PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 29, 2004--Responding to  
consumers drained by years of rapidly escalating health care costs and
health insurance prices, Kaiser Permanente's Southern California
Region today announced new plans for individual purchasers that reduce
monthly premiums nearly 50 per cent in many cases in return for an
annual deductible.
   "It's very clear that consumers are looking for affordable  
options, as opposed to the single premium for comprehensive benefits
that has been Kaiser Permanente's hallmark," said Richard Cordova,
Kaiser Permanente Southern California's president. "The new deductible
plans reduce the monthly premium and that helps consumers who are
looking for affordability."
   Cordova went on to say that the mission of the almost 60-year-old  
Kaiser Permanente -- improving the health of its members and the
communities it serves by providing quality, comprehensive health care
-- has not changed. "We've listened to consumers and the new
deductible plan will enable more people to gain access to our medical
program," he said.
   Under the new plans, a variety of prevention services -- including  
recommended immunizations for children and adults, vision and hearing
examinations, prenatal and well-baby care, and family planning
services -- will not be subject to the deductible. Immunizations and
many health education classes are available free of charge.
   "The new plans represent a change in how some members pay for  
their medical care. Every member will still get the unique benefits of
Permanente medicine, like preventive screenings and evidence-based
care," said Jeffrey Weisz, M.D., medical director of the Southern
California Permanente Medical Group, the physicians who care for
Kaiser Permanente members.
   The new deductible plans for individuals significantly cut monthly  
premiums. For example, a Kaiser Permanente individual member under 30
years of age with the most comprehensive coverage currently pays a
$154 monthly premium. Under the new $1,500 deductible plan, the
premium drops to only $73, a reduction of more than 50 per cent. Under
the new deductible plan for families, a current premium of $588 for a
"30-39 family" drops to $283. The family deductible is $3,000. Similar
deductible plans with slightly different premiums will be offered by
Kaiser Permanente in Northern California.
   Deductible plans for individuals are available now with effective  
dates of June 1. Group deductible plans will be offered in the coming
months, with a July 1 effective date for small groups and January 1,
2005 for large.
   Kaiser Permanente is a prepaid, group practice health maintenance  
organization (HMO), founded in 1945. The Kaiser Permanente Southern
California Region has more than 3.1 million members. It includes 3,600
physicians in the Southern California Permanente Medical Group (SCPMG)
and 46,000 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals employees. The
Region is served by 11 major medical centers.

   http://www.kaiserpermanente.org