HealthAmerica(R) and HealthAssurance(R) Sign Contract with Temple University Health System; Four TUHS Hospitals Join Insurers' Network.

PHILADELPHIA & HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Temple University Health System (TUHS) and HealthAmerica and HealthAssurance announced today the signing of a new agreement making four TUHS hospitals a part of the insurers' network. The hospitals are:

--Temple University Hospital,

--Temple University Children's Medical Center,

--Northeastern Hospital, and

--Jeanes Hospital.

The agreement enhances the provider network of HealthAmerica, HealthAssurance, and affiliated companies in southeastern Pennsylvania and offers their members access to some of the most-trusted hospitals in the area.

"We are pleased that Temple University Health System supports HealthAmerica's growth in the Philadelphia area," said Robert L. Dawson, president and chief executive officer of HealthAmerica and HealthAssurance. "Our agreement with them helps ensure that our members in southeastern Pennsylvania can receive the best health care possible."

"This agreement makes our unique array of health care services available to more people in our community," said Joseph W. "Chip" Marshall, chairman and chief executive officer of Temple University Health System. "HealthAmerica members can now enjoy the same quality of care and services that have made us the premier health system in the region."

HealthAmerica received approval to expand its service area in the Lehigh Valley and in southeastern Pennsylvania in 2003. It has been expanding its network of health care providers in the region serving HealthAmerica, HealthAssurance, and affiliated companies since that time.

About Temple University Health System

Created in 1996 to manage Temple University's growing array of health care services, the Temple University Health System has expanded from a single academic medical center in North Philadelphia into a healthy, five-hospital health system striving toward two simple goals - to be the premier health system and the employer of choice in the Philadelphia region.

TUHS consists of Temple University Hospital, Temple University Children's Medical Center, Jeanes Hospital, Northeastern Hospital, Temple University Hospital-Episcopal Campus, Temple Transport Team and Temple Physicians, Inc. - a network of community-based physician practices.

The Health System maintains a vigorous and dynamic platform for teaching and education, while enhancing the health of the communities it serves. The non-profit network of hospitals and physicians provides a comprehensive array of inpatient and outpatient services and provides an environment for the highest quality patient care, teaching, and training. Temple University Hospital is the chief clinical training site for the Temple University School of Medicine.

About HealthAmerica and HealthAssurance

HealthAmerica Pennsylvania, Inc., has a 30-year record of providing health care benefits. HealthAmerica, HealthAssurance Pennsylvania, Inc., and affiliate companies cover over 720,000 members in Pennsylvania and Ohio through PPO, POS, HMO, Medicaid, and Medicare Advantage plans. In addition, HealthAmerica offers a product for individuals and families who are not eligible for employer-sponsored health care benefits, Medicare, or Medicaid, called HealthAmericaOne. HealthAmerica earned an "Excellent" Accreditation for its HMO plan and HealthAssurance earned an "Excellent" Accreditation for the HealthAssurance POS by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to measuring the quality of America's health care. With corporate offices in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, HealthAmerica and HealthAssurance provide managed health care products and services to over 12,000 employers in Pennsylvania and Ohio. HealthAmerica and its affiliates employ over 1,500 people in Pennsylvania. For more information, visit HealthAmerica's website at www.healthamerica.cvty.com.

HealthAmerica and HealthAssurance are subsidiaries of Coventry Health Care, Inc., a national managed health care company based in Bethesda, Maryland operating health plans, insurance companies, network rental / managed care services companies, and workers' compensation services companies. Coventry provides a full range of risk and fee-based managed care products and services, including HMO, PPO, POS, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, Medicaid, Workers' Compensation and Network Rental to a broad cross section of employer and government-funded groups, government agencies, and other insurance carriers and administrators in all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. More information is available on the Internet at www.cvty.com and www.firsthealth.com.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, relating to future events or future financial performance. Actual performance may be significantly impacted by certain risks and uncertainties, including those described in Coventry Health Care, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, as filed with the SEC.