Combined Insurance

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Combined Insurance
IndustryInsurance
Founded1922
Headquarters
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsSupplemental Health, Life
Disability and Accident
Insurance Policies
RevenueUS$926,965 (2010)
Total assetsUS$2,925,416 (2010)
Number of employees
7,000 Worldwide
Websitewww.combinedinsurance.com

Combined Insurance is a global provider of supplemental insurance, including accident insurance, life insurance and critical care coverage. Combined Insurance operates in North America, Latin America, Europe and the Pacific. The company is headquartered in Glenview, Illinois.

History

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In 1922, W. Clement Stone, with a borrowed $100, started Combined Registry Company[1] in Chicago.

During the difficulty of the Great Depression, Stone, in 1929 cut his field force to just 135 agents – from more than 1,000 agents – to increase efficiency. In 1939, after weathering the depression, Stone created the Combined Mutual Casualty Company, which was established when Combined Registry Company purchased the American Casualty Company in Texas. In 1947 the company changed its name to Combined Insurance Company of America.

The years between 1959 and 1963 marked a time of growth and expansion. The company expanded into Australia, then Puerto Rico and the Bahamas, then into Europe with the addition of England[2] and Northern Ireland. In 1962 Stone authored the self-help book, “The Success System That Never Fails.”

In 1971, the Combined Life Insurance Company of New York was established.

In 1980, shareholders of Combined Insurance Company of America approved the formation of a holding company, Combined International Corporation, which traded publicly on the New York Stock Exchange under the call letters PMA. Two years later the company merged with Ryan Insurance Group with Stone becoming the Chairman of the new company and Patrick Ryan becoming the President and CEO. The new company was renamed Aon – a Gaelic word signifying oneness and unity – in 1987[3].


Stone stepped down from day-to-day operations in the early 1990s and took the title Chairman Emeritus.

In 2008, Aon sold Combined Insurance to ACE Limited for $2.56 billion[4].

Business

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Combined Insurance offers several types of insurance policies – which vary by market and customer need – including accident, accident and sickness, critical care, Cancer, life and Medicare supplement coverage.

Combined Insurance also includes Combined Insurance Worksite Solutions – which offers supplemental insurance to complement existing employer benefits programs and Combined Insurance Select Programs, which provides niche insurance products including student accident and health insurance, employer group vision insurance and other group accident and health products.

Branding/Image

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The company’s logo has featured an eagle – albeit various versions – since its founding. In 2008, after extensive research, Combined Insurance updated its logo and created a new brand idea: “Let’s make this easy.” The logo now includes the word “Insurance” under “Combined” while the eagle was changed slightly to feature a color shade variation on the middle “feather” of the eagle.

Notes

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  1. ^ Wilson, Mark R.[1]Dictionary of Leading Chicago Businesses 1820-2000
  2. ^ [2]History of Combined Insurance
  3. ^ Martin, Douglas[3]Clement Stone Dies at 100; Built Empire on Optimism , New York Times, 5 September 2002
  4. ^ [4]ACE Completes Acquisition of Combined Insurance Company of America