February 17, 2000

Alessandro A. Iuppa

Superintendent of Insurance

Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation

Bureau of Insurance

124 Northern Ave

Gardiner ME 04345

Re: Docket No. INS-99-14 Request to withdraw as intervener

Dear Superintendent Iuppa:

The American Lung Association of Maine respectfully requests permission to withdraw as an intervener in the matter of the application of Associated Hospital Service of Maine d/b/a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine to convert to a stock insurer and voluntarily liquidate and dissolve; and the application of Anthem Health Plan of Maine, Inc. to acquire the assets of Associated Hospital Services of Maine d/b/a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine and related transactions. (Docket No. INS-99-14)

Given competing and critical organizational priorities, we find that we are unable to devote sufficient resources to the role of intervener. We believe that our interests in the proceedings will be adequately represented by both the provider and consumer interveners.

We want to emphasize that our withdrawal as interveners does not reflect lack of concern about the proceedings. In addition, our actions should not be interpreted as a statement either in favor or opposed to the proposed sale or associated issues.

We are also asking you to grant us permission to not respond to the first discovery request submitted to us by Jeffery M. White on February 4, 2000 since our intention is to withdraw as an intervener from these proceedings.

Thank you for your consideration of these requests.

Sincerely yours,

Edward F. Miller

Executive Director

American Lung Association of Maine

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