Business overview  Results of operations – Americas 32 Overview of sales and distribution channels  Term life insurance Universal life insurance Whole life insurance Other life insurance Supplemental health and specialty insurance Long-term care insurance Sales and distribution Affinity markets Aegon USA Overview of business lines Life & Protection  Products  Aegon Canada Aegon USA Aegon USA uses a variety of sales and distribution channels in  the United States. These include: In addition, Aegon USA provides a range of products and services  online, and uses direct and worksite marketing. Generally, Aegon  USA companies are focused on particular products or market  segments, ranging from lower income to high-net-worth  individuals, and from small to large corporations. Transamerica Life Canada (TLC) provides life insurance products  to Canadian consumers. By working through a variety of  distribution channels, TLC has acquired a national network of  thousands of independent advisors. These advisors provide  middle market Canadians with individual life insurance and  protection products. Canadian Premier offers simplified life,  group creditor and accident and sickness coverage. Distribution  channels include: Life & Protection (L&P), the largest of the three divisions, serves  customers in a broad range of market segments. Consumers may  choose to purchase directly or through career (or independent)  agents, the worksite, or sponsored (or affinity) groups. L&P  offers a comprehensive portfolio of protection solutions.  Products offered include whole life, universal life, variable  universal life, indexed universal life and term life insurance, and  supplemental health, specialty insurance, and long-term care  protection. The Affinity Markets group markets directly to consumers  through either broad market or affinity relationships, including  associations, employers, financial institutions, retailers, and  other sponsor groups. Life, supplemental health, and specialty  accident and membership products are offered through a variety  The L&P division is organized by distribution channel, with  a shared services support platform. Each channel focuses on  a specific type of distribution method and target market. The  L&P distribution channels include affinity markets, agency group,  brokerage, worksite, and broker-dealer. Long-term care (LTC) insurance products provide benefits  to policyholders who require care due to a chronic illness  or cognitive impairment. LTC insurance serves as an asset  protection tool by reimbursing policyholders for costly expenses  associated with LTC services, and it may also help a family  better manage the financial, health and safety issues that are  associated with LTC. Supplemental health insurance products are sold primarily  through affinity markets and include accidental death, other  injury, critical illness, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement,  retiree medical and student health. Specialty lines include travel,  membership and creditor (installment, mortgage or guaranteed  auto protection) products. Life products also include life insurance sold as part of defined  benefit pension plans, single premium products, and additional  optional benefits. Whole (or permanent) life insurance provides life-long death  benefit protection as long as required premiums are paid,  while accumulating tabular cash values based on statutory  requirements. Premiums are generally fixed and usually payable  over the life of the policy. Universal life insurance pays death benefits, accumulates cash  values at interest rates that adjust periodically, and has flexible  premiums. Indexed universal life products have both interest rate  guarantees and interest crediting linked in part to performance  of an index, subject to a cap. Variable universal life products  include varying investment options for cash values. Term life insurance provides protection for a stated period of  time. Benefits are paid to policy beneficiaries in the event of the  death of the insured during a specified period. ■ Independent and career agents; ■ Registered Representatives; ■ Independent marketing organizations; ■ Banks; ■ Regional and independent broker-dealers; ■ Benefit consulting firms; ■ Wirehouses; ■ Affinity groups; ■ Institutional partners; ■ Third party administrators. Annual Report 2013 ■ Independent and career agents; ■ Independent managing general agencies; ■ Agencies owned by Transamerica Life Canada; ■ Bank-owned national broker-dealers and mutual fund dealers; ■ Bank and credit union affinity partners.