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Sun Life Financial Selects U.R.N. Transplant Centers of Excellence Network for Its Medical Stop-Loss Customers

Posted on: Friday, 18 August 2006, 12:00 CDT

Recognizing the need for employers to manage costly transplant procedures, the U.S. Group division of Sun Life Financial Inc. (NYSE: SLF) (TSX: SLF) has selected United Resource Networks (U.R.N.) to offer transplantation services to its Medical Stop-Loss policyholders. Policyholders will gain access to U.R.N.'s network of more than 100 Centers of Excellence nationwide, as well as savings at non-network facilities. U.R.N., the nation's leading transplant network, manages more than 12,000 transplant referrals a year.

The cost for an average organ transplant is $328,000(1) and can rise to $1 million if complications occur. But when employers use preferred network pricing, costs can be lowered dramatically. U.R.N.'s clients have saved an average of 42% off standard charges per transplant episode.

"Our goal was not only to help employers save money and better manage transplant claims, but also to give their employees access to some of the best facilities in the country," said Christopher Brown, Vice President, Stop-Loss Products for Sun Life Financial. "U.R.N.'s network contains some of the nation's most renowned transplant centers and has a proven track record for excellent care, superior savings and great outcomes."

U.R.N.'s services are available through Sun Life Financial's SunExcel(R) Centers of Excellence Program, which connects customers to leading Centers of Excellence across the U.S. In addition to preferred pricing, SunExcel also provides a host of financial benefits to employers and transplant patients, making it unique among programs of its kind. Sun Life Financial has offered access to transplant management services through SunExcel for more than 10 years; the selection of U.R.N. as new service vendor is effective immediately.

"We're always looking at ways to make self-funding health benefits easier for employers," said Brown. "As their partner, we want to bring services that can give them more control over their health care costs."

About Sun Life Financial

Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of wealth accumulation and protection products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Chartered in 1865, Sun Life Financial and its partners today have operations in key markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China and Bermuda. As of June 30, 2006, The Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets under management of US$346.7 billion.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under ticker symbol SLF.

About United Resource Networks

United Resource Networks provides specialized solutions for complex medical conditions, including transplantation, kidney disease, congenital heart disease, and complex cancers. Since 1986, United Resource Networks has been providing products and services that support the safe, successful and cost-effective management of patients with these conditions. More than 3,000 payors and employers, representing over 48 million individuals, utilize U.R.N.'s products and services. This purchasing power, along with U.R.N.'s contracting expertise, results in the most aggressive cost savings in the industry. Through comprehensive contracts, U.R.N.'s clients save an average of 42 percent off of standard industry charges per transplant event.

SLPC # 16360 08/06

(1) Milliman, 2006 U.S. Organ and Tissue Transplant Cost Estimates.

Source: Business Wire

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