Ohio Trucking Association Offers New Health Insurance Benefits to Members
Move Designed to Improve Access to Insurance
Columbus, Ohio — (March 30, 2006) — The Ohio Trucking Association (OTA) has partnered with Symetra
SM Life Insurance Company and Healthwise Benefits LLC to make new health coverage options available to members of the association. The partnership is designed to help make medical insurance more attainable for drivers, owner/operators, and other trucking industry workers throughout the Buckeye State.
The OTA has chosen
Select Benefits, a limited benefit health and life insurance policy, as a medical insurance solution for member organizations that may not be able to fund major medical coverage for their workers. In Ohio alone, the trucking industry accounts for more than 357,000 jobs
1. Many members of the OTA, particularly smaller trucking organizations with limited resources, were not previously able to offer company-sponsored health insurance.
Select Benefits is meant to help bridge the insurance gap for the more than 1,100 members of the trucking association.
"This partnership is one more way our association is working to help protect the health and well-being of our industry," said Larry A. Davis, president of the OTA. "By expanding the benefits options available to our members, we can better empower them to recruit and retain quality drivers. These drivers provide an invaluable service that keeps our economy running, and we should do what we can to improve their access to health benefits."
Select Benefits provides essential medical benefits, including coverage for such basics as doctor’s office visits, hospital stays, and prescription drug benefits. While these policies do not provide the same level of coverage as a major medical plan, the benefits give OTA members access to cost-controlled health insurance for workers. In addition, there are no required networks, no limitations on preexisting conditions, and no requirements for proof of good health (except for late entrants). Plus, there are no deductibles for covered benefits and no copay requirements, except with the prescription drug benefit.
Select Benefits is available to OTA members with one or more eligible truck drivers, owner/operators, or other workers. Those members interested in learning more about
Select Benefits can contact Healthwise Benefits at (866) 585-2619 or
info@healthwisebenefits.com.
About the Ohio Trucking Association
Ohio Trucking Association is a nonprofit, full-service trade association formed to promote and protect the interests of the trucking industry in Ohio. The OTA is dedicated to effectively representing the concerns of the trucking industry to industry members, governmental and regulatory bodies, and the general public. OTA is further pledged to assist member companies in managing the impact of change in the trucking profession and to enhance the professional and economic growth of its members.
www.ohiotruckingassn.org.
About Healthwise Benefits LLC
Healthwise Benefits LLC specializes in health care solutions for sole proprietors, small to medium size businesses, associations and individuals. We work with you to develop coverage plans that meet your specific needs. Our solutions include Limited Medical, Major Medical, Short Term Major Medical, and wellness solutions. For more information contact us at
info@healthwisebenefits.com.
About Symetra Financial
Symetra Financial is a family of companies with nearly a half-century of experience providing retirement plans, employee benefits, annuities and life insurance through independent distributors nationwide. Its insurance company subsidiaries have nearly $20 billion in assets
2. Symetra Financial is owned by an investor group led by White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. For more information, visit Symetra Financial's Web site at
www.symetra.com.
1 Source: American Trucking Research Institute, February 2006.
2 Source: Total GAAP assets per closing statements of December 31, 2005
Select Benefits is insured by Symetra Life Insurance Company, 777 108th Ave NE, Suite 1200, Bellevue, WA 98004-5135.
Symetra® and the Symetra Financial logo are registered service marks of Symetra Life Insurance Company, 777 108th Avenue NE, Suite 1200, Bellevue, WA 98004.
