Agents to Play Key Role in Offering Network Option
By Jeremiah Bentley, Public Affairs Analyst

Texas Mutual Insurance Company plans to roll out a health care network option in early 2006. The network option will provide another valuable tool to help agents sell their clients on Texas Mutual^® coverage.

Policyholders who purchase a policy with network coverage will earn a premium discount. They will also benefit from the network system’s renewed focus on quality of care and return-to-work.

We will rely on our agent partners to help us promote this exciting new benefit of Texas Mutual^® coverage to their clients.

“Agents are our best link to policyholders,” said Ken Lauber, Texas Mutual^® vice president of field operations. “Our communications with policyholders instruct them to contact their agents for more information about our network option. We will keep agents in the loop every step along the way as we get closer to launching our network option.”

Under the law, an insurance carrier may not offer a policy with network coverage until the network has been certified by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI). TDI will begin accepting network applications in January 2006, and it will have 60 days to review each completed application.

Texas Mutual Insurance Company is in the final stages of selecting its network partner and determining the premium discount. We will begin offering the network option as soon as possible after TDI certifies our network partner.

If a policy is not up for renewal at the time our network partner is approved, we may offer a pro-rated discount based on the amount of time left on the existing policy.

Most quotes will include a network price and a non-network price. Copies of new-business and renewal quotes for in-network accounts will be available in PDF format at texasmutual.com.

In addition to helping your clients get policies with network coverage, you will want to help them understand their network responsibilities. The winter issue of CompNews provides a detailed look at employers’ network responsibilities and the advantages of the network option.

Still, we understand that your clients will have questions. We developed practical tools to help you answer them.

Click here for more information on health care networks. Next year, our free agent workshops will include a segment covering our network option. You and your clients can also register for our free You Need to Know email service for updates on regulatory and legislative issues. Send an email to publicaffairs@texasmutual.com, making sure to include your name, job title, company name, and business address.

Watch for more information in the coming months as we get closer to unveiling this exciting new benefit of Texas Mutual^® coverage to your clients. As always, please contact your Texas Mutual^® marketing representative if you have questions.

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Ken's Corner

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