Assist America Global Emergency Services Become Available in China through China Assist

Assist America Global Emergency Services Become Available in China through China Assist

February 06, 2007

Landmark Approval Allows U.S.-Based Assistance Services to
be Sold in the People's Republic of China for the First
Time Ever


    PRINCETON, N.J., Feb. 6 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Assist
America announced today that its global emergency services
are now available in the People's Republic of China through
a licensing agreement with China Assist, a Chinese company
based in Beijing.  Assist America is the first U.S.-based
assistance company to offer services within China through
this unique partnership.  A world leader in global
emergency services offered through group employee benefit
plans, Assist America supports members with an array of
resources when they travel, including medical evacuation,
repatriation, hospital admission guarantee, medical
referrals, care of dependent children, return of mortal
remains and much more.  The Chinese government's validation
of the agreement with China Assist is a landmark approval in
the country and a testament to the singularly high regard
given Assist America worldwide.

    China Assist has a dedicated operations center staffed
with personnel who are fully trained by Assist America to
handle emergencies quickly and efficiently.  Worldwide
emergency coverage is in effect 24 hours a day, 365 days a
year, whenever members travel more than 100 miles (150
kilometers) from home or outside their country of
residence.  As with all Assist America providers, China
Assist will pay for all services rendered to its members
without charge-backs, limits or exclusions for pre-existing
conditions, adventure sports or geographic risk. 

    Last week, China announced that its economy grew 10.7
percent in 2006, its fastest rate in more than a decade and
a double-digit increase for the fourth consecutive year. 
While more than 24 million foreign travelers are expected
to visit China in 2007, the outbound travel statistics are
even more impressive.  More than 34 million Chinese
traveled overseas last year, with tourists now permitted to
visit 132 countries and regions. 
 
    "As a partner with China Assist, we are extremely
pleased at the prospect of extending our global emergency
services to a market that is experiencing such
growth," said George W. Howard, III, President and
Chief Executive Officer of Assist America.  "The
middle class in China is expected to account for 40 percent
of the total population by 2020, according to the Chinese
Academy of Social Sciences.  The huge purchasing power of
that group, along with the booming economy and the
potential for increased tourism and travel, creates many
opportunities to put our global emergency services to
work."

    Founded in 1990, Assist America, Inc. is the world's
largest provider of global emergency assistance in
partnership with employee benefit plans.  Its worldwide
network of professionals responds quickly to any eligible
participant who becomes medically compromised while
traveling more than 100 miles (150 kilometers) from home. 
From simple doctor referrals to complex intercontinental
evacuations and more, Assist America saves lives every day.
 The company, headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, serves
more than 30 million members and over 300,000 enterprises
through programs from the world's most prominent group
benefit providers.  For more information about Assist
America, visit http://www.assistamerica.com


    For more information, please contact:

     Mary Conti
     Director of Corporate Communications
     Assist America, Inc.
     Tel:   [phone] x212
     Email: [e-mail]


SOURCE  Assist America, Inc.