by John G. Beck,
V.P. Legal Affairs and Business Development
Enterprise Underwriting Services, Inc.
a Managed Care of America, Inc. company

The stop-loss managing general underwriter (MGU) is a highly visible and key third party vendor in the world of self-funded benefits. Understanding how the MGU “fits in” to the benefit program and how it relates to the employer and the plan is extremely important for a successful self-funded benefit plan program. Companies that have been self-funded for years often grow confused as to the true role of the MGU and some perhaps never understand it.

by Elizabeth Midtlien,
Second Vice President
Employer Stop Loss Distribution
Healthcare Risk Management
Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America

It sits on your desk staring at you. It might even have fallen victim to the “procrastination pile”. You have been sold on the need for employer stop loss coverage, but making the decision on which carrier to use is another story. All of the information from the carriers is starting to look the same. Where do you begin?

by Bruce Croffy, M.D., PhD.,
Director, Specialty Claim Unit
HCC Life Insurance Company

Recent reports on private health insurance costs indicate that growth has leveled off after a period of acceleration culminating in a peak increase of 13.9% in 2001. Still, the premium growth of 8.2% in 2004 continued to outpace growth in the economy and workers’ income by a significant margin. The high rate of health spending is the underlying cause for the continued high cost of health premiums. This underscores the reality that the demand for health services is inelastic (people are insensitive to price differences) and static.

Coalition America, Inc. (CAI) announces its partnership with American Health Data Institute (AHDI), an industry leader in data warehousing and utilization management services.