StarHRG.com Puts Members in Charge of Their Health Care Decisions with Access to Online Consumer-Decision Tools; A First for Limited-Benefit Plans

PHOENIX, AZ (January 30, 2006) - STAR HRG, a provider of limited-benefit medical plans for hourly workers, announces the launch of their new corporate website (www.starhrg.com</a>), which combines a new design with consumer-decision tools that enable its Starbridge Choices members to become better health care consumers.  Access to this information has previously been unavailable in the limited-benefit marketplace and has typically been offered only to members of major medical plans.

• Claims Tracking and Benefits Management.  Members can monitor the status of an existing claim as well as view their claims history to determine how their benefits are being spent.  They can also access and download claim forms.
• Health Information Library.  A broad range of health information articles on disease management, weight control, venereal diseases, cancer, tips on staying healthy and more are available 24/7.
• Provider Search.  A network provider search allows members to search for a doctor in their immediate area, and then choose the doctor they want to visit based on price of service.

"Everyone wants to shop intelligently and save money, but more importantly, they want to stay healthy.  By giving them access to meaningful information, they have complete control to make the best health care decisions they possibly can," says Mr. Cook.

Mr. Cook notes that one of the more valuable features is the "provider search" that allows members to shop for a network physician in their immediate area, and then sort by the average cost of care.  The member then has the freedom to choose a physician that may be able to save them as much as 20% on their services. 

"Let’s face it, that kind of savings can mean the difference between having to work an extra shift to pay for their time away from work while at the doctor’s office.  This is an extremely valuable feature, but it’s only one of the many tools our members can use to become better consumers," says Mr. Cook. 

"By bringing together our corporate, product and member sites, visitors can explore all of Star HRG’s offerings through a single gateway," said Mr. Cook. "Our goal is to enable our clients, members, brokers, and media alike to have an informative experience and quickly find what they need.  I think we’ve done that." 

Please visit www.starhrg.com to view our new website.

About Star HRG’s Products

Visit Star HRG’s new website to find out more about our newest limited-benefit medical plan, Fundamental Care.  This group-based medical plan provides annual coverage up to $50,000, and rates can be 25%-40% less expensive than a traditional major medical plan.  Fundamental Care, along with Starbridge Choices and Starbridge Select, allows businesses of all sizes to select a plan that best meets their employee’s financial and medical needs.

More About Star HRG

Star HRG, the nation’s premier provider of limited-benefit medical plans for non-benefited hourly employees, has offered health insurance plans for over 15 years. Star HRG addresses the unique benefit needs of entry-level, part-time hourly and high-turnover employees by providing voluntary insurance programs at a price employees can afford. Star HRG’s innovative insurance solutions have helped companies reduce turnover, improve recruiting, and stabilize benefit expenses within the hourly paid workforce. Star HRG is the leader in innovative and affordable plan designs, cutting-edge customer service and claims administration, and creative approaches to enrollment options.

Star HRG is a division of The MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of UICI (NYSE: UCI). For more information on Star HRG, visit www.StarHRG.com or call (800) 258-9260.

UICI

UICI (headquartered in North Richland Hills, Texas) through its subsidiaries offers insurance (primarily health and life) to niche consumer and institutional markets. Through its Self-Employed Agency Division, UICI provides to the individual and self-employed markets health insurance and related insurance products, which are distributed primarily through the Company’s dedicated agency field forces, UGA-Association Field Services and Cornerstone America. Through its Student Insurance Division, UICI provides tailored health insurance programs for students enrolled in universities, colleges and kindergarten through grade twelve. Through its Star HRG Division, UICI markets, administers and underwrites limited benefit insurance plans for entry level, high turnover, hourly employees. Through its Life Insurance Division, UICI offers life insurance products to selected markets. Through its ZON Re USA unit, the Company underwrites, administers and issues accidental death, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), accident medical and accident disability insurance policies, both on a primary and on a reinsurance basis. For more information, visit www.uici.net.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995:
Some of the matters discussed in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements are intended to be identified in this document by the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "objective", "plan", "possible", "potential" and similar expressions. Actual results may vary materially from those included in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions; the continued ability of the Company to compete for customers and insureds in an industry where many of its competitors may have greater market share and/or greater financial resources; the Company’s ability to accurately estimate medical claims and control costs; changes in government regulation that could increase the costs of compliance or cause the Company to discontinue marketing its products in certain states; the Company’s failure to comply with new or existing government regulation that could subject it to significant fines and penalties; changes in the relationship between the Company and the membership associations and/or changes in the laws and regulations governing so-called "association group" insurance (particularly changes that would subject the issuance of policies to prior premium rate approval and/or require the issuance of policies on a "guaranteed issue" basis); significant liabilities and costs associated with litigation; failure of the Company’s information systems to provide timely and accurate information; negative publicity regarding the Company’s business practices and/or regarding the health insurance industry in general; the Company’s inability to enter into or maintain satisfactory relationships with networks of hospitals, physicians, dentists, pharmacies and other health care physicians; failure of the Company’s regulated insurance company subsidiaries to maintain their current ratings by A.M. Best Company, Fitch and/or Standard & Poor’s; and the other risk factors set forth in the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

UICI press releases and other company information are available at UICI’s website located at www.uici.net.

Contact:

Jay Headley
Star HRG
(800) 258-9260