ING Introduces Competitive New Disability Plan for Texas Educators and Education...

ING Introduces Competitive New Disability Plan for Texas Educators and
Education Employees
New insurance product competitively-priced; features Texas-sized flexibility
and focused service team

MINNEAPOLIS, April 10 /PRNewswire/ -- ING has introduced a new
highly competitive disability plan designed specifically for Texas educators
and education system employees, according to an announcement by ING Employee
Benefits.
The new ING Texas Educators Disability Plan offers a "best in class"
disability insurance product with cost-competitive benefits, a new standard in
terms of claims management, and a family of other optional benefits that
employers can extend to those who take advantage of the plan, according to
Mark Hebert, General Manager of ING Employee Benefits' Texas region. "ING's
Texas Educators Disability Plan is a new alternative to similar plans
traditionally available to Texans who work in education," said Hebert. ING is
a global financial services company that has provided retirement savings
services and insurance to Texas educators for many years. The company's
overall financial health -- traditionally viewed as a measure of an insurance
company's ability to pay claims over the long term, is reflected in the
strength of its ratings, which are among the best in the industry.*
Disability insurance, typically offered as an optional benefit through
most Texas schools, protects people against loss of income in the event they
are unable to work because of disability due to injury or serious illness.
Texas education employers typically select a plan for their employees that can
provide the best benefits and services at competitive prices. Employees then
have the option to enroll in the plan they choose at the benefit level they
need.
According to ING, among the standard features of the new Texas-specific
product are: * The ability for plan participants to select monthly benefit
payment
amounts in $100 units, with a monthly maximum benefit of $7,500
* Flexible benefit waiting periods, depending on the individual employee's
preference and expectations
* Convenient payroll deduction and Spanish-language service capabilities
* A menu of additional benefits and features that employers can offer
employees as standard or optional, such as a Medical Treatment Benefit,
an AD&D Benefit, and many other features that can be part of the plan
design selected by the employer

Hebert also notes that the new Texas-specific disability claims are
serviced through a single point of contact rather than the central call center
model customarily provided by many disability insurance companies. ING claims
managers who will support the new Texas client-base average 15 years
experience, Hebert said.
ING's announcement of the new disability insurance product designed
specifically for the Texas education market follows the company's announcement
last month of its new Spanish-language option for customers calling its
insurance service centers in the U.S. and other in-culture education and
benefits enrollment materials. ING said that recent research conducted by the
industry group LIMRA International indicates the importance of in-language
service among Hispanics in the U.S. The LIMRA study indicated that 94 percent
of Spanish-dominant and 75 percent of bilingual Hispanics said it is important
to have Spanish-speaking representatives to discuss their insurance needs.
"The introduction of our new Texas Educators Disability Plan, coupled with our
new Spanish-language service capabilities for plan participants, further
demonstrates ING's dedication to the education market and to Texas educators
in particular," said Curt Olson, CEO and president of ING Employee Benefits
business.
Olson said ING has already begun discussing its new disability product
with Texas education employers who are interested in learning how the product
and related services can help them attract and retain the best employees in
Texas. Administrators interested in the ING plan or other insurance products
and services should contact ING at 800-955-6965 ext 4005776.
Insurance products issued and underwritten by ReliaStar Life Insurance
Company, a member of ING.
* ReliaStar Life Insurance Company ratings: Standard & Poor's AA (Very
Strong), Moody's Aa3 (Excellent), Fitch AA (Very Strong), A.M. Best A+
(Superior). Independent rating services evaluate insurance company financial
strength. The ratings relate to an insurance company's ability to meet its
claims and guarantees. The ratings do not apply to the safety or performance
of any specific insurance product or any obligations of the separate account.
The ratings are as of February 24, 2006 and are subject to change.
SOURCE ING

Phil Margolis, +1-860-580-2676, or mobile, +1-860-805-7242,
phil.margolis@us.ing.com, or Chuck Eudy, +1-770-980-5209, or mobile,
+1-770-490-6420 mobile, chuck.eudy@us.ing.com, both of ING