FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 25, 2006

Citizens Choice Healthplan HMO RECEIVES CMS APPROVAL FOR 2007 MEDICARE ADVANTAGE BENEFITS

Plan Highlights Include $0 Premium, $0 Office Co-pays, Generic and Brand Name Prescription Drug Coverage and Enhanced Services such as a Part B Premium Reduction of $15.00

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (October 00, 2006) - Free transportation, home visits after hospital discharges, routine podiatry care and inpatient hospital (worldwide coverage) are just some of the 2007 benefits of Citizens Choice Healthplan HMO, a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plan that will expand its service area to include all of Los Angeles County and Northern Orange County commencing January 1, 2007.

Citizens Choice Healthplan HMO's 2007 benefits have been approved by The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Open enrollment for the Medicare Advantage Plan begins November 15, 2006 through December 31, 2006 for a January 1, 2007 effective date.

Plan enrollees will have access to more than 1750 physicians and specialists through its current network of 24 medical groups and 31 area hospitals. Contracted hospitals in Los Angeles County include, White Memorial Hospital, St. Francis Medical Center, Whittier Hospital Medical Center, Downey Regional Medical Center, Beverly Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital. In Northern Orange County some of our contracted hospitals include Western Medical Center-Anaheim, Western Medical Center-Santa Ana and Chapman Medical Center.

Citizens Choice Healthplan HMO's benefits for 2007 also includes Medicare Part D coverage for both formulary brand and generic prescription drugs with no break in prescription drug coverage or "donut hole".. The healthplan offers $3 copay for generic medications, $15 copay for preferred brand name medications and $20 copay for non-preferred brand name prescriptions. There is no deductible or premium for Part D medications.

Additional plan features include $0 monthly plan premium, $0 deductible, $0 inpatient hospital co-pay, $0 co-pay for outpatient services, $0 doctor office visits, $0 copay for specialists and $0 co-pay for transportation to and from medical appointments. "One special benefit for members is the $15 reduction to their Part B premium, which will provide them with a $180 annual rebate," said Paul Kahen, CEO of Citizens Choice Healthplan.

Kahen said that Citizens Choice Healthplan HMO also offers members a $350 hearing aid allowance, $100 contact lens allowance, skilled nursing facility care (without prior hospital stay requirement), and a $150 vision frame and lens allowance.
"Another key benefit is our Choice Check Up Program, which is a personal home visit to each member following a hospital discharge," he said. "This is an important program because many elderly patients need help when they return home from the hospital."

About Citizens Choice Healthplan HMO
Citizens Choice Healthplan HMO delivers high quality care and service to its Medicare Advantage members. Based in Los Angeles, Citizens Choice Healthplan HMO works with diverse communities to promote health and wellness for its members. It offers its network providers a variety of contracts that enable them to better serve their Medicare and Medicare/Medi-Cal (Medi-Medi) population in Los Angeles and Northern Orange Counties.

Citizens Choice Healthplan HMO is a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan that contracts with the Federal government to provide services to eligible Medicare Part A and Part B recipients. Citizens Choice Healthplan HMO can be reached at (323) 728-7232.