HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Capital BlueCross, central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley's No. 1 health insurer, will mark its 70th anniversary of service to the community this Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008.

Capital BlueCross is the region's oldest and largest health insurer. The company dates its founding to the 1938 launch of Capital Hospital Service, a prepaid hospital expense protection plan, with roots in the Lehigh Valley reaching back to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's first prepayment hospital plan. Since its formation, Capital BlueCross has grown and transformed to meet the evolving needs of its customers and members. The company is now a $3 billion full service insurer with more than 2,300 locally-based employees and is the market leader serving 21 counties throughout central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley. Capital BlueCross is now, and has consistently been voted, the region's best health insurer in consumer preference surveys throughout the region.

Through its decades of service, Capital BlueCross has committed itself to improving the health and well-being of this region. The company is proud of its deep roots in the area, its longstanding relationships with its customers, providers and members, the outstanding quality of the products and services it provides, and its unparalleled commitment to the communities it serves.

"As we celebrate this great milestone for Capital BlueCross, we want to thank our members, customers, and providers for honoring us with their trust, "said Anita M. Smith, president & CEO of Capital BlueCross. "It has been a privilege to serve the people and communities of our region for the last 70 years, and we look forward to providing future generations of Pennsylvanians with health security through all the stages of life."

To celebrate its 70 years of service and commitment, Capital BlueCross will hold company-wide employee celebrations this week, at each of its locations throughout central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley.

"This anniversary is a celebration of the commitment and accomplishments of Capital BlueCross' remarkable employees," said Ms. Smith. "The competence and caring of our employees -- and their continual drive for excellence and innovation- is the foundation of our longevity, our growth and our success. That was true then, when our company was founded. It is true now, as we provide the best value and the highest quality service in our markets. And it will be true always, as we continue to work together to strengthen the fabric of the communities we serve."

Capital BlueCross

Capital BlueCross is the leading health insurer in its market, providing health insurance coverage to nearly one million people in central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley. Capital BlueCross is committed to making health insurance simple, offering easy to use health care and personal service at competitive prices. The company has been serving its customers through all the stages of their life for 70 years and employs more than 2,300 people. Capital BlueCross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, visit www.capbluecross.com.

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Source: Capital BlueCross

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