Health Alliance Plan and CIGNA HealthCare Form Marketing Affiliation

DETROIT, and BLOOMFIELD, Conn., April 7, 2005

Health Alliance Plan and CIGNA HealthCare announced today they have formed a marketing affiliation to offer national, open-access products to mid-sized and large employers with sites in Michigan and other states. The affiliation is designed to provide a comprehensive national provider network for both self- insured and fully insured employers.

The companies expect to begin marketing the products for fourth-quarter 2005 effective dates. Customers who purchase the affiliation offerings will have access to HAP's highly regarded network of physicians and hospitals in southeast Michigan and CIGNA's extensive national network elsewhere.

"The HAP and CIGNA affiliation will bring an attractive choice to employers," said Francine Parker, president and CEO of Health Alliance Plan. "Our co-branded, jointly marketed products will provide administrative ease to employers who value HAP's reputation and service in southeast Michigan and desire a quality national network to serve their employees in other states. Members will have access to comprehensive coverage, seamless service and more than 400,000 physicians and 4,100 hospitals in CIGNA's extensive provider network as well as CIGNA's ongoing commitment to improving health outcomes as a way to reduce costs."

Today's announcement marks the second such venture for CIGNA HealthCare in the past few months, following its December 20 announcement of a strategic alliance with New England-based Tufts Health Plan.

"Health Alliance Plan is a recognized market leader in southeast Michigan in terms of quality and cost," said David Cordani, president, Health Segments for CIGNA HealthCare. "By creating a marketing affiliation that combines CIGNA HealthCare's national capabilities with HAP's widely respected local provider network, we will offer employers with a presence in southeast Michigan superior clinical quality and service at a competitive price."

About HAP:

Health Alliance Plan, headquartered in Detroit, provides health coverage to 527,000 members and 2,800 employers. HAP offers employers choice and flexibility in managing their health care costs through an expansive product portfolio and customized benefit designs, including PPOs, experience-rated, fully insured and self-funded products, consumer-driven products and flagship HMO.

The Commercial HMO earned Excellent Accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). General Motors designated HAP's Commercial HMO a "Benchmark HMO" for providing high-quality service and value. Alliance Health and Life Insurance Company, a HAP subsidiary, received Full Accreditation from the NCQA for its PPO products.

Dedicated to service excellence and improving the health of its members, HAP offers innovative preventive services, integrated disease management programs and workplace health and wellness services. Online tools at http://www.hap.org/ speed and simplify transactions for members, employers and affiliated providers.

About CIGNA:

CIGNA HealthCare, headquartered in Bloomfield, CT, provides medical benefits plans (including consumer-driven health plans), dental coverage, behavioral health coverage, pharmacy benefits, and products and services that integrate and analyze information to support consumerism and health management.

An industry leader in quality improvement, 92 percent of CIGNA HealthCare's accredited HMO/POS health plans have achieved an "Excellent" accreditation rating from the National Committee for Quality Assurance, with the balance of accredited plans rated "Commendable."

"CIGNA HealthCare" refers to various operating subsidiaries of CIGNA Corporation (NYSE:CI). Products and services are provided by these operating subsidiaries and not by CIGNA Corporation. ( http://www.cigna.com/ )

Contact:

Joseph Mondy of CIGNA,
+1-860-226-5499,
[email protected], or

Susan Schwandt, APR, Health Alliance Plan,
+1-248-443-1076,
[email protected]