LIG Solutions

Dana Dasch, USPTA Human Resources Manager, said that the association offers more than 60 professional benefits to its members. Still, one offering that had eluded their reach was healthcare insurance for its members. Tim McNichols, Executive Director of partnerships at LIG, explained how the LIG Association Health Program works. "The program was designed to work with membership organizations like the USPTA to immediately offer their members a solution for their health coverage needs regardless of the time of the year," said McNichols. Chasing an Elusive Goal Healthcare insurance was one of the most frequently requested services by USPTA membership, but finding the right program proved challenging. "We asked our insurance broker to investigate healthcare insurance, but there was always a drawback," said Dasch. "They had to guarantee numbers, or the plans didn't fit the budget or the needs of the members. Still, it was always something the association wanted to do." Health insurance broker LIG Solutions approached the USPTA with a solution. There needed to be a range of insurance options for members to match their health and financial status, lifestyle, and employment situation. However, the program needed to roll out smoothly with turnkey support that required minimal organization involvement for the association. LIG proved up to the task, releasing a program with the USPTA in 2019 that engaged more than 692 members in the first year. "LIG provided great marketing support and made the process very streamlined, which is good for associations that are already stretched thin on staffing," said Dasch. For members, the suite of offerings includes major medical, Medicare* Advantage/Medicare* supplements, and a full suite of supplemental options including dental, vision, critical care, life and disability insurance. LIG also offers specific solutions for small business owners with the Afford- able Care Act (ACA) and off-exchange/short-term coverage options. "Members have a sense of choice and options," said Caroline Darr, marketing and partnership coordinator at LIG Solutions. "Some of the members are teaching professionals and didn't have insurance before, so these offerings are a welcome option. Our licensed agents work with members one-on- one to customize plans to meet their health coverage needs." "Our program includes coverage options for individuals, families, business owners, and their employees, which matches the membership at the USPTA." An Ace for the Association For its part, the USPTA has gained a valuable member recruitment and retention tool – and receives incremental non-dues revenue with virtually no increase in workload for association staff. Darr described USPTA members as, "well engaged, with enthusiastic participation in the educational webinars." From Dasch's point of view, the response from members thus far has been positive. "The customer service from LIG has been good, and members have commented that the agents have listened to their needs and answered questions in detail," said Dasch. "They have been able to offer tailored programs to the individuals' specific situations. The licensed agents are very knowledgeable, and LIG has been flexible about changing processes to eliminate issues and make agents more accessible." Dasch said USPTA members could go out and try to find their own broker or go to the marketplace, but LIG removes the leg work and gets them to a solution faster. "There's no pressure on them if they don't purchase the plan, and it's great that we can offer members this free concierge service (outside of the cost of premiums) through our LIG partnership," said Dasch. LIG's McNichols added that the initiative has always been about creating a positive member experience around finding the right coverage options from the beginning. *Disclaimer: Medicare is available to some individuals under the age of 65 in limited circumstances. Not affiliated with the U.S. government or federal Medicare program. LIG Solutions complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. 8 LIG ASSOCIATION SOLUTIONS - FALL 2021

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