Sterling Life Insurance Company to Lower Premiums of its Private Fee for Service Plan

Bellingham, WA - November 4, 2004 - - Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Sterling Option I^®, a Medicare Advantage Private Fee for Service Plan offered by Sterling Life Insurance Company, will enjoy reduced premiums for 2005. Reductions ranging from 12% to 64% will positively impact Sterling enrollees in 20 states. The 2005 Option I® plan will also introduce changes to benefits and cost sharing.

All of these planned changes are pending federal approval. President Debbie Ahl attributes the reductions in premium to the positive impact the Medicare Modernization Act has had on the Medicare Advantage program. "Medicare beneficiaries will enjoy more choices and lower premiums as a result of this legislation," she noted.

Sterling was the first company in the nation to introduce a Private Fee for Service Plan in 2000. For more information, call 1-888-858-8572 or visit www.SterlingPlans.com.

Sterling Life Insurance Company, an A.M. Best A- (Excellent) rated company, is dedicated to providing a variety of affordable healthcare solutions to Medicare beneficiaries. Sterling is wholly owned by Combined Insurance Company of America. Both Sterling and Combined are subsidiaries of Aon Corporation. Aon Corporation is a holding company that is comprised of a family of insurance brokerage, consulting, and insurance underwriting subsidiaries.

Contacts:
Debbie Ahl
Aon - Olympic Health Management Services
360-647-9080

To learn more about Sterling and our vision for the future, contact a Sterling Representative @ 1-888-858-8546 or contact us via our Contact Page.