Press Release

Date: February 5, 2009

HealthMarkets Announces New General Counsel

HealthMarkets appoints B. Curtis Westen, Esq. as Executive Vice President and General Counsel

North Richland Hills, Texas – January 30, 2009 – HealthMarkets, Inc. (http://www.healthmarkets.com) announced today that B. Curtis Westen, Esq. has joined the Company as Executive Vice President and General Counsel.

HealthMarkets® is the brand name for health insurance products underwritten and issued by the insurance subsidiaries of HealthMarkets, Inc., located in North Richland Hills, TX. Products provided under the HealthMarkets brand are designed to provide personalized protection to individuals, families, the self-employed and small businesses.

"Curt is a seasoned General Counsel who served in that role for a "Fortune 200" company for many years. I am excited to add his expertise and counsel to our senior management team," said Phillip J. Hildebrand, President and Chief Executive Officer of HealthMarkets, Inc. "Curt's experience and leadership in the areas of corporate governance, health care regulation, and material legal matters will be an asset as we work to improve and build our Company."

Prior to joining HealthMarkets, Westen served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary at Health Net, Inc.

Westen has served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Children's Burn Foundation in Los Angeles, CA and also served on the Colorado Commission on Cooperative Health Care Agreements. Westen is a graduate of the Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California at Berkeley and earned his M.B.A and B.S. from Western Illinois University.