Media Center

Press Release

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas, April 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- UICI (NYSE: UCI) today announced that it has received notice of a scheduled multi- state market conduct review of its principal insurance subsidiaries, The MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company, Mid-West National Life Insurance Company of Tennessee, and The Chesapeake Life Insurance Company.

The Market Analysis Working Group of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has notified UICI that it has selected the departments of insurance in the states of Washington and Alaska to lead the review. The review will focus on the operations of the UICI companies over the five year period ended December 31, 2004. UICI expects the review to commence soon.

As is the case with all insurance companies subject to state regulation, individual state insurance departments have periodically conducted and continue to conduct market conduct examinations of UICI's insurance subsidiaries. The NAIC's Market Analysis Working Group has recently established procedures designed, among other things, to facilitate the communication and coordination of regulatory responses between and among multiple states and to enable state insurance departments and regulated insurance companies to more efficiently and consistently address specific regulatory issues.

"UICI is fully committed to cooperating in all respects with our state insurance regulators throughout this process," commented William J. Gedwed, President and CEO. "We appreciate the NAIC's efforts to establish and implement the process for collaborative examinations by multiple states, which we believe will lead to a more efficient market conduct review process." Mr. Gedwed said he does not believe the multi-state market conduct review will have a material adverse effect upon UICI's consolidated financial position or results of operations.

ABOUT UICI:

UICI (headquartered in North Richland Hills, Texas) through its subsidiaries offers insurance (primarily health and life) to niche consumer and institutional markets. Through its Self-Employed Agency Division, UICI provides to the individual and self-employed markets health insurance and related insurance products, which are distributed primarily through the Company's dedicated agency field forces, UGA-Association Field Services and Cornerstone America. Through its Student Insurance Division, UICI provides tailored health insurance programs for students enrolled in universities, colleges and kindergarten through grade twelve. Through its Star HRG Division, UICI markets, administers and underwrites limited benefit insurance plans for entry level, high turnover, hourly employees. Through its Life Insurance Division, UICI offers life insurance products to selected markets. Through its ZON Re USA unit, the Company underwrites, administers and issues accidental death, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), accident medical and accident disability insurance policies, both on a primary and on a reinsurance basis. For more information, visit http://www.uici.net .

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995:

Some of the matters discussed in this news release may contain forward- looking statements that are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements are intended to be identified in this document by the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "objective", "plan", "possible", "potential" and similar expressions. Actual results may vary materially from those included in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions; the continued ability of the Company to compete for customers and insureds in an industry where many of its competitors may have greater market share and/or greater financial resources; the Company's ability to accurately estimate medical claims and control costs; changes in government regulation that could increase the costs of compliance or cause the Company to discontinue marketing its products in certain states; the Company's failure to comply with new or existing government regulation that could subject it to significant fines and penalties; changes in the relationship between the Company and the membership associations and/or changes in the laws and regulations governing so-called "association group" insurance (particularly changes that would subject the issuance of policies to prior premium rate approval and/or require the issuance of policies on a "guaranteed issue" basis); significant liabilities and costs associated with litigation; failure of the Company's information systems to provide timely and accurate information; negative publicity regarding the Company's business practices and/or regarding the health insurance industry in general; the Company's inability to enter into or maintain satisfactory relationships with networks of hospitals, physicians, dentists, pharmacies and other health care providers; failure of the Company's regulated insurance company subsidiaries to maintain their current ratings by A.M. Best Company, Fitch and/or Standard & Poor's; and the other risk factors set forth in the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

UICI press releases and other company information are available at UICI's website located at http://www.uici.net .

SOURCE UICI
CONTACT: Russ Keene of UICI, +1-512-372-6364

###

About HealthMarkets

HealthMarkets, headquartered in North Richland Hills, Texas, is a provider of health and life insurance products to individuals, families, the self-employed, Medicare beneficiaries and small businesses. HealthMarkets offers products and services through its licensed insurance subsidiaries The MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company, Mid-West National Life Insurance Company of Tennessee and The Chesapeake Life Insurance Company. The Company’s offerings include individual and self-employed health insurance, small employer group health insurance, life insurance and reinsurance. Through its Consumer Guided Health Insurance plans, HealthMarkets seeks to provide affordable and accessible health coverage to individuals and small businesses. The Company is owned by a group of private equity investors, including affiliates of The Blackstone Group, Goldman Sachs Capital Partners and DLJ Merchant Banking Partners, members of management and the Company’s independent, licensed agents through the Company’s agent stock accumulation plans. For more information, visit http://www.healthmarkets.com.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995:

Some of the matters discussed in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements are intended to be identified in this document by the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "objective," "plan," "possible," "potential" and similar expressions. Actual results may vary materially from those included in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions; the continued ability of the Company to compete for customers and insureds in an industry where many of its competitors may have greater market share and/or greater financial resources; the Company’s ability to accurately estimate medical claims and control costs; changes in government regulation that could increase the costs of compliance or cause the Company to discontinue marketing its products in certain states; the Company’s failure to comply with new or existing government regulations that could subject it to significant fines and penalties and/or result in restrictions on its operations; changes in the relationship between the Company and the membership associations that make available to their members the health insurance and other insurance products issued by the Company’s insurance subsidiaries; changes in the laws and regulations governing so-called “association group” insurance (particularly changes that would subject the issuance of policies to prior premium rate approval and/or require the issuance of policies on a “guaranteed issue” basis); significant liabilities and costs associated with litigation; failure of the Company’s information systems to provide timely and accurate information; negative publicity regarding the Company’s business practices and/or regarding the health insurance industry in general; the Company’s inability to enter into or maintain satisfactory relationships with networks of hospitals, physicians, dentists, pharmacies and other health care providers; failure of the Company’s regulated insurance company subsidiaries to maintain their current ratings by A.M. Best Company, Fitch and/or Standard & Poor’s; and the other risk factors set forth in the reports filed by the Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Media Contacts:

Donna Ledbetter
HealthMarkets Corporate Communications
(817) 255-5405
Donna.Ledbetter@healthmarkets.com
www.HealthMarkets.com

Karen Mellen
For HealthMarkets
(312) 596-3487
Karen.Mellen@bm.com