MILWAUKEE, Oct. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Assurant Health launched today a new group medical product -- EleMed(TM) -- in Pennsylvania that gives area small businesses an economical way to offer basic healthcare coverage to low- wage employees.
EleMed targets the growing population of employed but uninsured workers, a category that now includes nearly one-third of the 1.4 million Pennsylvania residents who live without health insurance.* These workers are either employed by small businesses that cannot afford benefits-rich traditional plans, or they cannot afford to participate in the plans their employers offer.
Assurant Health developed EleMed based on consumer research conducted in markets across the country. Surveys showed that when small business owners consider purchasing or renewing health insurance, the determining factor is not services or accessibility, but cost.
“EleMed targets an underserved market segment-start-up enterprises with tight budgets; businesses that operate in low-margin, low-wage industries like retail; and businesses that are especially vulnerable to sharply rising energy costs,” said Dave Keller, vice president of group marketing with Assurant Health. “With EleMed, more business owners can offer the health insurance benefits so important to attracting and retaining good workers.”
EleMed combines low monthly premiums with benefits structured to address the needs of low-wage employees. Employers can choose from three plans that offer varying deductibles and co-pay structures. All feature generous first- dollar benefits on the services employees use most, including office visits, preventative care and prescriptions. Employees also benefit from an extensive healthcare network that gives them access to quality healthcare facilities and doctors at discounts of up to 60 percent.
Keller concluded, “At Assurant Health, we are committed to helping reduce the country’s growing uninsured population, one business at a time.”
For more information on health insurance products and services available to individuals in Pennsylvania, please visit http://www.assuranthealth.com .
*2002, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
About Assurant Health
Assurant Health has been in business since 1892. Assurant Health’s underwriting companies provide health insurance coverage for more than one million people nationwide. The companies’ primary products include individual medical, small group, short-term and student health insurance products, as well as non-insurance products and consumer-choice products such as Health Savings Accounts and Health Reimbursement Arrangements. With almost 3,000 employees, Assurant Health is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., and has operations offices in Minnesota, Idaho and Florida, as well as sales offices across the country. Assurant Health is the brand name for products underwritten and issued by one or more of Assurant Health’s underwriting companies - Time Insurance Company, John Alden Life Insurance Company and Union Security Insurance Company. The Assurant Health Web site is http://www.assuranthealth.com .
Assurant Health is part of Assurant, which offers specialized insurance products and related services in North America and selected other markets.
Its five key business units - Assurant Employee Benefits, Assurant Health, Assurant Preneed, Assurant Solutions and Assurant Specialty Property - have partnered with clients who are leaders in their industries and have built leadership positions in a number of specialty market segments in the U.S. and selected international markets.
Assurant is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AIZ. The Assurant Web site is http://www.assurant.com .
Assurant Health
CONTACT: Peter Duckler for Assurant Health, +1-312-649-0371,pduckler@hlbcomm.com