Health Net of California Selected As Healthy Families Community Provider Plan in Five Counties

Health Net of California was selected as the Community Provider Plan for five California counties — Fresno, Tulare, Napa, Yuba and Colusa — just in time for the Healthy Families open enrollment period. The state-awarded “community provider plan” designation means Health Net offers the lowest price for the Healthy Families Program health coverage in these five counties.

“The Healthy Families Program is a lifeline for many uninsured families and children in California,” said Dave Meadows, vice president, State Health Programs, Health Net of California. “Too often, families forego medical care because they lack health coverage. We are helping families understand that there are affordable options available to them to get the quality health care they need.”

Health Net was selected as the Community Provider Plan because of its commitment to the community and its strong alliances with local hospitals and physicians in those areas. Families can enroll their children in The Healthy Families Program with Health Net for the lowest premium available, ranging from $4 to $12 per child, up to a maximum of $36 per family, depending on family size and income. This means that families enrolling with Health Net can save as much as $100 per year. This coverage offers comprehensive health benefits including access to physicians, hospital services, prescription drugs, dental services and vision care. To qualify for The Healthy Families Program, children must be under the age of 19, ineligible for no cost Medi-Cal and be from a family whose income is approximately $50,000 for a family of four (about 250 percent of poverty level).

The Healthy Families Program open enrollment period runs from April 15 through May 31, with an effective date of July 1, 2007. During this time, children currently covered under The Healthy Families Program are eligible to change their health plan choice. Families not currently enrolled, but eligible for The Healthy Families Program, can join at any time throughout the year.

“When children have health insurance, they have a regular source of medical care,” said Jennifer Nuovo, MD, senior medical director, Health Net of California. “This means that care is not delayed and they are not visiting the emergency room. And when the child is healthy, the stress on the family to access care and pay for the care is reduced.”

To assist families during this open enrollment period, individuals who are eligible for The Healthy Families Program should contact a Health Net community outreach representative or attend a local enrollment fair.

For more information about Health Net and The Healthy Families Program or to find a Health Net community outreach representative in the area, please call 1.800.327.0502.

Health Net of California, a subsidiary of Health Net, Inc. (NYSE:HNT), is one of the largest health plans in California, serving nearly 2.3 million members statewide(a). It contracts with more than 51,000 physicians, 300-plus hospitals and nearly 5,000 pharmacies, giving its members greater choice and more convenient access to care. Its commercial HMO and POS and Medicare lines of business have received the “Excellent” accreditation status from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. For more information about Health Net, visit its Web site at www.healthnet.com.

(a)PPO coverage is provided by Health Net Life Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Health Net of California. Member and provider data include Health Net Life.