Lockton's Private Exchange Strategy Named a "Superstar"

IHC recognizes Lockton and EP Cares with Healthcare Consumerism Awards

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Oct 28, 2014, 12:22 ET

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Oct. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Institute for Healthcare Consumerism (IHC) just named EP Cares and Lockton's Exchange Solutions Practice as two of its 2014 Healthcare Consumerism Superstars. This award recognizes individuals and organizations for their excellence in advancing healthcare consumerism. The awards will be presented Nov. 12 at the IHC Forum West Conference.

EP Cares is a one-of-a-kind private exchange from Entertainment Partners (EP) that enables entertainment studios and production companies to easily meet all of their Affordable Care Act (ACA) obligations in one solution, relieving them from time-consuming healthcare administration. EP carefully selected best-in-class service partners, including Lockton, to bring medical and ancillary plans to the non-union production community. The transferability of EP Cares allows production workers to maintain their health plans without interruption as they move from one participating organization to another.

"Being recognized by IHC for our work on behalf of entertainment employers and their non-union production workers is an honor," said Joseph Scudiero, Senior Vice President and Chief Labor Counsel for Entertainment Partners, the entertainment industry leader in payroll and production management. "We are proud to win the award for Private Exchange Implementation after taking the lead to provide a comprehensive solution to an industry faced with complex challenges in meeting the demands of the Affordable Care Act." Lissa Thomson, senior vice president and chief architect from Lockton's California benefits operation said, "EP Cares is elegant in its simplicity. It solves complicated problems for the production companies and provides affordable options for the non-union production worker that transfer from one job to the next." Please click to learn more.

Working with clients like Entertainment Partners to create innovative, individualized solutions is just what Lockton's Exchange Solutions Practice is all about – and why Lockton was named Most Innovative Broker by IHC. With explosive growth in private exchange platforms and technologies, Lockton found its niche as a trusted advisor to employers. "They count on us to deliver expert, unbiased advice on their employee benefit plans and regarding private exchanges, our position remains the same: tell us your goals, and we'll help you achieve them," said Mike Smith, Director of Exchange Solutions.

Lockton developed its client-centric approach with insight from a private exchange task force. This group, comprised of Lockton Associates from around the country, meets regularly to reexamine the company's position as trusted advisor. "We keep hearing from employers that they are hungry for independent, objective advice. So we will continue to help them evaluate all available strategies," said Smith. Please click to learn more.

About Lockton

More than 5,300 professionals at Lockton provide 41,000 clients around the world with risk management, insurance, and employee benefits consulting services that improve their businesses. From its founding in 1966 in Kansas City, Missouri, Lockton has attracted entrepreneurial professionals who have driven its growth to become the largest privately held, independent insurance broker in the world and 10^th largest overall. Independent researcher Greenwich Associates has awarded Lockton its Service Excellence Award for risk management for large companies. For six consecutive years, Business Insurance has recognized Lockton as a "Best Place to Work in Insurance." To see the latest insights from Lockton's employee benefits experts, check the Lockton Health Reform Blog, the Lockton Health Risk Solutions Blog, or the Lockton HR Technology Blog.

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SOURCE Lockton