NEW YORK--The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, a leading provider of employee and voluntary benefits to small and mid-sized companies, has announced three key enhancements to its Small Group dental products offering.
Available through its Small Group Sales 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 percent 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 percent less than usual chargers; and 97 percent satisfaction rate among members who've seen a dentist (according to a 2006 Guardian Member Survey).
For more information please contact your local Guardian Group Representative or log on to www.guardianlife.com/home/et_quotes_and_product_info.html to find a representative near you.
