Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield: Associates pledge more than $900,000 to community organizations

Contact: Scott Larrivee, 262-349-6362

More than 1,000 Not-for-Profit Organizations To Receive Support from Annual Associate Giving Campaign

Pewaukee, Wis. – Jan. 23, 2009 – Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin announced today that its associates have pledged more than $908,000 to support over 1,000 not-for-profit organizations in 2009 as part of the company’s annual Associate Giving Campaign. The parent company of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield will match 50 percent of associate pledges, increasing the total to more than $1.3 million.

“Every day our associates work to bring value to the health care system and our health plans’ members. The generosity shown during this year’s associate giving campaign is truly remarkable,” said Steve Martenet, president and general manager, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin. “In these challenging economic times, our associates continued to exceed all expectations and surpassed our company-wide goal.”

Nationwide, associates of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s parent company pledged more than $16 million to nearly 10,000 charities.

Additionally, the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation provided more than $540,000 in grants to agencies across the state in 2008. In Wisconsin, Foundation grants were awarded to the University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention and the American Lung Association of Wisconsin for smoking cessation efforts, Milwaukee Health Care Partnership to provide “medical homes” for the uninsured, Aspirus Health Foundation for an ambulatory-based cardiac care device, Wisconsin League for Nursing for scholarships, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – St. Joseph Foundation Inc. to provide prenatal care for uninsured and underinsured women, and the American Red Cross for flood relief.

“Wisconsin’s community agencies serve as a vital public safety net,” said Martenet. “In difficult economic times like this, the role of these agencies is more important than ever before.”

“Through the efforts of our foundations across the country we can help address local health concerns,” said Caroline ‘Caz’ Matthews, president of the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation. “But we go beyond simply providing dollars by giving of our time through our national Community Service Day, where associates volunteer in our communities to have an even greater impact. In the end, our focus allows us to have a measurable and sustainable impact on critical health care needs in the communities we serve.”

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name used by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin (“BCBSWi”) and Compcare Health Services Insurance Corporation (“Compcare”), independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin is available at http://www.anthem.com.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation

Through charitable grant making, the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation LLC, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, promotes Anthem’s inherent commitment to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield serves. The Foundation focuses its funding on strategic initiatives that address and provide innovative solutions to reduce the number of uninsured as well as organizations and nonprofit charities that promote the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets specific disease states and medical conditions. These include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation. The Foundation also coordinates the company’s annual associate giving campaign and its parent foundation provides a 50 percent match of associates’ campaign pledges. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. To learn more about the Foundation please visit http://www.wellpointfoundation.org.

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