Health Net Launches Groundbreaking Medicare Advantage Plan Targeting Latinos

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20091021005345/en

Plan Builds on Company`s Longstanding Commitment to California`s Latino
Community
EAST LOS ANGELES, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
Health Net, Inc. (NYSE: HNT) today launched Salud con Health Net Medicare
Advantage HMO (Salud Medicare), the first-of-its-kind Medicare Advantage HMO
plan targeting senior Latinos.

Building on Health Net`s popular suite of Salud con Health Net products
currently available to employers and individuals, this new, comprehensive
medical and prescription drug plan provides Latino Medicare beneficiaries access
to culturally sensitive health care services in the counties of Los Angeles,
Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino for the annual enrollment period, beginning
November 15, 2009. The launch was announced at Health Net`s East Los Angeles
Community Solutions Center.

"The Latino community is the fastest-growing market in California," said Ana
Andrade, Health Net, Inc. vice president of Latino Programs, who led the launch
of the company`s first Salud product in 2000. "With this plan, Latino seniors
can count on affordability, cost predictability and quality care from a network
of culturally sensitive health care providers who are Latino or are trained and
experienced in providing medical care that recognizes the special needs of
Latinos."

Salud Medicare has a $0 monthly premium and $0 doctor and hospital copayments.
It also covers transportation services for medical-related appointments to the
plan`s targeted network of health care providers. Members also have the
opportunity to improve their health and well-being through a program called
"Silver and Fit," which encourages members to reap the health and wellness
benefits of a fitness routine - whether in the comfort of their own home or by
enrolling for a no-charge membership at a local health club. For additional
benefit information on Salud Medicare, visit http://www.abetterdecision.com/.

Health Net`s Salud Medicare plan helps expand the health care coverage options
needed by the Latino market. Research conducted in 2006 by Hispanics and the
Future of America, Committee on Population indicates that elderly Latinos - with
or without health insurance - are less likely to see a physician and use
preventive services provided by medical professionals. Health Net believes
cultural and language gaps in health care settings contribute to this disparity
and developed its caregiver network to address these challenges.

According to DTC Perspectives, a market research report publishedin September
2009, nearly half of Latino seniors say they face language barriers because they
speak little or no English. For those individuals, this makes navigating the
already-complex health care system an even more daunting challenge. Given the
depth of many health care topics, in-language communication makes for better
medical decisions by physicians, patients and their families.

David Hayes-Bautista, Ph.D., a national expert on Latino health care, said
Health Net`s Salud Medicare is a step in the right direction. "While Latino
seniors tend to see doctors and use hospitals less often than their non-Latino
peers, it is important that they are comfortable in accessing the health care
system when they need to and are encouraged to seek preventive care," said
Hayes-Bautisita. "Health Net selected physician and other caregivers for its
provider network who bridge the cultural and language gaps that can create
barriers for Latino patients."

According to the latest U.S. Census figures, Latino seniors, ages 65 and older,
currently total 2.3 million and make up 6.5 percent of the U.S. elderly
population. Projections have this group growing to 15 million by the year 2050,
making up 17.5 percent of the U.S. elderly population. Not only will Latinos
make up a large percentage of the elderly population in the future, but several
industry studies also indicate they are expected to live longer than seniors of
other ethnic backgrounds.

According to the latest Neilsen Universe estimates for the Los Angeles DMA,
which covers Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Orange counties, Latino
seniors over age 50 make up 26 percent of the area`s population.

About Health Net, Inc.

Health Net, Inc. is among the nation's largest publicly traded managed health
care companies. Its mission is to help people be healthy, secure and
comfortable. The company`s health plans and government contracts subsidiaries
provide health benefits to approximately 6.7 million individuals across the
country through group, individual, Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE and Veterans
Affairs programs. Health Net`s behavioral health subsidiary, MHN, provides
mental health benefits to approximately 6.6 million individuals in all 50
states. The company`s subsidiaries also offer managed health care products
related to prescription drugs, and offer managed health care product
coordination for multi-region employers and administrative services for medical
groups and self-funded benefits programs.

For more information on Health Net, Inc., please visit the company`s Web site at
www.healthnet.com.

For More Information
Health Net Medicare Advantage Plans
Health Net Online Newsroom
twitter.com/healthnet

Cautionary Statements

All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical
information provided herein, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements and
as such are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These statements are
based on management`s analysis, judgment, belief and expectation only as of the
date hereof, and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances.
Without limiting the foregoing, statements including the words "believes,"
"anticipates," "plans," "expects," "may," "should," "could," "estimate,"
"intend" and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. Actual results could differ materially due to, among other things,
any failure to close the pending sale of our Northeast business; costs, fees and
expenses related to the pending sale and proposed post-closing administrative
services; potential termination of our TRICARE North operations; rising health
care costs; a continued decline in the economy; negative prior period claims
reserve developments; investment portfolio impairment charges; volatility in the
financial markets; trends in medical care ratios; unexpected utilization
patterns or unexpectedly severe or widespread illnesses; membership declines;
rate cuts affecting our Medicare or Medicaid businesses; litigation costs;
regulatory issues; operational issues; health care reform and general business
and market conditions. Additional factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to, the risks discussed in the "Risk Factors"
section included within the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K,
subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and the risks discussed in the
company`s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The
company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise any of its forward-looking
statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date of this
release.

Milagro Communications
Christina Sanchez Camino, 310-420-1135
ccamino@milagropr.com
or
Health Net, Inc
Amy Sheyer, 818-676-8304
amy.l.sheyer@healthnet.com
twitter.com/hn_amy

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