Affordable quality health care available in California and across the border.

HISPANICVISTA - (Noticiaswire) April 25, 2001 - Health Net of California announced today the expansion of Salud con Health Net to include statewide and Los Angeles County Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans. Salud con Health Net is an innovative family of products that provides access to affordable, quality health care for Latinos and their families in California and across the border.

With Health Net's new statewide HMO plans, employees and their families can receive comprehensive health care benefits at an affordable cost. Statewide HMO plan members can opt to receive services through the Health Net of California HMO provider network or through the Sistemas Médicos Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. (SIMNSA) provider network in Mexico. As the most affordable option in the Salud con Health Net program, the Los Angeles County HMO plan offers employees and their dependents a broad range of health care services for a small co-payment. Members who enroll can receive care from any Salud con Health Net primary care doctor in the Los Angeles County service area or in Mexico.

The HMO plans are the newest additions to Salud con Health Net, a bold initiative designed to make a difference among the 35 percent of Latinos in California who do not have health insurance coverage.

Recent U.S. Census Bureau figures confirm the Latino population grew 58 percent nationwide since 1990 and is on track to become the largest minority group in the country. The Salud con Health Net expansion is also a direct response to business owners who want to provide their employees with quality and affordable health care insurance. Salud con Health Net is a bi-national partnership among Health Net, Médico Hispano, participating Tenet HealthSystem hospitals in Southern California and SIMNSA in Mexico.

"The addition of an HMO plan reflects an expansion of our commitment to both the Latino and business community by delivering affordable, quality health care coverage to all hard-working Californians," said Christopher Ciano, senior vice president of Health Net. "Expanding our Salud con Health Net line of plans also makes good business sense because Latinos make up one of the fastest-growing segments of the California population."

"Salud con Health Net is a unique partnership between a health plan and select health care providers who together have extensive experience serving the Latino community," said Ana Andrade, associate vice president of Health Net.

Many small businesses in California employ workers with family members who either live or prefer to receive health care services in Mexico. Some Latinos cross the border for services because they are more comfortable with health care practitioners who speak their language and understand their culture. Salud con Health Net is a viable solution for businesses with a Latino workforce because it delivers culturally appropriate care at a low cost.

While many Latinos may lack health care coverage, 66 percent are employed and contributing to the economic strength of California. In Los Angeles County, 46 percent of Latino adults and 33 percent of Latino children do not have health coverage.

Other available options under Salud con Health Net include the PPO, PPO Plus and Calidad sin Fronteras (Quality without Borders).

Launched in October 2000, Salud con Health Net selected partners based on their experience in providing quality health care that meets the needs of the Latino community. With state-of-the-art medical facilities in Tijuana, Mexicali and Tecate, the SIMNSA Network offers access to more than 140 physicians and eight hospitals. Médico Hispano provides access to medical clinics throughout Los Angeles County and to more than 200 physicians. As the largest hospital network in Southern California, Tenet HealthSystem offers access to leading community hospitals under Salud con Health Net. Los Angeles area Tenet hospitals include the following: Queen of Angels-Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, Greater El Monte Community Hospital, Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center, Mission Hospital of Huntington Park, Community Hospital of Huntington Park, Monterey Park Hospital, Garfield Medical Center, Suburban Medical Center, Lakewood Regional Medical Center and USC University Hospital.

Health Net, a subsidiary of Health Net, Inc. (NYSE: HNT), is one of the largest network-model health plans in California, serving more than 2.3 million members statewide. It contracts with nearly 49,000 physicians, nearly 400 hospitals and 4,400 pharmacies, giving its members greater choice and more convenient access to care. Through its innovative products and offerings, Health Net has received a variety of prestigious awards, including the coveted C. Everett Koop National Health Award.

For more information about Health Net of California and Salud con Health Net, call member services at (800) 522-0088 (English) or (800) 331-1777 (Spanish). Health insurance brokers can call broker relations at (800) 448-4411, option 4. Information can also be found on Health Net's Web site at www.healthnet.com.