For Second Consecutive Year, First Seniority Ranks Number One in Patient Satisfaction in Caredata Reports Survey.

BROOKLINE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 25, 1998--In an independent survey of retirees, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care's Medicare program, First Seniority (in metropolitan Boston ), has been named as having the overall highest patient satisfaction in the nation by CareData Reports, Inc. This is the second year in a row that First Seniority has achieved this recognition.

CareData Reports, Inc. rated the satisfaction levels of 13,301 Medicare HMO members, in 42 plans in 20 major Medicare markets throughout the country. It compared plans in local markets, and also rated their performance against plans in other parts of the country. The survey, conducted this year, in May through early August, is a joint effort of CareData, Towers Perrin, and more than 30 of the nation's largest employers providing retiree benefits. Locally, a total of 722 retirees in the metropolitan Boston who receive benefits from five large area employers and are members of First Seniority, Secure Horizons, Tufts Associated Health Plan's Medicare risk program, or Fallon Health Plan's Medicare risk program responded to questions about their experiences with their health plans. Together, these plans offer Medicare coverage to nearly 170,000 members in the area.

The 138-question survey gathered detailed information on issues of physician choice and access, quality of care, opinion of health plan, plan's demonstration of personal concern, etc. In a comparison of the health plans nationwide, First Seniority had the highest ranking in the nation in these categories:

Health Plan Overall Quality of Medical Care Quality of Hospitals Concern Shown for Health and Well-being Likely to Recommend Plan Likely to Re-enroll in Plan

According to Ellen Offner, Harvard Pilgrim's vice president for Medicare programs, achieving first in the nation status for high member satisfaction for employees of group health plans, for two consecutive years is profoundly rewarding. She said, "This recognition reaffirms for us that we are successful in listening to our members and providing them with the quality and access that they deserve. We appreciate their confidence and will continue to work diligently to earn their high praise."

CareData Reports, Inc., is a managed care consumer research firm based in New York, NY, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Medirisk, Inc., a leading provider of proprietary databases, related decision-support software and analytical services to the health care industry.

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care is New England's largest not-for-profit health plan, providing care and coverage to 1.4 million members in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. It has been recognized as one of the best health plans in the nation in surveys conducted last year by Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report. And, this summer, the organization received the J.D. Powers and Associates award for highest member satisfaction in the Boston area.

    CONTACT: Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
              Patti Embry-Tautenhan, 617/731-7413