Sharp Health Plan Chooses Assist America for Global Emergency Services

San Diego, Calif., and Princeton, N.J.—(October 19, 2007)—Sharp Health Plan, a not-for-profit health plan serving the San Diego area, announced today that it has partnered with Assist America, Inc., to provide global emergency assistance services for its members.

Effective immediately, Assist America will support Sharp Health Plan members and their families with an array of services, including medical referral and monitoring, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, hospital admission guarantee and compassionate visit transportation if they become ill or injured while traveling 100 miles or more away from home, or abroad.

“Sharp Health Plan is committed to providing our members with unparalleled quality and access to health services, and to foster their peace of mind regarding health care,” says Melissa Hayden Cook, President and CEO of Sharp Health Plan. “We believe health care should be personal, which is reflected in our company’s guiding principle: ‘Welcome home.’ Now, by partnering with Assist America, we are enhancing that care and protection, so that no matter where in the world our members travel, their health care is safeguarded. We are pleased to be able to offer them and their families this incredible service.”

George Howard, President of Assist America, says, “The goals of Sharp Health Plan and Assist America—to ensure members get the best care possible, when and where they need it—are very much aligned. We are very excited about this partnership.”

About Sharp Health Plan

Sharp Health Plan, associated with Sharp HealthCare, is a comprehensive not-for-profit health care plan, offering a full spectrum of medical care services to the San Diego County community. Sharp strives to deliver the highest value per health care dollar, to create the best quality health plan products and services possible, and to deliver services in the most convenient, caring and cost-effective manner. More information about Sharp Health Plan is available at www.sharp.com.

About Assist America

Founded in 1990, Assist America, Inc. is the world’s largest provider of global emergency assistance in partnership with insurance benefit plans.  Its worldwide network of professionals responds quickly to any eligible participant who becomes medically compromised while traveling more than 100 miles from home.  From simple doctor referrals to complex intercontinental evacuations and more, Assist America saves lives every day.  The company, headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, serves more than 25 million members and over 300,000 enterprises through benefit programs from the country’s most prominent insurance providers.  More information about Assist America is available at www.assistamerica.com.