Altru Health System Added as Provider to Medica Essential Product.

MINNETONKA, Minn. -- Medica today announced the addition of Altru Health System as a provider in its Medica Essential(SM) product. The addition is effective April 1, 2006. Altru Health System, headquartered in Grand Forks, North Dakota, has more than 180 physicians and serves residents of northeastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota.

Medica Essential is a focused network of leading care systems, providing simplicity of service in a cost-effective product. Members select a primary care clinic that is part of a comprehensive care system of primary care and specialty care providers, hospitals and other health professionals. The primary care clinic coordinates health care services on behalf of the member.

"The addition of Altru Health System to our Essential network is important as Medica's presence in northeastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota continues to grow," said Dr. Ted Loftness, M.D., Medica Vice President of Regional Health Services. "We are delighted to work with Altru Health System to provide our members additional choice and excellence in health care. Our organizations share a commitment to community care services and improving health. This partnership will be a great benefit to those areas we both serve."

"We are very pleased to expand our relationship with Medica," stated Altru's Chief Financial Officer Dwight Thompson. "We look forward to being part of their Essential provider network."

Altru Health System also serves Medica members in several other products, including Medica Choice,(R) Passport from Medica(TM) and products serving government programs and Medicare enrollees.

About Medica

Medica is a 1.3 million-member health insurance company headquartered in Minneapolis and active in the Upper Midwest. The non-profit company provides health care coverage in the employer, individual, Medicaid, Medicare and Medicare Part D markets in Minnesota and a growing number of counties in North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Medica also offers national network coverage to employers who also have employees outside the Medica regional network.

Medica has the highest accreditation status, Excellent, from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA(R)) for its Minnesota and North Dakota Medicaid HMO plans and commercial health plans. Medica's vision is to become the community's health plan of choice, trusted for its integrity, respected for its service, and admired for its commitment to innovation and efficiency.

About Altru Health System

Altru Health System is an integrated health system with headquarters on a 90-acre medical campus in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It was created July 1, 1997 when the Grand Forks Clinic and United Health Services integrated. A team of more than 3,400 employees, 180 physicians, 40 mid-levels and 400 volunteers serve approximately 200,000 residents of northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota.