Voluntary Benefits

A market veteran wants Congress to make the plans a lot easier to use.

Hartford Insurance sees selling life, disability, dental and vision plans to employers with fewer than 500 plan participants as a top strategic priority.

"There's a great opportunity, given the set of capabilities we have, to look to continue our product diversification," Andrew Sullivan, Prudential's chief executive officer, said.

The company's chief financial officer told investors that Congress needs to provide a legislative solution.

More patients are buying important medications outside plan boundaries.

The benefits can also help fill the gaps created by shrinking major medical coverage, insurers say.