KENNEBUNK, Maine--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 13, 2006--Each quarter, Mark Farrah Associates (MFA) strives to assess market share and shifts in the competitive health insurance industry. MFA (www.markfarrah.com) recently updated their products with 1st quarter 2006 insights. Following are some interesting findings.

Aetna, CIGNA, Health Care Service Corporation, Kaiser Permanente, UnitedHealthcare and WellPoint are the top U.S. health insurers, based on medical membership. Though WellPoint is number one overall, UnitedHealth leads the risk-based segment. CIGNA ranks number five in the lineup, but they are the third largest provider of ASO services.

According to 1st quarter health plan data, competitive swaps were fairly substantial in some markets over the past year. This refers to health plan attempts to take customers from competitors in saturated markets. For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has successfully been taking business away from many carriers in the Massachusetts market. Health plan retention and new business activity changes market share dynamics like this every quarter.

MFA offers a range of products and services to make market share analyses easier. Visit our product pages for more information:

- Health Plans USA at www.markfarrah.com/products/HealthPlansUSA.asp

- Health Insurer Insights at www.markfarrah.com/products/HealthInsurerInsights.asp

- Medicare Business Online at www.markfarrah.com/products/MedicareBusinessOnline.asp

Visit our Healthcare Business Strategy (BS) site for FREE market analysis overviews at http://www.markfarrah.com/healthcarebs.asp.

About Mark Farrah Associates

Mark Farrah Associates, headquartered in Kennebunk, Maine, simplifies the analysis of health insurance business. We offer online data products, industry-focused market reports and research consulting services. Since 1997, Mark Farrah has been recognized as a leader in analyzing market data and health plan competition.

Contacts
Mark Farrah Associates (MFA)
LuAnne Farrah, 207-985-8484
www.markfarrah.com

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 © Business Wire 2006