Benu Teams Up With Kaiser Permanente and CIGNA HealthCare to Offer Groundbreaking Health Benefits Programs for Midsize Employers

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Midsize companies with 75 or more employees can now offer their employees an expanded choice of health plans plus access to one of the largest networks of physicians in the mid-Atlantic area. Benu, using an innovative marketplace solution, integrates CIGNA HealthCare and Kaiser Permanente products into a single offering at a competitive price, allowing employers and employees to effectively manage costs while expanding consumer choice.

Premium increases have forced many companies, large and small, to annually wrestle with their health plan and benefits selection. Looking to cut into that inflationary cycle, some have opted to reduce plan choices, benefits and coverage while asking employees to pay more. Most midsize employers can only offer one health plan, either because they cannot attract the interest of multiple carriers due to their limited size or cannot afford the administrative costs of offering plans from different insurers.

Among the first of its kind in the country, Benu's product eliminates those concerns in a cost effective manner enabling employees to choose from HMO, PPO and POS plan options offered by Kaiser Permanente and CIGNA HealthCare.

Through Benu, Kaiser Permanente and CIGNA HealthCare products and plans are packaged into a single offering at a competitive price. Employers receive just one monthly bill, which reduces their benefits administration costs and staff time. Another unique aspect of Benu's product is the use of its proprietary risk adjustment mechanism, protecting carriers against uncompensated adverse risk selection.

"Consumer studies show that employees who have meaningful choices among health delivery systems and health plan designs are four times more satisfied with their health care benefits than those with no choice," commented Jeff Closs, CEO of Benu, Inc. "We're delighted to bring new levels of choice for employers and employees in Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC."

"We've teamed up with Benu to offer employers something that is brand new to the marketplace," commented Thomas A. Curtain, Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Business Development for Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic Region. "This combined plan is one more way to provide access, flexibility, and choice for midsize companies and their employees no matter where they are located in our region."

"CIGNA is always looking for new and innovative ways to broaden consumer and employer access to affordable, quality health care coverage and services," added Tom Martel, President and General Manager of CIGNA HealthCare in the Mid-Atlantic. "Our relationship with Benu expands our reach in the market and will make it easier for area employers to offer their employees more choice while managing costs. This is a win-win for all."

The new plan is now available through regional and local health insurance brokers.

About BENU:

Headquartered in San Mateo, CA, Benu, working with leading national health plans, provides midsize employers in Washington, Oregon, Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C. with accessible and affordable health plan choices typically found in large companies. The cornerstone of Benu's strategy is a proprietary risk-based premium adjustment method. Benu empowers employees by giving them more control of their health care with a range of carriers, plan options, networks and prices.

For more information about Benu, call 1-800-630-2368 or visit http://www.benu.com/.

About Kaiser Permanente:

Kaiser Permanente provides total health care to 500,000 people in Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia. With an Excellent rating from the National Committee for Quality Assurance, Kaiser Permanente has 28 medical centers and 900 physicians throughout the region. Kaiser Permanente patients enjoy a wide range of specialty services including nationally recognized programs in cardiovascular disease, asthma, diabetes, and obesity. Kaiser Permanente combines Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc., and the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, P.C.

About CIGNA HealthCare:

CIGNA HealthCare, headquartered in Bloomfield, CT, provides medical benefit plans, dental coverage, behavioral health coverage, pharmacy benefits, and products and services that integrate and analyze information to support consumerism and health advocacy. "CIGNA HealthCare" refers to various operating subsidiaries of CIGNA Corporation . Products and services are provided by these operating subsidiaries and not by CIGNA Corporation.