TriWest Healthcare Alliance Awarded 5 Year, $16 Billion Healthcare Contract

SAN FRANCISCO, July 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- TriWest Healthcare Alliance,
with the support of Blue Shield of California, has been awarded a new contract
by the U.S. Department of Defense's TRICARE program to provide access to
healthcare services to nearly 2.7 million U.S. military personnel and their
dependents through 2015. The new TriWest contract is worth approximately $16
billion, and covers military personnel in the Western United States.

Blue Shield, a not-for-profit health plan, has served nearly half a million
TRICARE members in California since 2004, when it first purchased an ownership
stake in TriWest and helped TriWest win the 2002 DoD contract. Since then,
Blue Shield has built the largest network in the TriWest organization and
consistently ranked high in audits and reviews against the DoD metrics and
standards. Blue Shield even achieved a perfect score in a recent internal
TriWest comprehensive 2009 audit.

"We provide health coverage to many large groups, and we've made it a priority
to ensure these military members and their families have access to high
quality medical care throughout California," said Bruce Bodaken, Chairman and
CEO of Blue Shield of California. "It is an honor to take care of the people
who protect us, and we take the responsibility seriously."

Formed from an alliance of not-for-profit health plans and hospitals, TriWest
Healthcare Alliance began operations in 1996. Today, TriWest's owner plans
support the health care needs of 2.7 million people. TriWest provides access
to cost-effective, high-quality health care in the 21-state TRICARE West
Region, and was named the 2007 TRICARE Region of the year.

"Blue Shield of California has been an outstanding partner in serving
America's soldiers and their loved ones," said TriWest President and CEO David
J. McIntyre, Jr. "Together we have built a strong track record of providing
access to quality medical care efficiently and transparently."

TRICARE replaced the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed
Services, or CHAMPUS, which was created in 1956 to expand healthcare coverage
to military retirees and the families of active-duty personnel. TRICARE
establishes government contracts with private health plans to bring the
efficiencies of managed care to the military health system while also
supporting and enhancing military readiness in times of war or national
emergency.

Background on Blue Shield of California

Blue Shield of California, an independent member of the Blue Shield
Association, is a not-for-profit health plan dedicated to providing
Californians with access to high quality care at a reasonable price. Founded
in 1939, it now has 3.4 million members, 4,800 employees, one of the largest
provider networks and more than 20 office locations, providing a wide range of
commercial and government products throughout the state. The company has
contributed $100 million over the past three years to the Blue Shield of
California Foundation to fund nonprofit organizations that improve access to
quality health care in California. Contact your local agent or broker for more
information about Blue Shield products and services, or visit the Blue Shield
web site at www.blueshieldca.com.

TriWest Healthcare Alliance is not a licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield
Association.
CONTACT: Erica PerngMedia Relations Consultant
(415) 229-6171
Erica.perng@blueshieldca.com

SOURCE Blue Shield of California

Erica Perng of Blue Shield of California, +1-415-229-6171,
Erica.perng@blueshieldca.com