Local company offering more services: AlwaysCare has expanded its family illness insurance plans for employers. The Baton Rouge-based insurer announced enhanced benefits to its group critical-illness insurance plans today. Among the new features are: coverage for children at no additional premium; more optional covered critical illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, blindness and paralysis; less time between recurrence benefits; lower rates for wellness benefits; and lowered minimum numbers for group-plan benefits. “These enhanced benefits and features are the result of months of active product marketing, sales, enrollment and feedback from agents and group clients,” says Joe Wieser, vice president of product development for AlwaysCare. The plans are available to any employer in Louisiana on an employer-paid or voluntary basis.
Back for Moore: A person familiar with the deal says Lance Moore has agreed to terms on a new five-year contract with the New Orleans Saints. Moore, who was a free agent, has been with the Saints since 2005 and steadily worked his way up from the practice squad to become one of quarterback Drew Brees’ favorite receivers. Last season, Moore played in all 16 regular season games and had 66 receptions for 763 yards and eight touchdowns.
Teams talking trade: The Vikings and Redskins are in trade discussions that would bring quarterback Donovan McNabb to Minnesota. A person with knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press today that no deal has been completed but that both sides were working to make it happen. McNabb would have to agree to restructure the five-year, $78 million deal he signed with the Redskins because the Vikings don’t have enough cap room to fit him in with the way the deal is currently structured. Foxsports.com first reported the discussions. McNabb would give the Vikings a veteran quarterback while they groom first-round draft pick Christian Ponder, who was drafted 12th overall out of Florida State in April to be the team’s long-term answer at the position. The original preference for coach Leslie Frazier and the Vikings was to have Ponder start week one in San Diego, with a veteran backup there just in case.
