News

Following the annual financial review, AM Best affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICRs of “a+” (Excellent) for HM Life Insurance Company, HM Life Insurance Company of New York and Highmark Casualty Insurance Company, all part of HM Insurance Group (HM). The outlook for all ratings is stable. These ratings reflect balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as adequate operating performance, favorable business profile…

Following its annual financial review, AM Best has upgraded the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) to “a+” (Excellent) from “a” (Excellent) and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) for HM Life Insurance Company, HM Life Insurance Company of New York and Highmark Casualty Insurance Company, all part of HM Insurance Group (HM). The outlook for all ratings is stable. These ratings reflect balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest,…

After a long career with countless contributions to HM Insurance Group (HM), Dom Palmieri, chief operating officer, will retire in June. To position HM well as Palmieri transitions away from his post, the company has hired Eric Berg as senior vice president, Reinsurance, Partnerships and Operations, and promoted Kristen Baker to vice president, Operations. “It’s an important part of my job to make sure we have the right people in place to lead…

Mark Lawrence has accepted the role of president of HM Insurance Group (HM), as Tom Doran, who will continue as the company’s chief executive officer (CEO), takes on more responsibility within the Highmark Health Plan, which is part of HM’s parent company, Highmark Inc. “Mark has been a trusted resource to me and our entire leadership team since he came on board, and I am confident that he will provide the right guidance…

Following the annual review of financial results, the Financial Strength Ratings (FSR) of HM Life Insurance Company and HM Life Insurance Company of New York were affirmed as “A” (Excellent) by AM Best Company, which also upgraded the rating of Highmark Casualty Insurance Company to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent). The outlook for all ratings is stable. “Continued acknowledgement of our financial strength by AM Best gives both brokers and clients confidence in our ability…

HM Insurance Group (HM) has made a strategic investment in AST Risk, a leading Managing General Underwriter (MGU) for small group level funding programs managed through third party administrators (TPAs). The transaction enables the expansion of HM’s national share of the small group market that is seeking self-funded solutions backed by stop loss insurance.

HM’s investment represents a one-third interest in AST Risk, which also is owned by Allied National, one of the nation’s oldest…

Greg Sullivan has been named senior vice president, Strategy and Project Management Office, for HM Insurance Group (HM). In this role, he will be responsible for providing direct oversight, accountability and coordination of HM’s business activities related to the execution of the company’s strategic initiatives. “Greg has a talent for bringing together multiple stakeholders and fostering a collaborative work environment where goals can be achieved,” Tom Doran, president, HM Insurance Group, said. “His ability…

Robert Melillo has joined HM Insurance Group (HM) in the role of vice president, sales and account management, for the company’s managed care reinsurance line of business. In this role, he is responsible for product distribution and new business development, along with the expansion of HM’s market presence in the managed care reinsurance space. “I’ve known Rob for years, and his understanding of reinsurance is exceptional,” Tom Doran, president, HM Insurance Group, said. “He…

Following the annual review of financial results, the Financial Strength Ratings (FSR) of HM Life Insurance Company and HM Life Insurance Company of New York were affirmed as “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company. The outlook for the ratings remains stable. “This acknowledgement of our financial strength validates our continued work to achieve stable, predictable results in a challenging market,” Tom Doran, president, HM Insurance Group, said. “With the growth in high-dollar claims, it’s important…

Caleb Knier has been named chief financial officer (CFO) of HM Insurance Group (HM). In this role, he supports HM’s strategic growth and financial performance goals and is responsible for financial operations and financial oversight of HM’s business. “Caleb’s knowledge and experience are a great asset to our leadership team as we work to achieve our current and future financial commitments,” Tom Doran, president, HM Insurance Group, said. “Not only does he have the…

Domenic Palmieri has been named chief operating officer (COO) of HM Insurance Group (HM). In this role, he will be responsible for the executive oversight of operations for three core divisions within HM, including claims, underwriting and strategy. “We conducted an extensive, nationwide search for this position,” Tom Doran, president, HM Insurance Group, said. “And while we had significant interest from experienced, qualified professionals, I knew that Dom was the right person for the…

Following the annual review of financial results, the Financial Strength Ratings (FSR) of HM Life Insurance Company and HM Life Insurance Company of New York were upgraded to A (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company. The outlook for the ratings remains stable. The companies of HM Insurance Group (HM) were reviewed as part of the evaluation of Highmark Inc., of which HM is a diversified business. According to A.M. Best, the ratings for the companies involved…

Scott Machut has joined HM Insurance Group (HM) in the role of vice president, sales and account management, managed care reinsurance. In this role, he will lead sales and account management personnel dedicated to HM’s managed care reinsurance business and will be responsible for new business development in coordination with the existing, long-term service team of RBS Re, a program of HM. Machut will report to Liz Midtlien, senior vice president, strategy and managed care…

Mark Lawrence has joined HM Insurance Group (HM) as senior vice president, underwriting. In this role, Lawrence will be responsible for meeting HM Stop Loss revenue and profitability goals while providing executive leadership to the company’s underwriting department. “Mark is a great addition to our senior management team,” Tom Doran, president and COO, HM Insurance Group, said. “With the rising claims trend and other challenges of the current market, we are committed to tailoring…

HM Insurance Group (HM) is pleased to announce that Dr. Jamie Holowka has joined the company in the role of senior pharmacist, operations administration. Having seen a continued increase in specialty drug costs and their role in the rising claims trend, HM sought to add specialized pharmaceutical expertise to its claims and underwriting areas, working to better manage business challenges now and into the future. In her new role, Holowka is responsible for assisting with…

PITTSBURGH – HM Life Insurance Company, a member company of HM Insurance Group (HM), has been named as one of Ward's 50 Life & Health Top Performers for 2017. This is the ninth consecutive year that HM has been among this elite group that was selected from more than 700 life-health insurance companies domiciled in the United States. “In a health care market facing growing costs and rising claims, our clients want to know that…

PITTSBURGH – Tom Doran has been named president & COO of HM Insurance Group (HM), replacing Matt Rhenish, who accepted a new role at Highmark Inc., HM’s parent company, as president of national and specialty businesses. As president of HM, Doran will be responsible for the strategy, operational management and executive leadership of the company. He brings more than 20 years of expertise in reinsurance, pricing, reserving, underwriting, actuarial services and network contracting…

PITTSBURGH – HM Life Insurance Company, a member company of HM Insurance Group (HM), has been named to Ward's 50 Top Performing Insurance Companies for 2016. This is the eighth consecutive year that the national stop loss carrier has been among this elite group that was selected from more than 700 life-health companies across the country. “Being recognized for our financial stability and ability to grow while maintaining strong capital and underwriting results is an…

PITTSBURGH – HM Insurance Group (HM) has named Bill Miller as senior vice president, underwriting. Bill has more than 35 years of experience as an underwriter and has served a decade in an executive leadership role at HM. “HM will benefit enormously from Bill’s knowledge of the national stop loss market,” Matt Rhenish, HM Insurance Group president and COO, said. “His underwriting background is diverse, and he already has strong, effective relationships with our underwriting…

PITTSBURGH – HM Insurance Group is on track to have one of its best year-end financial performances with its 2015 results. The company is positioned to reach more than $1 billion in gross revenue for the third consecutive year and achieve record operating income, which is up 60 percent over 2014. “We are incredibly pleased with our 2015 financial performance, which has positioned HM for further growth into 2016,” said Matt Rhenish, president and chief operating…

PITTSBURGH – The Board of Directors of HM Insurance Group approved the appointment of Matt Rhenish as the company's new president and chief operating officer effective immediately. Rhenish succeeds Michael W. Sullivan, who was promoted to chief executive officer of HM and United Concordia Dental and co-CEO of HVHC, Inc., all diversified businesses of Highmark Inc. These changes in leadership took place following the promotion of David Holmberg, former chairman and chief executive officer of…

PITTSBURGH – HM Insurance Group has named Greg Wilden senior vice president, sales. Wilden brings extensive experience in the stop loss marketplace and strong leadership skills to the role. He follows Mark Lancellotti who will retire in January 2014 after seven years in the position. "Greg has been a respected, valuable member of our sales management team for years and has great ties to our business partners across the country," Mike Sullivan, president and…

PITTSBURGH – HM Insurance Group (HM) has named Elizabeth (Liz) Midtlien as senior vice president, managed care reinsurance. In this newly formed position, she will lead and manage all products within HM’s managed care reinsurance product portfolio including provider excess, HMO reinsurance and managed care excess. “The addition of this role to HM’s senior management team demonstrates HM’s commitment to consistency and longevity in the reinsurance market segment,” said Mike Sullivan, president and chief…

PITTSBURGH – HM Insurance Group has created new tools to assist with calculating and understanding the impact of Affordable Care Act (ACA) taxes and fees on self-insured groups. The company's fee calculator* and quick-reference sheet provide producers information to share with their clients to help them gauge the impact ACA taxes and fees have on their current coverage. "As a stop loss carrier that provides protection to self-insured groups, we are pleased to be able to…