Allstate Benefits to Offer Guardian Group PPO Dental Product

NEW YORK & JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Allstate Benefits, a leading provider of employee benefits, and The Guardian LifeInsurance Company of America (Guardian), one of America’s largest mutual life insurers, today announced an agreement to provide a comprehensive and cost-effective group PPO dental product. Allstate Benefits expects to begin offering DentalGuard^®, Guardian’s group PPO dental plan, to employers starting in July 2012.

This agreement expands Allstate Benefits’ capabilities by providing planholders with access to Guardian’s leading dental network of more than 79,000 dentists at over 181,000 locations.

“Allstate Benefits is pleased to team up with Guardian to deliver a new option to planholders that complements our already wide-ranging product portfolio,” said Jim Baum, senior vice president, group operations at Allstate Benefits. “Guardian is a name that customers know they can trust, which is important to us.”

The agreement covers several plan options, including value plans, which can save employers an average of 15 percent to 20 percent compared to a typical PPO dental plan, and network access plans, for employers that require provider choice. An orthodontia benefit is optional on all plans. The DentalGuard^® plan also will provide Guardian’s Preventive Advantage, which does not deduct the dollars spent on preventive care services from the annual maximum benefit, providing more insurance against unpredictable, higher-cost dental needs.

“This arrangement gives Allstate Benefits customers access to Guardian’s leading dental benefits, efficient claims payment process, and extensive network of dentists, ensuring not only quality of care but the means to get it,” said Chris Swanker, Guardian Vice President of Worksite and Specialty Markets.

About Allstate

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer, serving approximately 16 million households through its Allstate, Encompass, Esurance and Answer Financial brand names. Widely known by its slogan “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate^®,” Allstate offers insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives, as well as via www.allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate^®.

Allstate Benefits, a leading voluntary benefits insurer, was founded in 1956 as American Heritage Life Insurance Company (American Heritage Life^®) in Jacksonville, Fla. It was acquired by Allstate in 1999. Allstate Benefits offers a portfolio of products that include universal life, term life, disability income, cancer, accident, heart and stroke, critical illness, hospital indemnity, vision and dental insurance. For more information, visit www.allstateatwork.com. </p>

About Guardian

A mutual insurer founded in 1860, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and its subsidiaries are committed to protecting individuals, business owners and their employees with life insurance, disability income insurance, dental insurance products, and offer funding vehicles for 401(k) plans, annuities and other financial products. Guardian operates one of the largest dental networks in the United States, and protects more than six million employees and their families at 115,000 companies. The company has approximately 5,000 employees in the United States and a network of over 3,000 financial representatives in more than 80 agencies nationwide. For more information, visit www.guardianlife.com.

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Guardian:Kristin Meza, 212-919-2158
or
Allstate:Maryellen Thielen, 847-402-5600

Source: The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America