U.S. News & World Report ranks HFHP one of America's Best Health Plans!

ROCKLEDGE, FL (November 11, 2008) — In the latest rankings of hundreds of health plans across America, U.S. News & World Report has rated Health First Health Plans among the elite group of top 25 plans in the entire United States. The U.S. News & World Report/NCQA 2008-2009 America's Best Health Plans rankings place the Health First Health Plans Medicare plan at twenty-two overall across the nation.

The new survey also found the Health First Health Plans Medicare plan to be the second highest ranked Medicare plan in the entire state of Florida, behind a smaller regional plan only offered in the Tallahassee area.

The survey shows that Health First Health Plans was rated higher than hundreds of other health plans across the U.S., including both larger national plans as well as smaller regional plans.

In addition, Health First Health Plans' Commercial plan received exceptionally high marks in the survey. The U.S. News & World Report/NCQA 2008-2009 America's Best Health Plans rankings also listed the Health First Health Plans Commercial plan as the second highest ranked commercial plan in the entire state of Florida, behind the same smaller regional plan only offered in the Tallahassee area.

"It's an honor to have received such exceptional rankings," said Health First Health Plans Chief Executive Officer Peter Weiss, MD. "The U.S. News ratings are among the most rigorous in the nation, so to be among their elite health care plans is a testament to our dedication to offer our customers a truly superior product."

HFHP serves over 63,000 residents, is the leading local health insurer, and has been operating for 11 years in Brevard County and the city of Sebastian in Indian River County. HFHP was founded as part of Health First, a not-for-profit family of healthcare services that also includes Cape Canaveral Hospital, Holmes Regional Medical Center, Palm Bay Community Hospital, Health First Physicians. For more information, visit www.healthfirsthealthplans.org or call 321.434.5665.

"America's Best Health Plans" is a trademark of U.S. News & World Report.