Health Net Steps in with Medi-Cal Dental Coverage in Los Angeles County

Health Net of California, Inc. is restoring dental benefits for its adult Medi-Cal beneficiaries in Los Angeles County whose coverage was eliminated in 2009 due to state budget cuts.

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"Dental benefits are just as essential as medical benefits,” said Robert Shechet, DDS, director of dental programs for Health Net of California. "Studies have shown that poor dental health can lead to heart attacks, strokes, premature or low-birthweight deliveries, diabetes complications and other serious medical conditions. Through this offering, Health Net is helping Medi-Cal beneficiaries be healthier.”

Health Net of California already provides comprehensive Medi-Cal medical benefits to nearly 450,000 beneficiaries in Los Angeles County. In total, Health Net of California provides Medi-Cal coverage in 10 California counties to more than 700,000 individuals, and it provides Healthy Families coverage to nearly 150,000 individuals in 35 counties. It also provides dental coverage to nearly 50,000 Medi-Cal beneficiaries in both Sacramento and Los Angeles counties, and to about 90,000 Healthy Families members.

Health Net of California’s dental plan for Medi-Cal beneficiaries ages 21 and older in Los Angeles County provides access to such essential services as routine cleanings, oral examinations and X-rays at no cost to the beneficiary. Studies have shown these services may reduce the risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes – such as pre-term or low-birthweight deliveries – diabetes complications and heart disease.

"Health Net is committed to helping Californians be healthy,” said Dave Meadows, Health Net of California’s vice president of State Health Programs. "We believe we are the only health plan in California extending dental benefits to adult beneficiaries, and providing substitute dental benefits to adults in the Medi-Cal program until the usual or similar benefits are restored is one more way we are working to preserve California’s medical and dental safety net.”

"Continued access to dental care is crucial for Medi-Cal beneficiaries, and even more so for those with disabilities and other challenging medical conditions,” said Irma Resendez, founder and president of Familia Unida, a non-profit organization serving thousands of individuals and families affected by multiple sclerosis and other conditions in Southern California. "Too often, we see people whose dental conditions deteriorate and later become medical problems because they do not have coverage for dental care and cannot afford to visit a dentist.”

A similar substitute dental program was unveiled by Health Net in Sacramento County in 2009 and quickly became a popular benefit among adult Medi-Cal beneficiaries.

"We expect a similar favorable response in Los Angeles County,” said Meadows.

Health Net of California announced its dental program at Centro Maravilla Service Center, Los Angeles County’s community and senior services center in East Los Angeles, which cosponsored free dental screenings following the announcement.

About Health Net

Health Net of California, Inc., a subsidiary of Health Net, Inc. (NYSE:HNT), is one of the largest health plans in the state. Together with Health Net Life Insurance Company, it serves more than 2.2 million members statewide, and contracts with more than 56,000 physicians, 300-plus hospitals and nearly 5,000 pharmacies, giving its members greater choice and more convenient access to care. Its commercial HMO and POS, Medicare and Medicaid lines of business have received the "excellent” accreditation status from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. For more information about Health Net, visit its Web site at http://www.healthnet.com/.

Cautionary Statements

All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical information provided herein, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements and as such are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on management’s analysis, judgment, belief and expectation only as of the date hereof, and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Without limiting the foregoing, statements including the words "believes,” "anticipates,” "plans,” "expects,” "may,” "should,” "could,” "estimate,” "intend” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially due to, among other things, costs, fees and expenses related to the post-closing administrative services to be provided under the administrative services agreements entered into in connection with the sale of our Northeast business; potential termination of the administrative services agreements by the service recipients should we breach such agreements or fail to perform all or a material part of the services required thereunder; any liabilities of the Northeast business that were incurred prior to the closing of its sale as well as those liabilities incurred through the winding-up and running-out period of the Northeast business; potential termination of our TRICARE North operations; rising health care costs; a continued decline in the economy; negative prior period claims reserve developments; investment portfolio impairment charges; volatility in the financial markets; trends in medical care ratios; unexpected utilization patterns or unexpectedly severe or widespread illnesses; membership declines; rate cuts affecting our Medicare or Medicaid businesses; litigation costs; regulatory issues; operational issues; health care reform; and general business and market conditions. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the risks discussed in the "Risk Factors” section included within the company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and the risks discussed in the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise any of its forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date of this release.