“Empire Total Blue has been a very successful addition to our product portfolio, meeting the needs of large and small employers alike,” said Jason Gorevic, chief sales and marketing officer of WellChoice. “The addition of the American Express HealthPay Plus Card brings an innovative new dimension to this market leading product. We're excited to be collaborating with American Express to deliver this unique healthcare payment solution to the market.”

“The healthcare payments industry is growing rapidly as more and more companies turn to consumer-directed healthcare programs for their employees,” said David Bonalle, vice president of Advanced Payments at American Express. “We are delighted to bring together WellChoice's expertise as the largest health insurer in New York and American Express' experience as a leading payments provider to offer customers unique and valuable healthcare payment solutions.”

WellChoice will offer its consumer-directed health plan in conjunction with the new healthcare payment solution from American Express to provide employees, employers and healthcare providers an easy, secure way to manage healthcare costs and payments. Empire Total Blue gives consumers the tools and resources to help manage their healthcare decisions and finances more effectively than traditional managed healthcare plans. The new healthcare payment solution from American Express is integrated with WellChoice's claims process to simplify the payment process, giving consumers more control over their healthcare dollars and enabling physicians and hospitals to save on billing and collections costs.

The HSA, which will be offered in conjunction with Empire Total Blue and is a product of American Express Bank, FSB, will enable employees to contribute pre-tax dollars to the HSA, including through payroll deductions at an employer's election. Employees will own and control the funds and may use them for medical needs, including prescription drugs, medical office visits, deductibles, co-insurance payments and other qualified expenses. Employers also can contribute funds to employees' HSA.

The new HealthPay Plus Card from American Express will enable employees to pay for qualified medical expenses from the funds in their HSA. The Card will provide cardmembers with greater control of their healthcare finances and help them maximize the tax savings advantages of the HSA. Cardmembers may also apply for a credit line, which may be accessed with the Card. Those who are approved for the credit line can choose to pay their qualified medical expenses with funds from the credit line and save their HSA funds for future medical expenses or use credit line funds to help cover costs that may exceed the balance in their HSA.

American Express and WellChoice plan to offer the healthcare payment solution to corporations beginning in early 2006.

About American Express
American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) is a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company founded in 1850. It is a world leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, business services and international banking.

About WellChoice
WellChoice, Inc. is the parent company of the largest health insurer in the State of New York based on PPO and HMO membership. WellChoice, through its Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield subsidiaries, has the exclusive right to use the Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and marks in 10 downstate New York counties and one or both of these names and marks in selected counties in upstate New York. WellChoice offers a broad portfolio of products, including managed care and traditional indemnity products, and has a broad customer base including large group, middle-market and small group, individual, and national accounts. Additional information on WellChoice can be found at www.wellchoice.com.

Contacts:
Molly Faust
212.640.0624
Molly.Faust@aexp.com