PacifiCare Partners With National Retail, Grocery and Drugstore Chains to Market Prescription Solutions From PacifiCare's Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans

CYPRESS, Calif., Dec. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. is partnering with six of the nation's largest retail, grocery and drugstore chains and franchises to market its new Prescription Solutions from PacifiCare Medicare Part D prescription drug plans to Medicare-eligible consumers through nearly 11,000 retail outlets nationwide.

PacifiCare's new relationships include agreements with: Albertsons Inc. ; Longs Drug Stores Corp.; Safeway Inc. ; Target ; Walgreen Co. Nasdaq; and Medicine Shoppe International, Inc., a Cardinal Health Company .

Information about the plans, including enrollment kits, free-standing kiosks and sales materials, is now available in PacifiCare's partners' stores. Those who enroll in any of the three Prescription Solutions from PacifiCare Part D plans will be able to fill their prescriptions at the participating pharmacies or through other pharmacies in PacifiCare's nationwide network of more than 50,000 outlets or via mail service.

As part of PacifiCare's effort to help Medicare-eligible consumers, caregivers and family members better understand the Medicare Part D benefit, the company is developing educational materials, such as a custom online learning module, designed especially for pharmacists and retail professionals that will help them answer their customers' questions and simplify the Part D enrollment process.

"We feel that the customers and families served by some of the country's most trusted providers of pharmacy services will appreciate the value of our Medicare Part D prescription drug plans," said Jacqueline Kosecoff, Ph.D., PacifiCare's executive vice president, Specialty Companies. "Our goal is to help make choosing and enrolling in a Part D plan easier for America's seniors, and we are confident that our partners will play a key role in providing information and resources that will bring more clarity to Medicare consumers."

According to Kosecoff, the addition of these well-established and respected national enterprises to PacifiCare's marketing network adds an important direct-to-consumer retail presence that is expected to enhance Prescription Solutions from PacifiCare's national broad distribution platform.

"We have been serving the health and wellness needs of our customers for more than 60 years. The Medicare Part D prescription drug program is a great benefit and we are pleased to be working with PacifiCare to educate our customers on the plans they offer," said Bruce Schwallie, executive vice president of Business Development and Managed Care, Longs Drug Stores. "The drug benefit program offers participants several new options. With options come questions, and Longs is available and accessible to help participants navigate through the benefit."

"We believe the Medicare Part D prescription drug program is a good benefit, but only if Medicare participants understand how it works and if they pick the best plan for their needs. We're going to help people do that," said Dave Fong, Safeway senior vice president of Pharmacy. "Our pharmacists are ready to answer questions and help make the process easier for Medicare participants."

The Prescription Solutions from PacifiCare Part D plans are available nationwide, and Medicare-eligible consumers can enroll online at http://www.prescriptionsolutions.com/. Three different plans -- PacifiCare Saver Plan, PacifiCare Comprehensive Plan and PacifiCare Select Plan -- form the heart of PacifiCare's Part D offering.

The plans offer a wide range in savings and choices of benefit options intended to meet individual needs, and each plan has no annual deductible. The range in monthly premiums reflects the variety of benefits offered and the variation in utilization in each region of the country, with premiums starting under $23 in many states. An initial enrollment period for the Medicare Part D benefit runs from Nov. 15, 2005, through May 15, 2006, with plan coverage starting Jan. 1, 2006, for those who enroll by Dec. 31, 2005.

More information about the plans is available through the PacifiCare Personalizer, an easy-to-use research and comparison service at http://www.prescriptionsolutions.com/. The PacifiCare Personalizer combines select personal information about medications, prescription usage and pharmacy preferences and prepares an evaluation from which beneficiaries can compare their choices for Medicare Part D coverage. For those who prefer to speak with a customer service representative, these services are available by calling Prescription Solutions from PacifiCare toll free at (800) 330-5330.

About Albertsons

Albertsons is one of the world's largest food and drug retailers. The Company's divisions and subsidiaries operate approximately 2,500 stores in 37 states across the U.S. and employ approximately 240,000 associates. Its banners include Albertsons, Acme, Shaw's, Jewel-Osco, Sav-on Drugs, Osco Drug, and Star Market, as well as Super Saver and Bristol Farms, which are operated independently. For more information about Albertsons, please visit http://www.albertsons.com/.

About Longs Drug Stores Corporation

Longs Drug Stores Corporation is one of the most recognized retail drug store chains on the West Coast and in Hawaii. Through its 476 stores located in California, Hawaii, Washington, Nevada, Colorado and Oregon, Longs Drug Stores serves the health and well-being needs of consumers through customer-oriented pharmacy services and convenient product offerings that include over-the-counter medications, photo and cosmetics. Headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, Longs also provides pharmacy benefit management (PBM) services through its RxAmerica subsidiary. Additional information about Longs Drug Stores Corporation and its Internet prescription services is available at http://www.longs.com/.

About Medicine Shoppe International, Inc.

Medicine Shoppe International, Inc. (MSI) (http://www.medicineshoppe.com/), a Cardinal Health Company, is distinguished for its commitment to providing expert, personalized health care. Medicine Shoppe International is the largest franchisor of independent community pharmacies in the U.S. with nearly 1,000 domestic Medicine Shoppe(R) Pharmacies and close to 300 pharmacies in seven other countries. In 2003, Medicine Shoppe International acquired Medicap Pharmacies Incorporated (http://www.medicap.com/), which franchises independent community pharmacies in the U.S. under the trade name "Medicap Pharmacy(R)." There are over 175 Medicap Pharmacies in 34 states.

Cardinal Health, Inc. is a leading provider of products and services supporting the health care industry. Cardinal Health develops, manufactures, packages and markets products for patient care; develops drug-delivery technologies; distributes pharmaceuticals, medical, surgical and laboratory supplies; and offers consulting and other services that improve quality and efficiency in health care. Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health employs more than 50,000 people on six continents and produces annual revenues of more than $50 billion. Cardinal Health is ranked #17 on the current Fortune 500 list and was named one of "The World's Best" companies by Forbes magazine in 2002.

About Safeway

Safeway Inc. is a Fortune 50 company and one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America based on sales. The company operates 1,800 stores in the United States and Canada and had annual sales of $35.8 billion in 2004. The company's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SWY.

About Target

Minneapolis-based Target serves guests at 1,330 stores in 47 states nationwide by delivering today's best retail trends at affordable prices. Target is committed to providing guests with great design through innovative products, in-store experiences and community partnerships. Whether visiting a Target store or shopping online at Target.com, guests enjoy a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to thousands of unique and highly differentiated items. Target gives back more than $2 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Since opening its first store in 1962, Target has partnered with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.

About Walgreens

Walgreen Co. Nasdaq is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2005 sales of $42.2 billion. The company operates 5,000 stores in 45 states and Puerto Rico. Walgreens also provides additional services to pharmacy patients and prescription drug and medical plans through Walgreens Health Initiatives (a pharmacy benefits manager), Walgreens Mail Service, Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy and Walgreens Home Care.

About PacifiCare

PacifiCare Health Systems is one of the nation's largest consumer health organizations with nearly 3.3 million health plan members and approximately 11.3 million specialty plan members nationwide. PacifiCare offers individuals, employers and Medicare beneficiaries a variety of consumer-driven health care and life insurance products. Today, PacifiCare is the nation's second-largest senior health insurance company with more than 20 years' experience delivering affordable, quality health care coverage to America's seniors. PacifiCare's specialty plan operations include behavioral health and dental and vision, as well as complete pharmacy benefit management with more than a decade of experience specializing in the senior prescription-drug market. More information on PacifiCare Health Systems is available at http://www.pacificare.com/.