WellChoice to Release Third Quarter 2005 Financial Results on Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Business Wire, Oct 4, 2005

NEW YORK -- WellChoice, Inc. (NYSE: WC) will release its third quarter 2005 results after the market closes on Wednesday, October 26, 2005. The company will also host a conference call and webcast later that same day at 5:30 PM (EST) to review these results.

The conference call can be accessed domestically by dialing (800) 784-3697. International participants dial (706) 643-1656. Please ask for reference number 1145004 ten minutes prior to the start of the call. An audio replay of the call will be available for seven days following the conference call. To access the replay, please dial (800) 642-1687 and enter reference number 1145004. International callers can access the replay by dialing (706) 645-9291 and enter reference number 1145004.

Investors, analysts and the general public are also invited to listen to the conference call over the Internet by visiting WellChoice's web site at www.wellchoice.com. Financial, statistical and other information, including GAAP reconciliations, related to the conference call will be available on the site.

To listen to the webcast, please visit the WellChoice web site at least 20 minutes prior to the start of the call to download and install any necessary audio software. A webcast replay will be available following the call.

Individuals who listen to the call and/or webcast are encouraged to read the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion of risk factors and WellChoice's historical results of operations and financial condition in its 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and for the three months ended June 30, 2005.

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 varied customer base including large group, middle-market and small group, individual, and national accounts. Additional information on WellChoice can be found at http://www.wellchoice.com.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

This press release contains certain forward-looking information about WellPoint, Inc. ("WellPoint"), WellChoice, Inc. ("WellChoice") and the combined company after completion of the transactions that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for "forward-looking statements" provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Words such as "expect(s)", "feel(s)", "believe(s)", "will", "may", "anticipate(s)" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions; statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations with respect to future operations, products and services; and statements regarding future performance. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of WellPoint and WellChoice, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include: those discussed and identified in public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") made by WellPoint (formerly Anthem, Inc.), WellPoint Health Networks Inc. ("WellPoint Health") and WellChoice; trends in health care costs and utilization rates; our ability to secure sufficient premium rate increases; competitor pricing below market trends of increasing costs; increased government regulation of health benefits and managed care; significant acquisitions or divestitures by major competitors; introduction and utilization of new prescription drugs and technology; a downgrade in our financial strength ratings; litigation targeted at health benefits companies; our ability to contract with providers consistent with past practice; other potential uses of cash in the future that present attractive alternatives to share repurchases; our ability to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies in the WellPoint Health merger within the expected time-frames or at all and to successfully integrate our operations; such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; revenues following the transaction may be lower than expected; operating costs, customer loss and business disruption, including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, customers, clients or suppliers, may be greater than expected following the transaction; our ability to consummate WellPoint's merger with WellChoice, to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies in the merger within the expected time-frames or at all; to meet expectations regarding repurchases of shares of our common stock and to successfully integrate our operations; such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; revenues following the transaction may be lower than expected; operating costs, customer loss and business disruption, including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, customers, clients or suppliers, may be greater than expected following the transaction; the regulatory approvals required for the transaction may not be obtained on the terms expected or on the anticipated schedule; our ability to meet expectations regarding the timing, completion and accounting and tax treatments of the transaction and the value of the transaction consideration; future bio-terrorist activity or other potential public health epidemics; and general economic downturns. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof. Neither WellPoint nor WellChoice undertakes any obligation to republish revised forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Readers are also urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures in WellPoint's and WellChoice's various SEC reports, including but not limited to Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the reporting periods of 2005.