PHS Pacificare Hlth Sys

* Plan Offers No Monthly Premiums, No Office-Visit Copayments and Unlimited Access to Brand-Name and Generic Prescription Drug Coverage CYPRESS, Calif., Nov. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. (NYSE:PHS) is expanding its Secure Horizons Gold health plan for those who qualify for Medicare and Medicaid (Texas STAR Program) in Johnson, Kaufman, Rockwell and Ellis counties in Texas. The Secure Horizons Gold plan is designed to offer Medicare beneficiaries with limited resources a private health plan and an affordable prescription drug benefit. For example, the plan design has no office-visit and no hospital copayments and offers no-cost transportation for doctor's office visits. In addition, Secure Horizons Gold members automatically qualify to receive extra assistance to pay for prescription drugs with no Part D premiums, no coverage gaps and access to unlimited brand-name and generic prescription drugs with low copayments of $1 and $5. Also, members can receive low-cost dental cleanings and eyeglasses as well as caregiver support via PacifiCare's A Solution for Caregivers. Members will also have access, at no additional charge, to SilverSneakers(R), a unique fitness program designed to encourage physical and mental well-being. SilverSneakers includes a free fitness center membership, health education and specialized classes that focus on improving and increasing strength, endurance and mobility. Last year, PacifiCare launched its Secure Horizons Gold plan in Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar, Comel and Guadalupe counties, and earlier this year the plan expanded into Kendall and Atascosa counties, reinforcing PacifiCare's longstanding commitment to deliver affordable, quality health care coverage to Medicare beneficiaries in Texas. Qualified Medicare beneficiaries can enroll now to receive their medical, hospital and prescription drug coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2006. Secure Horizons can also assist those who meet the income and asset requirements -- who are not participating in the STAR program and want to enroll in the Secure Horizons Gold Plan -- apply for the Medicare Savings Program, which can save them more than $90 per month on their Medicare Part B premiums that are deducted each month from their Social Security checks. Recent CMS data report that 15 percent of Medicare beneficiaries are already enrolled in state-sponsored Medicaid programs, such as the Texas Star Program, but that as many as another 15 percent are qualified but have never applied. Secure Horizons Gold has a dedicated team available at 888-810-6605 that can help individuals determine whether they are eligible for these programs and apply for the Texas Star Program if they qualify. "Secure Horizons Medicare Advantage plans have provided Texas seniors affordable health care benefits for years; Secure Horizons Gold goes a step further to reduce financial barriers to quality health care for those who qualify," said Kathy Feeny, PacifiCare's executive vice president of Secure Horizons. "We believe that many of these seniors will appreciate Secure Horizons Gold because it offers more comprehensive benefits than original, fee-for-service Medicare and all of the benefits of a Medicare Advantage plan -- and more -- with a lower out-of-pocket cost." About PacifiCare PacifiCare Health Systems is one of the nation's largest consumer health organizations with nearly 3.2 million health plan members and approximately 11.3 million specialty plan members nationwide. PacifiCare offers individuals, employers and Medicare beneficiaries a variety of consumer-driven health care and life insurance products. Today, Secure Horizons offers competitive health care coverage and additional benefits to more than 740,000 members nationwide through its Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans and caregiver services. PacifiCare's specialty operations include behavioral health, dental and vision, and complete pharmacy benefit management through its wholly owned subsidiary, Prescription Solutions. More information on PacifiCare Health Systems is available at http://www.pacificare.com/. DATASOURCE: PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. CONTACT: Cheryl Randolph of PHS Media Relations, +1-714-226-3441, Web site: http://www.pacificare.com/

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