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Spotlight Reports Archives

Market Overview

2008 Worksite Marketing Industry Snapshot and Competitor Profiles

Examines the worksite marketplace; specifically, annual sales, inforce premium, leading players, product trends, and distribution channels. In addition, the report provides a competitive analysis on 15 of the top worksite marketing players. All data has been updated and includes sales figures and other results for 2007.

TPAs and Voluntary Products

The report examines the landscape of the third-party administrator/business process outsource market as it pertains to voluntary benefits. It also takes a close look at the practices of nine administrators that provide a range of services to insurance carriers desiring to outsource back office processes.

Group Carriers and Worksite Marketing

This report is designed to define the role voluntary products play in a group company (i.e., an accommodation line or full-fledged business strategy) as well as examine the specific products, services, distribution channels, etc. associated with the carriers' voluntary business.

Exodus: Why Companies Exit the Worksite Market

Looks at the experiences of nine carriers who either exited the worksite market or who studied the market but were never able to implement a program. In addition to information by carrier, the report details some of the common "mistakes" made by carriers and gives some recommendations on how to run a successful worksite business.


Best Practices                                                       [back to top]

Enrollment Services and Worksite Specialists

The report examines the types of enrollment services offered by 23 companies, including the markets served, case requirements, products offered, enrollment methods used, compensation, etc.

Online or Not? Voluntary Carriers’ Use of the Web

The report examines the web capabilities (broker, employer, and employee) of 16 voluntary insurance carriers.

Voluntary Marketing Practices 2008

The report examines the marketing practices of 22 voluntary carriers, including the structure and organization of the marketing department, advertising and branding, customer marketing, Internet and website marketing, etc.

Regional Sales Rep. Compensation Study

The purpose of this study was to take a closer look at the sales reps’ compensation practices among various companies in the market. Data was gathered from 38 companies.

Enrollment Practices for Voluntary Products

The study looks at the trends in enrollment from four different perspectives: employers, employees, producer, and carriers. It also examines, in detail, the enrollment practices of various carriers in the worksite market.

Commission and Compensation Practices
in Worksite Marketing

The report examines the commission and compensation practices and policies of top worksite marketing carriers.View Summary and Table of Contents

Worksite Operational Excellence

This report details the operational practices of 22 worksite carriers in the areas of enrollment, underwriting, policy issue, policyowner service, and producer support.

Underwriting, Enrollment, and Policy Issue

This report details the operational practices of 22 worksite carriers in the areas of underwriting, enrollment, and policy issue.

Joint Ventures and Alliances for Worksite Marketing

The report examines why carriers look to other carriers to manufacture product, the nature/term of the agreement between the carriers, the carrier selection process, and the role of each party in the joint venture. Additionally, the report looks at other alternatives carriers can use to help in developing products (e.g.: reinsurers, MGUs, TPAs, etc.) and the specific provisions under such outsource venture. The report also includes two sample tools for a carrier to use when looking for a product manufacturer with whom to partner.

Section 125 Administrative Practices

This report is designed to document the current best practices for administering Section 125 business, especially flexible spending account administration.

 

 


Distribution                                                      [back to top]

Medical Brokers and Voluntary

This report looks at the role worksite marketing and voluntary benefits play for the medical broker. Data in the report comes from interviews with over 640 medical brokers.

Large Commercial Lines Brokers and Voluntary Benefits

The report examines the role that worksite marketing and voluntary benefits play for large commercial agencies and, where possible, compares and contrasts this to the “traditional” employee benefit broker. It also profiles several large agencies that sell voluntary products.

The Evolving Voluntary Broker:
A Look at Who is Selling Voluntary in 2006

The study examines, in detail, the “landscape” of today’s worksite distributors, including the segments currently selling voluntary and the needs and expectations of each.

Distribution Strategies of Worksite/Voluntary Companies

This report presents an analysis of the common distribution structure models used by worksite companies and then examines the practices of 17 different worksite/voluntary carriers.

Worksite Distributors 2004: The Evolution to Benefits Advisor

The purpose of this study was to update the "landscape" of today's worksite distributors. With this information, carriers can evaluate if their offering is keeping up with the needs of their targeted producers or if changes are needed.

Alternate Distribution Channels for Worksite Sales

This report explores the current and potential opportunities for alternate distribution channels from two perspectives: carriers and those currently representing alternate channels. The study looks at the possible channels for worksite marketing sales, how carriers currently use these channels, and which channels are producing sales—and why. Additionally, the study provides direct feedback from alternative channel representatives including how interested these individuals are in worksite products sales and what they expect from their carrier partners.

The Worksite Specialists

Provides insight into the Worksite Specialist producer segment—their wants and needs—and how carriers can successfully attract and use this segment to boost their worksite sales.

Employee Benefits Brokers and Worksite Sales:
An Opportunity or a Mirage?

Provides insight into the current practices, future plans, needs, and expectations of Employee Benefits Brokers, including the percent currently selling worksite products, how much worksite business this group sells, which voluntary products they write, and which worksite carriers they use most frequently and why.


Customers                                                                 [back to top]

Voluntary Products and the Small Business Market

The report analyzes carrier opportunities for selling voluntary benefits in the small employer market. This includes those cases with at least 10 but fewer than 100 employees.

Exploring the Voluntary Market Opportunity for Very Large Cases

Data in the report comes from several different Eastbridge studies and includes both qualitative and quantitative findings from employers and carriers involved in the very large case market.

MarketVision™—The Employee Viewpoint Revisited®

The study examines employee attitudes towards benefits, in general, as well as towards voluntary products. The report also looks at changes that have occurred in employee attitudes over the last several years since our 2002 MarketVision™ study and 2004 Rising Costs of Employee Benefits — The Employee Perspective study.

MarketVision™—The Employer Viewpoint Revisited®

The study examines employer attitudes towards benefits, in general, as well as towards voluntary benefits. The report also updates the landmark MarketVision™ study of 2002 and several other employer studies conducted over the last three years.

Unraveling the Mysteries of the
Large Case Market and Voluntary Products

This report looks at voluntary products in the large case marketing from three different perspectives-the carrier, the broker, and the large case plan administrator.

The Rising Costs of Employee Benefits:
The Employee Perspective

The overall objective of this study was to determine the impact of medical insurance and health costs on employee's decisions to purchase other insurance.

The 21st Century Employer—Redefining the Benefits Business

This report is designed to help carriers keep abreast of current employer demands in the employee benefits arena and how to plan for—and take advantage of—future changes.


 

Products                                                                 [back to top]

 

Limited Benefit Medical Plans

The objective of this report is to help carriers stay current on the evolving limited benefit medical market. The report looks at plan benefits, underwriting practices, billing, and commissions. It also gives an overview of the limited benefit market.

Voluntary Short-Term Disability Plans

The objective of this report is to help carriers stay current on the ever-changing voluntary STD market by examining carrier best practices in the areas of product features and benefits, underwriting guidelines, and administrative practices.

Voluntary Long-Term Disability Insurance

The report examines the overall voluntary long-term disability (VLTD) market and then compares the VLTD products of fourteen carriers.

Worksite Critical Illness Products

The report begins with an analysis of today’s critical illness market and provides general information on each carriers’ results, competitors, persistency, penetration, products success factors, etc. Then the report examines the practices of 17 critical illness providers.

Trends in Voluntary Medical Products

The primary objective of this study is to uncover the current trends in the voluntary medical market. Specifically, the study gathered data from ten organizations considered to be among the “thought leaders” in the voluntary medical market. Those interviewed included both carriers offering such products as well as distributors.

Voluntary Term Life Products

Gives a general overview of the voluntary term life market and then examines, in detail, the voluntary term products of 19 carriers active in the market.

Voluntary Vision Products

The report examines the current state of the voluntary vision market from the standpoint of providers/carriers. It also looks, in detail, at the voluntary vision products of eight carriers/providers.

Voluntary Dental Products

The report examines the current state of the voluntary dental market and takes a close look at the dental products of 17 worksite marketing carriers, including product features, underwriting, costs, commissions, sales/enrollment, and future trends in the dental market.

Voluntary Universal and Whole Life Products

The report examines the current state of the voluntary life market and takes a close look at the universal and whole life products of 17 worksite marketing carriers, including product features, underwriting/eligibility parameters, costs, and commissions.

HSAs One Year Later: The Voluntary Market View

The report examines the current state of the health savings account (HSA) market from the perspective of voluntary benefit brokers and carriers.

Worksite Personal Injury Accident Products

The report examines the current state of the voluntary accident market and takes a close look at the accident products of nine worksite marketing carriers, including product features, underwriting/eligibility parameters, costs, and commissions.

Voluntary Supplemental Medical
and Hospital Indemnity Plans

The report examines the current state of the supplemental medical market from four different perspectives: employers, employees, producers, and carriers. It also takes a close look at the practices of 15 supplemental medical or hospital indemnity providers, including product features, prevalent underwriting parameters, distribution systems, target markets/typical buyer profiles.

Product Innovations and Packaging Concepts
in Worksite Marketing

This report looks at the current activities of both brokers and carriers on issue related to product packaging and product innovation. It also explores their opinions on these topics-both present day and for the future.