Digital Insurance becomes small business service center for 5 new brokers

Hylant Group, Barney & Barney, Armstrong/Robitaille, Inc., Harbor Benefits Group, Scheer`s Inc. sign partnership agreements

ATLANTA - (April, 14, 2004) Digital Insurance Inc. announced it has signed agreements with five additional employee benefits brokers to enhance the level of day-to-day service and product sales for a portion of their small group benefits business.

The new partners include Hylant Group in Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio, Barney & Barney in San Diego, Calif., Armstrong/Robitaille, Inc. in Fullerton, Calif., Harbor Benefits Group in Ann Arbor, Mich., and Scheer`s Inc. in Countryside, Ill. Under these partnership agreements, Digital Insurance serves as an extension of each firm`s small business unit helping them meet the unique benefits needs of small employers.

Many firms across the country are finding it increasingly difficult to efficiently manage and sell to this smaller market segment. The resource burden to maintain and grow their small group business has increased while compensation is either fixed or reduced. Because of these challenges, many firms have turned to Digital Insurance to complement their operations.

“One of our primary goals at the Hylant Group is to offer a product and service model that matches the specific needs of each of our clients,” said Jerry Lynott, Hylant Group`s VP, Benefits Practice Leader. “After an extensive due diligence process, we determined that a partnership with Digital Insurance would achieve this goal for our valued small group customers and would also create additional opportunity to expand our middle market client base.”

“Our understanding of what it takes to expand the service level to small businesses across the country on behalf of our broker partners has evolved to an entirely new level,” said Tom Usilton, president and CEO of Digital Insurance. “We are increasingly being asked to meet the needs of local market dynamics while delivering the economies of scale nationally. Both operationally and economically we have answered the call.”

Digital Insurance provides each small business client with a dedicated account management team consisting of an account manager, account coordinator and sales consultant. These teams follow a customer-focused process designed to proactively reach out to each client at least six times per year and assist them in a variety of ways, including the renewal process, claims and billing issues.

About Digital Insurance

Digital Insurance is the nation’s fastest-growing employee benefits agency, representing the largest market share of small group insurance business. Digital partners with brokers, agents and financial services companies to manage or acquire their small group customer base, delivering improved profitability and efficiencies, as well as flexibility to concentrate on other business. Through its INcompass^SM suite of services, small employers gain access to superior resources, insurance services and an enhanced customer experience typically only available to large companies. Digital simplifies the benefits management process, improves communication and provides access to an unparalleled range of products and services. The Inc. 5,000 list recognizes Digital Insurance among the country’s top fastest-growing private insurance firms. For more information, visit www.digitalinsurance.com.