LV-based insurer offering plans in Hawaii

Thursday, Aug. 26, 2004 | 11:34 a.m.

Las Vegas-based Summerlin Life & Health Insurance Co. announced today that it has completed the necessary paperwork to offer health plans in Hawaii.

Summerlin initially will introduce three plans for businesses -- two comprehensive health plans and a preferred provider organization -- and will be the first insurer to enter the Hawaii market in at least a decade, officials said.

Summerlin will compete against the state's two main health insurers -- the Hawaii Medical Service Association and Kaiser Permanente.

Todd Meek, CEO and president of Summerlin Life and NevadaCare, said the company was asked to offer insurance in Hawaii to complement its third-party administrator services, which are operated by sister company HMA Inc.

"We saw a good opportunity to provide some competition and choice," Meek said.

The first health plans would be effective in October, he said.

To accommodate the additional clients, Summerlin plans to hire between 15 and 20 employees for its Nevada office and about 10 employees for its Hawaii office as business increases, Meek said.