UnitedHealth Group's Online Personal Health Messages Tied to Increased Likelihood...

UnitedHealth Group's Online Personal Health Messages Tied to Increased Likelihood of Individuals Getting Important Preventive Screenings

-- Online data show women who read their messages are 68 percent
more likely to get a mammogram; screenings for cancer,
cholesterol and high blood pressure on the rise

-- Personal Health Messages offer personalized, customized health
reminders via Web, phone and postal mail
MINNEAPOLIS--(Business Wire)--UnitedHealth Group's (NYSE:UNH) Personal Health Messages are
encouraging more consumer-driven health (CDH) plan enrollees to get
the recommended preventive screenings they need for early detection of
cancer and other illnesses.

Sent electronically to an individual's myuhc.com account, the
customized messages draw upon data from claims activity, age, gender,
and nationally established evidence-based care guidelines, to deliver
a personalized call to action encouraging preventive screenings that
are relevant to that individual.

According to a review of the messages sent in 2006, enrollees in
UnitedHealth Group's CDH plans who access their private,
password-protected accounts via www.myuhc.com and open their
customized Personal Health Messages are significantly more likely to
receive clinically recommended screenings for breast and cervical
cancer, high blood pressure and cholesterol.

For example, women who opened their messages were 68-percent more
likely to get a mammogram and 63-percent more likely to get a cervical
cancer screening. The study compares CDH plan participants who
accessed their online health messages throughout 2006 with those who
were sent messages but did not open them.

Also, enrollees approaching their 50th birthday received a special
message reminding them of a series of recommended preventive tests for
their age group. Data show that members who opened this message were:

-- 82-percent more likely to get a cervical cancer screening;

-- 31-percent more likely to get a cholesterol screening;

-- 71-percent more likely to have an office visit in which their
blood pressure is checked.

Personal Health Messages are available to individuals enrolled in
any of UnitedHealth Group's CDH plans, including those connected to a
health savings account (HSA) or health reimbursement account (HRA), as
well as to employees of large businesses. UnitedHealth Group delivers
the messages to each participant's www.myuhc.com account, and
reinforces them in the participant's monthly health statements and
over the telephone if they call customer service.

"Many people today often can't fit preventive health care into
their busy schedules, while others may be unaware of the screenings
they should be receiving," said Meredith Baratz, vice president of
marketing for Definity Health, a UnitedHealth Group company and
pioneer in consumer-driven health care. "This analysis shows that by
personalizing the support we provide our enrollees, we can make a
positive impact on the preventive care they receive, which ultimately
will lead to better care decisions and improved health."

The Personal Health Messages program reflects the consumer-driven
expertise Definity Health has offered across UnitedHealth Group's
businesses. First launched by Definity in 2003, Personal Health
Messages are delivered to more than 8 million enrollees and will be
available broadly to UnitedHealth Group health plan participants in
the coming year.

About UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group is a diversified health and well-being company
dedicated to making health care work better. Headquartered in
Minneapolis, Minn., UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of
products and services through seven operating businesses:
UnitedHealthcare, Ovations, AmeriChoice, Uniprise, OptumHealth,
Ingenix and Prescription Solutions. Through its family of businesses,
UnitedHealth Group serves approximately 70 million individuals
nationwide.

UnitedHealth Group
Daryl Richard, 860-702-5795
Vice President, Communications

Copyright Business Wire 2008