Healthwise Self-Care Guides Given to New American Republic Insurance Co. Customers

American Republic Insurance Company in Iowa is distributing the 15th edition of the Healthwise Handbook to new customers of all major medical products that include the Added Value Program, to help them make wise decisions about their health.

Healthwise, Incorporated   
Contact: Brenda Foster   
Phone: 208-331-6963/208-345-1897 (fax)
E-mail: bfoster@healthwise.org   
Web site: www.informationtherapy.org             
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Healthwise Self-Care Guides Given to New American Republic Insurance Co. Customers

Boise, Idaho, March 15, 2002-Many health insurance companies advise their customers to lead a healthy lifestyle and take a proactive" approach to their individual health care. Unfortunately, in many cases, this general advice is all the customer receives. But American Republic Insurance Company in Iowa has taken a different approach and is distributing the 15th edition of the Healthwiseâ Handbook to new customers of all major medical products that include the Added Value Program, to help them make wise decisions about their health.

American Republic selected the award-winning self-care guide based on its 26-year history of providing convenient, useful medical information that is critical to making informed health decisions.

Covering more than 200 common health problems, the Healthwise Handbook provides evidence-based, commercially unbiased information on self-care, prevention, and when to call a health professional. The handbook includes topics that are designed and written to help American Republic customers become wiser medical consumers.

American Republic and Healthwise are committed to providing members information they can trust," says Gene Drabinski, president and chief operating officer at Healthwise. When people use Healthwise information, they can make better health decisions and work more collaboratively with their doctors."

The Healthwise Handbook has a proven track record of increasing satisfaction among health plan members and improving quality of care at home. All Healthwise information is based on evidence-based medical literature and reviewed by medical experts.

About Healthwise
Healthwise, Incorporated, is a nonprofit organization that helps people make better health decisions. Healthwise reaches more than 22 million families every year with Prescription-Strength InformationTM books, on-line content, and nurse call center resources. Healthwise provides trusted health information to health plans, hospitals, employers, e-health companies, governments, and other health organizations. Healthwise information is the foundation of self-care programs in the United States, Canada, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. More information about Healthwise is available at www.healthwise.org or
1-800-706-9646.

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