IGDA Health Care Program Announcement

Dear IGDA Member,

I am thrilled to announce the launch of the IGDA Healthcare Program (IGDA HP).  The IGDA, through our partner AHP (Association Health Programs) can now offer you access to a number of insurance programs for individuals and studios at significantly reduced rates.

Health Insurance: The primary benefit is the opportunity for individuals to obtain health insurance through the association at a rate that is up to 40% less than what you might be eligible for as an individual.  

In general, you can expect between $5M to $8M lifetime benefit coverage per person, comprehensive full coverage major medical insurance, unlimited routine care, unlimited prescriptions, PPO options and coverage that is accepted anywhere in the United States. AHP can also work with you to provide policies to cover Health Savings Accounts, Medicare Supplements, dental, disability income, critical illness and international travel insurance.

There are many factors that went into making this “members only” program as flexible and as beneficial as possible:

• Flexibility: With over 8,000 eligible members across the United States, this program had to work within the state by state regulations and rules governing health insurance.  In addition it had to be able to provide coverage at a location convenient to each member. Due to state insurance laws, this program will not be available in Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont or Washington State. The IGDA is looking into alternative options in these areas and will keep you informed of any results.

• Custom Results:  Each IGDA member is a unique, with different circumstances and challenges.  We needed to provide insurance options to a diverse group of professionals with a wide range of lifestyles and coverage needs.  Our customer service associates working with AHP will work with you to identify your health, lifestyle, family and other specific needs and then locate plans for you to review. All your information will be kept completely confidential.  IGDA staff and volunteers will be removed from the process.

• Trusted Providers:  Over the last decade there have been a number of health insurance scams that have emerged.  It was critical that the IGDA work with a partner that would provide access to but not be directly tied to any specific provider.  Our program will only return options to you from "A" rated  providers. Some examples of such providers are; Humana, Blue Cross, Aetna, United Health Care, Healthnet, and Assurant to name a few.  
• "Block Rates":  Naturally, the primary feature of such a benefit is to reduce the cost to you.  AHP works with the IGDA to provide this by combining your application with all of the other applicants in your state from all of the Associations and individuals working with AHP.  While the IGDA does not subsidize your premium as an employer might, these "group" style rates will be very advantageous to you, and the savings will increase as we bring more folks into the group.  
• Security of Coverage: Once a policy has been issued, you cannot be canceled due to a change in your medical conditions. You may only be cancelled for failure to pay the premiums or not being a member of the Association. Policy Rates and Renewal Premiums will be based on your age, and not your future medical conditions. In addition, coverage through the association travels with you throughout your career.  You are not reliant upon your employer for coverage, and may even be able to negotiate with a potential employer to reimburse you for some or all of your premium expense. You relieve your employer of that cost when they are looking at hiring you, and you remove the administrative burden from them as an employee.

Customer Service: When working with members of our Association, it was critical that we chose a partner who understood our desire to provide outstanding customer service.  In reviewing multiple companies who partner in this type of program, the staff at AHP stood out as highly professional and courteous.  You will always receive the best customer service from our partner firm.

In order to get started with the IGDA HP, please use the following link: http://www.associationpros.com/assoc/igda/index.php
or call: 888.450.3040.  You will need to identify yourself as an IGDA member and provide your full name for their verification purposes.  The rest of your information will be kept confidential.

Long Term Care Insurance:  With the advances in medical technology many of us are finding the need to care for elderly and infirm parents, family members and loved ones who can not care for themselves.  The partnership with AHP allows IGDA members to gain access, at discounted rates, to custom Long Term Care insurance.  Similar to health insurance, these quotes will be specific to your situation, will come from trusted "A" rated providers such as Metlife, John Hancock, Principle, Guardian, Medical Mutual, Physician's Mutual, or Genworth. Policies are available for assisted living care, home care, adult living care or nursing home care. Options are available for partial or complete coverage of all expenses in each of these situations.

Additional Coverage for individuals:  The IGDA program will also allow you to get quotes on Life Insurance, Disability, Automobile Insurance, Homeowners Insurance, and even discounts at Office Depot and on prescription drugs at most national chains.

More details on each of these programs will be forthcoming over the next several weeks, but if you are interested, you don't need to wait.  Visit: http://www.associationpros.com/assoc/igda/index.php or call: 888.450.3040 today and see what rates and options are available to you.

If you have any questions or comments about this program, please feel free to email or call either myself (joshua@igda.org) or Joseph Sapp (joda@igda.org), and we will be happy to help.

Good Health to you all,
 
Sincerely,

Joshua Caulfield
Executive Director
IGDA