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WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--[ Health Net, Inc. ] (NYSE: HNT) announces it is proud to host its 20^th annual Celebration of Children (COC). Including this yearas events, COC will have brought holiday joy to approximately 25,000 underprivileged children.

"Today there is even greater need in these challenging economic times, and Health Net is privileged to be able to bring holiday joy and give back to the communities we serve."

Launched in 1992, COC is an annual event that brings holiday cheer to disadvantaged children from low-income areas by providing food, arts and crafts, games, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a gift for every child.

This yearas 20^th anniversary milestone will be celebrated coast-to-coast with holiday parties in several communities Health Net serves: Arlington, Va., on Dec. 3, 2011; Rancho Cordova, Calif., on Dec. 10, 2011; Woodland Hills, Calif., on Dec.11, 2011; and Tempe, Ariz., on Dec. 17, 2011. Health Net works with local shelters, agencies and other social service organizations in order to select children from underserved areas that are truly in need a" children that may not have a holiday outside of this special event.

In Arlington, Health Net partners with the [ United Service Organizations ] (USO) to host this event for the children of service members who are currently deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places in the world.

aThe nation has seen much change over the past 20 years, but an event such as Celebration of Children goes to show that kids still love and get joy from the same things, no matter what decade,a said Jay Gellert, president and CEO of Health Net, Inc. aToday there is even greater need in these challenging economic times, and Health Net is privileged to be able to bring holiday joy and give back to the communities we serve.a

Health Netas Celebration of Children was created when the company was looking for a new way to celebrate the holiday season with its associates in California. Erika Greaves, wife of then president of Health Net Roger Greaves, suggested that the company replace the traditional office holiday gathering with a party for underprivileged children. For the past 20 years, Mrs. Greaves has served as the National Chair for Celebration of Children. Roger Greaves, now Health Netas chairman of the board, continues to attend every party from coast-to-coast, helping to carry on this holiday tradition that has brought joy to thousands of youngsters during the holiday season.

About Health Net

Health Net, Inc. is a publicly traded managed care organization that delivers managed health care services through health plans and government-sponsored managed care plans. Its mission is to help people be healthy, secure and comfortable. Health Net provides and administers health benefits to approximately 6.0million individuals across the country through group, individual, Medicare (including the Medicare prescription drug benefit commonly referred to as aPart Da), Medicaid, Department of Defense, including TRICARE, and Veterans Affairs programs. Health Netas behavioral health services subsidiary, Managed Health Network, Inc., provides behavioral health, substance abuse and employee assistance programs to approximately 5.0 million individuals, including Health Netas own health plan members. Health Netas subsidiaries also offer managed health care products related to prescription drugs, and offer managed health care product coordination for multi-region employers and administrative services for medical groups and self-funded benefits programs.

For more information on Health Net, Inc., please visit Health Netas website at [ www.healthnet.com ].

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