Companies Can Offer Free Perks Through Insurance Center

Looking for ways to stay competitive in the labor market without increasing benefit costs, companies and affinity groups are calling on Answer Financial, Inc.'s Insurance Answer Center (IAC) to offer additional benefits to members.

The IAC is designed to help employees and members of participating groups to be "smarter insurance buyers and get better coverage value through a unique blend of expert information, control, choice and convenience," the company says.

According to IAC, ACS Government Solutions Group Inc., AG Industries, Applied Systems, The Missouri Community College Association, the Chief Pontiac Federal Credit Union, Daewoo Motor America, The Oakland County Postal and Federal Credit Union, First Republic Bank, Protective Life Corp., The Midland Life Insurance Company and Henry Schien Inc., representing a total of more than 40,000 new members, have recently signed on.

The Insurance Answer Center is a nationwide, full-service insurance resource that provides around-the-clock, 365 days-a-year access via the Internet, company Intranet or toll-free phone to what IAC describes as "unbiased experienced and salaried licensed insurance professionals."

The Insurance Answer Center features comparisons of a variety of life, auto and home insurance products as well as annuity plans from top-rated carriers. Several of the plans the IAC offers have been exclusively designed to provide its members with unique value. The IAC's technology, direct links to insurance companies and efficient distribution and servicing platform afford carriers the opportunity to reduce their expenses and pass the savings on to IAC members.

The IAC offers the service without any up-front costs. "Not only is this a win-win situation for employers and employees alike," said AFI CEO Alan Snyder, "but it also allows our members to be among the first to experience the future of insurance."

Founded in June 1997, IAC is a licensed insurance agency subsidiary of Answer Financial Inc. that offers auto, home and life insurance and annuity products from 55 insurance carriers. Offered exclusively to employers and affinity groups, the service provides extensive and unbiased information along with side-by-side quotes of competing insurance products.

Insurance carriers are selected by AFI based on product, independent third-party rating, customer service quality and technological capability. According to the company, insurance companies do not pay to participate in the Insurance Answer Center, and the IAC does not accept incentives to advertise or promote a given product or carrier over another.