NEW YORK (Aug. 12, 2009) – UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) company, celebrated the 15th anniversary of its Asian Initiatives program in New York City and northern New Jersey.

At a gala celebration held yesterday near UnitedHealthcare's Asian Initiative office in Chinatown, New York local officials and other dignitaries joined employees to recognize community leaders who were instrumental in the growth of this collaborative program and its community-based health initiatives.

"Improving the health of our communities is not just about providing easier access to quality health care but encouraging and providing resources to help people enhance their health and quality of life," said Chris Law, vice president of UnitedHealthcare's Asian Initiatives. "We thank all of the community organizations and individuals who helped us bridge the knowledge and cultural gaps that often challenged us in helping people access the care they need."

The Asian Initiatives program, established by Oxford Health Plans in 1994, was one of the first health plans to provide culturally relevant health care services to the Asian community in New York City's Chinatown area and central New Jersey. In 2002, Asian Initiatives opened an office in Queens to expand services to the Korean community. In 2005, the program began providing health services to the Pakistani and Indian communities.

Additionally, more than 10,000 physicians and other health professionals have joined UnitedHealthcare's provider network, which now serves more than 50,000 customers in Chinese, Korean, Pakistani and Indian communities in New York City and northern New Jersey. Many of the physicians are part of an alliance with the Chinese American Independent Practice Association (CAIPA) and the Korean Independent Practice Association.

"Creating an atmosphere where physicians can work collaboratively with health insurers we believe will ultimately lead to healthier patients," said George Liu, president of CAIPA. "We are so proud to work with Chris and his team."

UnitedHealthcare recognized many individuals and organizations such as the Chinese and Korean Physicians Association, The American Cancer Society and the Chinese Christian Herald Crusades for their efforts in expanding health education and access to Chinese, Korean, Pakistani and Indian communities in New York City and northern New Jersey.

In addition, the Asian Initiatives team announced its first Make-A-Wish Foundation grant to an Asian child in the New York metropolitan area. The staff is working with the foundation to increase outreach and wish applications from Asian communities in New York and Northern New Jersey.

"We have a real opportunity to help entire communities become healthier," said Law, who also oversees UnitedHealthcare's national Emerging Markets initiative. "We look forward to our continued collaboration with physicians and other health care providers, small business owners and other community leaders."

Currently, Asian Initiatives is launching a series of culturally relevant educational and support materials for UnitedHealthcare's commercial, Medicare and Medicaid products in the New York metropolitan area. Also, UnitedHealthcare recently expanded its Asian Initiatives program in Maryland and Virginia. With a focus on small-business owners, the company plans to adopt the New York Chinatown model, which offers a broad portfolio of health plan options, drop-in health and customer service centers and health and wellness programs.

See OxfordHealth.com for more information on health plans and services available to the Asian communities in New York and New Jersey.

About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare provides a full spectrum of consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services to individuals, public sector employers and businesses of all sizes, including more than half of the Fortune 100 companies. The company organizes access to quality, affordable health care services on behalf of more than 25 million individual consumers, contracting directly with approximately 590,000 physicians and care professionals and more than 4,900 hospitals to offer them broad, convenient access to services nationwide. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.