History
For nearly a century, Eastern Life and Health Insurance Company has demonstrated a commitment to excellence and service to our brokers, clients and their employees. Organized in 1910 as Educators Beneficial Association (later to become Educators Mutual Life), ELH demutualized and joined the Eastern family of companies in June 2006. Although our products and markets have changed over time, our focus on excellence and superior service has never wavered.
Celebrating 100 Years in 2010
Our names and logos throughout the years
Timeline: 1910's
- Organized in Lancaster, PA as Educators Beneficial Association
- Provided policies to teachers to insure them against loss of income
- First in the industry to issue non-cancellable insurance coverage
Timeline: 1930's
- In 1936, a second organization, Educators Mutual Accident and Health Association, forms to insure persons of all occupations and eventually merge with Educators Beneficial Association
- Educators Beneficial Association begins to change to a mutual health insurance company
Timeline: 1940's
- In 1940, The Educators Mutual Accident and Health and Educators Beneficial associations merge
- New organization called "The Educators – a Mutual Accident and Health Association"
- In 1947, name changes to: Educators Mutual Insurance Company
Timeline: 1950's
- Expansion into another market niche: professional association group disability insurance.
- Addition of individual life insurance and employer-purchased group life and health insurance.
- In 1956, name changes to: Educators Mutual Life Insurance Company.
Timeline: 1970's
- The Company grows due to non-educational based, employer-purchased group health insurance.
- The public school teacher segment of the Company’s activities begins to wane.
Timeline: 1980's – Early 1990's
- Business gradually becomes more employer group health focused.
- In 1994, the Company sells its individual and public school teacher insurance businesses and expands its employer group life, dental and disability coverages.
Timeline: 1996 – 1999
- In 1996, Integrated Benefit Solutions (IBS), a wholly-owned third party administrator, is formed as a strategic business unit
- In 1997, the Company exits the professional association disability business, transitioning to a group insurance company with distribution and products designed for employer groups.
- In 1998, IBS is modified to become the distribution arm for the Company, with all sales and marketing activities for Educators under its umbrella.
- In 1999, IBSi, (Integrated Benefit Solutions, Inc.) is started as an Internet-based distribution company.
Timeline: 2002 – 2005
- In 2002, IBSi is reorganized as an independent marketing organization based on a traditional general agency model. In 2005, IBSi is sold to a buyer group, and the Company reorganizes its distribution model.
- In 2002, the Company exits the group medical insurance business and focuses on group dental, disability and life insurance products
Timeline: 2006 – 2009
- In 2006, the Company demutualizes, joins Eastern Insurance Holdings, Inc., a publicly-traded holding company (NASDAQ: EIHI), and changes its name to: Eastern Life & Health Insurance Company (ELH).
- In 2007, ELH’s financial strength rating is upgraded to A- (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company.
- In 2008, EIHI’s southeast regional office opens in Charlotte, NC, to market EAIG (Eastern Alliance Insurance Group) and ELH products.
- In 2008, ELH adds vision insurance to its group product offerings.
- In 2009, Eastern directly controls the sales and marketing of its group benefits products.