Medicare Part D Enrollment Deadline Nears; Quality Prescription Drug Plans Sign-up Deadline is Monday, May 15, 2006 at midnight; Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield Call Center to Stay Open until 9:00 p.m.

NEW YORK -- New York State Seniors looking to enroll in the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program still have some time left, but the clock is definitely ticking.

It is important that interested seniors know that the deadline to enroll in the Part D program without incurring a penalty is Monday, May 15th at midnight. After May 15, 2006, the next open enrollment period for Medicare Part D is in November. Seniors are encouraged to select a plan prior to the deadline because late enrollment penalties amount to one percent of the average monthly premium for each month of delay.

Empire has partnered with SilverScript Insurance Company, an affiliate of Caremark Rx, Inc., Empire's pharmacy benefit management company, to bring Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage to members in Empire's New York service area. Consumers will be able to choose between the SilverScript and SilverScript Plus plans designed to deliver value for those who regularly use prescriptions and those who don't.

Product highlights include:

--Two plans offered at different prices to help meet the varying needs of Medicare beneficiaries

--Both plans will cover brand name and generic drugs and can be purchased independently or in conjunction with an existing health coverage plan

--Convenient access to prescription drugs through nearly 57,000 pharmacies nationwide

--An option to obtain drugs via mail-order pharmacy

--Services through a trusted, financially stable Blue Cross Plan

The SilverScript Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Plans are available to:

--People who have Medicare Part A and/or Medicare Part B

--People who have purchased Medicare Supplemental coverage without pharmacy benefits

--People who have Medicare Supplemental coverage with drug coverage and want to discontinue the drug portion of their Supplemental coverage

--People who are turning 65 and/or becoming eligible for Medicare

"Seniors have a variety of Medicare Part D plans to choose from that are available in their area," said John Caby, Vice President, Senior Plan and Individual Products, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield. "Consumers should review each program's materials carefully prior to selecting a plan."

For those looking to enroll in SilverScripts prior to the deadline, the call center phone lines will be staffed until 7:00 p.m. on May 15, 2006. If you have questions or need assistance with the enrollment process, please contact the SilverScript Enrollment Center at 1-866-275-3072. TTY/TDD users should call 1-866-552-6288 or visit www.silverscript.com. For information provided in Spanish, please contact SilverScript at the numbers listed above.

Another option available to Medicare beneficiaries, in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester and Rockland counties, is Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield's Senior Plan Direct Plus which is a Medicare Advantage plan offering Medicare beneficiaries expanded coverage in addition to traditional Medicare. Benefits include coverage for prescription drugs (Medicare Part D), routine vision care, hearing aids and the Silver Sneaker Fitness Program offering senior-specific workout/fitness classes at participating fitness centers.

"Empire's Senior Plan Direct PPO and HMO Plus programs offer beneficiaries more options for health care coverage and are another choice for consumers to consider when determining which program will best address their healthcare needs," said Michael A. Stocker, M.D., president and CEO of Empire.

Beneficiaries who enroll by May 15, 2006 will continue to pay their existing Medicare Part A and Part B monthly premiums, as well as the Senior Plan Direct premium applicable to their area. Medicare beneficiaries interested in signing up for Senior Plan Direct should contact Empire by calling 1-800-809-7328; the call center phone lines will be staffed until 9:00 pm on May 15, 2006.

Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield is the largest health insurer in New York State, based on PPO and HMO membership, and is a subsidiary of WellPoint, Inc. WellPoint's mission is to improve the lives of the people it serves and the health of its communities. WellPoint, Inc. is the largest health benefits company in terms of commercial membership in the United States. Through its nationwide networks, the company delivers a number of leading health benefit solutions through a broad portfolio of integrated health care plans and related services, along with a wide range of specialty products such as life and disability insurance benefits, pharmacy benefit management, dental, vision, behavioral health benefit services, as well as long term care insurance and flexible spending accounts. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, WellPoint is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and serves its members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, New York (as Blue Cross Blue Shield in 10 New York City metropolitan and surrounding counties and as Blue Cross or Blue Cross Blue Shield in selected upstate counties only), Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), Wisconsin; and through UniCare. Additional information about WellPoint is available at www.wellpoint.com.

Empire HealthChoice Assurance, Inc. (EHCA) is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. EHC Benefits Agency, Inc (EHCB), an affiliate of EHCA, is a licensed insurance agent for the purposes of selling and marketing the SilverScript Insurance Company (SSC) PDP. The agent who may discuss PDP plan options with you has a contractual relationship with SSC. EHCB is being paid compensation in the form of commission based on your enrollment in the PDP plan, as well as a support fee payable to EHCA for marketing support services for the PDP product.

SilverScript Insurance Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SilverScript, Inc., offering services as a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan sponsor. SilverScript, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Caremark Rx, Inc.