NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) Feb. 8, 2005--Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell recently announced an agreement with the state's four Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans for an annual commitment of funds over the next six years for the Annual Community Health Reinvestment program. Standard&Poor's Rating Services said today that this agreement will not have an effect on the ratings on Highmark Inc. (A/Stable/--), which does business as Highmark BCBS and Highmark Blue Shield. In addition, the agreement is unrelated to the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance's review of the Blue plans' surplus levels. Highmark already significantly contributes to social-mission projects per the terms of its 1996 merger agreement, which created the company with the merger of Pennsylvania Blue Shield and
