As a Premier Carrier, Kaiser Permanente will use the BenefitPoint utility to distribute its products and to streamline the RFP process with brokers and consultants. Kaiser will use BenefitPoint for middle market and large group procurement in California to both national and regional employee benefits firms including Mercer Human Resource Consulting, Gallagher Benefit Services and Lockton Benefit Group. BenefitPoint customers will have immediate access to Kaiser Permanente products and information through a familiar, standardized request format. With readily accessible web-based technology, the BenefitPoint utility provides enterprise-wide data management and customer service tools, streamlined RFP and renewal processes, and operational efficiencies with reporting.

"We will now have access to the broker desktop for strategic product distribution," said Dennis Lum, Director of Channel Strategy, Kaiser Permanente. "We are eager to streamline the sales process and better work with our brokers."

"We are encouraged that Kaiser has demonstrated the power and the value of an industry utility by distributing its products on the BenefitPoint platform," said John Randazzo, CEO, BenefitPoint, Inc. "As a Premier Carrier, Kaiser will speed up response time and increase sales and brand awareness by managing its book of business by brokerage firm."

About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is America's leading integrated health plan. Founded in 1945, it is a non-profit, group practice prepayment program with headquarters in Oakland, California. Kaiser Permanente serves the health care needs of 8.4 million members in California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and the District of Columbia. Today, it encompasses Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc.; Kaiser Foundation Hospitals; and the Permanente Medical Groups, as well as an affiliation with Group Health Cooperative based in Seattle. Nationwide, Kaiser Permanente includes approximately 134,000 technical, administrative and clerical employees and about 11,000 physicians representing all specialties.

About BenefitPoint
BenefitPoint delivers the industry's leading web-based platform for client management and procurement, making it easier for employee benefits professionals to buy, sell and manage benefits. Brokers, consultants and carriers realize expanded business opportunities, operational efficiencies and a greater ability to deliver quality information and services to employers and employees.

BenefitPoint has achieved widespread industry adoption with over 310 broker and consultant offices accessing the system, loading 40,000 employer clients on the platform, covering 22 million employees and approximately $70 billion in premium. Over 420 carrier organizations use BenefitPoint to access broker and consultant RFP and renewal requests. The company, headquartered in San Francisco, CA, can be reached at 415.277.5600. Take a tour of the BenefitPoint Product Demo and Contact Us through the corporate website at www.benefitpoint.com.