Wellness on wheels begins statewide tour; PacifiCare is taking the ''pulse of California''.

CYPRESS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 1995--PacifiCare of California, the managed care subsidiary of PacifiCare Health Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: PHSYA and PHSYB), today announced the launch of its PacifiCare Wellness Van. This program was designed by PacifiCare of California to promote health education,

wellness and healthy lifestyle awareness via a statewide van tour of California communities, corporate work sites, hospitals, health fairs and athletic events. The van is equipped with heart rate monitoring equipment, state-of-the-art interactive video Lifecycles, blood pressure measuring equipment, body fat measuring devices and computerized lifestyle heart risk evaluations. The PacifiCare Wellness Van will compile general fitness statistics on the health condition of Californians based on the data that are collected.

``PacifiCare is committed to using education and prevention as a means toward arranging effective and efficient health care coverage,'' said Arnold Hebert, senior vice president, commercial sales and marketing for PacifiCare of California. ``We see the PacifiCare Wellness Van as an investment in the community and an excellent opportunity to educate our members as well as all Californians on an individual level.''

The PacifiCare Wellness Van is staffed by trained fitness professionals from the PacifiCare Wellness Company, a subsidiary of PacifiCare Health Systems dedicated to implementing wellness programs and promoting health awareness throughout California.

PacifiCare of California is a subsidiary of PacifiCare Health Systems and one of the state's leading managed care organizations serving more than 1 million members. The company offers a diversified range of health care products including HMO, PPO and Point-of-Service plans.

PacifiCare Health Systems' primary operations include managed care products for employer groups, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in California, Florida, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and Washington serving approximately 1.5 million members. Other specialty managed care operations include Medicare risk management services, pharmacy benefit management, military health care management, coordination of managed care products for multi-region employers, health and life insurance, behavioral health, workers' compensation, dental and vision services and health promotion.

CONTACT: GOLIN/HARRIS, Los Angeles

Mark Bizzell or Mary Waite, 213/623-4200