Symetra Names Christine Carlson Vice President, Stop Loss Claims

BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 16, 2025--

Symetra Life Insurance Company, a stop loss pioneer and industry leader, today announced the appointment of Christine Carlson as vice president, Stop Loss Claims.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250116711083/en/

Ms. Carlson brings to her new role more than 18 years of leadership experience in managing high-performing teams and driving operational excellence within claims operations, including deep expertise in stop loss, organ transplant claims, cost containment, and quality audits.

Ms. Carlson joins Symetra from Tokio Marine HCC, where, as senior vice president, Claims Operations & Innovation, she managed a $2 billion portfolio. She previously held senior claims positions at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.

“We are delighted to welcome Christine as our new VP of stop loss claims,” said Jeremy Freestone, senior vice president, Stop Loss Business Strategy. “Our stop loss unit is a critical component of the solutions-driven product suite we offer employers looking to effectively manage their healthcare costs. Christine’s extensive claims management experience, her passion for optimizing processes, leading cost containment initiatives, driving innovation, and building strong partnerships will be invaluable assets as we continue to deliver on our reputation for superior claims experience.”

Ms. Carlson earned a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Wisconsin.

Symetra has been a stop loss provider for nearly 50 years. Medical stop-loss insurance protects companies that self-fund their health insurance plans against large or catastrophic claims. Employers with stop-loss insurance are reimbursed for individual employees’ medical costs above a certain pre-determined dollar amount. Stop-loss insurance also protects against unexpectedly large amounts of total medical claims. In such a case, the coverage kicks in once a certain amount has been paid by a client toward all of its employee medical bills.

About Symetra

Symetra Life Insurance Company is a subsidiary of Symetra Financial Corporation, a diversified financial services company based in Bellevue, Washington. In business since 1957, Symetra provides employee benefits, annuities and life insurance through a national network of benefit consultants, financial institutions, and independent financial professionals and insurance producers. For more information, visit www.symetra.com.

Christine Carlson has joined Symetra as vice president, Stop Loss Claims. (Photo: Business Wire)

DODOMA, Tanzania (AP) — Tanzania’s president has, for the first time since the disputed October election, commented on a six-day internet shutdown as the country went through its worst postelection violence.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Thursday expressed “sympathy” to diplomats and foreign nationals living in the country, saying the government would strive to ensure there is never a repeat of the same.

Hassan won the October election with more than 97% of the vote after candidates from the two main opposition parties were barred from running and the country’s main opposition leader remained in prison facing treason charges.

Violence broke out on election day and went on for days as the internet was shut down amid a heavy police crackdown that left hundreds of people dead, according to rights groups.

Hassan blamed the violence on foreigners and pardoned hundreds of young people who had been arrested, saying they were acting under peer pressure.

Speaking to ambassadors, high commissioners and representatives of international organizations on Thursday in the capital, Dodoma, she sought to reassure envoys of their safety, saying the government would remain vigilant to prevent a repeat of the disruption.

“To our partners in the diplomatic community and foreigners residing here in Tanzania, I express my sincere sympathy for the uncertainty, service restrictions and internet shutdowns you experienced,” she said.

Hassan defended her administration, saying the measures were taken to preserve constitutional order and protect citizens.

“I assure you that we will remain vigilant to ensure your safety and prevent any recurrence of such experiences,” the president told diplomats on Thursday.

Tanzania has, since the October elections, established a commission of inquiry to look into the violence that left hundreds dead and property worth millions of shillings destroyed in a country that has enjoyed relative calm for decades.

Foreign observers said the election failed to meet democratic standards because key opposition figures were barred.

FILE - Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan delivers remarks during a campaign rally ahead of the general elections in Iringa, Tanzania, Oct. 5, 2025. (AP Photo, File)