Vytra Health Plans, a Long Island leader in managed care, recently wrapped up their annual Summer Protection Program for 2002. For the sixth consecutive year, Vytra teamed with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to bring S.P.F. 2002 to Long Islanders.

The S.P.F. 2002 program was designed to educate and protect Long Island residents about sun protection. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, Vytra volunteers distributed information about sun protection, water safety, eye protection and Lyme disease, and handed out more than 50,000 free sunblock samples to visitors at Nassau and Suffolk County's New York State Parks beaches, as well as numerous Vytra sponsored events. These events include the official Memorial Day Kick-off with NYS Parks Commissioner Bernadette Castro, The Annual Vytra Volleyball Tournament at Jones Beach and the Vytra Long Island Women's 5k Run.

"Vytra's S.P.F. program is one of the ways we show our commitment to the Long Island community," said John Kaegi, senior vice president for Marketing at Vytra. "By becoming actively involved in community events and distributing helpful information, we raise awareness about the potential health hazards of summer activities and help to ensure a safer, healthier summer for Long Islanders."

Vytra sponsored over 150 community events in 2002. Vytra's community events involved over a quarter million families on Long Island.

Vytra Health Plans is a Long Island managed care organization providing health care coverage to nearly 200,000 members in Nassau, Suffolk and Queens counties, including third party administrative services to self-insured customers. Vytra is consistently rated highest for customer

satisfaction among managed care organizations in its region. For more information, visit www.vytra.com.