a. Blue Cross Blue Shield proxy - Laserfiche WebLink

BlueCross BlueShield of North Dakota -t' An imiepenÔent Íicensee of the Blue Cross & Blue ShielÔ Association 4510 13th Avenue SW. Fargo. North Dakota 58121-0001 October 13. 2004 Dear Policyholder: One new board member will be elected to the Noridian Mutual Insurance Company Board of Directors in December. As a Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota policyholder, you are considered a Voting Member and are encouraged to participate in the election process. You can participate in one of five different ways: I. You can attend the annual meeting in person on December 3, 2004. 2. You can vote by mail using the enclosed ballot. 3. You can assign your proxy to the Proxy Committee using the enclosed proxy form and have the committee vote on your behalf. 4. You can vote online at www.BCBSND.com 5. You may also appoint another Voting Member of the corporation as your proxy, which requires a special proxy fonll. To request this fonn, contact the Company at 1-800-342-4718. Fargo residents should call 277-2227. The 13 members of the Noridian Board of Directors generally serve staggered three-year tenns. Each is eligible to serve up to three separate 3-year tenns. This year there are three board members eligible for re-election and one open seat to be filled. The board consists of eight Member Directors (often referred to as consumer members) and five Provider Directors. The Governance & Nominating Committee verifies each potential nominee's eligibility and requests further infonnation. From biographical infonnation submitted, the Collunittee reviews each application and selects potential candidates to interview. The Committee ultimately selected the two persons whose names appear on the enclosed ballot for Provider Seat #1. You and over 145,000 other BCBSND Voting Members will choose which candidate will serve on the board. Brief biographies of the candidates are printed on the back of this letter. You are also welcome to attend the annual meeting and vote in person. Please mark your calendar for December 3, 2004. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. with registration opening at 8 a.m. at the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota home office. We encourage your participation in this important process. Sincerely, ~~~ Michael B. Unhjem President and CEO Noridian Mutual Insurance Company SUGGESTED MOTION: Move to authorize the chairwoman to sign the proxy vote for the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota annual meeting to be held at 9:00 AM on December 3, 2004, at 4510 13th Avenue SW, Fargo.