Health Plus - Health Plus Shows It’s No Grinch

For Immediate Release

Health Plus Shows It’s No Grinch
HMO Plays Role of Santa To Children Across City

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Customer Inquiries: Marketing Department (888) 809-8009

Brooklyn - December 13, 2004 — Hundreds of children and their families lined up around community centers throughout the city this past weekend as Health Plus, the Medicaid managed care organization, began its tenth year of making sure that New York City’s children have a happy and magical holiday season.

At events scattered throughout the five boroughs -- dubbed “North Pole Strolls” by the company -- Health Plus distributes free toys and gifts to the children, and offers free photos with Santa as a holiday keepsake.

“Ten years ago, Health Plus held its first annual North Pole Stroll and donated a Christmas tree to the Sunset Park Recreation Center to be planted there,” says Executive Director for Health Plus, Tom Early. “Happily, the tree has grown large and strong over years, much like our company and its relationship with the community.”

This year several different types of toys, including mini-cars, tea sets, and dolls, were given out to eager youngsters.

“Children should be able to have their pictures taken with Santa and receive a gift for Christmas,” said Early. “These events try to make sure that all children catch the holiday spirit. Personally,” said the father of five, “there’s almost nothing better than seeing a child have a joyous holiday.”

A young child grins as she enters the magical world of Health Plus’s “North Pole Stroll” at the Cromwell center in Staten Island.

Two excited children stand alongside Santa at Health Plus’s “North Pole Stroll” at the Sunset Park community center in Brooklyn

Queens children hold up toys, displaying holiday gifts.

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Health Plus, a not-for-profit, multi-cultural organization, is one of the fastest growing managed care organizations in New York City. It was established in 1984 with a commitment to provide coordinated quality health care and improving access to health care for uninsured and underserved families. In its annual review of managed care plans, the New York State Department of Health ranked Health Plus as the top plan for quality in its 2002 and 2003 "Consumer's Guide to Medicaid Managed Care in New York City." Health Plus is New York City's leading provider of Child Health Plus, a New York State Department of Health program that offers parents FREE or low-cost health insurance for children under the age of 19. "CRAIN'S New York Business" magazine ranked Health Plus fifth among the largest health maintenance organizations in the New York area.