UnitedHealth Group and United Health Foundation Support President-Elect Obama`s "Day of Service" Through Coalition to Fight Cardiovascular Disease

PEACE of HEART Conducts Screenings in Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Greensboro, and
Miami

* American Heart Association, Association of Black Cardiologists, LabCorp,
National Association of Community Health Centers, National Medical Association,
National Minority Quality Forum, RainbowPUSH Coalition, UnitedHealth Group and
United Health Foundation form PEACE of HEART
* Program aims to reduce cardiovascular disease in lower-income, medically
underserved communities

MINNEAPOLIS--(Business Wire)--
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH), United Health Foundation and their PEACE of Heart
partners answered President-elect Barack Obama`s call to serve by participating
in a national day of service. The coalition will offer PEACE of Heart
cardiovascular disease screenings in Brooklyn, N.Y., Philadelphia, and
Greensboro, N.C. today. Later in the week, a screening will be held in Miami.
For details on each location, visit www.apeaceofheart.org .

PEACE of Heart aims to fight the epidemic of heart disease afflicting African
Americans, lower-income minority groups and other medically underserved
communities by checking people`s blood pressure, BMI, and cholesterol and
blood-glucose levels. In addition, PEACE of Heart urges better preventive health
by connecting people with local physicians and encouraging them to establish a
medical home at a community health center or elsewhere.

The coalition came together because of the partners` concerns that heart disease
is the number one killer in the United States, and the risk factors that lead to
heart disease continue to be inadequately addressed and controlled.
Additionally, heart disease disproportionately affects communities of color.

As a result of a high prevalence of hypertension, African Americans have a
1.5-timesgreater rate of heart disease death and 1.8-times greater rate offatal
stroke than Caucasians, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Heart
disease, stroke and all other cardiovascular diseases account for 33 percent of
deaths among African American males and 38 percent of deaths among African
American females, according to recent statistics cited by the AHA. Obesity,
diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol - all risk factors for heart disease
and stroke - show no sign of decline.

To date, 450 people have been screened at PEACE of Heart events in Chicago,
Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and New Orleans. Nearly 43 percent were overweight or
obese; approximately one-quarter had elevated blood pressure; and 10 percent had
blood pressure considered dangerously high. Half the people who have
participated in PEACE of Heart reported that they do not have a "medical home"
where a primary care physician or other health professional coordinates all of
their medical care needs.

"When President-elect Barack Obama asked corporations, nonprofits and
individuals to give of their time and resources on Martin Luther King`s
birthday, we mobilized our employees and our partners to reach out and conduct
these vital health screenings in key cities to improve the health of our
communities," said Reed V. Tuckson, M.D., United Health Foundation board member
and UnitedHealth Group executive vice president and chief of medical affairs.
"Our experience in Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Greensboro and Miami, shows us that
fewer than 10 percent of people are getting checked for cardiovascular disease.
If we want to ensure that people live healthier lives, that statistic must
change. We are honored that, along with our partners, we can do something so
important on this monumental day in American history."

UnitedHealth Group and the United Health Foundation are committed to supporting
and strengthening community health centers, and the PEACE of Heart events are
just one example. Through a multi-year, multi-million dollar "Community Centers
of Excellence" partnership, the United Health Foundation funds community clinics
in some of the nation`s most economically-challenged communities in Miami, New
Orleans, New York City, and Washington, D.C. The acronym PEACE encapsulates the
core elements of the program: Partnership, Evaluation, Action, Community and
Education.

In December, UnitedHealth Group presented a $1 million check to the Washington,
D.C., Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation Inc.

About UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group (www.unitedhealthgroup.com) 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 six operating businesses: UnitedHealthcare, Ovations,
AmeriChoice, OptumHealth, Ingenix, and Prescription Solutions. Through its
family of businesses, UnitedHealth Group serves more than 70 million individuals
nationwide.

About the United Health Foundation

Guided by a passion to help people live healthier lives, United Health
Foundation provides helpful information to support decisions that lead to better
health outcomes and healthier communities. The Foundation also supports
activities that expand access to quality health care services for those in
challenging circumstances and partners with others to improve the well being of
communities. Since established by UnitedHealth Group [NYSE:UNH] in 1999 as a not
for profit private foundation, the Foundation has committed more than $160
million to improve health and health care. For more information, visit
www.unitedhealthfoundation.org.

UnitedHealth Group
Jane Berg, 952-945-7508
jane_m_berg@uhc.com

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