NEW YORK: Oxford Health Plans honored twenty-nine Asian-American brokers for their outstanding achievement by hosting the "Asian Initiatives' Annual Broker Appreciation Dinner" in Flushing, Queens. In addition to recognizing the award recipients, Oxford also announced its 2007 business theme- "Serving the Client Together."

Oxford will enhance its assistance to brokers to service their healthcare clients, including members and Benefit Administrators. During the appreciation dinner, Christopher Law, Vice President of the Asian Initiative, UnitedHealthcare, remarked, "Oxford's Asian Initiative is committed to the Asian-American community. With our brokers' continued effort and support, we have always been regarded as the first healthcare choice for Asian-American businesses. In 2007, we will provide our brokers with even greater support, increase selling opportunities, offer higher quality services, and promote plans designed to meet different clients' needs. Most importantly, we will continue to work with our brokers together for better results." With regard to health plan improvement, Law also shared two great pieces of news.

He noted, "In 2007, UnitedHealthcare will enhance many features of Oxford's small group plans; for example, reducing the premium in the first quarter for these plans. In addition, the Oxford Exclusive Plan and Oxford Exclusive Plan Metro will have access to nationwide network. Most of all, we are going to launch a brand new Sole Propriety Plan-especially tailored to suit the needs of sole proprietors in the Asian-American community."

Among the 29 outstanding brokers, four were South-Asian brokers, 10 Chinese and 15 Korean brokers. Diamond Awards were given to Amin Khatri (South-Asian market); Tony Wong and Paul Lu (Chinese market); and Soloman Agency Corporation (Korean market). Silver Awards were given to Yogesh Patel (South-Asian market); Simon Mo (Chinese market); Okjoo Moon, Mee Ho Rhu, Yunhee Lee, and Young Jin Chun (Korean market).

One of the South-Asian awardees, Amin Khatri, commented, "Our agency focuses on small and large group health insurance products, especially in the tri-state area. Most of our clients are 75-80 percent multicultural in terms of demographics, primarily South Asian or Asian.

Oxford's Asian Initiatives Program works tremendously to help us increase existing business and gain the potential of this market. Our synergistic partnership, in turn, translates into maximizing the realization of both our business goals and better service for our clients."

Oxford Health Plans established its Asian Initiatives program in 1994, making it one of the first health plans to provide health care coverage to the Asian community in New York City's Chinatown area. The Asian Initiatives has since expanded to include the Korean community and opened its Queens office in 2002, and again expanded to the South-Asian market in 2005.