"We look forward to using the BenefitPoint system to deliver our quality benefit solutions," said Francis J. "Bud" Guthrie, executive vice president, Fortis Benefits Insurance Company. "BenefitPoint provides a win-win proposition for the entire employee benefits distribution channel, enabling our company and brokers to serve employers in real time for their employee benefits needs."

Fortis Benefits anticipates wide-ranging enhancements to the pre-sale process with the BenefitPoint system. Fortis Benefits hopes to migrate a substantial amount of its day-to-day activities online, allowing faster data management and communication. BenefitPoint will enable Fortis Benefits to respond to requests for proposals and process renewals, to streamline carrier, broker and employer interactions -- all via the Internet.

BenefitPoint's functionality also will complement Fortis Benefits' ability to perform planning, enrollment, billing, and fulfillment. And from a strategic perspective, the BenefitPoint solution will allow Fortis Benefits to provide customized, comprehensive information at Internet speed regarding benefits planning across the country.

"We have built our reputation on superior service and deep insurance product distribution capabilities," continued Guthrie. "One of the best ways to maintain our leadership role is via modernized transactions over the Internet. BenefitPoint gives us a tool for improved communication, representing a significant change in existing employee benefits industry business methods."

"Fortis Benefits is recognized as a company at the forefront of embracing technology to drive its business," said Mark A. Pulido, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of BenefitPoint. "We are pleased to partner with an industry leader such as Fortis Benefits. We look forward to helping them use the BenefitPoint solution to achieve optimal efficiency and increased revenues."

About Fortis Benefits Insurance Company
Fortis Benefits Insurance Company, based in Kansas City, Missouri, specializes in non-medical employee benefits. Fortis Benefits' group product offerings include long-term and short-term disability, life and accidental death and dismemberment coverage and dental insurance. Fortis Benefits also offers voluntary (employee-paid) long-term and short-term disability, life and dental plans. The company's underwriting flexibility allows Fortis Benefits to develop tailor-made benefit plans, which meet the needs of any size group.

Fortis Benefits is part of Fortis Inc., a financial services company that, through its operating companies and affiliates, provides specialty insurance and investment products to businesses, associations, financial service organizations and individuals in the United States. Fortis, Inc. is part of the international Fortis group, which operates in the fields of insurance, banking and investments. Fortis' listed companies are Fortis (B) of Belgium and Fortis (NL) of the Netherlands.

About BenefitPoint, Inc.
BenefitPoint, Inc., delivers the leading Internet-based employee benefits infrastructure for the distribution and management of group insurance and financial products. As the central nervous system of the employee benefits industry, BenefitPoint provides a complete set of B2B services enabling benefits professionals to manage the entire group health insurance and benefits lifecycle. Building on the existing industry relationships among carriers, brokers, employers, and employees, the BenefitPoint solution combines the efficiency of the Internet with the established distribution model of the insurance industry to eliminate paper (saving everyone time and money), to make it possible to deliver more products and services (giving everyone more choices), and to make better information available (enabling everyone to make better decisions).

Since general availability in February 2000, BenefitPoint has received widespread industry adoption from regional and national insurance carriers as well as from more than 120 of the leading U.S.-based brokerage and consulting firms. The company, headquartered in San Francisco, CA, can be reached at 415.277.5600 or at www.benefitpoint.com. BenefitPoint, Inc. is privately held.