WellPoint, Inc., Recognized As One Of Best Employers For Promoting Healthy Lifestyles

WellPoint's Associate Wellness Program Captures 2008 Gold Award

May 21, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS -- WellPoint, Inc. (NYSE: WLP) today announced it was recognized as one of the best employers for healthy lifestyles by the National Business Group on Health (NBGH). The national non- profit organization of large employers honored WellPoint for its commitment and dedication to promoting a healthy workplace and encouraging a healthy lifestyle for its employees and families.

WellPoint was among 52 employers that received the Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles award at the Leadership Summit sponsored by NBGH's Institute on the Costs and Health Effects of Obesity. WellPoint received a Gold Award for its Choose Better Health program.

"Building a culture of health is an investment that WellPoint believes is simply the right thing to do," said Christine Miller, vice president, Human Resources. "We truly believe it is important to 'walk the talk' and set an example for all of our affiliated health plans' members through healthy lifestyle choices for our employees."

WellPoint has developed wellness programming that is an integral component of the Total Rewards philosophy provided to all 41,000 associates. The Choose Better Health program focuses on six key areas that provide a holistic view of one's wellness: physical activity; weight management; nutrition; tobacco cessation; preventive and condition care; and well-being. Changes to the WellPoint environment such as offering healthy food choices across all onsite cafeterias and onsite fitness centers further emphasize WellPoint's commitment to associate health.

"We are very pleased to honor WellPoint for its innovation and commitment to providing lifestyle improvement programs designed to encourage healthier lifestyles for its employees," said Helen Darling, president of NBGH. "WellPoint and its management team should be proud of both their initiatives and ongoing support of helping employees to choose a healthier way of life."

Now in its fourth year, the Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles award acknowledges and rewards those employers that recognize the urgent need to improve their workers' health, productivity and quality of life. The underlying goal of the program is to serve as a catalyst to encourage all employers to take action.

About WellPoint, Inc.
WellPoint, Inc. is the largest health benefits company in terms of medical membership in the United States. WellPoint is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and serves its members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, New York (as the Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in 10 New York City metropolitan and surrounding counties and as the Blue Cross or Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in selected upstate counties only), Ohio, Virginia (excluding the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), Wisconsin; and through UniCare. Additional information about WellPoint is available at http://www.wellpoint.com.