CORRECTING and REPLACING Blue Cross and Blue Shield Offices Now Equipped with Life Saving Automatic External Defibrillators.

Business Editors

CORRECTION...by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 5, 2004

In BW5842 issued April 5, 2004: Contact information of release should read: Charlie Harman, 404-842-8980 (sted Charlie Harman, 805/557-6794).

The corrected release reads:

BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OFFICES NOW EQUIPPED WITH LIFE SAVING AUTOMATIC EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS

Part of an Overall WellPoint Program to Treat Sudden

Cardiac Arrest

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGA), an operating subsidiary of WellPoint Health Networks Inc. (NYSE: WLP), the nation's second largest health insurer, announced today that it has created a private access defibrillator (PAD) program. Nine BCBSGA offices in Atlanta, Columbus, Savannah, Augusta, and Macon have one or more AEDs installed. To date, over 160 associates have received certification in the use of these AEDs as well as CPR and First Aid.

"When completed, BCBSGA's PAD program will eventually provide the most definitive initial treatment to sudden cardiac arrest to nearly 3,300 Georgia associates," said John Watts, BCBSGA's president and chief executive officer. "These units are designed to allow any person in our offices, regardless of formal training, to provide a lifesaving bridge during the first few critical moments of cardiac arrest until emergency medical teams can arrive."

The American Heart Association (AHA) estimates that AED units could help save as many as 40,000 lives each year. Currently 95 percent of cardiac arrest victims do not survive the initial episode.

"The goal here is to ensure that if such a cardiac emergency were to occur, first responders would be able to act immediately to begin the rescue process while 911 is being called," said Louise Short M.D., acting senior medical director for BCBSGA. "The sooner defibrillation is started, the more likely the victim will survive."

According to the AHA, for every minute defibrillation is delayed, the victim's chances of survival decrease by as much as seven to ten percent. Dr. Short noted that AED use is not intended to replace care by emergency medical personnel, but as a first measure until emergency teams can respond.

BCBSGA's PAD initiative is part of a broader program to provide a safer and more secure environment for its associates. "As a service-oriented company, our associates are our greatest asset," added Watts. "The data indicates that PAD programs give our associates a better chance of surviving cardiac arrest."

Cardiac arrest is a condition in which abnormal heart rhythms called arrhythmias cause the heart's electrical impulses to suddenly become chaotic. When this happens, the heart can stop abruptly and the victim collapses and loses consciousness. Defibrillation - the delivering of an electric shock to the heart - is the best-known treatment to restore the normal rhythm. The units installed in WellPoint and BCBSGA facilities, manufactured by Cardiac Science, will not engage unless the victim is suffering cardiac arrest.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia serves more than 2.8 million medical members and is the oldest and largest health benefits company in Georgia. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia is an operating subsidiary of WellPoint Health Networks Inc., the nation's second largest publicly traded health care company serving the health care needs of more than 15 million medical members and approximately 46 million specialty members nationally. WellPoint offers a broad spectrum of quality network-based health products including open access PPO, POS and hybrid products, HMO and specialty products. Specialty products include pharmacy benefit management, dental, utilization management, vision, mental health, life and disability insurance, long term care insurance, flexible spending accounts, COBRA administration, and Medicare supplements. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia can be found on the web at www.bcbsga.com. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.