Francis S. Soistman, Jr. Named Winner Of Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) 2004 Award

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Francis S. Soistman, Jr., President and CEO of HealthAmerica and HealthAssurance, was named a winner by professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2004 Awards in Greater Philadelphia & Central-Eastern Pennsylvania in the Healthcare Technology and Services category. Mr. Soistman was selected by an independent panel of judges comprised of local community and business leaders and announced at an award banquet on June 18, 2004 at the Philadelphia Marriott.

Mr. Soistman will be eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2004 national program. Winners in several national categories, as well as the Overall National Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, CA on November 20, 2004.

“I’m very honored to be recognized for this prestigious award,” said Mr. Soistman. “Achieving remarkable business results is made possible through the dedication and determination of the leadership team and all the employees of HealthAmerica and HealthAssurance. It’s a privilege to accept this award on their behalf.”

HealthAmerica Pennsylvania, Inc., has a 29-year record in providing health benefits plans to employers. HealthAmerica, HealthAssurance Pennsylvania, Inc., and affiliate companies cover over 710,000 members in Pennsylvania and Ohio through HMO, POS, PPO, Medicaid, and Medicare+Choice plans. Under Mr. Soistman’s leadership, revenue rose by 99 percent, total assets increased by 120 percent, and net worth grew by 157 percent since 1999. In addition, Mr. Soistman’s stewardship has resulted in plan membership that has nearly doubled and a service area expansion of 73 percent.

About HealthAmerica and HealthAssurance

HealthAmerica Pennsylvania, Inc., has a 29-year record in managed care. HealthAmerica, HealthAssurance Pennsylvania, Inc., and affiliate companies cover over 710,000 members in Pennsylvania and Ohio through HMO, POS, PPO, Medicaid, and Medicare+Choice plans. In addition, HealthAmerica earned an “Excellent” Accreditation for its HMO plan and HealthAssurance earned an “Excellent” Accreditation for the HealthAssurance POS by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to measuring the quality of America’s health care. With corporate offices in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, HealthAmerica and HealthAssurance provide managed health care products and services to over 11,000 employers in Pennsylvania and Ohio. For more information, visit HealthAmerica’s Web site at http://www.healthamerica.cvty.com/ .

About The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) Awards Program

The Entrepreneur Of The Year awards program was created and is produced by the professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP. As the first award of its kind, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic and growing businesses. The program honors entrepreneurs through regional, national, and global award programs in over 100 cities and 35 countries.

About Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young, a global leader in professional services, is committed to restoring the public’s trust in professional services firms and in the quality of financial reporting. Its 103,000 people in more than 140 countries around the globe pursue the highest levels of integrity, quality, and professionalism to provide clients with solutions based on financial, transactional, and risk- management knowledge in Ernst & Young’s core services of audit, tax, and transaction services. Further information about Ernst & Young and its approach to a variety of business issues can be found at http://www.ey.com/perspectives . Ernst & Young refers to all the members of the global Ernst & Young organization.

HealthAmerica and HealthAssurance

CONTACT: Kendall Marcocci, Director of Communications of HealthAmericaand HealthAssurance, +1-717-540-6746