Benefits industry newsmakers: Alyfe Wellbeing Strategies, Ease, The Hilb Group, Mercer Advisors

News from AmWINS, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, PreferredOne, The Standard, Wellbeats

News from Assurance, BerniePortal, Cigna, Envestnet, Express Scripts, FINRA Investor Education Foundation, Hub International, OneDigital, The Travelers Companies, and more. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Much is happening in the employee benefits industry and its related fields. We’ve heard of a good number of partnerships and collaborations, as well as promotions and new hires. If we missed any announcements, send them using our contact form or contact this editor for inclusion next time.

The Travelers Companies, Inc. reported an almost 40 percent reduction in the use of opioids among injured construction workers it has helped, thanks to a combination of its Early Severity Predictor model and its comprehensive pharmacy management program. The Early Severity Predictor helps forecast which injured employees are at higher risk of developing chronic pain, while the pharmacy management program monitors drug interactions, excessive dosing and abuse patterns to reduce the risk of opioid dependency.

Standard Insurance Company announced that the Missouri State Employees’ Retirement System received its latest Workplace PossibilitiesSM Champions award for its outstanding return-to-work and stay-at-work programs.The award honors employers that have achieved excellence with the Workplace Possibilities program, which helps manage absence and disability in the workplace.

PreferredOne is partnering with Wellbeats to bring on-demand, virtual fitness to employer groups. PreferredOne will offer Wellbeats to fully insured groups upon renewal beginning in July. Self-insured groups will also have the option to add Wellbeats to their plan design. Wellbeats delivers more than 400 on-demand fitness classes available online or through an Android or iOS app.

OneDigital Health and Benefits acquired Northwestern Benefit, a employee benefits broker and one of the largest independent benefit firms in the country. This is the largest acquisition in OneDigital’s history, bringing the company to nearly 50,000 employer clients and over 1,600 employees around the country. Northwestern Benefit CEO David Asbury will join the OneDigital team as Senior Managing Principal, with its other employees staying on in client-facing positions or corporate positions.

Kara Duckworth, CFP CDFA, has been promoted to Managing Director of Client Experience at Mercer Global Advisors. Duckworth joined Mercer Advisors in 2017 as part of Duckworth Wealth Advisors. Mercer Advisors had acquired the firm she and her father, Michael Duckworth, founded in 1998. In her newly created position, Duckworth will focus on client engagement and retention across Mercer Advisors’ offices nationwide. She will continue her role as a client advisor out of the Newport Beach office.

Hub International Limited, a global insurance brokerage, announced it has acquired the assets of Colorado-based RiteHealth Solutions, Inc. (RiteHealth). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. RiteHealth is owned and operated by Rachel Zeman. Ms. Zeman will join Hub Colorado as a senior employee benefits consultant.

The Hilb Group announced the acquisition of Connecticut-based eBenefits Group Northeast, LLC. The transaction became effective April 1, 2019. Headquartered in Unionville, Connecticut, eBenefits is a full-service employee benefits firm providing solutions to businesses, non-profits and municipalities throughout the Northeast. It will continue to operate out of its current locations in Unionville and Wallingford.

The FINRA Investor Education Foundation and the American Library Association announced the selection of 50 U.S. public libraries to be part of a national tour of the traveling exhibition, Thinking Money for Kids.Thinking Money for Kids is a new financial literacy experience for children ages 7 to 11, as well as their parents, caregivers and educators. The new exhibit will travel from August 2019 through July 2021. marketing and evaluation requirements.

Envestnet, a provider of intelligent systems for wealth management and financial wellness, announced it will acquire PIEtech, Inc., the creator of the MoneyGuide family of financial planning applications. The transaction is expected to close mid-year 2019 and is subject to customary closing conditions.

EaseCentral, an HR and benefits solution for SMBs, insurance brokers, and insurance carriers, announced its name change to Ease. It also announced the close of its $19 million Series B funding round led by Centana Growth Partners. And it announced two key hires:  Petar Nedyalkov as COO and Toshi Kureha as VP Engineering.

Cigna and Express Scripts announced the launch of the Patient Assurance ProgramSM, which aims to ensure eligible people with diabetes in participating plans pay no more than $25 for a 30-day supply of insulin. The Patient Assurance Program will be available to members in participating non-government funded pharmacy plans managed by Express Scripts, including Cigna and many other health plans, with out-of-pocket costs for insulin greater than $25.

BerniePortal announced that The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America is expanding its suite of benefit offerings through BernieBill. Through the expanded partnership, Guardian adds critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity coverage to its existing suite of dental, vision, life and disability benefits available through BernieBill.

Assurance announced the promotion of Dan Passananti to senior vice president of operations at Assurance. He was previously senior vice president of business process and learning for the organization. He will continue to work out of Assurance’s Schaumburg, Ill. headquarters and will streamline and implement new processes, manage the Business Process, Process Support and Learning and Development teams, re-vamp tools for staff and clients, as well as serve as Assurance’s Privacy Officer.

AmWINS Group, a global distributor of specialty insurance products and services, announced the following new hires and promotions:

Alyfe Wellbeing Strategies announced the following appointments:

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