Tag Archives: PPO

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Guardian AnytimeSM Mobile App Simplifies Benefits Experience with Easy Access to Member ID Cards

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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Guardian Anytime SM Mobile App Simplifies Benefits Experience with Easy Access to Member ID Cards

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– As part of its ongoing commitment to providing customer focused solutions, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), one of the nation’s largest mutual life insurers and a leading provider of employee benefits, is pleased to announce enhancements to the Guardian AnytimeSM Mobile App. The app now allows members to view, email or print dental and vision member identification cards directly from their iPhone® and Android™ smartphones —another way Guardian is making it easier and more accessible for customers to use benefits.

Since its debut in August, the Guardian AnytimeSM Mobile App has been embraced by Guardian members looking for a dentist or vision provider in the network. With the recent upgrade, the app now makes it more convenient for members to view an image of their ID card and share the card with their provider via email or print to a wireless printer, as traditional plastic ID cards are no longer needed. The free mobile app is available via two platforms–Google play Store and Apple App Store— or by visiting www.GuardianAnytime.com/mobile, for direct access within each store.

“The addition of this important functionality to Guardian Anytime Mobile helps ensure we are providing the right tools to deliver value to our customers,” said Elena Wu, VP Group Marketing and Learning Services. “As the marketplace changes, we remain committed to continuously enhancing our service channels to meet the needs of today’s dynamic workforce.”

Other app capabilities include search options for the provider’s name and location, interactive maps, directions and contact information for in-network dental and vision care providers anywhere in the country. Members can choose from one of the largest dental PPO networks in the country and multiple eye care providers through both of Guardian’s leading vision networks, VSP and Davis Vision.

For more information about the Guardian Anytime Mobile app, visit http://www.aboutemployeebenefits.com/.

About Guardian

A mutual insurer founded in 1860, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and its subsidiaries are committed to protecting individuals, business owners and their employees with life insurance, disability income insurance, dental insurance products, and offer funding vehicles for 401(k) plans, annuities and other financial products. Guardian operates one of the largest dental networks in the United States, and protects more than six million employees and their families at 115,000 companies. The company has approximately 5,000 employees in the United …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Polypore Earnings Trickle To A Halt

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By Zacks.com

Polypore International, Inc. (PPO) reported its third consecutive earnings miss on February 20, driven by a 6% decline in sales. This prompted analysts to revise their estimates for both 2013 and 2014 significantly lower, sending the stock to a ZacksRank #5 (Strong Sell).
Despite the negative earnings momentum, shares still trade at a premium on a forward price-to-earnings and price-to-book basis. This doesn’t bode well for shares over the next several weeks.
Company Description
Polypore International is a high technology filtration company that develops, manufactures and markets specialized polymer-based microporous membranes used in separation and filtration processes. Its products are used in two primary segments: energy storage (75% of total sales) and separations media (25%).
The company is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina and has a market cap of $1.8 billion.
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Fourth Quarter Results
Polypore reported fourth quarter results on February 20. Adjusted earnings per share came in at 33 cents, falling well short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 46 cents. It was the company’s third consecutive earnings miss.
Sales declined 6% to $180.2 million, falling well short of the consensus of $191.0 million. The ‘Electronics and Electric Drive Vehicles (EDVs)’ division within the energy storage segment was particularly soft due to weak end-market demand.
Estimates Falling
Following the Q4 earnings miss, analysts revised their estimates significantly lower for both 2013 and 2014. This sent the stock to a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). The 2013 Zacks Consensus Estimate is now $1.69, down from $2.08 just 30 days ago. And the 2014 consensus is now $2.21, down from $2.73. You can see this sharp decline in the company’s ‘Price & Consensus’ chart: …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Forbes Markets

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Sun Life Financial Offers Group Dental with United Concordia® Alliance Network

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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Sun Life Financial Offers Group Dental with United Concordia® Alliance Network

WELLESLEY, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– The Employee Benefits Group of the U.S. business group of Sun Life Financial Inc. (NYSE: SLF, TSX: SLF) today announced that Sun Life’s Group Dental plans now provide access to the United Concordia® Alliance network. Available to customers as of March 1, 2013, the arrangement provides 27%1 more dental provider access points to Sun Life dental customers than the Advantage Plus Network, which the new arrangement replaces.

Sun Life Dental offers dental PPO plans in all states, with coverage for employees and dependents. Employers can customize many plan features, including deductibles, benefit waiting periods, coinsurance levels, and plan maximums. Optional benefits include built-in routine care, orthodontia for children and adults, and an annual maximum rollover benefit. Fully-insured plans can be structured as 100% employer-paid, 100% employee-paid (“voluntary”), or as a shared-funding model (“contributory”). Administrative Services are available to employer groups who prefer to self-fund their dental plans. Two plans can be offered for a Dual Select, or “high-low” plan design, providing employees greater choice.1

In July 2011, Sun Life entered an agreement with United Concordia that provided access to the Advantage Plus dental PPO network. Sun Life Dental plans will now be sold with United Concordia‘s Alliance PPO network, which boasts 96,000 providers at over 246,000 access points across the country.

“Sun Life is a leader in disability insurance and is committed to the full array of employee benefits. We’ve provided group dental plans in the U.S. for over 20 years. We’ve thoughtfully and deliberately worked to grow our dental block with smart product development,” said Michael E. Shunney, Senior Vice President Distribution, Sun Life Financial U.S. “Our partnership with United Concordia is helping us take our dental offerings to the next level. The continued growth of their PPO network is a great win for us and for our customers.”

Sun Life provides Group Life, Disability, Dental, and Medical Stop-Loss insurance to over 33,000 U.S. customers, protecting over 10 million employees and their dependents, with $2 billion of in-force business. For more on Sun Life, visit www.sunlife.com/us.

About the Alliance Network Agreement

Alliance Network applies only to dental plans underwritten by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada and Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York. Excludes plans underwritten by Sun Life and Health Insurance Company U.S. The network is made available through an agreement with United Concordia Companies, Inc. Claims administration services are provided by United Concordia Companies, Inc. and regulations. Group insurance policies are underwritten by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (Wellesley …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance