[0] UnitedHealth Group and Cole Managed Vision Introduce New Eye Health Programs for AARP Members.

Business Editors & Medical Writers

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 18, 2000

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), together with Cole Managed Vision, the managed care division of Cole Corporation, has introduced new services for AARP members that provide significant savings and personalized information regarding eye exams and eyewear options. These services will be available to all of AARP's 30 million members through major U.S. retailers, including Pearle Vision, Sears Optical, Target Optical, JC Penney Optical and many independent providers.

Known as AARP Eye Health Services and AARP Vision Source, the new services provide affordable eyewear and eye care, including complimentary glaucoma pressure screenings at participating locations. These services are provided at no additional cost to AARP members.

"Eye Health Services and Vision Source will help decrease members' out-of-pocket spending, simplify the eye care purchasing experience, and help improve the quality of members' eye health," said Tom Lindquist, President of the AARP Division of UnitedHealth Group. "The program provides a valuable asset to AARP members and their health and we're excited about this opportunity."

"We have been working closely with UnitedHealth Group and AARP for many months to create a unique and innovative program," said Dennis Osgood, President of Cole Managed Vision. "Cole and our network providers are pleased to be serving the eye health needs of millions of AARP members."

UnitedHealth Group is organized into five (six) operating businesses - UnitedHealthcare, Uniprise, Ovations, Specialized Care Services, UnitedHealth Capital and Ingenix - and provides a variety of health insurance plans and other programs for AARP members. The products and services provided to AARP are managed by Ovations, which is dedicated to serving the health and well-being needs of people 50 and older. Information about other AARP health products, including products offered by UnitedHealth Group, is available at www.aarphealthcare.com. (Please note that there is no dot between aarp and healthcare.)

Cole Managed Vision is the largest chain provider of managed vision care benefits to employers, health benefit providers and other organizations. Cole, including Pearle franchises, operates more than 2,000 retail eyewear locations under the names Pearle Vision, Sears Optical, Target Optical, and BJ's Optical.