Access Health Reports Record Revenues, Earnings for Third Quarter; Revenues increase 95 percent over prior year quarter, earnings up 240 percent.

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July, 18, 1996--Access Health, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACCS) reported net income of $2.4 million or 17 cents a share on revenue of $17 million for its third fiscal quarter ended June 30, 1996, compared to net income of $604,000 or 5 cents a share on revenue of $8.7 million for the same period a year ago. Per share amounts have been adjusted to reflect the company's 3 for 2 stock split effective February 29th.

Revenues from the company's personal health management business increased 155 percent from the prior year period and represented 86 percent of total revenues in the current quarter.

During the third quarter, average enrollment in Personal Health Advisor increased to 10.2 million, compared to average enrollment of 7.4 million during the second quarter of fiscal 1996. The company exited the quarter with 10.3 million members enrolled.

Personal Health Advisor is a membership service that provides members with access to a broad range of healthcare information and services, including access to registered nurse counselors, health educators, physician referral specialists, pre-recorded health information topics through Personal Health Advisor's AudioHealth Library, and printed health-related literature. Members have access to the service 24 hours a day, seven days a week over the telephone from any location in the world, providing them with immediate information whether they are at home, at the office or traveling.

Kenneth B. Plumlee, chairman and chief executive officer of Access Health, Inc., said the company's strong financial performance and enrollment gains reflect the growing interest among health plans, consumers and other healthcare purchasers for personal health management services.

"We are committed to maintaining our leadership position, and we are excited about the opportunities we have for bringing innovative value-added services to our members," said Thomas E. Gardner, who joined the company during the quarter as president and chief operating officer. "Our strategy will continue to focus on increasing membership across all segments of our business as well as expanding revenues per member through a variety of new products and services under development," he continued.

During the third quarter, the company reached agreements to provide Personal Health Advisor to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Connecticut; Physicians Health Services of Connecticut; TRICARE Europe; Health Partners of Alabama, Inc.; American Health Holding, Inc.; Preferred Providers Organization of Michigan; Alliance Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming.

Access Health, Inc. is a leading provider of personal health management membership services, which are designed to provide consumers with a broad range of personalized health information and services. The company's products and services include health information, prevention, and care management programs available over the telephone, through the Internet and on cable television through its investment in America's Health Network. The company's products are sponsored by health plans, self-insured employers, hospitals and health systems, and directly by consumers.

Access Health is headquartered at 11020 White Rock Road, Rancho Cordova, Calif., 95670. The phone number is 916/851-4000, the fax number is 916/852-3890 and the World Wide Web address is http://www.access-health.com.

Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release may contain forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. -0-

                          Access Health, Inc.
            Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
               (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                              (Unaudited)

                         Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended
                              June 30,             June 30,
                         ------------------    ----------------
                            1995    1996         1995    1996
                         --------- --------     ------- --------

Revenues:
Personal health management
 services.................  $ 5,765  $14,722    $12,358   $36,456
Health systems services...    2,961    2,315      8,596     7,641
                             ------   ------    -------   -------
Total revenues............    8,726   17,037     20,954    44,097

Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenues:
Personal health management
 services.................    3,661    7,436      9,025    18,807

Health systems services...    1,850    1,677      5,417     5,400

Product and other
  development..............     461    1,076      1,259     2,368
Sales and marketing........   1,022    1,636      2,580     4,668
General and administrative.     886    1,677      2,340     4,563
                              -----   ------     ------    ------
Total costs and expenses...   7,880   13,502     20,621    35,806

Income from operations......    846    3,535        333     8,291

Other income................    160      396        428     1,062
                              ------   ------    ------    ------
Income  before income taxes.   1,006    3,931       761     9,353
Provision for income taxes..     402    1,572       309     3,741
                              ------   ------    ------    ------
Net income..................  $  604  $ 2,359    $  452   $ 5,612
                              ======  =======    ======    ======

Net income per share........  $ 0.05   $ 0.17    $ 0.04    $ 0.43
                              ======   ======    ======    ======
Shares used in per
  share calculations........  11,204   13,796    11,148    13,144
                              ======   ======    ======    ======-0-

CONTACT: Access Health

Matt Plavan, (Investor Relations)

or

Jan Emerson, (Media Relations), 916/851-4000