#United States #Chicago, Illinois #Employee Benefits #Cigna Healthcare #Professional Group Plans

Professional Group Plans Partners with Cigna Healthcare

Announcement Overview

On February 3, 2025, Professional Group Plans (PGP), a leader in employee benefits provision to independent insurance brokers, revealed its latest partnership with Cigna Healthcare. This collaboration aims to enhance Cigna's distribution channels throughout the state of Illinois. This strategic move builds upon a 20-year relationship that initially focused on the Northeast. The partnership will leverage both organizations' expertise to help brokers navigate the complexities surrounding health benefits and ultimately improve the overall well-being of employees and their families.

What This Partnership Offers

Through this alliance, PGP will provide Illinois-based brokers with a comprehensive suite of resources to support their work, all at no additional cost. The resources include:

• - Personalized consulting expertise tailored to specific client needs.
• - Access to ACA compliance resources to ensure adherence to current regulations.
• - Support for benefits technology implementation, making processes simpler for brokers and their clients.
• - Customized marketing solutions that can help brokers increase their outreach to clients.
• - Communication materials that enhance the understanding of benefits for employees and their families.

Lisa Buckley, the market growth leader for Cigna Healthcare's Midwest region, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "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."

Leadership and Local Efforts

Leading the initiative in the local market is Lars Heemskerk, an employee benefits consultant at PGP who has extensive experience in the industry, particularly in the Chicagoland area. Having spent the last 15 years working as a retail broker—most recently in a leadership capacity at Cigna—Lars is passionate about providing impactful benefit designs, funding strategies, and technology-driven solutions.
Kerry Phelan, the CEO of PGP, remarked on Lars's strengths, stating, "Lars excels in delivering impactful solutions in benefit design, funding strategies, and technology to drive client and customer success. 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 as we wish to be treated, Professional Group Plans has expanded over the past 32 years into one of the largest general agencies in the United States, with a focus on employee benefits. Currently, PGP serves over 60,000 employer groups, affecting over 1 million lives, and generates an impressive $3 billion in annual premiums while retaining a strong commitment to offering exceptional, personalized service.

With this partnership with Cigna Healthcare, PGP aims not just to improve their service but to empower their broker partners through unparalleled resources and expertise, enabling them to thrive in a competitive market. For further details on how this partnership can benefit you, reach out to Lars Heemskerk at lars.heemskerk@pgplans.com or call 630-788-1334.