Wholesale distributor group set to offer insurance program

The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors is offering a program that brings innovative employee benefit and property and casualty insurance solutions to firms in the wholesale distribution industry through its partnership with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

The group will begin a multi-phase pilot of the insurance program ahead of a national rollout, starting with the states of Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

“We’re focused on producing truly innovative options for our members. And we believe that Gallagher has already developed superior approaches for them. These pilots will enable us to further add value as we receive feedback from them,” association president Dirk Van Dongen said in a statement.

Developed during the last several months, the program will offer wholesaler-distributors benefit solutions — including a private healthcare exchange option – that incorporates unique products designed exclusively for association members. Participating companies will be able to provide their employees with benefit options that best suit their individual needs, while better managing the associated costs.

“Our members have struggled with relentlessly increasing healthcare insurance costs for years. The enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Healthcare Act has made it even more difficult for them to cope in this environment,” Van Dongen said. “We chose to partner with Gallagher after an exhaustive process of discussions across the insurance community because they clearly had superior solutions for our members’ needs, which will enable them to have long-term certainty when it comes to healthcare coverage.”

The program will also provide wholesaler-distributors with property & casualty insurance options typically available only to large companies. By leveraging the strength of Gallagher’s marketplace relationships, the association will be able to offer custom solutions to mid-market firms, which describes the vast majority of the nation’s wholesaler-distributors.