About Us
For 159 years, Guardian has been providing high-quality insurance products to more than 20 million Americans.
Our Story
About Guardian Direct®
Our industry is changing – because the world is, too. Now, everyone cuts their own path. From self-starting entrepreneurs to self-sufficient retirees. And for you, the old approach to insurance and financial planning isn’t cutting it anymore. You want options. Control. Access. Transparency. You want help choosing the best plan for you. That’s why we created Guardian Direct.
Our History
Guardian Direct may be new, but our beliefs aren’t. More than 155 years ago, Guardian Life Insurance was started by a civil rights lawyer named Hugo Wesendonck. His dream was to build a company that could offer quality care to everyone. Let no one fall through the cracks. Now, we’re carrying that torch into the future.
Our Mission
The Guardian Direct mission is to make Guardian insurance coverage easily accessible to everyone. The way we live and work is changing. The way Guardian offers insurance needs to change too. Our challenges, our dreams – they’re all unique. And everyone deserves a plan that’s right for them. Guardian Direct is here to help.
Our Values
Everyone Counts
To us, you're not just a policy or a plan -- you're a person.
Do the Right Thing
Your trust deserves honesty and integrity in return. It’s not "the high road," it’s the only road.
Be Accountable
We hold our products, services, and ourselves to the highest standard. If we make a mistake, we fix it.
Our Team
Peggy Maher
Guardian Direct® Lead
Peggy Maher
Guardian Direct® Lead
Making Guardian insurance coverage accessible to everyone through Guardian Direct, a new digital way to research, buy and manage insurance products that is clear, simple, and transparent.
Favorite insurance lingo: Provider (translation: a Dentist, Doctor)
Jalal Shawwa
Customer Care Lead
Jalal Shawwa
Customer Care Lead
Serving our members with care, whether online, on the phone, or behind the scenes, and improving their experience every day.
Favorite insurance lingo: EOB (translation: a claim's Explanation of Benefits, or details of what Guardian paid)
Marcia Vannuccini
Product & Partnerships Lead
Marcia Vannuccini
Product & Partnerships Lead
Finding new ways to reach consumers with Guardian Direct's clear product choices and simple shopping experience. Have a partnership opportunity? Contact marcia_vannuccini@glic.com
Favorite insurance lingo: Coinsurance (translation: the portion of costs that you pay)
Lisa Brooks-Pelc
Business Delivery Lead
Lisa Brooks-Pelc
Business Delivery Lead
Creating customer-centric, innovative solutions for researching, browsing, and buying insurance products and servicing them after purchase.
Favorite insurance lingo: FAD (translation: Find a Dentist, which doesn't sound nearly as cool as the acroynm)
Peter Kostakis
Guardian Direct Tech Lead
Peter Kostakis
Guardian Direct Tech Lead
Building a seamless experience for insurance shoppers and for our members, with a special focus on all things digital.
Favorite insurance lingo: Copay (translation: a fixed dollar amount you pay at the time of service.)
Chip Bunker
Tech Platforms Lead
Chip Bunker
Tech Platforms Lead
Ensuring our product, claims, & billing systems run efficiently and support the needs of members.
Favorite insurance lingo: DHMO (translation: Dental Health Maintenance Organization. Hmmm. Need more? Try this: What does DHMO mean and how does a DHMO plan work?)
Our Financial Strength
We’re backed by one of the insurance industry’s most stable companies. Guardian takes a smart approach to managing investments, achieving high financial strength ratings year after year, so we can keep our promises to our customers.
A.M. Best
A++
Superior
Highest of 15 ratings
Fitch
AA+
Very Strong
2nd highest of 21 ratings
Moody's
Investors Service
Aa2
Excellent
3rd highest of 21 ratings
Standard & Poor's
AA+
Very Strong
2nd highest of 22 ratings
Comdex Ranking
98
Out of 100
The ratings of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian) quoted in this report are as of December 31, 2018 and are subject to change. Comdex is not a rating, but a composite of all ratings that a company has received from the major rating agencies (A.M. Best, Standard & Poor's, Moody's and Fitch.) Comdex percentile ranks the companies, on a scale of 1 to 100 (with 100 being the best).
Resources
Dental Health
Dental Insurance for Part-Time Employees
If you’re a part-time employee, you may not be aware of the benefits you qualify for because of your work status.
Vision Health
How to Protect Your Vision as a Freelancer
Learn tips for protecting your eyes and vision as a freelancer — and why you need to.