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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, March 6, 2007

HMSA to sell off 2 of its holdings

Advertiser Staff

The Hawaii Medical Service Association said it will sell an employee-benefits agency as well as relinquish a direct ownership stake in a Mainland life insurer as it focuses on its core healthcare insurance offerings. Terms of the transactions weren't disclosed.

In a series of transactions, HMSA will:

  • Sell a 15-year-old employee-benefits agency it owns, Benefit Services of Hawaii Inc., to Life and Specialty Ventures LLC.

  • Sell its 10 percent stake in USAble Life, a Little Rock, Ark.-based life, accident and disability insurance carrier, also to Life and Specialty Ventures.

  • Gain an undisclosed stake in Life and Specialty Ventures, which is now owned jointly by Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida.

    Michael Cheng, HMSA senior vice president, said his company wanted to focus on its core healthcare insurance offerings and decided to sell Benefit Services. He said the agency most likely will be able to expand its offerings under the new owners.

    The agency has sold a range of employee-benefit services, including flexible spending plans, health reimbursement arrangements and group insurance plans such as temporary disability, group term life insurance and long-term disability.