Group Benefit Associates

What Group Benefit Associates does

Group Benefit Associates (GBA) is a privately held third-party administrator based in Glenview, Illinois, that designs and administers supplemental employee benefit programs on behalf of unions, associations, and municipalities. Its customer base is concentrated in organized labor and union-affiliated retirees, including SAG-AFTRA, the National Coalition of Labor (NCL), IBEW Local 109, the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC), Sheet Metal Workers Local 73, and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Retirement Fund (MWRDRF). GBA originates and services these plans but does not underwrite the insurance; it relies on a carrier stack of MetLife, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, Cigna, and VSP Vision for risk-bearing and claims adjudication, while GBA handles enrollment, premium collection (automatic monthly on the 15th), customer service, and member-facing web portals configured per union group.

The product portfolio spans dental (PPO available in all 50 states; DHMO in ten states), vision, short-term and long-term disability income insurance, life insurance, and complementary administrative services including Section 125/132 Premium Only Plans, COBRA administration, HRA/HSA administration, and qualified retirement savings plans (401k, 403b, 457 deferred compensation, DROP). Pricing is per-participant subscription, with documented monthly premiums ranging from approximately $13.75 (NCL STD $250/week) to $143.06 (MWRDRF Dental PPO family) and standalone SAG-AFTRA dental rates tiered by PPO vs. DHMO and state. The go-to-market is sales-led, executed through union and association partnerships, with each partner served via a dedicated sub-portal on the GBA website.

The business model is administrative rather than risk-bearing: GBA collects premiums from members and remits to carriers, retaining an administrative fee. The firm is small (1-10 employees), operates from a single headquarters in Glenview, IL, and discloses no revenue, funding history, or ownership structure. Distribution is geographically bound by the carrier network and state-by-state plan filings (e.g., DHMO restricted to ten states; SAG-AFTRA DHMO restricted to CA, NY, NJ, IL, FL, TX), limiting footprint relative to national TPAs but reinforcing the niche, partnership-first model.

Name

Group Benefit Associates

Legal name

Group Benefit Associates

Website

https://groupba.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Group Benefit Associates is a privately held third-party administrator in Glenview, Illinois that designs and administers supplemental dental, vision, disability, and life benefits for union members, retirees, and municipal groups through partnerships with MetLife, Guardian, Cigna, and VSP.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Third-Party Benefits Administration

NAICS

Health and Welfare Funds (525120), Other Insurance Funds (525190)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411), Hospital & Medical Service Plans (6324)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAEALAH

Eligibility, Enrollment & Benefits Administration

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Health Insurance & Managed Care/Third-Party Administration (TPA) & Administrative Services Only (ASO)

SECONDARYFSAIAHAH

Employer-Sponsored Dental & Vision (Group)

Financial & Insurance/Insurance — Life & Health/Dental & Vision Insurance

SECONDARYFSAIAIAB

Group Disability Income Insurance (Employer-Sponsored)

Financial & Insurance/Insurance — Life & Health/Disability Income Insurance (Short- & Long-Term)

SECONDARYBPAAAIAB

Benefits Administration & Enrollment Support

Business & Public Services/Administrative & Support Services (BPO, Call Centers, Back Office)/HR Operations Outsourcing (Onboarding, Benefits, HR Admin)

SECONDARYHLAEALAK

Flexible Benefits Administration (FSA/HSA/HRA)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Health Insurance & Managed Care/Third-Party Administration (TPA) & Administrative Services Only (ASO)

Keywords

• Third-party benefits administration
• Supplemental dental insurance
• Union disability insurance
• Retiree vision coverage
• Consumer-driven health insurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Glenview

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Insurance Premium Administration: GBA collects monthly premiums from plan participants (union members, retirees) via automatic bank account or credit card deduction. Premiums are collected on the 15th of each month prior to the coverage month. GBA serves as third-party administrator for insurance carriers including MetLife, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, and Cigna.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Group Benefit Associates is a third-party benefits administrator that designs, enrolls, and services supplemental insurance programs (dental, vision, disability, medical/health, life) for unions, associations, municipalities, and their members. GBA collects monthly premiums, manages enrollment and member service, and partners with carriers such as MetLife, Guardian, Cigna, and VSP Vision to underwrite and process claims for the benefits.

Product overview

Group Benefit Associates (GBA) is a third-party administrator offering a comprehensive suite of employee benefit products designed primarily for unions, associations, and municipalities. The core offering consists of medical/health insurance, dental insurance (offered as PPO and DHMO plans through partners like Guardian and Cigna), vision insurance (through VSP Choice Network), disability income insurance (short-term and long-term), life insurance, and retirement savings plans. These are supplemented by administrative services including Section 125/132 Premium Only Plans, COBRA administration, and HRA/HSA administration. GBA serves specific union groups through branded sub-products including NCL Disability Insurance, MWRDRF Dental & Vision Plan, SAG-AFTRA Stand Alone Dental & Vision, SAG-AFTRA Supplemental Dental Plan, and IBEW Local 109 Disability Plan. The company operates primarily as a benefits administrator rather than a software platform, managing enrollment, premium collection, and claims processing for its insurance carrier partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Medical/Health Insurance Administration Custom health insurance coverage programs designed to assist unions, associations, and municipalities in filling gaps in their benefit programs. Administered by GBA as third-party administrator.
• Dental Insurance Administration Administration of dental coverage offered as PPO or DHMO plans (preventive, basic, and major dental services). PPO plans offered in all 50 states; DHMO plans available in select states.
• Vision Insurance Administration Vision benefit program through the VSP Choice Network providing coverage for eye exams, frames, lenses, and contacts with discounts at network providers.
• Disability Income Insurance Administration Short-term and long-term disability income protection insurance providing weekly tax-free benefit payments to union members during disability or illness, with benefit periods ranging from 22–24 weeks for STD.
• Life Insurance Administration Life insurance coverage provided as part of comprehensive employee benefit programs for unions, associations, and municipalities.
• Section 125 and 132 Premium Only Plans Pre-tax benefit administration plans allowing employees to pay for qualified benefits with pre-tax dollars.
• COBRA Administration Continuation coverage administration services for employees losing employer-sponsored health benefits.
• HRA and HSA Administration Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) administration services including plan building.
• Qualified Retirement Savings Plans Administration Retirement savings plan administration including 401(k), 403(b), 457 deferred compensation, and DROP plans for public employees.
• NCL Disability Insurance Voluntary short-term disability income insurance specifically designed for NCL (National Coalition of Labor) members, offering $250 or $500 per week tax-free benefit with a 24-week benefit period. Administered by GBA with MetLife as the insurance carrier.
• MWRDRF Retiree Dental & Vision Plan Stand-alone dental and vision insurance plan for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Retirement Fund retirees, surviving spouses, and eligible dependents. Offers Guardian Dental PPO and DHMO plans along with VSP Vision coverage.
• SAG-AFTRA Stand Alone Dental & Vision Dental and vision insurance plan for SAG-AFTRA union members NOT enrolled in the SAG-AFTRA Active Plan. Administered by GBA and insured by Cigna, offering PPO and DHMO dental options with vision benefits through Cigna Vision.
• SAG-AFTRA Supplemental Dental Plan Supplemental dental insurance that doubles existing dental coverage for SAG-AFTRA Active Plan members. Features a Dual Coverage Feature that can eliminate out-of-pocket costs, administered by GBA and insured by Cigna.
• IBEW Local 109 Disability Plan Voluntary short-term disability income insurance for IBEW Local 109 members, providing $250 per week tax-free benefit for 22 weeks. Administered by GBA with Guardian Life Insurance Company of America as the insurance carrier.

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• MetLifecoreOthersMetLife is the insurance carrier for NCL Short Term Disability policies. MetLife processes all claims while GBA serves as third-party administrator responsible for premium collection and member service.
• Guardian Life Insurance Company of AmericacoreOthersGuardian is the insurance carrier for IBEW Local 109 Short Term Disability policies and MWRDRF Dental Plans. Guardian processes all claims and provides the DentalGuard Preferred and First Commonwealth DHMO networks. GBA is third-party administrator.
• CignacoreOthersCigna provides dental PPO and DHMO plans for SAG-AFTRA members, including vision benefits through Cigna Vision. GBA administers these plans as third-party administrator.
• VSP VisioncoreOthersVSP provides vision coverage through the VSP Choice Network for MWRDRF retirees. GBA administers the vision benefit as part of the combined dental and vision plan.
• SAG-AFTRA UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAG-AFTRA has partnered with GBA to bring additional benefit options including custom dental and vision plans. GBA creates Custom Plans to fit the needs of SAG-AFTRA Members.
• NCL (National Coalition of Labor)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCL partnered with GBA and MetLife to offer Short Term Disability Income Insurance specifically designed for NCL members.
• IBEW Local 109coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBEW Local 109 partnered with GBA and Guardian to offer voluntary short-term disability income insurance for electrical workers.
• Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Retirement Fund (MWRDRF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMWRDRF arranged for dental and vision insurance plans for retirees, surviving spouses, and eligible dependents through GBA administration.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Cigna: Cigna insures GBA's SAG-AFTRA dental and vision plans and is a broad incumbent in dental and supplemental health benefits, often selling direct to large employer groups as well as through association/TPA channels.
• Delta Dental: Delta Dental operates the largest dental benefits carrier network in the U.S., with extensive group dental plans sold to employers, associations, and union groups; it represents the scale incumbent benchmark in GBA's largest product line.
• Unum Group: Unum is a top-tier incumbent for group disability and life insurance sold to employers and association groups across all 50 states; its scale and product breadth set the competitive benchmark GBA's smaller group plans are benchmarked against.
• Aflac: Aflac is a dominant incumbent in voluntary supplemental insurance including dental, disability, and accident products, frequently distributed through labor union and worksite channels overlapping GBA's core GTM motion.
• Lincoln Financial Group: Lincoln Financial offers group dental, disability, and life insurance through employer and association channels, representing the kind of broad incumbent alternative that competes with GBA for mid-market and association group business.
• MetLife: MetLife is a carrier partner of GBA for NCL disability and a massive incumbent offering dental, disability, vision, and life across employer groups; its size and direct-to-employer sales motion are the structural backdrop GBA operates within.
• Guardian Life Insurance: Guardian is both a carrier partner of GBA (for dental and IBEW disability) and a broad incumbent offering dental, disability, life, and vision benefits directly to employer groups; any expansion of Guardian's direct TPA capability would directly threaten GBA's positioning.

Direct peers

• Reliance Standard: Reliance Standard is a Tokio Marine HCC company providing dental, disability, life, and voluntary benefits to employer groups and labor unions, with a similar focus on supplemental and voluntary worksite products as GBA.
• Sun Life Financial: Sun Life's U.S. group benefits division sells dental, disability, and life insurance to employer groups and association/affinity groups, providing direct competition to GBA's product suite and distribution through multi-state group and association channels.
• Ameritas: Ameritas is a direct peer offering dental, vision, hearing, and disability insurance through group and voluntary/worksite channels, often through labor unions, associations, and employer groups, closely mirroring GBA's distribution and product mix.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Group Benefit Associates