IRVING, Texas, Dec. 11, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Access Plans USA, Inc. (Nasdaq:AUSA), a developer and nationwide distributor of quality affordable consumer driven healthcare programs, was awarded First Place in the category "Best Innovative Plan Design" and "Best of Show" for its new product, "My Health Assistant" by Consumer Health World, during the 2008 National Conference on Health Care Consumerism in Arlington, VA. My Health Assistant is an advocacy program that helps put consumers in charge of their healthcare.
Consumer Health World presented these national awards during this year's "Health 3.0 Summit," which has a stated goal to achieve real long-term improvements in healthcare costs and productivity. Consumer Health World's annual competition is designed to recognize excellence and advancement in the health and wellness industries that are enhancing consumers' ability to better manage their healthcare expenditures and allowing the public to take control of their quality of life. The awards honor new initiatives, projects and programs making a difference in the healthcare industry.
My Health Assistant is a consumer's advocate and guide through the often confusing and inconvenient healthcare system. Without leaving home or office, this program provides access by email or telephone to physicians, psychologists, nurses and patient advocates, as well as other online sources of medical information. It is marketed as a valuable program for both insured and uninsured individuals and families.
In accepting the award, Access Plans' Chief Marketing Officer, Michael K. Owens, Jr., said, "Our goal in developing 'My Health Assistant' was to provide a product that will help empower consumers to better manage their healthcare. Our nation's current healthcare system is oftentimes organized for the convenience of medical providers, rather than convenience for consumers/patients. 'My Health Assistant' allows consumers to more easily manage their healthcare from their home or office."
About Access Plans USA
Access Plans USA (Nasdaq:AUSA) distributes a broad array of health insurance products to individuals and families and non-insurance health care discount programs to affordably address the needs of uninsured or underinsured individuals. The company is committed to providing products and administrative services that work for our customers. For more information on Access Plans USA, Inc. please visit: www.accessplansusa.com.
On November 13, 2008, Access Plans announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to merge with Alliance HealthCard, Inc. (OTCBB:ALHC), a leading provider of consumer membership plans offering access to networks which provide discounts to the consumer on a variety of products and services ranging from medical, dental and pharmacy to groceries, restaurants, travel, automotive and a host of others. The company also designs and markets in its consumer packages specialty insurance and warranty products primarily through retail, rent-to-own, financial and consumer finance clients. Alliance HealthCard performs turnkey programs including design and fulfillment of marketing pieces and collateral support material, network support, customer service, regulatory compliance and billing. For more information on Alliance HealthCard, Inc. please visit: www.alliancehealthcard.com.
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Disclaimer
Certain statements included in this news release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Certain, but not necessarily all, of such forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate", "believes", "expects", "may", "will", or "should", or other variations thereon, and by discussions of strategies that involve risks and uncertainties. Access Plans USA, Inc. actual results or industry results may be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include those set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, and each of the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed since such date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or to make any other forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.