WELLESLEY, Mass., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian) today announced that they have formed a strategic marketing alliance in Massachusetts, effective November 1, 2004. As a result, Massachusetts-based employers will be eligible for discounted Guardian dental coverage products when purchased along with standard Harvard Pilgrim medical insurance products.
“Harvard Pilgrim’s exclusive agreement with Guardian is great news for Massachusetts employers,” said Vincent Capozzi, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Harvard Pilgrim. “Our partnership will offer companies more options for managing their total health benefit costs while ensuring the quality of their employees’ health and dental care. Guardian is a national industry leader that offers creative plan designs and attractive pricing.”
Capozzi noted that this agreement allows Harvard Pilgrim to compete more effectively against insurers that offer a combined medical/dental product package. Guardian offers rich benefits, with some product features available only when sold in combination with Harvard Pilgrim’s medical insurance products. In addition, Guardian’s dental products are very competitively priced and offer members freedom of choice to every dentist in Massachusetts.
“Harvard Pilgrim’s focus on quality and exceptional customer service matches our commitment to be the nation’s dental benefits leader,” said Richard White, Senior Vice President Group Insurance, Guardian. “Guardian is delighted to be partnering with one of the nation’s top health plans.”
About Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care is a not-for-profit health plan with approximately 800,000 members and has a network of more than 22,000 doctors and 130 hospitals. Harvard Pilgrim Health Care was named the #1 health plan in America for both member satisfaction and clinical quality, according to The State of Health Care Quality 2004, a comprehensive report issued by the National Committee for Quality Assurance*. Harvard Pilgrim provides innovative approaches to health improvement and disease management, unique online tools that speed and simplify key transactions for employers and providers and personalized health support at http://www.harvardpilgrim.org/.
About Guardian
Founded in 1860, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY (Guardian) is the fourth largest mutual life insurance company in the United States. As of December 31, 2003, Guardian and its subsidiaries had $37.2 billion in assets. With more than 5,000 employees, over 2,800 financial representatives and nearly 100 agencies nationwide, Guardian and its subsidiaries protect individuals, businesses and their employees with life, disability, health and dental insurance products, and offer 401(k), financial products and trust services. More information on Guardian can be obtained at: http://www.guardianlife.com/.
* The source for this data is Quality Compass(R) 2004 and is used with the permission of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Quality Compass is a registered trademark of NCQA. NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality.
Contact: Sharon Torgerson Harvard Pilgrim Heath Care (617) 509-7458 sharon_torgerson@hphc.org Alayna Tagariello The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (212) 598-8329 alayna_tagariello@glic.com
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
CONTACT: Sharon Torgerson of Harvard Pilgrim Heath Care, +1-617-509-7458,sharon_torgerson@hphc.org; or Alayna Tagariello, of The Guardian LifeInsurance Company of America, +1-212-598-8329, alayna_tagariello@glic.com