait of a true innovator. clearly sets the bar high when it comes to providing solutions that help clients address health care costs, enrollment management and benefits education. And brokers have responded that they truly value a carrier that offers the total package: competitive products and 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. 50 most innovative carrier While American General has earned more than its fair share of bad press over the last several weeks, insurance business remains sound. And they re not standing still, either. Business, like life, goes on and AIG s presence in the employee benefits market continues to grow. aig

3 3 offering third-party administrator the most Ameriflex Mirroring last A m e r i F l e x s in year s results, dominance we now find the third-party ourselves with a d m i n i s t r a t o r some familiar arena remains winners in this u n c h a l l e n g e d. category. In another landslide victory, Ameriflex continues to be the standard by which all other TPAs are judged. carrier sitting at the forefront of the consumerd r iv e n h e al t h ma r k e t comprehensive service For the second year in a row, the TPA that does it all shows that focusing on small businesses is the right move. TASC They pride themselves in listening to what their customers want, and brokers are responding well to their efforts. Based in Madison, Wisc., Total Administrative Services Corp. also earned a place as a finalist in the Wisconsin Better Business Bureau 2008 Torch Awards for Business Ethics and Integrity. continues to address the biggest need with consumer-driven health care employee education by providing professional teams to educate employees on their coverage options. And nowhere is it on greater display than in this growing niche. In addition, products designed to give access to the uninsured such as an indemnity-based limited benefit medical plan make sit comfortably ahead of the competition in the eyes of readers. United Healthcare Offering affordable health care to small business owners, particularly in the consumer-driven product space, has been the focus of United Healthcare s efforts for a while now. The latest update is the addition of their CDHP product into the 2009 Federal Employees Health Benefits Program with enrollment starting as soon as this month. 51

4 5 enrollment company offering the best service Univers Workplace Benefits With a focus in educating employees while keeping HR departments and business owners happy, Univers offers personalized tools, one-on-one training and state-of-the-art paperless enrollment. The time-saving qualities of their program and their employee retention numbers make Univers Workplace Benefits the broker s favorite enrollment. & Forget for a second that despite their overwhelming popularity is a carrier, not an enrollment company. But brokers appear enamored with their online and back office tools designed to make life easier for them. Part of being named over and over in these awards comes with offering some of the best service available for enrollment. really knows how to seal the deal with a great Web-based platform. works tirelessly to provide first-class broker support and protect its broker relationships. Through regular broker forums,surveys and feedback, the company listens to and acts upon what brokers says they need in their voluntary benefits partner. A strong Web-based engine dedicated to brokers sits at the heart of Mutual of Omaha s Mutual of Omaha relationship with carriers. According to columnist Marty Traynor, We re broker friendly because all group insurance distribution is through employee benefit brokers and all strategy decisions are based on helping them strengthen their offerings to their clients via expert consultation and advice, cost-effective products and services, an efficient, easy-to-use purchasing and service experience and having the right people, well-trained and positioned, to service their needs. 52 friendly carrier most broker-

5 best voluntary life insurance product in the market s voluntary life insurance portfolio gives brokers the whole package: term, whole and universal life. Flexibility in underwriting makes these products more accessible to employees who need them and makes enrollments easier. This summer, the company opened additional marketing possibilities when it launched its new universal life plan and optional long-term care benefits rider. Aflac keeps it simple by offering three different types of policies. Employees apply for the policy directly or at work. And they get to keep it, even if they leave the employer. AFLAC Offering personalized care with more doctor choices in more locations and savings in both coverage and personalized care, VSP takes the lead in the vision plan arena. Their easy to navigate Web site and simple tools are a winner especially with our readers. VSP 8 vision provider offering the best coverage including plan design and network availability Avesis provides members with online tools to assist them in For more than 27 years, Avesis has checking their eligibility, printing ID offered one of cards, finding providers and more. Avesis the best values in vision benefits. 53