INScompanies Blog

Posted:08/23/2005

Many college-bound freshman have not received any budgeting or spending advice, according to a survey sponsored by USAA.

USAA’s “Freshman Finance 101″ survey found that 79 percent of students have not discussed how they should spend discretionary money with anyone.

Parents and students also differ drastically on how much control parents should have over spending, according to the study.

Stuart Parker, president of USAA Financial Planning Services, said parents should set boundaries so students can avoid racking up debt.

“College is an ideal time for young adults to build positive financial habits,” Parker said. “But with students graduating with an average of $20,000 in student loan and credit card debt, learning to budget and make wise spending decisions is crucial to long-term financial health.”

What Students Said:
- 21% anticipate spending between $200 and $500 a month on clothes and entertainment. 
- 21% plan to spend $1,000 or more to furnish their new place. 
- 27% plan to have their own credit card, and 23% will use that card for recreational spending. 
- Perhaps overly optimistic, 80% expected scholarships and grants to be available for tuition costs. 

What Parents Said:
- 71% believe they should help their teens decide how to spend the money parents provide. 
- Parents and teens expect to accumulate around $15,000 in debt as a result of college costs. 
- 35% of parents plan to pay their child’s credit card bill.
- On average, parents have saved around $10,000 for their child’s education, far short of the estimated $45,000 needed for a public university and $110,000 for a private university.  

As young students struggle to manage their own finances, it becomes far too easy to turn to credit cards. This makes budgeting and credit lessons even more important, says June Walbert, a Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner with USAA Financial Planning Services. 

“Parents and teens need to communicate their expectations for how money will be provided or earned, and how it will be spent,” Walbert said. “Communication is the key to making a budget work.”

Walbert offers these financial tips for parents:

Credit cards

Be sure to set a low spending limit, such as $500, to discourage splurging.

Let your teen pay the bill so they can get in the habit of paying it in full each month.

Consider a joint account so parents can help manage it and keep track of spending.

Keep in mind that late payments on a joint account could affect the parents’ credit rating.

Providing money

Pre-paid cards provide spending freedom, but – unlike credit cards – safeguard against overspending.

Consider a joint checking account with online access so you can see where money is going in real-time, rather than waiting for a monthly statement.

Create a budget

Sit down and talk about how money will be provided and how it should be spent.

Make sure the budget is realistic and includes some fun money.

More tips for student financial responsibility:

College Budget Worksheet

More freshman finance tips

Financial products for parents and students:

Fund a pre-paid spending card online, so there’s no waiting for checks in the mail

Credit card limits that grow slowly as your student gains financial experience

Fund your child’s checking account and watch spending online

Find out if you’re eligible for membership

Posted:11/21/2006

USAA has once again been recognized by J.D. Power1 as the company with the highest customer satisfaction scores on the J.D. Power National Homeowners Insurance Study.

USAA scored 896 out 1,000 possible points in a survey of 9,045 homeowners insurance policyholders. The industry average was 761.

“Members and eligible members who want top-notch service, whether for homeowners or auto insurance, are turning to USAA,” said Joe Wehrle, president of USAA Property and Casualty Insurance Group. “We offer military members and their families competitive rates, easy-to-use online tools, and peace of mind through our financial strength.”

According to J.D. Power, overall customer satisfaction was determined by performance in five key areas:

- Policy offerings
- Price
- Billing and payment
- Interaction with the company
- Claims

The study also looked at other factors concerning homeowners such as identity theft insurance, how to evaluate replacement costs, and sensitivity to price.

While USAA earned the highest score on J.D. Power’s list, USAA is not officially ranked in the study because its membership is open only to military members and their families. For more information on the study, visit jdpower.com.

Programs are designed to give employers the means to provide affordable coverage options

(05/18/2005) CHICAGO, Ill – UniCare is now offering BasicChoice, a new line of lower cost benefit plans designed to provide coverage for the most basic commonly used health care benefits. The plans should especially appeal to groups in the service industry that often have employees who are among the “working uninsured.”

“These lower-cost benefits are not intended to replace the traditional employer-paid comprehensive health plans that employers already have in place,” said David Fields, president and CEO of UniCare. “Rather, when large numbers of employees work in service-oriented positions and are not eligible for the company’s benefits program or can’t afford the company’s standard benefits program, then BasicChoice is the right choice for both the member and the employer. These programs can supplement existing options and give employers the means to provide an affordable option to employees who would not otherwise have health care coverage.”

BasicChoice offers most of the commonly used health care benefits, such as:

- Flexible medical plan options to include coverage for doctor visits and basic assistance with hospitalization expenses
- Access to many of the leading physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals from the UniCare PPO network
- Prescription drug coverage

The BasicChoice plan has three varying levels of coverage:

Level I Benefits Coverage is based on the UniCare indemnity product and includes outpatient benefits such as office visits, diagnostic and lab services, X-rays and emergency services, and inpatient benefits such as hospital stays and maternity. Annual benefit maximums for inpatient services are up to $15,000.

Level II Benefits Coverage utilizes UniCare’s Platinum Provider Network for increased savings when compared to standard PPO plans. With higher deductible options and some benefit modifications, BasicChoice Level II is an affordable option for those who prefer traditional PPO plans. Other benefits are:
- Outpatient benefits such as office visits, diagnostic and lab services, X-rays, emergency room visits, well child care, immunizations, outpatient surgery
- Preventive benefits such as mammogram screenings and pap smears
- Inpatient benefits such as maternity and hospital stays
- Physical therapy and occupational therapy, including chiropractic services
- Annual maximum options range from $10,000 to $100,000 
- Utilization of PPO network
 
Level III Benefits Coverage resembles UniCare’s standard PPO benefit plans. Benefits include:
- Wide range of deductible options
- Annual benefit maximums ranging from $50,000 to $100,000
- Outpatient benefits such as office visits, diagnostic and lab services, X-rays, emergency room visits, well child care, immunizations
- Preventive benefits such as mammogram screenings and pap smears
- Inpatient benefits such as maternity and hospital stays
- Physical therapy and occupational therapy, including chiropractic services
- Utilization of PPO network

The prescription drug benefit is one of the most important components of any benefits plan. With BasicChoice, the group can choose to provide one of three UniCare pharmacy benefit plans for its associates: 

Members pay a monthly fee to participate in the UniCare Discount program. With this pharmacy benefits option, BasicChoice members utilize UniCare’s network discounts with thousands of pharmacies across the country. 

The UniCare Generic Plan option covers generic prescription drugs only. Members pay a $10 copayment per generic prescription. 

UniCare’s YourChoiceRX combines the convenience, quality service and cost-saving features of a conventional UniCare prescription drug plan with the concept of reference pricing. A pricing methodology generally used in the purchase of prescription drugs, reference pricing provides four different levels of pharmacy benefits and three levels of co-payments for this plan. 

UniCare is a national operating subsidiary of WellPoint, Inc., the nation’s largest publicly traded commercial health benefits company. WellPoint serves the health care needs of approximately 28.5 million medical members. UniCare can be found on the web at www.unicare.com.

Not all UNICARE products are available in all states where UNICARE is marketed. Insurance or health maintenance organization coverage is provided by any of the following: UNICARE Life & Health Insurance Company, UNICARE Health Insurance Company of the Midwest (IN and IL only) or UNICARE Health Plans of the Midwest, Inc. (HMO in IN and IL only), UNICARE Health Plans of Texas, Inc. (HMO in TX only), UNICARE Health Insurance Company of Texas (TX only), UNICARE Health Plan of Virginia, Inc. (HMO in VA only), UNICARE Health Plan of West Virginia, Inc. (HMO in WVA only). 

Contacts:     Media    
Deb Wiethop, (314) 923-4767, Deborah.Wiethop@wellpoint.com

Affordable, Quality Prescription Drug Plans for Medicare Beneficiaries Offered Nationwide

Oct. 3, 2005 - Chicago –UniCare Life & Health Insurance Company (UniCare) now offers Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans to eligible Medicare beneficiaries in all 50 states. These prescription drug plans are designed to help enhance affordability, increase access and provide exceptional value for Medicare beneficiaries nationwide.

Three UniCare MedicareRx Rewards plans are offered at different prices to meet the varying needs of Medicare beneficiaries. Monthly premiums vary based on plan selection and location:
• UniCare MedicareRx Rewards Value $17 to $31
• UniCare MedicareRx Rewards Plus $25 to $38
• UniCare MedicareRx Rewards Premier $34 to $51

Product highlights include:
• Cover both brand name and generic drugs
• All plans can be purchased independently or in conjunction with an existing health coverage plan
• Convenient access to prescription drugs through most retail pharmacies nationwide
• An option to obtain drugs via mail order pharmacy
• Services through a trusted, financially stable company

UniCare MedicareRx Rewards plans are available to:
• People who have Part A and/or Part B
• People who have purchased Medicare Supplemental coverage without pharmacy benefits
• People who have Medicare Supplemental coverage with drug coverage and want to discontinue the drug portion of their Supplemental coverage
• People who are turning 65 and/or becoming eligible for Medicare

“We are contributing to one of the most significant changes to Medicare history, said Susan Rawlings, Senior Vice President and President of Senior Services for UniCare. “We hope that by offering these new UniCare MedicareRx Rewards plans we can increase access and choice for Medicare beneficiaries nationwide.”

For more information about UniCare’s MedicareRx Rewards plans, please visit www.unicare.com or call 1-800-928-6201.
 Media Contact: Tony Felts
317-287-6036
Tony.felts@wellpoint.com

UNICARE CONTRACTS WITH JPMORGAN FOR HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS COMPATIBLE WITH HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLANS
FINANCIAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY ARCUS FINANCIAL

News Releases - July 21, 2004

CHICAGO, ILL. –UNICARE today announced it has arranged to have Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) provided by JPMorgan directly to eligible UNICARE members. UNICARE has arranged for ARCUS Financial, a division of ARCUS Enterprises, Inc., to provide services related to the opening and maintenance of these HSAs. UNICARE previously announced that it will be offering the High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) designed to be compatible with HSAs to individuals and group employees. HSA-enabling legislation became effective as part of the Medicare Prescription & Modernization Act signed by President Bush on December 8, 2003. 

HSAs are the latest “consumer-driven” strategy for managing the rising costs of health care expenses. HSAs allow individuals and families who have qualified HDHPs to put aside money in a tax-exempt HSA account to cover their qualified medical expenses. Individuals who purchase or enroll in an HDHP can make a pre-tax annual contribution to an HSA of up to $2,600 with families allowed a maximum contribution of $5,150. Individual purchasers are not eligible for an HSA if they qualify for Medicare, are covered under another person’s tax return or are covered as an individual, spouse or dependent under another comprehensive health plan that is not an HDHP.

“The relationship between ARCUS Financial Services, JPMorgan and UNICARE will provide greater financial flexibility for individual consumers, employers, employees and their families to meet their increasing health and welfare needs in new, practical ways,” said Denny Weinberg, CEO of ARCUS Enterprises. “We value these types of joint development relationships that result in break-through ideas and products—ideas that will lead and shape our business for years to come.”

HSA advantages for consumers include: 
 Tax-deductible contributions 
 HSA account interest is tax-deferred 
 HSA withdrawals can be used to pay for any qualified medical expense 
 HSAs are portable and owned by the individual; contributions cannot be taken away 
 Unspent balances carry over and can accumulate over a lifetime to be used at retirement to pay for uncovered medical expenses. (However, consumers may not contribute once they reach age 65.) 
 HSAs may be passed on to a surviving spouse tax free if the account holder should pass away 

“As a leading financial services provider to the health care industry, JPMorgan is pleased to be providing this new health care financing option to UNICARE members,” said John Prince, senior vice president, JPMorgan Treasury Services. “JPMorgan is committed to developing new solutions to meet the needs of health care entities and to provide less expensive, more efficient and accurate tools for processing health care transactions.”

According to Sandra Van Trease, president of UNICARE, “Employers and consumers will benefit from having more options for managing their health care spending. They look to UNICARE to provide innovative products that offer flexibility, cost savings and tax advantages. Health Savings Accounts are yet another important financial resource that we’re pleased to offer as a direct service to our members.”

For more information on HDHPs and other UNICARE products, consumers may call their local agent for Individual & Small Employer Groups (less than 50 employees). Large Group consumers should contact their broker or their UNICARE sales representative. 

UNICARE and its affiliates offer a broad spectrum of quality network-based health products including open access PPO, POS and hybrid products, HMO and specialty products. Specialty products include pharmacy benefit management, dental, utilization management, vision, mental health, life and disability insurance, long term care insurance, flexible spending accounts, COBRA administration, and Medicare supplements. UNICARE can be found on the web at www.unicare.com.

J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $1.1 trillion and operations in more than 50 countries. The firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and businesses, financial transaction processing, asset and wealth management, and private equity. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. has its corporate headquarters in New York and its U.S. retail financial services and commercial banking headquarters in Chicago. Under the JPMorgan, Chase and Bank One brands, the firm serves millions of consumers in the United States and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients. Information about the firm is available on the Internet at www.jpmorganchase.com.

UNICARE High Deductible Health Plans are not HSAs. The HSA, which must be established for tax-advantaged treatment, is a separate arrangement between the individual and a bank or other qualified institution. You must be an eligible individual under IRS regulations to receive HSA tax benefits. The IRS has not yet issued HSA or High Deductible Health Plan regulations or determined that UNICARE High Deductible Health Plans are qualified. Consultation with a tax advisor is recommended. 
 
Contacts:
Deb Wiethop
314.923.4767
deborah.wiethop@wellpoint.com 

LAKE FOREST, Ill.; November 4, 2005 — Trustmark Mutual Holding Co. (Trustmark) announced today that it will offer the MyHSA product from Charles Schwab Trust Company and Alliance Benefit Group of Illinois. Trustmark, through its CoreSource, Starmark, Trustmark Group Insurance and Trustmark Affinity Markets subsidiaries, provides consumer-directed products to companies with two to more than 3,000 employees.

MyHSA is a Health Savings Account program (HSA) that offers participants a fully integrated menu of mutual fund investment choices in addition to a fixed rate of return option. Employee contributions can be made directly or through pretax payroll deductions, and employers may contribute to the MyHSA accounts with savings from reduced premiums in either fixed dollar amounts or by matching contributions, as they do with 401(k) plans. The Charles Schwab Trust Company serves as the custodian for MyHSA, while the Alliance Benefit Group of Illinois serves as the program’s delivery source.

Earlier this year, Trustmark completed a thorough review of the HSA custodian marketplace. “We picked the MyHSA product offered through Charles Schwab Trust Company and Alliance Benefit Group of Illinois for its unique approach to the HSA, which emphasizes the savings and account-building benefits of these funds,” said Carol Egan, Trustmark’s Second Vice President, Consumer-Centered Health Strategy. “We believe partnering with Schwab and ABG will further strengthen Trustmark’s position as the consumer-directed health plan provider that’s truly focused on the consumer.”

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) have steadily gained momentum in the marketplace since the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act made them possible at the beginning of 2004. In a recent survey of more than 500 employers conducted by Hewitt Associates, 57 percent said they are considering HSAs. With such popularity, HSAs have begun to evolve from merely a bank deposit account into an investment account.

“MyHSA combined with Trustmark’s Consumer Directed Health Care products is the ideal solution for employers who are concerned about escalating healthcare costs,” said John Blossom, president of Alliance Benefit Group of Illinois. “Alliance Benefit Group of Illinois is pleased to participate in Trustmark’s market leadership as a high deductible healthcare plan provider. A Trustmark, Charles Schwab, and Alliance Benefit Group of Illinois healthcare solution is a great answer for any employer group.”

ABOUT TRUSTMARK MUTUAL HOLDING CO.

Trustmark Mutual Holding Company, through its subsidiaries, is licensed nationwide to offer a broad line of life, medical, managed care, dental, disability, critical illness and benefit administration products and services to groups and individuals. Subsidiaries and operating divisions include Trustmark Insurance Company, Trustmark Life Insurance Company, CoreSource, Starmark, Trustmark Group Insurance, Trustmark Group Select, Trustmark Affinity Markets and Trustmark Voluntary Benefit Solutions. Trustmark Mutual Holding Company has assets of more than $1.9 billion and administers more than $3 billion in health and life benefits annually. Additional information about Trustmark can be found at www.trustmarkcompanies.com.

ABOUT ALLIANCE BENEFIT GROUP

Alliance Benefit Group has independently owned and operated offices in more than 15 cities across the United States and has been administering participant directed retirement programs and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) programs for more than 20 years. The ABG national network provides daily valuation recordkeeping for over $4 billion of participant accounts. Alliance Benefit Group strives to provide employers with the “perfect plan” through knowledge and independence.

LAKE FOREST, Ill., Feb. 17, 2006 — Trustmark Voluntary Benefit Solutions, a leading provider of payroll-deducted voluntary benefits, is launching a new Universal Life product that pays more Living Benefits for long term care to address changing needs in today’s voluntary life and long term care marketplace. Trustmark has doubled the monthly benefit for home healthcare and adult day care, and has added an assisted living benefit to its new flagship voluntary universal life product.

Trustmark’s new Universal Life with Living Benefits accelerates 4 percent of the death benefit monthly for assisted living, home healthcare, adult day care, and nursing home care, expanding an already comprehensive package of long term care benefits. “We’re witnessing growth in demand for long term care as life expectancy increases and the Baby Boom generation moves into its elder years,” said Janet Buzil, Trustmark’s Second Vice President of Marketing and Product Management. “We’re specifically responding to the need for stronger home healthcare, assisted living, and adult day care benefits. This level of Living Benefits, within a life insurance policy, was previously unavailable in the voluntary market.”

“As the only carrier that packages Living Benefits for LTC with Death Benefit Restoration and LTC Extension of Benefits, our insureds and their families can receive both the full death benefit and 50 months of long term care benefits — that’s three times the face amount of their policy,” said Joe Pray, Trustmark’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “With long term care built into the life policy and purchased through payroll deduction, we offer a convenient, affordable way for people to get the protection they need.”

Along with more Living Benefits, Trustmark’s new Universal Life plan provides guaranteed issue coverage, superior cash values across a wider range of interest rate environments, and improved mortality performance based on longer life spans. Trustmark’s maximum issue age has also been raised to age 80, and maximum benefits increased to $300,000.

Trustmark’s Universal Life with Living Benefits is one of three new life insurance plans from Trustmark, which also include Trustmark’s Guaranteed Universal Life and Trustmark’s Universal LifeEvents®.

All plans are available now for March 2006 enrollments. For more information on voluntary benefits for employers with 100 or more employees, contact your Trustmark Voluntary Benefit Solutions Sales Representative at (800) 840-4692.

About the Trustmark Companies
Backed by more than 90 years serving the voluntary market, Trustmark Voluntary Benefit Solutions specializes in voluntary benefits, including Life, Critical Illness, Dental and Disability. All plans are underwritten by Trustmark Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Trustmark Mutual Holding Company. Through its subsidiaries and operating divisions, Trustmark Mutual Holding Company offers a full line of health, life and benefit administration products and services to groups and individuals. Trustmark Mutual Holding Company has assets of more than $1.9 billion and is based in Lake Forest, Ill.

HARTFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aug. 28, 2006–A substantial proportion of American homeowners(a) are unsure of what homeowners coverage they have for specific circumstances, according to the “Travelers In-synch Homeowners Insurance Study,” released today by Travelers and conducted by Harris Interactive. If they are underinsured, even a seemingly insignificant event could leave their homes and finances vulnerable.

The research data showed that:

    –  Nearly three in ten (27 percent) are not sure whether their
        policy will cover the replacement cost of rebuilding if the
        home is damaged.

    –  At least one-quarter (26 percent) report they are unsure
        whether damage caused by natural disasters is covered under
        their policy.

    –  Over one-third (36 percent) are unsure whether their policy
        will cover damage caused by a hurricane.

    –  Four in ten (42 percent) are uncertain about earthquake
        coverage.

    –  One-quarter (26 percent) are unsure about flood damage.

    –  More than one-third (37 percent) are not sure whether their
        policy will cover hotel stays if their home is damaged.

Insurance Needs Evolve Over Time

“Life and business are dynamic, and so insurance needs change and evolve,” said Joseph P. Lacher Jr., executive vice president of Travelers Personal Insurance. “We are encouraging people to talk to an independent agent to get more information about their coverage and to discuss their changing needs. It’s all about managing risks, and keeping your insurance in-synch with your risks to put you in greater control.”

44% of Homeowners Have Not Revisited Their Insurance Coverage in Past Year

The Travelers survey asked more than 1,300 homeowners about their insurance to determine what they knew about their coverage, how often they reviewed their policy to ensure that it remained in-synch with their needs, and the ways in which they conducted that review. The results suggested that more than four in ten (44 percent) homeowners had not revisited their insurance coverage in the past year–some not in the last 10 years.

“It’s not at all unusual for homeowners to get insurance coverage when they buy a house, but not revisit it for years,” said Lacher. “There are so many things that can impact your coverage–remodeling, installation of burglar alarms, major purchases–but the survey suggests that few people are making sure that as those changes occur, their insurance remains in-synch with their lives.”

Reviewing Policy With Insurance Agent Increases Confidence in Coverage

The survey also reaffirmed the value of working with an insurance agent to make sure that coverage types and levels are where they should be. More than two thirds (66 percent) of those who last reviewed their policies with an agent strongly agreed that their current coverage was, in fact, in-synch with their needs.

“Homeowners should review their coverage before they have a claim,” said Lacher. “If something happens, being underinsured is an unpleasant surprise when coupled with a financial loss.”

“In-synch Challenge” Helps Homeowners Identify Common Risks and Problems Within Home

To help homeowners identify common risks, Travelers is offering the “In-synch Challenge,” a fun and informative interactive game on www.travelers.com that provides important risk mitigation information to consumers. Visitors will be asked to tour homes and businesses and to solve a series of common problems related to risks or exposures that policyholders typically overlook. For example, one game asks participants to correctly place smoke detectors inside a home. Another challenges participants’ understanding of high-worth items that can be found in the average living room. And a third asks small-business owners to spot areas where slip-and-falls might occur.

“The Travelers brand is about helping consumers make the best decisions based on the risks–known and unknown–they’re most likely to encounter,” concluded Lacher. “We’re focused on getting that message out to consumers, and as the survey makes clear, it’s a message that needs to be heard. That’s what having insurance that’s in-synch with your life is all about.”

About Travelers

Travelers understands that life and business are inherently dynamic and that the best way to serve agents and policyholders is to deliver insurance that evolves to stay in-synch with life and business as they change. For more information on being in-synch, visit www.travelers.com.

Travelers is a business of The St. Paul Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:STA), a leading property casualty insurer selling primarily through independent agents and brokers. The company’s diverse business lines offer its global customers a wide range of coverage in both the personal and commercial settings, including automobile, homeowners, construction, small business, oil and gas, ocean marine, financial and professional services, global technology and public sector services. St. Paul Travelers is ranked 85 in the Fortune 500, with 2005 revenues of $24.4 billion and total assets of $113.2 billion. The company has approximately 32,000 employees.

About the Survey

This survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Travelers among 2,075 adults (aged 18 and over), 1,395 of whom are homeowners within the United States between May 30 and June 1, 2006. Figures for region, age within gender, education, household income and race/ethnicity were weighted where necessary to bring them in line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.

With pure probability samples, with 100 percent response rates, it is possible to calculate the probability that the sampling error (but not other sources of error) is not greater than some number. With a pure probability sample of 2,075 adults one could say with a ninety-five percent probability that the overall results have a sampling error of +/- 3 percentage points. Sampling error for subsample results is higher and varies. However that does not take other sources of error into account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

About Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive is the 13th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world. The company provides research-driven insights and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online market research methods. The company has built what could conceivably be the world’s largest panel of survey respondents: The Harris Poll Online. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe and Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in France and through a global network of independent market research firms. The service bureau, HISB, provides its market research industry clients with mixed-mode data collection, panel development services as well as syndicated and tracking research consultation. More information about Harris Interactive may be obtained at www.harrisinteractive.com.
(a)U.S. adults ages 18 and older who currently own the home they are living in.

CONTACT: Travelers
Media Contact:
Jennifer Wislocki, 860-277-7458
SOURCE: Travelers 
 
“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding St. Paul Travelers’ business which are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.  

HARTFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–June 15, 2006–Travelers announced today that it now offers new resources to assist businesses with disaster preparedness planning. Two new online tools and a new Safety Academy class, entitled Business Continuity Planning, have been added to help Travelers customers create customized disaster recovery plans that will ensure optimum business continuity in the event of exposures from natural or manmade disasters.

Bob Brody, Senior Vice President, Travelers Risk Control, said, “Emergency planning should be at the top of every “To Do” list for today’s businesses. With more than a century of experience in risk control, Travelers is uniquely positioned to help its customers anticipate and respond to a wide spectrum of exposures from catastrophic risks faced by businesses and homeowners.”

The first new online tool is Disaster Preparedness and Business Continuity Management, an exposure guide available to customers and agents, on a CD-ROM that furnishes a practical, step by step guide for business continuity planning. The guide includes presentations, technical bulletins and checklists about topics including:

Hurricane preparedness;
Natural disaster protection, response and recovery;
Property and equipment recovery guidelines;
Health precautions;
A general overview of business continuity planning;
FEMA emergency management guide for business and industry.

This new tool contains another interactive resource, Open for Business(SM), made available by the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). This Internet-based tool is designed to help small- to medium-sized businesses create disaster recovery plans as well as mitigate natural disaster risks. This second tool is also available on the Travelers Web site.

Travelers Risk Control has also added a disaster preparedness class - that will be offered starting in June - to its Safety Academy agenda. The new course, Business Continuity Planning, will allow participants to explore the myriad aspects of disaster planning and is targeted at managers, supervisors and risk management personnel that are considering the development of business continuity plans for their organizations. Topics for discussion include: the definition of business continuity; the six phases of business continuity planning; a checklist to assist with emergency and recovery plans; function charts delineating responsibilities of business resumption teams; and recovery plan worksheets.

Marty Henry, Vice President, Travelers Risk Control said, “Our customers have asked for our help, and we’ve responded with simple-to-use tools and training to make sure that they create a business continuity plan before a disaster strikes. With these new tools, we assist them in finding peace of mind.”

For more information about the Safety Academy class, or to receive a free copy of the CD-ROM exposure guide, contact Ask-STA-Risk-Control@stpaultravelers.com. Agents may access www.travelersagents.com to order the CD-ROM.

About Travelers

Travelers believes that life and business are inherently dynamic and that the best way to serve agents and policyholders is to provide insurance that helps them stay in-synch with their lives. For more information on being in-synch, visit www.travelers.com.

Travelers is a business of The St. Paul Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:STA), a leading property casualty insurer selling primarily through agents and brokers. The company’s diverse business lines offer its global customers a wide range of coverage in both the personal and commercial settings, including automobile, homeowners, construction, small business, oil and gas, ocean marine, financial and professional services, global technology and public sector services. St. Paul Travelers is ranked 85 in the Fortune 500, with 2005 revenues of $24.4 billion and total assets of $113.2 billion. The company has approximately 32,000 employees.

CONTACT: Travelers
Media:
Laura Bradshaw, 860-277-7461
SOURCE: Travelers
 
“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding St. Paul Travelers’ business which are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.  

Mississippi First State To Implement

New York, November 8, 2006 — The National Council on Economic Education (NCEE) in partnership with State Farm® has undertaken a major new national initiative to improve the economic and financial literacy of the nation’s youth. Mississippi will be the first state to implement the program for all K-12 public schools.

The Mississippi initiative was unveiled today at the U.S. Senator Thad Cochran Forum on American Enterprise, hosted by the Mississippi Council on Economic Education (MCEE) in Jackson, MS. Mississippi leaders Senator Cochran, Governor Haley Barbour and State Superintendent of Education Dr. Hank Bounds participated in the event.

Economic and financial literacy is a front-page issue. “Our nation’s young people stand to inherit a complex and rapidly changing economy and yet too many are unprepared for the challenges ahead,” said Robert Duvall, President and CEO of the NCEE. “How can we talk meaningfully about an ‘ownership society’ and the good old-fashioned American virtues of self-reliance and individual responsibility if people don’t have a basic framework for making sound economic and financial decisions in their lives?”

The multi-year effort will combine professional development for teachers (centered around NCEE’s Virtual Economics® CD-ROM program) and advocacy efforts for greater emphasis on economic education and financial literacy in K-12 education nationwide. Over the course of the three-year initiative, the NCEE will offer professional development for more than 14,000 K-12 teachers in seven states: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi and Texas. These teachers will reach more than 1.2 million students annually. In Mississippi alone, more than 6,000 teachers will receive training and reach more than 400,000 students annually.

Mississippi was selected by NCEE and State Farm as the pilot for a statewide rollout for several reasons. Last year, the Virtual Economics program was brought to the attention of Dr. Hank Bounds during MCEE-conducted professional development training programs. Dr. Bounds quickly recognized the potential of this resource and pledged to work with MCEE to help bring it to more Mississippi schools.

The MCEE and the teachers it trained used Virtual Economics to show students how understanding economics can help empower them to improve their own lives – a lesson that took on all too real world consequences in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

“I used the lessons in Virtual Economics to help my students understand such issues as using FEMA debit cards wisely, making decisions about temporary housing, helping rebuild the family finances, and understanding the connection between poverty and the specific troubles the hurricane brought to their world,” said Mississippi teacher Pam Carrubba.

“Hard-hit by Katrina, yet striving for education reform, Mississippi will be a showcase for reaching our nation’s young people,” said NCEE’s Duvall. ”Through their teachers, we are giving them the skills they need for success in the real world.”

Pamela P. Smith, President of MCEE said, “Launching this program throughout Mississippi is a terrific opportunity for those of us committed to improving financial literacy through economic education. Mississippi teachers who have been able to use the Virtual Economics CD are excelling and this program will enable us to level the playing field so that this state-of-the-art resource is available statewide.”

For more than 25 years, State Farm has supported NCEE’s work to bring economic education into the nation’s classrooms. “Our support helps NCEE provide quality materials and professional development for K-12 teachers,” said Barbara Cowden, Executive Vice President of State Farm and member of the NCEE Board of Directors. “We are pleased to provide educators the tools and resources needed to help them meet the economic education standards set forth in the ‘No Child Left Behind’ legislation.”

About NCEE

The NCEE is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to improving economic and financial literacy. Both directly and through its unique nationwide network of State Councils and more than 200 university-based Centers for Economic Education, NCEE’s programs reach over 150,000 K-12 teachers and more than 15 million students in more than 70,000 schools each year.

About State Farm

State Farm® insures more cars than any other insurer in North America and is the leading U.S. home insurer. State Farm’s 17,000 agents and 68,000 employees serve over 74 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.8 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No.22 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca™.