Holt Chosen as GIS Sales DirectorGroup Insurance Services (GIS) is pleased to announce the selection of Darwin Holt as Sales Director for the agency. Holt comes to GIS after serving as general manager for AIG Employee Benefits in Nashville. A native of Goodlettsville, Tenn., Holt spent the first 10 years of his career with Protective Life/Fortis Benefits and then served as a senior sales executive for Fortis Benefits/Assurant Benefits.

Eleven Qualified for 2009 GIS/USAble San Francisco Trip
We’re coming down the home stretch, the fourth quarter of the year. You still have time to qualify for the 2009 GIS/USAble Life Reward Trip to San Francisco. Upon qualification you and a guest can enjoy the scenic beauty, cultural attractions, diverse communities and world-class cuisine of this intriguing American city. A total of 11 agencies have earned a trip to San Francisco by earning $100,000 in annualized GIS/USAble production in 2008.
 
Only $100,000 in annualized GIS/USAble production in 2008 stands between you and a guest enjoying all that the “City by the Bay” has to offer: the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, Alcatraz and the largest Chinatown in the United States. There’s still time to reach your goal and top the qualification mark.

Individual Term Life Now Available
GIS and BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee have partnered with USAble Life Insurance Company to offer Individual Term Life to applicants applying for Individual Health coverage. This offer is available to new applicants and their spouses ages 18-64 who apply for BluePartner, SimplyBlue and BluePremier products. There are four benefit levels available in $10,000 increments, up to $40,000.
 
Individuals may apply for the term life insurance with the same application used for individual health. Applicants approved for health care coverage are automatically approved for the individual term life policy. This offer is designed for simplicity allowing for one application, one underwriting process, one bill and one customer support center. For more information, contact your BCBST representative today.

Long Term Disability Rating Strategy
The LTD Rating Approach takes into account an employer’s current in-force LTD rates with their existing program and allows for an extension of these rates a long as the group meets the criteria listed below. This approach recognizes groups who have had ancillary benefits in place and gives credit to the fact that they have established a rate threshold over a period of time based on the demographics and stability of the group. If the group qualifies, they will be offered a rate match of the current in-force LTD rates.

Qualifiers

• Groups of 10-500 lives for LTD
• New or in-force BCBST medical customers
• LTD program current in-force
• Group is not in one of the excluding industries listed by SIC code
• Maximum benefit $10,000
• Approach does not apply to voluntary LTD
• Group must be either non-contributory or contributory with a minimum of 75 percent participation
• USAble Life quote matches actual in-force commission schedule
• Must be with the current carrier two or more years
• All requests for quote must be submitted by GIS to USAble Life Underwriting for review
  

GIS Enhances Quoting for Group Life & STD in BlueWizard
GIS has enhanced the quoting process in BlueWizard for Group Life and STD products. As a result of the improvements, these products will have more favorable group rates, a rate sheet and a full proposal, more quoting options as well as higher STD maximums. There are also new limitations, such as AD&D and Average Age over 50 restrictions. Please send those cases to GIS for review.
 
These enhancements will no longer limit you to quoting these products through GIS. You will now be able to process your Life quotes immediately through BlueWizard and get the same competitive group rates, along with a formal proposal with an improved look and feel.
 
If you have any questions, please contact Liane Brownsey (423) 535-8334, Madeline Orr (423) 535-8070 or Brian Gass (423) 535-4961.

Travel Emergency Assistance Now Included in Select Coverages
Assist America is a global emergency medical travel assistance company. Anytime your employee, their spouse and/or minor dependent children are traveling 100 miles or more away from home or in another country-with or without the employee present-they are protected by Assist America’s vast assistance resources. A single phone call is all it takes to put Assist America in motion on an employee’s behalf. Services include:

• Emergency Medical Evacuation
• Medical Consultation & Referral
• Prescription Assistance
• Hospital Admission Guarantee
• Medical Monitoring
• And much more

Assist America is included as of Oct. 1, 2008 for all existing Group Life employer groups from 50-500 lives and is now included on all new proposals for employers 50-500 lives. This service is available by request for groups with than 50 employees or more than 500. Best of all…no rating impact!

Let the BlueCross and GIS Teams Do the Work for You

The GIS and BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee teams are available for customer presentations and enrollment services. To discuss the best option for your clients, please contact your sales executive, account executive or your GIS sales consultant any time you need assistance.