Fortis Healthcare Limited in India and CIGNA International Streamline Access to Health Care for Expatriates

PHILADELPHIA, April 20, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CIGNA International Expatriate Benefits (CIEB) completed a formal agreement with Fortis Healthcare Limited of India to accept direct payments from CIEB so that its insured members and covered international business travelers have direct access to the premier Fortis hospitals in northern India.

CIEB members will not have to pay fees at time of service at Fortis hospitals, which now accept direct payments from CIEB, as well as guarantees of payment for services such as inpatient surgery.

"Our members also benefit from CIEB discounts at these hospitals. We are pleased to offer this additional access to quality care at preferred prices and to further enhance our network capabilities in this region," said Markus Zettner, CIEB provider relations manager.

The Fortis Group includes the following hospitals: - Fortis Hospital, Noida, National Capital Region of Delhi (NCR): super- specialty in orthopedics and neurosciences - Fortis La Femme Hospital, New Delhi: high-end birthing center and women's health - Fortis Hospital, Mohali: multi-specialty hospital; super-specialty in heart - Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre

"This recognition of our hospital system by CIGNA is an acknowledgement of the quality of Indian health care, which is truly world-class. We are already receiving patients from developed countries like the U.K. and U.S. and providing them with seamless patient services. CIGNA members will experience the same quality services in our entire hospital network," said Daljit Singh, CEO, Fortis Healthcare Limited.

About CIGNA International Expatriate Benefits (CIEB)

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

About Fortis Healthcare

Fortis Healthcare Limited runs one of the largest cardiac programs in the world with more than 6,000 surgeries, 5,000 angioplasties and 14,000 angiographies a year. The rapidly expanding Fortis network, which includes Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre, has 10 hospitals with a bed capacity of approximately 1,600 beds, establishing itself as one of India's leading advanced tertiary care health care groups. The Group has Centers of Excellence in orthopedics, neurosciences, renal sciences, diabetics, cosmetic surgery, women and children's health, besides cutting-edge surgeries performed in ophthalmology, dental, ENT, oncology and minimally invasive surgery within the Group Hospitals.