Study for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Reveals Poor Overall Health among Arizonans

Obesity, Stress, Depression and Pain Are Contributing Factors
Impacting Health and Workplace Productivity
PHOENIX--(Business Wire)--While the vast majority of Arizonans say their health could be
improved, most don't take steps to control preventable health
conditions, according to Arizona HealthPulse(sm), a new research
report released by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ), an
independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Arizona HealthPulse reveals the results of a comprehensive health
risk assessment and answers to general questions about health and its
impact on job performance and how Arizonans' health may require some
improvements. More than 3,000 Arizonans across all 15 counties
statewide completed a Health Risk Assessment between May and June 2007
for this study.

"This research sends a message about opportunities for individuals
and employers to benefit from managing preventable health issues,"
said Richard L. Boals, president and chief executive officer of
BCBSAZ. "The challenge for the health care community is to help
educate people about the impact of poor health and motivate them to
take action toward healthier lifestyle behaviors. In the end, when the
workforce becomes healthier - both employees and their employers will
reap the benefits of improved workplace productivity and help control
long-term health care costs."

Key findings of the Arizona HealthPulse include:

Arizonans' overall health is on the decline. Eighty-seven percent
of respondents reported that their health could be improved. This
figure is an increase of 8 percentage points above data collected in
2006. Only 13 percent of Arizonans who completed the assessment
reported that they are in "excellent" health.

Employee absenteeism and workplace productivity are impacted by
health problems of Arizonans. Nearly one-fourth (22 percent) of
employed respondents said that poor health caused them to miss at
least one day of work during the past three months and 13 percent
missed more than two days. More than half of the respondents (53
percent) reported that their health impaired their work performance at
times.

Two in three Arizonans are either overweight or obese. Thirty-six
percent of respondents reported a body mass index (BMI) that the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies as
overweight and 30 percent recorded a BMI classified as obese.

Arizonans reported a high level of stress. Nearly half of those
completing the health assessment (45 percent) reported feeling
overwhelmed with pressure and stress either a "fair," "moderate" or
"significant" amount of the time.

Arizonans do not get enough sleep and are not taking advantage of
vacation benefits to de-stress, relax and recharge. Nearly two-thirds
of Arizonans did not get the recommended seven hours or more of sleep
per night. Respondents also reported that they only used an average of
62 percent of vacation time provided by employers and about one in six
took no vacation at all.

A large percentage of Arizonans are foregoing important preventive
care. More than four in ten women (42 percent) over age 40 that
completed the health assessment reported that they had not had a
professional breast examination during the past year. Similarly, 43
percent of male respondents over 50 reported that they had not had a
PSA (prostate) test within the past year.

Poor nutrition and lack of exercise are major factors contributing
to the overall poor state of health of Arizonans. More than half of
respondents indicated that they choose high-fat foods at least as
often as low-fat foods. Almost seven in 10 (69 percent) reported that
they do not exercise on a regular basis.

Knowledge among Arizonans of key health indicators is very low.
Ninety-three percent of respondents were not aware of their HDL ("good
cholesterol") level and 78 percent did not know their overall
cholesterol level. In addition, 83 percent did not know their blood
sugar level.

Employed respondents who work for an employer that offers a
wellness program and who participate in the program are more likely
than others to report they are in excellent or good health. However,
only 32 percent of employed respondents reported that they work for a
company that offers such a program and only half of those employees
said they actually participate in the program.

To download a copy of the entire Arizona HealthPulse report -
including county-by-county information - visit www.AZHealthPulse.com.

About Arizona HealthPulse

Arizona HealthPulse was conducted on behalf of BCBSAZ by WestGroup
Research. The margin of error for the sample at the 95 percent
confidence level is plus or minus 1.8 percent. Aggregate data in the
report was weighted by county to show an accurate representation of
the population distribution in Arizona. The HSM Group confirmed all
statistical analysis performed by WestGroup. WestGroup Research and
HSM Group are independent companies that are not affiliated with
BCBSAZ and conduct market research on behalf of BCBSAZ.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, an independent licensee of the
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is the largest Arizona-based
health insurance company. The not-for-profit company was founded in
1939 and provides health insurance products, services or networks to
more than 1.1 million individuals. With offices in Phoenix, Flagstaff,
Tempe and Tucson, the company employs more than 1,500 Arizonans. For
information about Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and its community
programs such as WalkingWorks, please visit www.azblue.com.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
Regena Frieden, 602-864-4046
M: 602-568-3716
rfrieden@phx1.bcbsaz.com
Carlos DellaMaddalena, 602-864-4067
M: 602-316-8500
cdellama@phx1.bcbsaz.com
or
CKPR
Keri Ruiz, 602-417-0695
kruiz@ckpr.biz

Copyright Business Wire 2008