SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to increase its market share in the competitive executive and professional market, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) has introduced one of the industry's first comprehensive disability income insurance offerings, supported by eased underwriting requirements and higher coverage limits. Now MassMutual producers can offer qualifying executives one of the industry's highest available maximum benefits of $50,000 per month.

"We designed this program for business executives and professionals such as attorneys, certified public accountants and engineers, realizing that they represent an underserved market when it comes to disability income insurance protection," said Melissa Millan, corporate vice president, U.S. Insurance Group, MassMutual. "And the result is a more competitive suite of protection products and programs for the growing number of affluent households across the country. Our goal is to better help them protect their greatest and most overlooked asset in the event of an illness or disability, their incomes," she concluded.

Underwriting Changes

One of the most competitive elements of MassMutual's disability income insurance enhancements is an easing of medical underwriting requirements, making the process shorter and easier.

For applicants age 45 and younger, blood work and urinalysis have been replaced with a less invasive and quicker oral fluids test, gathered with a swab of the inside cheek. Additionally, instead of a paramedical exam, physical measurements, such as height, weight and blood pressure, are sufficient, and medical requirements have been waived for select executives, engineers, CPAs and attorneys who meet specific requirements.

Coverage limits increased to protect higher salaries

MassMutual has also increased income replacement levels, allowing individuals earning higher salaries to protect more of their income. For example, for executives and professionals, including engineers, CPAs and attorneys, MassMutual can issue up to $20,000* of monthly income protection, when they already are covered by group long-term disability insurance through their employers. In addition, for physicians MassMutual now can issue up to $10,000 of income protection per month, up to age 60.

Protecting highest income earners

Radius(R) Executive Select, one of the industry's only individual disability income insurance programs targeted to high-income earning executives, introduced by MassMutual in 2005, extends coverage limits for high-ranking executives, such as chief executives, corporate presidents, senior and executive vice presidents and managing directors, allowing coverage of a larger percentage of their salaries. Highest income earners can protect up to 50 percent, when group long-term disability coverage already is in place, to a possible maximum of $50,000 per month, or over half a million dollars of income per year, if totally disabled.

About MassMutual

MassMutual Financial Group is the fleet name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and its affiliates, with more than 13 million clients and over $395 billion in assets under management at year-end 2005. Founded in 1851, MassMutual is a mutually owned financial protection, accumulation and income management company headquartered in Springfield, Mass. MassMutual's major affiliates include: OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; Babson Capital Management LLC; Baring Asset Management Limited; Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC; and MML Investors Services, Inc. For more information about MassMutual disability income insurance, visit http://www.massmutual.com/halfapaycheck.

    *Available in all states except California and Florida. Not available in
Puerto Rico.

    MEDIA CONTACTS:
    Karen Lavariere-Sanchez
    MassMutual
    (860) 562-3830
    klavarieresanchez@massmutual.com

    Janette Baxter
    Mintz & Hoke Communications Group
    (860) 679-9846
    janetteb@mintz-hoke.com

Source: MassMutual Financial Group