New Premera Data Shows Wellness at Work Can Buck the Trend of General Health Decline.

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, Wash. -- Premera Blue Cross:

--Premera Announces Novel Springboard(TM) Program -- Insurer Will Subsidize up to Two Years of Employers' Program Costs for Employees' Personal Health Assessments and Personal Health Coaching

--Premera Introduces Health Risk Management Program at 10 a.m. PDT on June 14 at News Conference Being Held at the Edgewater Hotel in Seattle

To help employers assist their employees in preventing poor health conditions that result from unhealthy lifestyles, Premera Blue Cross announced today encouraging results by Washington state employers adopting health risk management (HRM) programs -- and introduced a new program, Springboard(TM), designed to dramatically accelerate the rate at which employers can build a culture of wellness in their workplace and inspire their employees to adopt healthier habits.

"Employers increasingly are considering HRM programs to address declining workplace health and rising healthcare costs," said Gubby Barlow, CEO of Premera Blue Cross. "We're launching Springboard(TM) to enhance support for our members at every stage of health. This is part of a larger effort aimed at twin goals of better health and more sustainable costs for our members."

With Washington state health officials, prominent employers and consultants, Premera announced the Springboard(TM) program, which will subsidize up to two years of HRM program costs -- including annual confidential personal health assessments and personal health coaching -- for mid-size and larger employer groups in every state the company serves, as a way to jump-start efforts to improve employee wellness in the Northwest.

"The health challenges facing Washington residents have never been greater," said Maxine Hayes, M.D., Washington State Health Officer. "Increased rates of obesity, diabetes and other preventable conditions combined with decreased amounts of physical activity are putting more people at risk for fast declining health later in life."

Premera's analysis, involving results from three major Washington corporations, shows a clear opposite, positive trend. The first year HRM results from these employer groups demonstrate that every employer saw significant improvement in a single year for employees identified as high risk, while keeping moderate to low-risk groups from moving into the high-risk category.

"Personal health assessments and personal health coaching work. These results, in context with longer term studies, are exceptionally encouraging," said Dave Johnson, M.D., regional medical director for Premera Blue Cross. "We're seeing a dramatic improvement in wellness in a short period of time."

Other studies show a strong correlation between improved wellness scores and fewer sick days, increased productivity and reduced health-care costs for the employer, Dr. Johnson noted. "We are hopeful these employer groups will take a similar track," Dr. Johnson said.

"Our employer groups using HRM programs in the past have already begun seeing the benefits of a healthier employee population," said Barlow. "We expect that Springboard(TM) will allow more employers to take the important first step to building a culture of wellness in their workplace."

For employers interested in a more intensive HRM program, including components such as on-site biometric testing and participation in a multi-employer trust, ClearAdvantage (a Premera program) is offered through ClearPoint, LLC. The trust is expected to be formed by Fall 2006.

Premera will be holding a news conference to discuss the results and the new Springboard(TM) program. The conference will be held at the Edgewater Hotel in Seattle, WA (2411 Alaskan Way, Pier 67), beginning at 10 a.m. PDT. Members of the media may also listen to the news conference on the web at www.pugetsoundvideo.net. After entering the site, click on the Premera Blue Cross tab on the left. When the Premera logo appears at the top, click on it and that will open a windows media player showing the meeting live.

A white paper is linked to this news release at www.premera.com/newsroom.

About Premera Blue Cross

Our mission is to provide peace of mind to our members about their health-care coverage. We provide health insurance and related services to more than 1.3 million people. Premera Blue Cross has operated in Washington since 1933, and Alaska since 1957. Premera Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

Premera Blue Cross is a member of a family of companies based in Mountlake Terrace, Washington, that provide health, life, vision, dental, and long-term care insurance, and other related services.