CHICAGO, Feb. 3, 2025 -- Professional Group Plans, which specializes in providing employee benefits to independent insurance brokers and their clients, announced today a new partnership with Cigna Healthcare to expand the health insurer's distribution channels in the Illinois market. Building on a two-decade relationship in the Northeast, PGP and Cigna Healthcare will work collaboratively with brokers and their clients to help them navigate the complexities of health benefits and improve the health and well-being for employees and their family members.
PGP offers a wealth of resources and expertise to support brokers in the procurement, implementation, and ongoing management of employee benefit programs. Through this partnership, PGP, one of the largest general agencies in the United States, will provide Illinois brokers with a robust suite of resources at no additional cost, including:
- Consulting expertise
- ACA and compliance resources
- Benefits technology implementation and support
- Customized marketing solutions
- Benefits communication materials
"We know that benefit design requires specialized expertise, and this new collaboration underscores our commitment to enhancing the member experience and deepening our partnerships with brokers throughout Illinois," said Lisa Buckley, market growth leader for Cigna Healthcare's Midwest region. "We are thrilled to work with PGP to bring this elevated level of service to the area and expand our presence locally."
Leading the local effort is Lars Heemskerk, an employee benefits consultant for PGP. A seasoned benefits professional and a native of Chicagoland, Lars has spent the last 15 years as a retail broker, most recently in Cigna Healthcare leadership.
"Lars excels in delivering impactful solutions in benefit design, funding strategies, and technology to drive client and customer success," said Kerry Phelan, CEO of PGP. "He's passionate about building strong relationships while delivering first-class benefits solutions for brokers and their clients. Through this new partnership and with Lars' leadership, we look forward to growing Cigna's distribution footprint in Illinois."
About Professional Group Plans
Founded on the principle of treating people the way we would want to be treated, Professional Group Plans (PGP) has grown organically over the past 32 years into one of the largest full-service general agencies in the nation.
PGP specializes in employee benefits and serves over 60,000 employer groups, covering well over 1 million lives. The agency generates more than $3 billion in annual premiums while maintaining a commitment to providing exceptional, personalized service to every broker partner and client.
Our mission is to empower our broker partners with unparalleled service, expertise, and resources, enabling them to achieve growth and long-term success.
For more information, please contact Lars Heemskerk: lars.heemskerk@pgpbenefits.com or 630.788.1334.
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