Guardian Provides 100% Coverage For Swine Flu Vaccine

Employees Do Not Have To Pay Co-Payments or Other Out-of-Pocket Expenses for
the H1N1 Vaccination

NEW YORK, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The Guardian Life Insurance Company of
America (Guardian), one of the largest mutual life insurers and a leading
provider of employee benefits for small and mid-sized companies, today
announced that it will cover 100% of the cost associated with the
administration of the H1N1 vaccine for employees and their eligible dependents
enrolled in a fully-insured Guardian medical plan.

Employees and dependents covered by Guardian will not have to pay any
out-of-pocket costs for the H1N1 vaccine, regardless of their plan's level of
coverage for preventative services. No co-pay, deductible or coinsurance will
apply.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced that it is
mobilizing a comprehensive response to address the challenges posed by the
H1N1 virus. A key component to this response is the development, testing and
distribution of a vaccine against H1N1, which will be separate from the
seasonal influenza vaccine. The federal government will cover the cost of the
vaccine itself, but physicians will bill for the costs associated with
administering the vaccine.

"The outbreak of the H1N1 Flu - commonly referred to as Swine Flu - created a
global medical crisis that significantly impacted the American public,
businesses and the economy," said Tim Bireley, VP, Guardian Group Medical.
"Guardian decided to cover the costs associated with administering the vaccine
because of our ongoing commitment to support and provide quality service to
the small and mid-size business owners who rely on our health plans and
employee benefits to protect their employees. In today's economy, we don't
want fees to come between families getting the care they need to stem the
spread of the Swine Flu."

Guardian is also giving its self-insured medical plan-holders the opportunity
to provide 100% coverage for the Swine Flu vaccine. Self-insured clients
absorb the costs so that employees do not have to pay out-of-pocket expenses
related to vaccination. In addition, Guardian provides the administrative
support to help make this a seamless process for self-insured employers.

About Guardian
The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), one of the largest
and oldest mutual life insurance companies in the United States, is known for
its stability and strength. A Fortune 300 company, Guardian is the only major
life insurer to earn upgrades from two major rating agencies in 2008: A++
(Superior) by A.M. Best and AA+ (Very Strong) by Standard & Poor's. As of
October, 2009, four rating companies have affirmed Guardian's ratings: Fitch
(AA+/Very Strong); Moody's (Aa2/Excellent); Standard & Poor's (AA+/Very
Strong), and A.M. Best (A++/Superior).

Founded nearly 150 years ago, Guardian and its subsidiaries are committed to
protecting individuals, business owners and their employees with life, long
term care insurance, disability income, medical and dental insurance products,
and offer 401(k), annuities and other financial products. Guardian medical
benefits are available in select markets.

Guardian operates one of the largest dental networks in the United States, and
protects more than six million employees and their families at 120,000
companies. The company has more than 5,400 employees in the United States and
a network of over 3,000 financial representatives in more than 80 agencies
nationwide.

For more information about Guardian, please visit: www.GuardianLife.com.

SOURCE The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America

Anayo Afolabi, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America,
+1-212-598-8329, Anayo_Afolabi@glic.com; or Erin Burke, Harden Communications
Partners, +1-631-239-6903, eburke@hardenpartners.com