AmerUs Group Added to Russell 1000 Index.

DES MOINES, Iowa -- AmerUs Group Co. (NYSE:AMH), a leading producer of life insurance and annuity products, announced today it has been added to the Russell 1000 Index. Previously, the company had been included in the Russell 2000 and Russell 3000 indices. The Russell indices are the most widely used set of performance benchmarks among passive and active investment managers, including pension plans and other institutional investment products.

"We are very pleased to be added to the Russell 1000 Index as this large cap designation reflects the fact that investors like our growth strategy and our consistent financial results," said Roger K. Brooks, chairman and chief executive officer of AmerUs Group.

Annual reconstitution of the Russell indices captures the 3,000 largest U.S. stocks as of the end of May, ranking them by total market capitalization to create the Russell 3000. As a broad market index, the Russell 3000 represents approximately 98 percent of the U.S. stock market and the vast majority of traded securities. The largest 1,000 companies in the ranking comprise the large-cap Russell 1000 while the remaining 2,000 companies become the small-cap Russell 2000.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical information and relate to future operations, strategies, financial results or other developments. Additionally, forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Statements such as "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "goal," "objective," "target," "may," "should," "estimate," "projects," or similar words as well as specific projections of future results qualify as forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements can be found in the company's 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statement was made and AmerUs Group undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that other factors not currently anticipated by the company will not materially and adversely affect our results of operations. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf.

About AmerUs Group

AmerUs Group Co. is located in Des Moines, Iowa, and is engaged through its subsidiaries in the business of marketing individual life insurance and annuity products in the United States. Its major subsidiaries include: AmerUs Life Insurance Company, American Investors Life Insurance Company, Inc., Bankers Life Insurance Company of New York and Indianapolis Life Insurance Company.

As of March 31, 2005, AmerUs Group's total assets were $23.5 billion and shareholders' equity totaled $1.6 billion, including accumulated other comprehensive income. For more information about AmerUs Group, go to www.amerus.com.