Northeast Delta Dental Acquires General Agency From Fort Dearborn Life(R)

CHICAGO, IL -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 12/31/09 -- Northeast Delta Dental, Concord, NH, through its affiliate, Red Tree Holdings, Inc., has acquired Combined Services LLC, a general insurance agency, from Fort Dearborn Life Insurance Company®, effective December 31, 2009. Fort Dearborn Life is a Dearborn National(TM) brand company.

"We are pleased to be more closely affiliated with Combined Services with whom we have had a 30-year marketing relationship," said Tom Raffio, president and CEO of Northeast Delta Dental. "Having them on board as a member of our team more closely aligns with our strategic objectives. This acquisition facilitates our efforts to diversify and sustain a solid future for our company."

As part of the transaction, Combined Services LLC has entered into an exclusive long-term contract to offer Fort Dearborn Life's group and voluntary life and disability products in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. "We are pleased that we are able to continue our relationship with Combined Services," added Anthony F. Trani, president and CEO of Fort Dearborn Life. "This gives us a strong distribution partner in this region for years to come."

Brian Francis remains President and CEO of Combined Services LLC, and Combined Services will maintain its current home office in Concord, New Hampshire.

About Fort Dearborn Life, a Dearborn National Brand Company

Fort Dearborn Life Insurance Company is a Dearborn National brand company. With more than 40 years of experience, the Dearborn National companies offer a broad selection of insurance products covering many markets: Group Benefits, Worksite, Individual and Annuities. We are licensed in all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands and Guam. Our parent company, Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, is the largest non-investor owned health care insurance provider in the United States and the fourth largest overall. For more information, please visit www.dearbornnational.com.

About Northeast Delta Dental

Northeast Delta Dental provides dental benefits to individuals and companies of all sizes through Delta Dental Plan of Maine, Delta Dental Plan of New Hampshire and Delta Dental Plan of Vermont. Red Tree Holdings, Inc., a New Hampshire corporation, is owned by the Northeast Delta Dental companies. Northeast Delta Dental administers dental benefits for over 700,000 people in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Northeast Delta Dental has begun to expand its product line in Maine and New Hampshire with a new vision insurance program, DeltaVision®. Great Place to Work® Institute and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) ranked Northeast Delta Dental among the 25 Best Small Companies to Work for in America for five consecutive years. Visit Northeast Delta Dental's Web site at www.nedelta.com.

About Combined Services LLC

Combined Services LLC is a general insurance agency offering a full portfolio of employee benefits insurance products and administrative services throughout Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Visit www.combinedservices.com.

Products and services marketed under the Dearborn National(TM) brand and the star logo are underwritten and/or provided by Fort Dearborn Life Insurance Company® (Downers Grove, IL) in all states (excluding New York), the District of Columbia, the United States Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands and Guam.

Contact: John Myers Senior Manager, Corporate Communications (630) 824-5637 Email Contact  Kathleen B. Walker, APR Director, External Affairs Northeast Delta Dental (603) 223-1307 Email Contact