CHICAGO, IL--(MARKET WIRE)--Nov 4, 2008 -- Fort Dearborn Life Insurance Company (Fort Dearborn Life) has been recognized by Eastbridge Consulting Group, Inc. as a leader in voluntary sales growth among companies that wrote $30 million or less in new voluntary employee benefits sales in 2007.

"We are proud to be recognized by the Eastbridge study," said Anthony F. Trani, president and CEO of Fort Dearborn Life. "As we survey current market conditions, we believe there is tremendous opportunity and growth in the voluntary insurance market.

"More companies are offering voluntary benefits to their employees as health care costs rise," Trani continued. "We have also seen growth in the retail and service sectors. As a result, we see more demand for our dental, life and disability employee benefits."

With nearly 40 years' experience, Fort Dearborn Life is among the country's leading providers of employee benefits. Fort Dearborn Life markets group life, short- and long-term disability, dental and individual annuity programs. Fort Dearborn Life has $2.2 billion in assets and $153 billion of life insurance in force. Fort Dearborn Life is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company, affirmed November 1, 2007,(1) and is rated A+ (Strong) by Standard and Poor's for financial strength in its most recent report. Fort Dearborn Life is a subsidiary of Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), a Mutual Legal Reserve Company.

Eastbridge Consulting Group, Inc. is a marketing advisory firm serving insurance and financial services organizations in the United States and Canada.

(1) A.M. Best Company rates the overall financial condition of a company using a scale of A++ (Superior) to F (In Liquidation).

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