CIGNA International, World Assist Agreement Provides Access to Premier Health Care Network in South America

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 12, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CIGNA International Expatriate Benefits (CIEB) has completed a formal agreement with World Assist, the premier health care network in Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Through this agreement, CIEB's expatriate members, as well as its covered international business travelers in South America, now will have access to World Assist's Preferential Providers Organization (PPO) network of quality hospitals, clinics and doctors.

All network providers will accept direct payments for their services from CIEB, as well as advance guarantees of payments for services such as inpatient surgery. "World Assist providers offer significant discounts off local fee schedules, which is of considerable value to our clients doing business in South America," said Markus Zettner, provider relations manager for CIEB. "Additionally, broader access to quality care greatly enhances our network capabilities in this region."

The World Assist PPO network includes the world-renowned Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein and Hospital Sirio-Libanese, both in Sao Paulo. In addition, the network includes many other key hospitals utilized by international patients, such as Hospital Samaritano, Clinica Sao Vicente, and Hospital Copa D'or in Rio de Janeiro, as well as Sanatoria San Roque in Paraguay and Hospital Suizo Argentina in Argentina. There are 70 hospitals, clinics, doctors, and other providers in the World Assist PPO network.

CIEB, a business unit of CIGNA International, is the leading provider of employer-sponsored group expatriate benefits.

"This relationship among World Assist, CIGNA and our providers offers greater convenience and improved support to CIGNA's insureds doing business in Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay," said Sueli Fernandes, director of business and development for World Assist.

CIGNA International Expatriate Benefits (CIEB) is a business unit of CIGNA International, the global business division of CIGNA Corporation . CIGNA International markets life, accident and employee benefits - including health care insurance - in selected markets around the world. CIEB is the world's largest provider of employer-sponsored insurance plans for expatriate employees and their insured family members.

World Assist has a large, worldwide Provider Network, with offices in the USA (Florida), Brazil and Portugal. It operates a multilingual Customer Service Center 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The World Assist network consists of highly qualified providers with years of experience rendering international medical care and assistance.