"

Ethnic groups also were mentioned often, particularly Hispanics . Best Co. For more
information, visit A.com

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

OWINGS MILLS, Md."

En espanol offers:

Information on diseases and medical conditions

A comprehensive health encyclopedia

A prescription drug reference, including information on
potential side effects and drug interactions

A collection of links to Spanish-language health sites of
reputable medical and government organizations.
In its 70th year of service , CareFirst, an independent licensee of
the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is a not-for-profit health
care company which, through its affiliates and subsidiaries, offers a
comprehensive portfolio of health insurance products and
administrative services to more than 3. Through its CareFirst Commitment initiative and other public
mission activities, CareFirst supports efforts to increase the
accessibility , affordability, safety and quality of health care
throughout its market areas.

Harris Interactive (R) Kelley Blue Book Release the 2006 AutoVIBES Ethnicity Series of Reports

These reports will be available in
May 2006. (http://www.harrispollonline.

about american

Complete results of the survey are available in the May edition of
Best's Review, published by the A.M.com/salud
Converting health and wellness information into Spanish is one of
several endeavors to address the growing ethnic and racial diversity
in the communities CareFirst serves, as part of the $92 million-plus
CareFirst Commitment initiative announced in January. The Vehicle Consideration reports are offered by vehicle segment
including: Hybrid /Alternative Fuel Vehicles, SUV, Sedan, Truck, Minivan,
Luxury and Sporty/Performance/Convertible . No other medium reaches more in-market
vehicle shoppers than kbb.com; one in every three American car buyers complete
their research on kbb.

shopping about

Best's Review Survey: Scratch an Interest Group Find a New Insurance Customer

Best Company.com/subscribe

A.carefirst.- based health
clinic serving uninsured and underinsured Latinos.3 million individuals and
groups in Northern Virginia, the District of Columbia, Maryland and
Delaware.com.D.com.

particular shopping

----Agents, brokers
and insurers are finding new clients among women, the self-employed,
young families and other groups that aren't typically recognized for
their sales potential, according to a recent survey conducted by
Best's Review. Have open houses.M. Best's Web site at http://www. "Many Latinos prefer
receiving and seeking out health information in their native language.

When it comes to hybrid vehicles, the most likely group to consider a
vehicle in this category are Asian Americans (80 percent) while only
66 percent of African Americans are open to considering a hybrid.com/europe) and Asia offices, its wholly-owned
subsidiary Novatris in Paris, France (http://www.
EOE M/F/D/V
To become a member of the Harris Poll Online(SM) and be invited to
participate in future online surveys, go to http://www.com .

or children

Survey respondents, 59% of whom are agents, brokers or advisers,
also named lower- and middle -income families, hospitality businesses,
first-time home buyers, fraternal organizations and small businesses
owned by women as groups with which they have had particular success.

53% advocated advertising in targeted publications

48% said having a multi-lingual staff was important

43% encouraged sponsoring educational workshops

Respondents noted that many of the groups they personally are
reaching are underserved by the insurance industry in general. Be strong with obtaining
referrals."

Marketing to diverse groups is a medium or high priority for most
respondents , but 63% think insurers are providing agents with too few
resources in this area.bestreview.com or
www. Studies Reveal Vehicle Shopping Preferences Among African, Asian
and Hispanic Americans

IRVINE, Calif.

Each AutoVIBES Report contains detailed analysis of each group's:
* Make ownership, consideration and loyalty
* Vehicle segment ownership and consideration
* Reaction to new model launches: awareness, familiarity , favorability,
consideration, attribute ratings
* Key vehicle purchase decision factors
* Reliance on incentives: effects on timing of purchase, likelihood to
purchase in absence, dependency
* Effects of gas prices on purchase decision
* Hybrid engine attitudes
* Key safety factors
* Financial outlook for upcoming year
* Auto enthusiast level
* Detailed subgroup profile

AutoVIBES is a study resulting from a strategic alliance between Harris
Interactive and Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research, delivering timely and
insightful analysis tracking vehicle shopping trends on more than 30 new model
launches each month.novatris.

or cultural

Business Editors/Insurance Writers

OLDWICK, N.
"We have been very successful at reaching the blue-collar workers,"
said one agent.
Suggestions for what insurers could do better to market to diverse
groups included:

-- "Not only should marketing and enrolling tools be in Spanish,
but the actual policies should also be in Spanish. Set up education
seminars .
"Latinos represent the fastest expanding minority group in
CareFirst's service area as well as the largest and fastest growing
minority group nationally," explained Jon Shematek, MD, CareFirst 's
Medical Director for Quality Improvement. For more information about AutoVIBES
or any forthcoming series of reports this year, or to purchase reports, please
contact Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research at 949-268-2756 or Harris
Interactive at 877-919-4765.com), based in Rochester,
New York, is the 13th largest and the fastest-growing market research firm in
the world, most widely known for The Harris Poll(R) and for its pioneering
leadership in the online market research industry. Kbb.

american ethnic

, established in 1899, is the world's oldest and most
authoritative insurance rating and information source.
"There is a wide and growing acknowledgement that significant
health disparities exist among certain racial and ethnic groups,"
Shematek added. The information in each
report is compiled from interviews with more than 20,000 in-market vehicle
shoppers during 2005 who are within 12 months of purchasing or leasing a new
vehicle, and provides detailed data and analysis regarding a variety of
purchase consideration factors.com is America's most used and trusted vehicle
pricing, values and information resource.

cultural or

Asked which methods are the most successful for reaching diverse
groups, the greatest number of respondents (62%) endorsed
participating in community events. "We will continue to seek new ways and new partners to
help us address these disparities.carefirst.

selling american

5742 or visit
http: //www.ambest.

In addition, CareFirst is producing new educational material and
Spanish language versions of preventive brochures and mailings - such
as pediatric immunization reminders and adult preventive service
birthday card reminders. 1 automotive information site by Nielsen//NetRatings and J. Power and
Associates seven years in a row.

books sites

To subscribe, call
(908) 439-2200, ext.----CareFirst
BlueCross BlueShield has added a new "My Care First En espanol"
feature to the health and wellness section of its Web site. Last month, CareFirst announced a new
diabetes program in conjunction with a Washington, D.

(To learn more about CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, see our Web
site at http:/www.

About Harris Interactive(R)
Harris Interactive Inc.
Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States,
Europe (http://www.

publications selling

M."
Other projects under development will focus on the higher
prevalence of cardiovascular disease among African Americans and of
cervical cancer among Asian women. According to the 2006 study, African American
vehicle shoppers find low monthly payments as most appealing, while Asian and
Hispanic Americans see low finance rates as their most appealing incentive
option. AutoVIBES combines the online automotive research
expertise of Harris Interactive with targeted sampling from Kelley Blue Book's
popular Web site, kbb. The top-rated Web site provides the
most up-to-date pricing and values for thousands of new and used vehicles,
including the Blue Book(R) New Car Value, which reveals what people actually
are paying for new cars.

cultural books

According to survey results, top groups that insurers need to try
harder to serve include Hispanics, lower- and middle-income families,
senior citizens and women."

Study Findings:
Several differences can be found between different ethnic groups when it
comes to vehicle shopping.
Vehicle shoppers from different ethnic heritages also own and consider
diverse makes:

African Americans Asian Americans Hispanic
Americans

Top Makes Owned Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Nissan, Ford, Chevrolet,
Nissan, Toyota , Honda, Ford, Toyota, Honda,
Honda Chevrolet Dodge

Top Makes Toyota, Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Toyota, Honda,
Considered Chevrolet Honda, Nissan, Acura, Ford Nissan,
Ford Lexus Chevrolet

The complete set of AutoVIBES Demographic Reports consists of 14 separate
reports under three series categories: Ethnicity, Generation and Vehicle
Consideration .com), and through an
independent global network of affiliate market research companies.com)
Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com also has been named the
No.

publications groups

C. Long recognized by its
clients for delivering insights that enable confident business decisions, the
Company blends the science of innovative research with the art of strategic
consulting to deliver knowledge that leads to measurable and enduring value.

About Kelley Blue Book (kbb.

american groups

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Launches My Care First En espanol; Spanish Language Web Addition Offers Wealth of Health and Wellness Info

Our En espanol option at the My Care First health and wellness Web
site offers valuable guidance for CareFirst members and non-members
alike.
"The AutoVIBES Ethnicity report series provides invaluable information for
automotive marketers by showing a complete picture of the influences and
issues affecting different ethnic groups," said Rick Wainschel, vice president
of marketing research and brand communications for Kelley Blue Book. This survey was conducted online in 2005 among
more than 20,000 adults 18 years and older who are in-market vehicle shoppers
and within 12 months of purchasing or leasing a new vehicle. Overall
responses and results from African American (n=958) Hispanic (n=1378) and
Asian American (871) respondents were not weighted.harrisinteractive. The company also reports vehicle prices
and values via products and services, including the famous Blue Book(R)
Official Guide and software products.

native african

"

-- "Get out and meet people face to face. "Armed
with the comprehensive knowledge contained in these reports, manufacturers
will better understand the dynamic factors behind vehicle purchase decisions
among different ethnic backgrounds, and communications teams will be able to
more specifically tailor future messaging and advertising to effectively reach
desired target audiences.

AutoVIBES Demographic Reports are available for purchase by the individual
report , as a series or as an entire set.

Sites selling books about - or for - particular ethnic groups.

native cultural

"Our focus is the labor unions, and we have great
penetration. En
espanol, providing visitors a wealth of Spanish language health
information, can be accessed either through www.carefirst.com

To receive this news release electronically, call 1-800-914-6397., The AutoVIBES Ethnicity series of
reports now are available from online vehicle market research leaders Harris
Interactive(R) and Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research, providing significant
insight into the diverse vehicle shopping preferences among three different
ethnic groups: African, Asian and Hispanic Americans. The Generation series contains reports for Generation Y,
Generation X, Baby Boomers and Pre-Boomers and will be available in April
2006.harrisinteractive. Since 1926, car buyers and sellers have relied upon
Kelley Blue Book for authoritative and unbiased information to make

well-informed automotive decisions.