Consumer Health Interactive Launches First e-Health Portal for Private European Health Insurer; Contract With Vhi Healthcare Gives San Francisco-Based Company Global Reach.

Business Editors/Health & Internet Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BW HealthWire)--July 12, 2000

Spotlighting the value of the Internet as a resource for consumers and health plan sponsors globally, Ben Wilson, president of Consumer Health Interactive (CHI), today announced that the company has become the first American firm to launch an e-health portal for a European private health insurer.

The consumer site, Vhihealthe, www.vhihealthe.com, was created for Vhi Healthcare (Vhi). The addition of a European client positions CHI as a leading player both nationally and globally in the expanding e-health portal marketplace.

Vhi Healthcare is Ireland's largest private health insurer, with approximately 1.5 million members. This represents a market share of almost 40% of the total Irish population. In addition, Vhi provides health-care coverage to many Americans who work for U.S. companies with offices in Ireland, including Intel, Xerox and Microsoft.

Vhihealthe is the first Web site in Ireland to offer customized health-care information to the consumer, delivering on the organization's commitment to helping its members lead longer, healthier lives.

Furthermore, while Vhi is more than 40 years old and well established in the marketplace, company executives have been researching ways to ensure Vhi services are relevant to the growing ranks of younger plan members who are increasingly using the Internet in their daily lives.

"CHI has a unique focus on building an e-health portal that meets the specific objectives and needs of our customers and their members, rather than building our own brand," said Wilson. "We are honored that a European plan has selected CHI to create more effective health-care programs and improve overall communication with consumers and health-care providers."

"We believe our health-care products and services have much to offer to the people who live and work in Ireland -- young and old," said Oliver Tattan, chief executive officer of Vhi Healthcare. "However, we also realize that to enable younger audiences to benefit from our services, we must use relevant communication channels.

"We looked at a number of firms, both in Europe and the United States. CHI's experience and ability to quickly design and implement an e-health portal helped us decide they were the ideal partner to help us fulfill our Internet goals."

CHI will provide a private label e-health portal with full content in eight areas including: Fitness & Nutrition; Lifestyle & Wellness; Women's Health; Men's Health; Children's Health; Pregnancy & Baby; Alternative Health; and Ills & Conditions.

In addition, the site will provide a medical library with health topics from A to Z and a graphically rich, HTML-personalized weekly newsletter for plan members and nonmembers as well. With the newsletter, members can select their specific areas of interest (e.g., allergies, pregnancy, diabetes, etc.) and receive breaking news on topics of their choice.

"We want this site to become the definitive Irish health portal and a gateway for information to all Vhi Healthcare constituents including members, physicians, employer groups and other partners," said Tattan. "CHI's ability to help us customize the site, complete with photos, colors and content that speaks to our members, will help us reach our goal."

Another contributing factor in Vhi Healthcare's decision to select CHI was its ability to help provide relevant and meaningful content. "Content is key for an e-health portal," said Wilson. "The health-care feature stories, news and analysis are what will drive consumers to use the site and will help ensure that they and the health plan receive maximum value."

To ensure that the content is localized and will provide information of interest and value to an Irish audience, it will be written and developed by physicians with the Irish Royal Academy of Physicians. CHI's prize-winning health-care editorial staff will provide editing and content development services.

About CHI

Consumer Health Interactive (CHI) is a leading developer of a new breed of health-care Web sites called e-health portals. These portals integrate information on specific services for health plans with engaging, clinically reviewed content, e-commerce opportunities and a broad range of other services including disease management programs and personalized e-mail newsletters.

Providing both private label and co-branded sites, CHI's products and services are specifically designed to meet the operational and marketing needs of health-care organizations, employers and other sponsors of health benefit programs.

Recognizing the value of e-health portals and CHI's emerging leadership position, Advance Paradigm Inc. (API) also completed investment in CHI in January of 2000. API is one of the nation's leading health improvement companies and provides pharmacy benefit management services as well as disease and health programs to many of the nation's largest health plans and employers.

Whitney & Co., a leading venture capital firm in the New York Metropolitan area, is also a significant investor in the company. Founded in 1998, CHI now works with several of the nation's leading health plans and employers. CHI is located at 539 Bryant Street, Suite 200; San Francisco, Calif., 94107; phone: [phone]; URL: www.consumerhi.com.

About Vhi Healthcare

The Voluntary Health Insurance Board (Vhi Healthcare) was founded in 1957 to provide insurance for people requiring private medical care in Ireland. Its head office is located in the capital, Dublin, and it has a network of offices throughout Ireland.

Since its foundation, Vhi Healthcare has grown and developed into a world-class health insurance company. Vhi offers its 1.5 million members a growing range of health-care insurance plans and services. Products include a range of 10 hospital insurance plans, and Vhi Healthcare Global, which insures Irish people living abroad.

Vhi's experience in sourcing private health care and paying medical bills has made it one of the most efficiently run funds of its type in the world.

Vhi Healthcare is investing heavily in e-commerce to facilitate corporate group schemes and private members alike. The Vhi Health Portal, www.vhihealthe.com, launched June 13, 2000, will become the definitive Irish Health Portal, offering a wealth of health information and interactive services.