MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, Wash., Oct. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Premera Blue Cross and Symetra Life Insurance Company  today announced a collaboration to offer employer groups a wider range of life and disability products. The new relationship demonstrates Premera's ongoing push to deliver more value and improved service to its members.

The new benefits will complement Premera's group plan offerings and are available now for group plan renewals. Premera will also incorporate Symetra's integrated disability offerings into its own employee benefit package.

"We are committed to offering our employees and our customers enhanced product offerings, including high-value integrated benefits solutions," said Jim Messina, Premera's executive vice president and chief marketing executive. "We are pleased to collaborate with Symetra to create a unique set of group benefit solutions that complement our existing medical products and also are customizable to an individual employer's needs."

This local collaboration will create an integrated solution model that provides advantages to both employers and employees, including reduced administrative work for employers and greater convenience for employees. In addition, it provides a unique set of group benefit solutions that are specific to Pacific Northwest employers.

"Our clients and customers have been asking for a wider range of integrated benefits that provide peace of mind and deliver on Premera's service promise," continued Messina. "Collaborating with Symetra allows us to deliver on these requests by offering everything from local customer service support to leading-edge technology."

Symetra will provide group life, including accidental death and dismemberment, short– and long–term disability, and managed absence programs, including FMLA administration.

"Symetra is pleased to team up with Premera to deliver customer-focused, competitive group life, disability income and absence management products. This joint effort will support the local communities we both serve with flexible solutions that address their specific needs and challenges," said Michael Fry, Symetra's executive vice president, Benefits Division. "Symetra, as a company, is focused on delivering quality service to employers and their employees, and building relationships with premier organizations like Premera."

About Premera

Premera Blue Cross is a leading health plan in the Pacific Northwest, providing comprehensive health benefits and tailored services to more than 1.6 million people, from individuals to Fortune 100 companies. Premera is committed to providing its members peace of mind about their healthcare. The company offers innovative health and wellness solutions focused on quality outcomes for patients and controlling costs. Premera Blue Cross, which has operated in Washington since 1933, is a not-for-profit, independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

Premera Blue Cross is a member of a family of companies based in Mountlake Terrace, Wash., providing health, life, vision, dental, stop-loss, disability, workforce wellness and other related products and services. The family of companies employs over 3,600 people and provides healthcare coverage and related services to nearly 1.9 million members.

About Symetra

Symetra Life Insurance Company is a subsidiary of Symetra Financial Corporation (NYSE: SYA), a diversified financial services company based in Bellevue, Wash. In business since 1957, Symetra provides employee benefits, annuities and life insurance through a national network of benefit consultants, financial institutions, and independent agents and advisors. For more information, visit www.symetra.com.

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SOURCE Premera Blue Cross