Assurant Employee Benefits Expands Dental Network

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June 29, 2009 Monday 1:38 PM GMT

LENGTH: 533 words

HEADLINE: Assurant Employee Benefits Expands Dental Network

DATELINE: KANSAS CITY, Mo., June 29

One of the largest networks nationally; largest network in four states

KANSAS CITY, Mo., June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Assurant Employee Benefits, a leading marketer of life, disability and dental group employee benefits based in Kansas City, Mo., has expanded its PPO dental network by nearly 20 percent in 2009, placing it in the top three dental networks nationally.* The network now includes more than 112,000 referable locations nationwide, and is the largest network in four states: Colorado, Florida, Minnesota and Missouri.

The network increase comes at a time when customers are searching for cost savings due to the challenges posed by the current economic recession. Often cost savings can be recognized by customers using a dentist that participates in the network or is "in-network," rather than out-of-network.

"Consumers know an important factor of good dental coverage is the availability of network dentists in their area," said John Roberts, president and chief executive officer. "By expanding our network, we are giving our customers even more options in finding quality in-network care, which many times equate to saving money. We have invested a lot of resources into our recruiting area and expect the network to continue to grow at a steady pace in 2009 and in the years to come."

The network expansion is the result of strategic partnerships and organic growth in its own PPO dental network, Dental Health Alliance, LLC(R) and is another example of the company's commitment to providing quality dental benefits. On April 1 of this year, the company celebrated the first anniversary of the Family Share Max dental plan. An industry first, this plan allows family members covered under the same plan to share or pool benefit maximums, as opposed to each having a traditional individual dental benefit maximum.

*Source: NetMinder semi-annual dental network access study. Data as of March 2009. For more information visit www.netminder.com

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Assurant Employee Benefits specializes in quality employee benefits and services, including long-term and short-term disability, life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, dental coverage, and disability reinsurance management services. Assurant Employee Benefits also markets voluntary (employee-paid) disability, life, and dental plans. Products and services marketed by Assurant Employee Benefits are underwritten by Union Security Insurance Company or an affiliated prepaid dental company. InNew York, group insurance products and services are marketed by Assurant Employee Benefits and underwritten by Union Security Life Insurance Company ofNew York, which is licensed inNew Yorkand has its principal place of business inSyracuse,New York. Underwriting flexibility allows Assurant Employee Benefits to market tailor-made benefit plans for groups of most any size. Assurant Employee Benefits is located inKansas City,Missouri.

SOURCE Assurant Employee Benefits CONTACT:External Communications of Assurant Employee Benefits, +1-816-474-2886 or +1-816-442-9588, [email protected] http://www.prnewswire.com

LOAD-DATE: June 29, 2009