The IHC Group inks partnership with Toto Pet Insurance
The IHC Group, a leader in specialty health benefit products announced today a partnership with new pet health insurance marketing company, Toto Pet Insurance , Inc. (Toto). Under a marketing and services agreement, Toto is able to seamlessly enter the market with a new pet insurance that is supported by plans underwritten by IHC’s highly rated carrier, Independence American Insurance Company (IAIC) and expert administration by PetPartners , Inc. which is also a member of The IHC Group.
Toto’s market launch is planned for mid-summer and will feature new products, plans and competitive rates to appeal to a broad range of consumer budgets. The company, based in Richmond, Virginia, will also introduce its ‘pay it forward’ TotoCares program, a radically transparent initiative that will contribute a percentage of policyholder premiums to veterinarians across the country to provide vital medical treatments to pets in need and in so doing save their lives.
Rick Faucher, President of the pet health division of The IHC Group states, “We are excited to welcome Toto to our family of pet health insurance partners and brands. As a Benefit Corp, Toto brings to the pet insurance marketplace a fresh perspective centered around a commitment to social impact, which we believe will resonate well with veterinarians and pet parents alike. This partnership also allows IHC to expand our reach into additional pet insurance consumer markets.”
“Our goal is to establish Toto as the pet insurance brand with a heart by protecting pets and their parents with a simple and affordable product built on a socially conscious mission,” stated Bruce Trowbridge, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Toto Pet Insurance. “It’s a unique proposition that IHC understands and was ready to support. Toto is very excited to make our debut in select markets in early July.”
IHC entered the pet health insurance space in January 2011 and has since rapidly established a vertically integrated structure for marketing, administering, pricing and retaining risk on its pet insurance products. IHC’s quickly growing pet insurance division includes AKC Pet Insurance , the exclusive pet insurance provider of the American Kennel Club since 2003, and PetPlace.com , the popular pet parent destination for health, product and insurance information. The new agreement with Toto further demonstrates IHC’s commitment to strengthening and growing its footprint in the pet health insurance marketplace.
For more information on The IHC Group’s pet health insurance products and services, please contact Rick Faucher at 602-395-7083 or Rick.Faucher@IHCGroup.com.
About The IHC Group
Independence Holding Company (NYSE: IHC), formed in 1980, is a holding company that is principally engaged in underwriting, administering and/or distributing group and individual specialty benefit products, including disability, supplemental health, pet, and group life insurance through its subsidiaries. The IHC Group owns three insurance companies (Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York, Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. and Independence American Insurance Company), and IHC Specialty Benefits, Inc., a technology-driven full-service marketing and distribution company that focuses on small employer and individual consumer products through general agents, telebrokerage, advisor centers, private label arrangements, and through the following brands: http://www.HealtheDeals.com; Health eDeals Advisors; Aspira A Mas; http://www.PetPartners.com; and http://www.PetPlace.com. IHC creates value for insurance producers, carriers and consumers (both individuals and small businesses) through a suite of proprietary tools and products, all of which are underwritten by IHC’s carriers or placed with highly rated insurance companies.
About Independence American Insurance Company
Independence American Insurance Company is domiciled in Delaware and licensed to write property and/or casualty insurance in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Its products include short-term medical, hospital indemnity, fixed indemnity limited benefit, group and individual dental, and pet insurance. Independence American is rated A- (Excellent) for financial strength by A.M. Best Company, a widely recognized rating agency that rates insurance companies on their relative financial strength and ability to meet policyholder obligations (an A++ rating from A.M. Best is its highest rating).
About PetPartners Inc.
PetPartners, Inc.’s history dates back to the 1980s when British-owner and leading innovator in pet insurance, Sir. John D. Spurling, created a pet health insurance company exclusively for The Kennel Club in Great Britain. PetPartners provided pet health insurance to dogs and puppies in the United Kingdom for nearly two decades before its arrival in the United States. Since 2002, PetPartners has been the exclusive provider of pet health insurance protection to registrants of The American Kennel Club through the AKC Pet Insurance brand. In 2004, PetPartners was selected by the Cat Fanciers’ Association, the largest registry of purebred cats, to provide health insurance to CFA registrants. In 2009, PetPartners began to offer its new PetPartners-branded products both to individuals and groups (such as associations, companies and credit unions).
About Toto Pet Insurance Inc.
Licensed in Delaware as a public benefit corporation, Toto is a for-profit company that is legally bound to not only consider the effects of its decisions on shareholders, but also the impact of its choices on employees, the community and the environment. Shortly after its market launch in July, 2018, Toto will become a Certified B-Corp®, the certification granted by the nonprofit organization B Lab to for-profit companies that meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. For more information, please visit TotoPetInsurance.com.
