Assurant Employee Benefits and Aetna Offer Larger Combined Networks through Dental PPO Network Access Arrangement; Joint network arrangement expands provider access for customers of each business.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. & HARTFORD, Conn. -- Assurant Employee Benefits, part of Assurant, Inc. (NYSE:AIZ) and Aetna (NYSE:AET) are entering into a joint dental PPO network access and servicing arrangement that allows them to offer larger combined networks to their existing and new dental PPO customers. Aetna will add to its PPO offerings the dentists contracted with Dental Health Alliance, L.L.C.(R), the dental PPO operated by Assurant Employee Benefits. Assurant Employee Benefits will begin marketing a network comprised of Dental Health Alliance(R) and the Aetna Dental Access(R) network.

"Aetna Dental is continually enhancing our ability to meet the needs of our members. This agreement complements our strategy of making it easier for members to access quality, cost-effective care," said Pat Farrell, senior vice president, Aetna Specialty Products. "Linking these two networks gives our customers access to one of the largest dental PPO networks available. In addition, this relationship advances our emerging business of providing services to other health plans and insurers."

"This is great news for our customers and it demonstrates how committed we are to addressing the benefits needs of smaller businesses," said Mike Peninger, president and CEO of Assurant Employee Benefits. "This new relationship adds to the strength of our existing Dental Health Alliance PPO. Our customers will have more choice when selecting dental providers which will enhance the attractiveness of our dental product offering."

The larger network brings several advantages. Members can choose a dentist from a larger provider panel, which offers more opportunities to use a network dentist and potentially lower out-of-pocket costs. Because members will have greater choices for their dental care, employers may expect increased satisfaction levels with plan benefits. And participating dentists in both networks will have access to more dental members.

Both companies will continue to recruit providers to their individual PPO networks.

Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 29.9 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life, long-term care and disability plans, and medical management capabilities. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans and government-sponsored plans. www.aetna.com

Assurant Employee Benefits specializes in quality employee benefits and services, including long-term and short-term disability, life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, dental coverage, and disability reinsurance management services. Assurant Employee Benefits also offers voluntary (employee-paid) disability, life and dental plans. Products and services marketed by Assurant Employee Benefits are underwritten or provided by Union Security Insurance Company, Union Security Life Insurance Company of New York, or an affiliated prepaid dental company. Assurant Employee Benefits is located in Kansas City, Missouri.

Assurant Employee Benefits is part of Assurant, which offers specialized insurance products and related services in North America and selected other markets. Its four key businesses - Assurant Employee Benefits; Assurant Health; Assurant Solutions and Assurant Specialty Property - have partnered with clients who are leaders in their industries and have built leadership positions in a number of specialty market segments in the U.S. and selected international markets.

Assurant, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AIZ. The Assurant website is www.assurant.com.