BOARD DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE: The Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber is launching a first of its kind member benefit; a customized suite of voluntary benefits for small and large members from Transamerica Employee Benefits. The program will provide valuable benefits for employees and their families including disability, life insurance, critical illness, cancer, and accident coverage. SMMC chamber members will have great group rates and guaranteed issued underwriting on products up to plan limits.

The SMMC board wants to help member businesses of all sizes provide employee benefits that would help attract and retain good employees. The Transamerica plans are a great way to provide essential employee benefits, with no additional cost to the business. Employers can contribute to the cost, or the plans can be paid completely by the employee. The plans feature:

— Short-term Disability — with up to six months of income replacement if you are sick, or injured, these rates do vary by industry.

— Cancer Coverage — protection for you and your family if you are diagnosed with cancer.

— Accident Coverage — pays you or a covered family member for medical bills and other out-of-pocket costs due to accidental injuries.

— Critical Illness — to offset things like deductibles, co-payments, non-medical items such as household expenses and missed work.

— Life Insurance — up to $100,000 of guaranteed issue life insurance, no medical exam required.

Good voluntary benefits make sense and the statistics are very compelling, as there are more than 29.5 million visits to the emergency room each year. The American Cancer Society reported in 2012 that in the U.S. men have a slightly lessthana1in2lifetimeriskof developing cancer, while the risk for women is a little more than 1 in 3. Half of all U.S. households (58 million) say they need more life insurance, while there are 11 million households with children under 18 with no coverage.

This partnership is a great way for employers to help offset additional costs incurred by employees, as traditional medical plans continue to raise deductibles and co-payments. The plans can help with those out-of-pocket costs not covered by major medical, such as lost wages.

Even if your medical plan pays for your treatment of an injury, these plans pay you directly and you can use the money to offset the costs of co-payments, deductibles. These plans are great to help ease the costs of child care, mortgage payments, house sitting, travel to an outof town hospital, or treatment facility. When you or your family is going through serious medical issues, the last thing you need is the added stress of how to pay for everyday needs.

Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber members have the advantage of lowered participation requirements and no medical underwriting for coverage. The plans are very affordable, they can be payroll deducted, or paid for with an automatic checking account deduction. For example, an accident plan is only $3.48 a week for an employee and a full family is only $6.76 with a Wellness benefit that pays the member $50 for a wellness screening, a great way for member businesses to promote good preventive care. Most plans are portable allowing an employee to maintain their coverage should they change jobs.

The plan is locally serviced with a dedicated team from Transamerica supporting the chamber members. We have an automated enrollment system set up that will allow members to enroll online, in person, or on the phone. The chamber is working with a dedicated local enrollment team that will educate employees on the plans to help them find the best fit for their needs and budget.

If you want more information on the SMMC chamber plan, please visit our website at www.midcostmaine.com or call 347-1954.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

— May 9: Hacker’s Ball Scholarship Golf Tournament: This 18-hole scramble will include up to 30 teams of four, with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. (registration begins at 8 a.m.). Benefits a scholarship program for graduating seniors and the Young Entrepreneurs Academy.

— May 17: Healthy Maine Living Expo: Booth space filling up fast. Saturday, May 17, Coastal Ortho / Performance in Brunswick. Free, fun and full of surprises for 750-plus anticipated visitors. Classes, demos, screenings and more. Multimedia blast promoting vendors. From hospitals to beauty care, carpet cleaning to health science, fitness experts to surgeons, chiropractic, massage and acupuncture to shoes, juicing and hearing: there’s something for everyone. For more information, Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber at 725-8797, or www.midcoastmaine.com.

— May 14: “The Future of Health care is Here,” Chamber Regional Luncheon: Hear about local solutions to national health care trends — Mid Coast Health CEO Lois Skillings presents. 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Brunswick Hotel and Tavern. Public encouraged to register early. Network with local business people, enjoy lunch, then a lively, informative presentation takes place in a comfortable atmosphere. Vegetarian option available. R.S.V.P.: www.midcoastmaine.com or call 725-8797.

— May 28: Chamber After Hours: 5 to 7 p.m. at The Brunswick Hotel and Tavern. Excellent refreshments, cash bar, prizes and superior networking in a great environment. Reservations required. www.midcoastmaine.com.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: The chamber welcomes the U.S. Postal Service Brunswick location and Harbor Digital Systems, Inc. to its membership.

The chamber proudly serves 760 businesses and organizations in the following communities: Arrowsic, Bath, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Brunswick, Dresden, Edgecomb, Georgetown, Harpswell, Phippsburg, Richmond, Topsham, West Bath, Westport Island, Wiscasset and Woolwich.