Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.10

                                PLEDGE AGREEMENT

         This PLEDGE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of
July 31, 2002, by and between WellCare Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company ("Holdings"), and Kiran C. Patel, as Stockholder
Representative on behalf of the Stockholders ("Stockholder Representative").

                                    RECITALS

         A.       Pursuant to that certain Purchase Agreement, dated as of May
17, 2002 (the "Purchase Agreement"), by and among WellCare Acquisition Company,
a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings ("Buyer"); Well
Care HMO, Inc., Florida corporation, HealthEase of Florida, Inc., a Florida
corporation, Comprehensive Health Management, Inc., a Florida corporation, and
Comprehensive Health Management of Florida, L.C., a Florida limited liability
company (collectively, the "Companies"); and the holders of common stock and/or
other equity securities of the Companies, Buyer is acquiring, on the date
hereof, all of the outstanding Equity Securities of the Companies.

         B.       As partial consideration for the acquisition by Buyer of the
outstanding Equity Securities of the Companies, Buyer is issuing to Stockholder
Representative, on the date hereof, that certain Promissory Note of even date
herewith in the original principal amount of $53,000,000 (the "Note").

         C.       As security for the obligations of Buyer under the Note,
Holdings has agreed to pledge to Stockholder Representative the Pledged Shares
(as defined below), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement.

         D.       Holdings acknowledges that it will benefit from the financing
evidenced by the Note, and that such benefits constitute adequate consideration
for the pledge of the Pledged Shares.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants, promises,
representations and warranties set forth herein, and for other good and valuable
consideration (the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by
the parties), intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as
follows:

         1.       Definitions; Interpretation.

                  (a)      All capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the
Purchase Agreement or the Note, as applicable.

                  (b)      As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:

                  "Obligations" means the indebtedness of Buyer to Stockholder
Representative under the Note including, without limitation, all unpaid
principal of the Note and all interest

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accrued thereon, together with reasonable attorneys' fees, court costs and
expenses arising out of the collection of any amounts due under the Note and the
enforcement of the Note and this Agreement.

                  "Pledged Shares" means (i) until the payment of the First
Payment Amount (as finally determined pursuant to the Note and Exhibit A of the
Purchase Agreement), all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Buyer,
(ii) after the payment of the First Payment Amount (as finally determined
pursuant to the Note and Exhibit A of the Purchase Agreement) and until the
payment of the Second Payment Amount (as finally determined pursuant to the Note
and Exhibit A of the Purchase Agreement), 70% of the issued and outstanding
capital stock of Buyer, and (iii) from and after the payment of the Second
Payment Amount (as finally determined pursuant to the Note and Exhibit A of the
Purchase Agreement) and continuing until the termination of this Agreement
pursuant to Section 19,51% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Buyer.

                  "UCC" means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may, from
time to time, be in effect in the State of New York.

                  (c)      Where applicable and except as otherwise defined
herein, terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to them in
the UCC.

                  (d)      In this Agreement, (i) the meaning of defined terms
shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms
defined; and (ii) the headings are for convenience of reference only and shall
not affect the construction of this Agreement.

         2.       Security Interest.

                  (a)      As security for the payment and performance of the
Obligations, Holdings hereby pledges to Stockholder Representative, and hereby
grants to Stockholder Representative a security interest in, all of Holdings'
right, title and interest in, to and under the Pledged Shares and any
certificates and instruments now or hereafter representing the Pledged Shares.

                  (b)      Holdings hereby agrees to deliver to National City
Bank, a national banking association, as escrow agent (the "Escrow Agent"), the
certificates representing the Pledged Shares, which shall be in suitable form
for transfer by delivery, or shall be accompanied by duly executed instruments
of transfer or assignment in blank, to be held in escrow pursuant to that
certain Escrow Agreement of even date herewith (the "Escrow Agreement") by and
among Holdings, Stockholder Representative and the Escrow Agent. The Escrow
Agent shall hold the Pledged Shares in escrow, pursuant to the terms of the
Escrow Agreement, until the termination of this Agreement in accordance with
Section 19, and upon such termination the Escrow Agent shall promptly return all
of the Pledged Shares to Holdings. Upon the delivery of a certificate (a
"Default Notice") from the Stockholder Representative to the Escrow Agent (with
a copy to Holdings and Buyer) certifying that an "Effective Default" has
occurred, the Escrow Agent, pursuant to the terms of the Escrow Agreement, shall
deliver the Pledged Shares to the Stockholder Representative, and the
Stockholder Representative shall have the rights set forth in Section 5(b). An
"Effective Default" shall occur when: (i) an Event of Default (as defined in the
Note) shall have occurred and is continuing; and (ii) either (a) such "Event of
Default" arose

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under either subparagraphs (iii) or (iv) of the definition of "Event of Default"
under the Note, (b) a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final order
or judgment (a copy of which shall be included with the Default Notice) to the
effect that an "Event of Default" has occurred under the Note, or (c) the Buyer
has delivered a certificate executed by it, or the Independent Accountants have
issued a written report, setting forth the applicable Purchase Price Adjustment
(which shall have become final and binding) (a copy of which shall be included
with the Default Notice), in either case that results in a Payment Amount (as
defined in the Note) being due, and Buyer shall not have paid such amount when
due (or within any applicable cure period) in accordance with the terms of the
Note.

                  (c)      Holdings shall execute and deliver to Stockholder
Representative concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, and Holdings
hereby authorizes Stockholder Representative to file (with or without Holdings'
signature), at any time and from time to time thereafter, all financing
statements, assignments, continuation financing statements, termination
statements, and other documents and instruments, in form reasonably satisfactory
to Stockholder Representative, and take all other action, as Stockholder
Representative may reasonably request, to effect a transfer of a security
interest in and pledge of the Pledged Shares to Stockholder Representative
pursuant to the UCC and to continue perfected, maintain the priority of or
provide notice of the security interest of Stockholder Representative in the
Pledged Shares and to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement.

                  (d)      Holdings agrees that this Agreement shall create a
continuing security interest in and pledge of the Pledged Shares which shall
remain in effect until terminated in accordance with Section 19, provided,
however, that Stockholder Representative shall not foreclose on its interest in
the Pledged Shares except in compliance with this Agreement and the Escrow
Agreement. Holdings agrees that the Pledged Shares shall be deemed subject to
the possession of Stockholder Representative for all purposes under the Escrow
Agreement and for purposes of perfecting Stockholder Representative's security
interest in the Pledged Shares.

                  (e)      Upon payment of the First Payment Amount and the
Second Payment Amount (as finally determined pursuant to the Note and Exhibit A
of the Purchase Agreement), the security interests created under this Agreement
with respect to the capital stock of Buyer which no longer constitute Pledged
Shares as of such dates pursuant to the definition of "Pledged Shares" herein
(such shares of capital stock, the "Released Shares") shall automatically
terminate and Stockholder Representative or the Escrow Agent (pursuant to the
terms of the Escrow Agreement) shall promptly (and in any event within three
Business Days) redeliver to Holdings any and all certificates representing the
Released Shares, which shall be in suitable form for transfer by delivery, or
shall be accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment in
blank, all in form and substance satisfactory to Holdings, and shall execute and
deliver to Holdings such documents and instruments reasonably requested by
Holdings as shall be necessary to effect the transfer to Holdings of the
Released Shares or to evidence termination of all security interests given by
Holdings to Stockholder Representative hereunder with respect to the Released
Shares.

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         3.       Warranties. Holdings warrants to Stockholder Representative,
as of the date hereof and until the termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Section 19, that:

                  (a)      Holdings is the sole legal and equitable owner of the
Pledged Shares, and Holdings' absolute title thereto is not the subject of any
claim or challenge threatened or asserted by any third party.

                  (b)      The Pledged Shares are not subject to any restriction
of transfer, "buy-sell" agreement, voting agreement, redemption agreement,
option or other agreement, other than this Agreement.

                  (c)      This Agreement provides Stockholder Representative
with a valid pledge of, and a valid first priority security interest in, the
Pledged Shares.

         4.       Covenants. So long as any of the Obligations remain
unsatisfied, Holdings agrees that:

                  (a)      Holdings shall give prompt written notice to
Stockholder Representative (and in any event not later than 30 days following
any change described below in this subsection) of: (i) any change in the
location of Holdings' chief executive office or principal place of business,
(ii) any change in the location of books and records pertaining to Pledged
Shares; (iii) any change in Holdings' name, (iv) any changes in its identity or
structure in any manner which might make any financing statement filed hereunder
incorrect or misleading; (v) any change in its registration as an organization
(or any new such registration); and (vi) any change in its jurisdiction of
organization.

                  (b)      Holdings will not surrender or lose possession of
(other than to Stockholder Representative or, with the prior consent of
Stockholder Representative, to the Escrow Agent or other depositary or financial
intermediary), exchange, sell, convey, transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of
or transfer the Pledged Shares or any right, title or interest therein.

                  (c)      Holdings shall cause Buyer to refrain from issuing to
any person (other than Holdings) any shares of Buyer's capital stock or any
rights, options or warrants to acquire such stock, or any securities convertible
into stock; provided, however, that Buyer may, after the payment of the First
Payment Amount (as finally determined pursuant to the Note and Exhibit A of the
Purchase Agreement), issue shares of stock and/or convertible securities so long
as the Pledged Shares continue to represent the then-applicable requisite
percentage of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Buyer set forth in the
definition of "Pledged Shares."

                  (d)      Holdings shall deliver to Escrow Agent any stock of
Buyer received as a result of ownership of the Pledged Shares immediately upon
receipt, and any such additional stock shall become Pledged Shares hereunder
upon issuance, to the extent necessary such that the Pledged Shares continue to
represent the then-applicable requisite percentage of the issued and outstanding
capital stock of Buyer set forth in the definition of "Pledged Shares."

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         5.       Administration of the Pledged Shares.

                  (a)      Until the occurrence of an Effective Default: (i)
Holdings shall be entitled to receive and retain for its own account any cash
dividend in respect of the Pledged Shares (subject to the terms of the Note);
(ii) Holdings shall have the right to vote the Pledged Shares in its sole and
absolute discretion, and shall retain the power to control the direction,
management and policies of Buyer to the same extent as if the Pledged Shares
were not pledged to Stockholder Representative pursuant to this Agreement; (iii)
Holdings shall be the stockholder of record with respect to the Pledged Shares
on the books and records of Buyer and shall retain all incidents, rights and
benefits of the Pledged Shares as if the Pledged Shares were not pledged to
Stockholder Representative pursuant to this Agreement, and none of such
incidents, rights or benefits shall be exercised by the Stockholder
Representative; and (iv) Holdings shall retain and enjoy all title, ownership
and privilege embodied in the Pledged Shares as if the Pledged Shares were not
pledged to Stockholder Representative pursuant to this Agreement, and none of
such title, ownership or privilege shall be exercised or disturbed by
Stockholder Representative. Stockholder Representative shall execute and deliver
(or cause to be executed and delivered) to Holdings all such proxies and other
instruments as Holdings may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling
Holdings to exercise the voting and other rights which it is entitled to
exercise, to receive distributions which it is authorized to receive and retain,
and to exercise all other rights provided herein to the full extent contemplated
by this Section 5(a).

                  (b)      From and after the occurrence of an Effective
Default, then for so long as such Effective Default shall remain uncured or
shall be continuing: (i) Stockholder Representative shall be entitled to receive
all distributions and payments of any nature with respect to the Pledged Shares,
to be held by Stockholder Representative as part of the Pledged Shares; (ii)
Stockholder Representative shall have the right following prior written notice
to Holdings to vote or consent to take any action with respect to the Pledged
Shares and exercise all rights of conversion, exchange, subscription or any
other rights, privileges or options pertaining to the Pledged Shares as if
Stockholder Representative were the absolute owner thereof; (iii) subject to the
terms of the Escrow Agreement, Stockholder Representative shall have the right,
for and in the name, place and stead of Holdings, to execute endorsements,
assignments or other instruments of conveyance or transfer with respect to all
or any of the Pledged Shares, to endorse any checks, drafts, money orders and
other instruments relating thereto, to sue for, collect, receive and give
acquittance for all moneys due or to become due in connection with the Pledged
Shares and otherwise to file any claims, take any action or institute, defend,
settle or adjust any actions, suits or proceedings with respect to the Pledged
Shares, execute any and all such other documents and instruments, and do any and
all such acts and things, as Stockholder Representative may reasonably deem
necessary or desirable to protect, collect, realize upon and preserve the
Pledged Shares, to enforce Stockholder Representative's rights with respect to
the Pledged Shares and to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement; and (iv)
Stockholder Representative may, upon thirty (30) days' notice to Holdings, sell
the Pledged Shares or any part thereof at public or private sale or at any
appropriate broker's board or securities exchange, for cash, credit or future
delivery. In any such sale:

                           (A)      Stockholder Representative may be the
purchaser of any or all of the Pledged Shares sold at any public sale, or, to
the extent permitted by law, at any private sale.

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                           (B)      At or prior to any sale of the Pledged
Shares, Stockholder Representative may, in its sole discretion, restrict
prospective purchasers to persons who will represent that they will purchase for
their own account for investment and not with view to the distribution or sale
of any of the Pledged Shares and who will agree that the Pledged Shares so
purchased may bear an appropriate restrictive legend.

                           (C)      At or prior to any sale, Stockholder
Representative may, in its sole discretion, require that prospective purchasers
establish, to Stockholder Representative's satisfaction, that they are investors
of sufficient financial means or business acumen to qualify as "accredited
investors" under federal and state securities laws.

                           (D)      At any sale, Stockholder Representative
shall have the right to transfer to the purchaser thereof the Pledged Shares
sold. Stockholder Representative is hereby appointed Holdings' attorney-in-fact
for the purpose of supplying any endorsements necessary to effect such transfer.
Each purchaser at any such sale (including, without limitation, Stockholder
Representative) shall hold the property sold free from any claim or right of any
kind, including any equity or rights or redemption of Holdings, which hereby
specifically waives all rights of redemption, stay or appraisal which Holdings
has or may have under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter
adopted.

                           (E)      At any sale, the Pledged Shares may be sold
in one lot as an entirety or in separate portions, as Stockholder Representative
may determine.

                           (F)      Stockholder Representative shall not be
obliged to make any sale pursuant to any notice given and may, without notice or
publication, adjourn any public or private sale or cause the same to be
adjourned from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed for the
sale, and such sale may be resumed at any time and place to which the same may
be so adjourned.

                           (G)      In the case of any sale of all or any part
of the Pledged Shares on credit or for future delivery, payments made by the
purchaser shall reduce the outstanding balance of the Obligations as payments
are received, and the outstanding principal balance of the Obligations shall
continue to accrue interest over the time that such payments are made, until the
principal and accrued interest constituting the Obligations have been paid in
full. Stockholder Representative shall not incur any liability in case of the
failure of such purchaser to completely pay for the Pledged Shares so sold and,
in the case of any such failure, the Pledged Shares may again be sold pursuant
to the provisions hereof.

                  (c)      Distributions and other payments which are received
by Holdings but which it is not entitled to retain as a result of the operation
of Section 5(b) shall be held in trust for the benefit of Stockholder
Representative, be segregated from the other property or funds of Holdings, and
be forthwith paid over or delivered to Stockholder Representative in the same
form as so received.

         6.       Stockholder Representative's Duties. Stockholder
Representative shall have no duty to exercise any of the rights, privileges or
powers afforded to it by virtue of its security interest in the Pledged Shares
and shall not be responsible to Holdings or any other Person for

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any failure to do so or delay in doing so. Beyond the exercise of reasonable
care to assure the safe custody of the Pledged Shares if held by the Stockholder
Representative and the accounting for moneys actually received by Stockholder
Representative hereunder, except as specifically provided herein, Stockholder
Representative shall have no duty or liability to exercise or preserve any
rights, privileges or powers pertaining to the Pledged Shares.

         7.       Notices. All notices, requests and other communications
hereunder must be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given only if
delivered personally against written receipt or by facsimile transmission
against facsimile confirmation or mailed by internationally recognized overnight
courier prepaid, to the parties at the following addresses or facsimile numbers:

         If to Stockholder Representative:      Kiran C. Patel, M.D.
                                                11609 Carrollwood Drive
                                                Tampa, FL 33618

                                                Facsimile No.: (727) 535-6163

         with a copy to:                        Sandip I. Patel, Esq.
                                                1408 North Westshore Boulevard
                                                Suite 611
                                                Tampa, FL 33607

                                                Facsimile No.: (813) 289-8849

         If to Holdings:                        WellCare Holdings, LLC
                                                67 East 11th Street, Suite 318
                                                New York, NY 10003

                                                Attn: Todd S. Farha
                                                Facsimile No.: (212) 388-1659

         with a copy to:                        Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP
                                                2100 Reston Parkway, Suite 203
                                                Reston, VA 20191

                                                Attn: Thaddeus Bereday, Esq.
                                                Facsimile No.: (703) 621-3001

All such notices, requests and other communications will (a) if delivered
personally to the address as provided herein, be deemed given upon delivery, (b)
if delivered by facsimile transmission to the facsimile number as provided
herein, be deemed given upon facsimile confirmation, and (c) if delivered by
overnight courier to the address as provided herein, be deemed given on the
earlier of the first Business Day following the date sent by such overnight
courier or upon receipt (in each case regardless of whether such notice, request
or other communication is received by any other Person to whom a copy of such
notice is to be delivered

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pursuant hereto). Either party from time to time may change its address,
facsimile number or other information for the purpose of notices to that party
by giving notice specifying such change to the other party hereto.

         8.       Waiver. Any term or condition of this Agreement may be waived
at any time by the party that is entitled to the benefit thereof, but no such
waiver shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument duly executed
by or on behalf of the party waiving such term or condition. No waiver by any
party of any term or condition of this Agreement, in any one or more instances,
shall be deemed to be or construed as a waiver of the same or any other term or
condition of this Agreement on any future occasion. All remedies, either under
this Agreement or by law or otherwise afforded, will be cumulative and not
alternative.

         9.       Costs and Expenses. Buyer shall reimburse Stockholder
Representative for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by Stockholder
Representative, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel
to Stockholder Representative, in connection with the enforcement of this
Agreement and the Note at any time during the continuance of an Event of Default
(as finally determined pursuant to the Note), including in any out-of-court
workout or other refinancing or restructuring or in any bankruptcy case, and the
protection, sale or collection of, or other realization upon, any of the Pledged
Shares.

         10.      No Assignment; Binding Effect. Neither this Agreement nor any
right, interest or obligation hereunder may be assigned (by operation of law or
otherwise) by either party without the prior written consent of the other party
and any attempt to do so will be void. Subject to the preceding sentence, this
Agreement is binding upon, inures to the benefit of and is enforceable by the
parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

         11.      Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York, except as
required by mandatory provisions of law and to the extent the validity or
perfection of the security interests hereunder, or the remedies hereunder, in
respect of any Pledged Shares are governed by the law of a jurisdiction other
than New York.

         12.      Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided to the parties in
this Agreement are not exclusive of any other remedies that may be available
under any other document or at law or equity.

         13.      Jurisdiction; Venue. All actions and proceedings arising out
of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined in any New York
state or federal court sitting in the City of New York, and each party hereby
irrevocably accepts and consents to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of those
courts for such purpose. In addition, each party hereby irrevocably waives, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter
have to the laying of venue of any action or proceeding arising out of or
relating to this Agreement or any judgment entered by any court in respect
thereof brought in any state or federal court sitting in the city of New York
and further irrevocably waives any claim that any action or proceeding brought
in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

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         14.      Waiver of Trial by Jury. IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING
HEREFROM, THE PARTIES HERETO CONSENT TO TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY IN ANY ACTION,
PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM BROUGHT BY ANY PARTY HERETO AGAINST THE OTHER OR
THEIR SUCCESSORS IN RESPECT OF ANY MATTER ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH
THIS AGREEMENT, REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION OR PROCEEDING.

         15.      Entire Agreement; Modification. This Agreement, the Note and
the Escrow Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect
to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by an
instrument in writing duly executed by the parties to this Agreement.

         16.      Third-party Beneficiaries. The terms and provisions of this
Agreement are intended solely for the benefit of each party hereto and their
respective successors or permitted assigns, and it is not the intention of the
parties to confer third-party beneficiary rights, and this Agreement does not
confer any such rights, upon any other Person.

         17.      Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not
affect the validity, legality or enforceability of the offending term or
provision in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction. If such
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability is caused by length of time or size
of area, or both, the otherwise invalid provision shall be, without further
action by the parties, automatically amended to such reduced period or area as
would cure such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability; provided, however,
that such amendment shall apply only with respect to the operation of such
provision in the particular jurisdiction in which such determinations is made.

         18.      Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original, but all of which
taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

         19.      Termination. This Agreement and the security interests created
under this Agreement shall terminate on the payment in full of the Note or other
event that results in its cancellation or satisfaction in accordance with its
terms. Upon any such termination of this Agreement, Stockholder Representative
or the Escrow Agent shall promptly (and in any event within three Business Days)
redeliver to Holdings all certificates representing the Pledged Shares, which
shall be in suitable form for transfer by delivery, or shall be accompanied by
duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment in blank, all in form and
substance satisfactory to Holdings, and shall execute and deliver to Holdings
such documents and instruments reasonably requested by Holdings as shall be
necessary to evidence termination of all security interests given by Holdings to
Stockholder Representative hereunder.

                            [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

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                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Holdings and Stockholder Representative
have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

                                      WELLCARE HOLDINGS, LLC

                                      By: /s/ Todd S. Farha
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Todd S. Farha
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer

                                      KIRAN C. PATEL, M.D., as Stockholder
                                      Representative on behalf of the
                                      Stockholders

                                      /s/ Kiran C. Patel
                                      ------------------------------------------

                                       10<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.11

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                  BY AND AMONG

                          WELLCARE ACQUISITION COMPANY,

                           WELLCARE MERGER SUB, INC.,

                                       AND

                       THE WELLCARE MANAGEMENT GROUP, INC.

                            Dated as of May 17, 2002

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                        PAGE
                                                                                                        ----
<S>                                                                                                     <C>
ARTICLE 1 THE MERGER...............................................................................       2
     1.1    The Merger.............................................................................       2
     1.2    Closing; Effective Time................................................................       2
     1.3    Effect of the Merger...................................................................       2
     1.4    Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws...................................................       2
     1.5    Directors and Officers.................................................................       2
     1.6    Effect on Capital Stock................................................................       3
     1.7    Adjustment of Consideration............................................................       4
     1.8    Surrender of Certificates..............................................................       5
     1.9    No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock....................................       7
     1.10   Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.................................................       7
     1.11   Termination of Paying Agent Funding....................................................       7
     1.12   Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action.............................................       7

ARTICLE 2 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY............................................       8
     2.1    Organization and Qualification.........................................................       8
     2.2    Authority Relative to this Agreement...................................................       8
     2.3    Capitalization.........................................................................       9
     2.4    Subsidiaries; Investments..............................................................      10
     2.5    Directors and Officers.................................................................      10
     2.6    No Conflicts...........................................................................      10
     2.7    Books and Records; Organizational Documents............................................      10
     2.8    SEC Filings; Companies' Financial Statements...........................................      11
     2.9    Absence of Changes.....................................................................      12
     2.10   No Undisclosed Liabilities.............................................................      12
     2.11   Accounts Receivable....................................................................      12
     2.12   Banks and Brokerage Accounts...........................................................      12
     2.13   Capital Adequacy.......................................................................      13
     2.14   Taxes..................................................................................      13
     2.15   Business Combinations..................................................................      15
     2.16   Legal Proceedings......................................................................      15
     2.17   Compliance with Laws and Orders........................................................      16
     2.18   Plans; ERISA...........................................................................      16
     2.19   Permits and Approvals..................................................................      19
     2.20   Real Property..........................................................................      20
     2.21   Tangible Personal Property.............................................................      21
     2.22   Intellectual Property..................................................................      21
     2.23   Government Healthcare Matters..........................................................      22
     2.24   Commercial Subscriber Agreements.......................................................      23
     2.25   Provider Agreements....................................................................      23
     2.26   Contracts..............................................................................      24
     2.27   Suppliers..............................................................................      24
</TABLE>

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<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                      <C>
     2.28   Audit Reports..........................................................................      25
     2.29   Membership.............................................................................      25
     2.30   Premiums...............................................................................      25
     2.31   Claims.................................................................................      25
     2.32   Insurance..............................................................................      25
     2.33   Power of Attorney; Guarantees..........................................................      26
     2.34   Affiliate Transactions.................................................................      26
     2.35   Employees; Labor Relations.............................................................      27
     2.36   Environmental Matters..................................................................      29
     2.37   Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; Proper Business Practices...............................      30
     2.38   Takeover Statutes......................................................................      30
     2.39   Other Negotiations; Brokers; Third Party Expenses......................................      30
     2.40   Opinion of Financial Advisor...........................................................      31
     2.41   Proxy Statement........................................................................      31
     2.42   Non-Solicitation.......................................................................      31
     2.43   Disclosure.............................................................................      32

ARTICLE 3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT.................................................      32
     3.1    Organization and Qualification.........................................................      32
     3.2    Authority Relative to this Agreement...................................................      32
     3.3    Merger Sub Capitalization..............................................................      33
     3.4    No Conflicts...........................................................................      33
     3.5    Financing..............................................................................      33
     3.6    Investment Advisors....................................................................      33
     3.7    Disclosure.............................................................................      33

 ARTICLE 4 CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME.....................................................      34
     4.1    Conduct of Business of the Company.....................................................      34
     4.2    Operational Consultation...............................................................      37
     4.3    Child Health Plus Audit................................................................      37

ARTICLE 5 ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS....................................................................      37
     5.1    Shareholder Meeting....................................................................      37
     5.2    Preparation of the Proxy Statement.....................................................      38
     5.3    Access to Information..................................................................      39
     5.4    Public Disclosure......................................................................      39
     5.5    No Solicitation........................................................................      39
     5.6    Approvals..............................................................................      42
     5.7    Notification of Certain Matters........................................................      42
     5.8    Additional Documents and Further Assurances; Cooperation...............................      42
     5.9    Company's Auditors.....................................................................      43
     5.10   Takeover Statutes......................................................................      43
     5.11   Delivery of Stock Ledger, Minute Book and Assets and Properties of the Company.........      43
     5.12   Resignations...........................................................................      43
     5.13   Certain Expenses.......................................................................      43
     5.14   Termination of Affiliate Agreements....................................................      43
</TABLE>

                                       ii
<PAGE>

                         LIST OF EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

EXHIBIT A              Form of Voting Agreement
EXHIBIT B              Form of Certificate of Merger
EXHIBIT C              Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
EXHIBIT D              Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws
EXHIBIT E              Form of Opinion of Corporate Counsel to the Company

Schedule 2.1           Qualifications
Schedule 2.3(c)        Capitalization - Options
Schedule 2.3(e)        Capitalization - Certain Arrangements
Schedule 2.3(f)        Surplus Notes
Schedule 2.4           Subsidiaries; Investments
Schedule 2.5           Directors and Officers
Schedule 2.6           No Conflicts
Schedule 2.8           Financial Statements
Schedule 2.9           Absence of Changes
Schedule 2.12          Banks and Brokerage Accounts
Schedule 2.13          Capital Adequacy
Schedule 2.14          Taxes
Schedule 2.15          Business Combinations
Schedule 2.16(a)       Legal Proceedings
Schedule 2.16(b)       Threatened Actions and Legal Proceedings
Schedule 2.17          Compliance with Law and Orders
Schedule 2.18          ERISA
Schedule 2.19          Permits and Appeals
Schedule 2.20          Real Property
Schedule 2.21          Motor Vehicles
Schedule 2.22          Intellectual Property
Schedule 2.23(a)       Certain Government Contracts
Schedule 2.23(b)       Government Healthcare Matters
Schedule 2.24          Commercial Membership and Subscriber Agreements
Schedule 2.25          Provider Agreements
Schedule 2.26(a)       Contracts
Schedule 2.26(c)       Certain Contracts
Schedule 2.27          Suppliers
Schedule 2.28          Audit Reports
Schedule 2.29          Membership
Schedule 2.30          Premiums
Schedule 2.31          Claims
Schedule 2.32(a)       Insurance
Schedule 2.32(b)       Insurance Claims
Schedule 2.33          Powers of Attorney; Guarantees
Schedule 2.34          Affiliate Transactions
Schedule 2.35(b)       Employee; Labor Relations
Schedule 2.35(c)       Employee Claims

                                       iv
<PAGE>

Schedule 2.35(d)       Policies, Handbooks and Manuals
Schedule 2.39          Brokers
Schedule 4.1           Conduct Prior to the Effective Time

                                       v
<PAGE>

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

         This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER is made and entered into as of May
17, 2002, by and among WellCare Acquisition Company, a Delaware corporation
("Parent"), WellCare Merger Sub, Inc., a New York corporation and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Parent ("Merger Sub"), and The WellCare Management Group, Inc., a
New York corporation originally incorporated under the name Ullman and
Castellon, Inc. (the "Company"). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise
defined herein have the meanings set forth in Article 10 hereof.

                                    RECITALS

         A.       The Boards of Directors of each of the Company, Parent and
Merger Sub have unanimously determined that it is in the best interests of their
respective companies and the shareholders of their respective companies that the
Company and Merger Sub combine into a single company through the statutory
merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company (the "Merger") and, in
furtherance thereof, have approved this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby.

         B.       Pursuant to the Merger, among other things, the outstanding
shares of Company Common Stock will be converted into the right to receive
certain cash consideration, as set forth herein.

         C.       Certain shareholders of the Company, together with their
Affiliates, own collectively all of the outstanding Equity Securities of the
Florida Companies. Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, Parent,
the Florida Companies and the stockholders of the Florida Companies have entered
into the Florida Companies Purchase Agreement, which provides, among other
things, for the sale of the Florida Companies to Parent.

         D.       It is a condition precedent to Parent's, Merger Sub's and the
Company's respective obligations to consummate the Merger that Parent acquire
the Florida Companies pursuant to the terms of the Florida Companies Acquisition
Agreement, and the Florida Companies Acquisition Agreement requires the
transactions contemplated hereby to be consummated as a condition precedent to
Parent's obligations under the Florida Companies Acquisition Agreement.

         E.       Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement and as an
inducement to Parent and Merger Sub to enter into this Agreement, certain
shareholders of the Company have on the date hereof entered into a voting
agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (each, a "Voting Agreement"
and collectively the "Voting Agreements") to, among other things, vote the
shares of Company Common Stock owned by such persons to approve the Merger and
against any competing proposals.

         F.       The Company, Parent and Merger Sub desire to make certain
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the
Merger.

                                       1
<PAGE>

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants, promises,
representations and warranties set forth herein, and for other good and valuable
consideration (the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by
the parties), intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as
follows:

                                    ARTICLE 1
                                   THE MERGER

         1.1      The Merger. At the Effective Time and subject to and upon the
terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Certificate of Merger attached
hereto as Exhibit B (the "Certificate of Merger") and in accordance with the
applicable provisions of the Business Corporation Law of the State of New York
(the "NYBCL"), Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Company, the
separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall cease and the Company shall
continue as the surviving corporation. The Company as the surviving corporation
after the Merger is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Surviving
Corporation."

         1.2      Closing; Effective Time. The closing of the transactions
contemplated hereby (the "Closing") shall take place as soon as practicable
after the satisfaction or waiver of each of the conditions set forth in Article
7 hereof or at such other time as the parties hereto agree. The Closing shall
take place at the offices of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP, 1633 Broadway,
47th Floor, New York, New York 10019, or at such other location as the parties
hereto agree. In connection with the Closing, the parties hereto shall cause the
Merger to be consummated by the filing of the Certificate of Merger by the
Department of State of the State of New York, in accordance with the relevant
provisions of the NYBCL (the time of the effectiveness of such filing being the
"Effective Time").

         1.3      Effect of the Merger. At the Effective Time, the effect of the
Merger shall be as provided in this Agreement, the Certificate of Merger and the
applicable provisions of the NYBCL. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all the property, rights,
privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and Merger Sub shall vest in
the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities and duties of the Company
and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving
Corporation.

         1.4      Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws.

                  (a)      At the Effective Time, the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company shall be amended and restated in its entirety in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, and such Certificate of Incorporation, as
so amended and restated, shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as provided by the NYBCL and such
Certificate of Incorporation.

                  (b)      At the Effective Time, the Bylaws of the Company
shall be amended and restated in their entirety in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit D, and such Bylaws, as so amended and restated, shall be the Bylaws of
the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended.

         1.5      Directors and Officers. At the Effective Time, those persons
who were the directors of Merger Sub shall be the directors of the Surviving
Corporation, in each case until

                                       2
<PAGE>

their successors are elected or appointed or until their earlier resignation or
removal. The officers of Merger Sub shall be the initial officers of the
Surviving Corporation, until their respective successors are duly elected or
appointed or until their earlier resignation or removal.

         1.6      Effect on Capital Stock. By virtue of the Merger and without
any action on the part of Merger Sub, Company or the holders of any of the
following securities:

                  (a)      Conversion of Company Common Stock. At the Effective
Time, each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time (other than any shares of Company Common Stock to be
canceled pursuant to Section 1.6(b) and other than Dissenting Shares) will be
canceled and extinguished and be converted automatically into the right to
receive in cash, without interest, an amount equal to (A) $11,750,000 less all
amounts to be deducted pursuant to Sections 1.7(d), 5.13 and 5.15(b) (the
"Merger Consideration") divided by (B) the aggregate number of shares of Company
Common Stock issued and outstanding plus any shares issuable upon exercise of
any Options outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. All shares of
Company Common Stock, when converted at the Effective Time as provided herein,
shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and retired
and each holder of a certificate representing any such shares shall cease to
have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the Merger
Consideration as prescribed herein.

                  (b)      Cancellation of Company Common Stock Owned by Parent
or Company. At the Effective Time, all shares of Company Common Stock that are
owned by the Company as treasury stock and all shares of Company Common Stock
that are owned by Parent or any Subsidiary of Parent or the Company immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall be canceled and extinguished without any
conversion thereof.

                  (c)      Dissenting Shares. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, if required by the NYBCL (but only to the extent
required thereby) shares of Company Common Stock that are issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time and that are held by a holder (a
"Dissenting Shareholder") who properly exercises appraisal rights thereto in
accordance with Section 623 of the NYBCL ("Dissenting Shares") shall not be
converted as described in Section 1.6(a), but shall be converted into the right
to receive payment of the appraised value of such shares in accordance with the
provisions of such Section 623, until such holder fails to perfect or
effectively withdraws or loses such holder's right to appraisal and payment
under the NYBCL. If, after the Effective Time, any Dissenting Shareholder fails
to perfect or effectively withdraws or loses such right, the shares of such
Dissenting Shareholder shall thereupon be treated as if they had been converted
as of the Effective Time into the right to receive the Merger Consideration,
without any interest thereon. The Company shall give Parent (i) prompt notice of
any demands received by the Company for appraisal of shares (which notice shall
in no event be given later than two Business Days after any such demand) and
(ii) the right to participate in and, in Parent's sole and exclusive discretion,
direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to any such demands. The
Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Parent, make any payment
with respect to, or settle, offer to settle or otherwise negotiate, any such
demands.

                                       3
<PAGE>

                  (d)      Company Stock Option. Prior to the Effective Time,
the Company shall take all action required to (i) terminate no later than the
Effective Time the Company's 1993 Incentive and Non-Incentive Stock Option Plan
(as amended, the "1993 Plan") and 1996 Non-Incentive Executive Stock Option
Plan (as amended, the "1996 Plan" and together with the 1993 Plan, the "Stock
Option Plans"); (ii) adjust all outstanding options granted under the Stock
Option Plans so that from and after the Effective Time, each such option shall
represent the right to receive, upon payment of the exercise price thereof, the
Merger Consideration payable per share of Common Stock with respect to each
share of Common Stock subject to such option and (iii) terminate no later than
the Effective Time all outstanding options to purchase shares of Company Common
Stock granted under the Stock Option Plans. The Company will use its best
efforts to obtain the consent of affected optionholders to the termination of
all options granted under the Stock Option Plans as set forth in this Section
1.6(d).

                  (e)      Capital Stock of Merger Sub. At the Effective Time,
each share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Merger Sub ("Merger
Sub Common Stock") issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall be converted into and shall thereafter represent one validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation,
and the Surviving Corporation shall be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. Each
stock certificate of Merger Sub evidencing ownership of any such shares shall
continue to evidence ownership of such shares of capital stock of the Surviving
Corporation.

         1.7      Adjustment of Consideration.

                  (a)      Delivery of Monthly Financial Reports. The Company
shall deliver to Parent copies of all monthly financial reports of the type
referenced in Section 2.8(c), as delivered by the Company to the NY DOI and/or
the CT DOI after the date of this Agreement, within two Business Days of
delivery to the NY DOI or the CT DOI, as applicable, together with a
consolidated balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows for the
Company.

                  (b)      Preparation of June 30, 2002 Financials. As soon as
practicable following June 30, 2002, the Company shall cause the Company
Accountants to perform, and to complete by no later than July 31, 2002, a review
of, and to prepare a review report pursuant to Statement on Auditing Standard
Number 71 (the "Review Report") with respect to, (i) the consolidated balance
sheet of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2002, and the
related consolidated statement of operations, shareholders' deficiency and cash
flows for the six month period ended on such date, (ii) the statements of
admitted assets, liabilities and surplus - statutory basis of WCNY as of June
30, 2002, and the related statements of operations - statutory basis, changes in
surplus - statutory basis and cash flows - statutory basis for the six month
period ended on such date and (iii) the unaudited statements of admitted assets,
liabilities and surplus - statutory basis of FirstChoice as of June 30, 2002,
and the related unaudited statements of operations - statutory basis, changes in
surplus - statutory basis and cash flows - statutory basis for the six-month
period ended on such date (the "June 30 Financials"). The Company shall deliver
a copy of the Review Report to Parent within two Business Days after its
completion (and in any event by August 10, 2002). In the event that the Closing
is to occur on or before July 31, 2002, the Company shall use its best efforts
to provide Parent with information comparable to that to be provided pursuant to
this Section 1.7(b), on a timetable comparable to that set forth in this Section
1.7(b), as may be reasonably requested by Parent. The June 30

                                       4
<PAGE>

Financials shall (i) be prepared in accordance with the Applicable Accounting
Principles, (ii) present fairly and accurately in all material respects the
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company and
each of the Company Subsidiaries as of the dates and during the periods
indicated therein, (iii) in the case of the June 30 Financials of each of the
Company Subsidiaries, present fairly, in all material respects and in accordance
with SAP, the assets, liabilities and Statutory Surplus of such Person and (iv)
be presented on a basis substantially consistent with the respective Audited
Financial Statements for the Company and each of the Company Subsidiaries for
the year ended December 31, 2001, except only with such changes as may be
required under the Applicable Accounting Principles as determined by the
Companies with the concurrence of the Company Accountants and in consultation
with Parent and the Parent Representatives. The Company shall make all Books and
Records relating to the Review Report and the June 30 Financials, as well as
appropriate representatives of the Company and the Company Accountants,
reasonably available to Parent in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.3.

                  (c)      Delivery of Balance Sheets. At least 20 days prior to
the projected date of the Closing, the Company shall prepare in good faith and
deliver to Parent a balance sheet for the Company and each of the Company
Subsidiaries as of the last day of the month immediately preceding the month
during which the Closing is projected to occur (each, a "Balance Sheet"). The
Balance Sheets shall (i) record the establishment by the Company and each
Company Subsidiary prior to the Closing of premium deficiency reserves with
respect to all operating losses anticipated for the period from the date of the
Closing through December 31, 2003, in accordance with the Applicable Accounting
Principles, (ii) record the establishment by the Company and each Company
Subsidiary of a loss adjustment expense reserve in an amount equal to 1.5% of
all unpaid claims of such Person, (iii) be prepared in accordance with all NAIC
standards and the Applicable Accounting Principles (in each case, without
special consideration from any Governmental or Regulatory Authority), (iv) fully
comply with all Laws applicable to the adequacy and maintenance of Statutory
Surplus (items (iii) and (iv) collectively, the "Minimum Capital Requirements")
and (v) comply with all applicable Laws in all material respects. In the event
that Parent shall object to any of the information presented in any of the
Balance Sheets initially delivered by the Stockholders, Parent and the Company
shall negotiate in good faith and attempt to agree upon appropriate adjustments
to the Balance Sheets, in which case the mutually agreed upon Balance Sheets
shall be the Balance Sheets for all purposes under this Agreement. In the event
that Parent and the Company are unable to so agree, Parent shall have the right
to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(h).

                  (d)      Consideration Adjustment. If the Aggregate Net Worth
Amount is less than the Aggregate Required Net Worth Amount, then the Merger
Consideration shall automatically be reduced by the amount of such shortfall;
provided that the amount of such reduction shall in no event exceed $1,447,000.

         1.8      Surrender of Certificates.

                  (a)      Paying Agent. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent
shall designate a bank, trust company or other Person reasonably satisfactory to
the Company to act as paying agent (the "Paying Agent") in the Merger.

                                       5
<PAGE>

                  (b)      Parent to Provide Cash. Promptly after the Effective
Time, Parent shall make available to the Paying Agent for exchange in accordance
with this Article 1, through such reasonable procedures as Parent may adopt,
cash in the amount necessary to permit payment of the Merger Consideration. Any
and all interest earned on the Merger Consideration made available to the Paying
Agent pursuant to this Agreement shall be paid over to Parent.

                  (c)      Exchange Procedures. Promptly after the Effective
Time, the Surviving Corporation shall cause to be mailed to each holder of
record of a certificate or certificates (the "Certificates") which immediately
prior to the Effective Time represented outstanding shares of Company Common
Stock, whose shares were converted into the right to receive the Merger
Consideration pursuant to Section 1.6, (i) a letter of transmittal (which shall
specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the
Certificates shall pass, only upon receipt of the Certificates by the Paying
Agent, and shall be in such form and have such other provisions as Parent may
reasonably specify) and (ii) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of
the Certificates in exchange for the Merger Consideration. Upon surrender of a
Certificate for cancellation to the Paying Agent or to such other agent or
agents as may be appointed by Parent, together with such letter of transmittal,
duly completed and validly executed in accordance with the instructions thereto,
and such other documents as may be reasonably required by the Paying Agent, the
holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor the
Merger Consideration, and the Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be
canceled. In the event of a transfer of ownership of shares of Company Common
Stock that is not registered in the transfer records of the Company, payment may
be made to a Person other than the Person in whose name the Certificate so
surrendered is registered, if (i) such Certificate shall be properly endorsed or
otherwise be in proper form for transfer, (ii) the Person requesting such
payment has posted a bond in such reasonable amount as Parent or the Paying
Agent may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against them
with respect to such Certificate (which requirement may be waived by Parent, in
its sole discretion, upon receipt of an opinion of counsel in form and substance
satisfactory to Parent) and (iii) the Person requesting such payment shall pay
any transfer or other taxes required by reason of the payment to a Person other
than the registered holder of such Certificate or establish to the satisfaction
of Parent that such tax has been paid or is not applicable. Until surrendered
pursuant to this Section 1.8(c), each outstanding Certificate that, prior to the
Effective Time, represented shares of Company Common Stock (other than
Certificates representing Dissenting Shares) will be deemed from and after the
Effective Time, for all corporate purposes, to represent only the right to
receive upon such surrender the Merger Consideration. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, no interest will be paid or will accrue on the cash
payable in respect of the Merger Consideration upon the surrender of any
Certificate. Parent or the Paying Agent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold
from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts
as Parent or the Paying Agent is required to deduct and withhold with respect to
the making of such payment under the Internal Revenue Code or under any
provisions of state, local or foreign tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so
withheld by Parent or the Paying Agent, such withheld amounts shall be treated
for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect
of which such deduction or withholding was made by Parent or the Paying Agent.

                  (d)      No Liability. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Section 1.8, none of the Paying Agent, the Surviving
Corporation, Parent or any party hereto shall be liable to any person for any
amount paid to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned

                                       6
<PAGE>

property, escheat or similar law. If any Certificates shall not have been
surrendered prior to seven years after the Effective Time (or immediately prior
to such earlier date on which any payment pursuant to this Article 1 would
otherwise escheat to or become the property of any Governmental Entity) the cash
payment in respect of such Certificate shall, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, become the property of the Surviving Corporation, free and clear
of all claims or interests of any Person previously entitled thereto.

         1.9      No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock. The cash
paid as the Merger Consideration upon the surrender for exchange of shares of
Company Common Stock in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have
been issued in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such shares of
Company Common Stock. At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the
Company shall be closed, and there shall be no further registration of transfers
on the stock transfer books or records of the Surviving Corporation of shares of
Company Common Stock which were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving
Corporation for any reason, they shall be canceled and exchanged as provided in
this Article 1.

         1.10     Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. In the event any
Certificates shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, the Paying Agent shall
pay in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificates, upon the making
of an affidavit of that fact by the holder thereof, the Merger Consideration to
which the holder is entitled pursuant to Section 1.6; provided, however, that
Parent may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance
thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificates to
deliver a bond in such sum as it may reasonably direct as indemnity against any
claim that may be made against Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the Paying
Agent with respect to the Certificates alleged to have been lost, stolen or
destroyed.

         1.11     Termination of Paying Agent Funding. Any portion of the funds
(including any interest earned thereon) held by the Paying Agent which have not
been delivered to holders of Certificates pursuant to this Article 1 within six
months after the Effective Time shall promptly be paid to Parent, and thereafter
holders of Certificates who have not theretofore complied with the exchange
procedures set forth in and contemplated by Section 1.8(c) shall look only to
Parent (subject to abandoned property, escheat and similar laws) for their claim
for payment of the Merger Consideration to which they are entitled.

         1.12     Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action. If, at any time
after the Effective Time, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry
out the purposes of this Agreement and to vest the Surviving Corporation with
full right, title and possession to all assets, property, rights, privileges,
powers and franchises of the Company and Merger Sub, the officers and directors
of the Company and Merger Sub are fully authorized in the name of their
respective corporations or otherwise to take, and will take, all such lawful and
necessary action, so long as such action is not inconsistent with this
Agreement.

                                       7
<PAGE>

                                    ARTICLE 2
                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

         The Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub as
follows:

         2.1      Organization and Qualification. Each of the Company and WCNY
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the State of New York. FirstChoice is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Connecticut. The Company and each of the Company Subsidiaries has full corporate
power and authority to conduct its respective businesses as now conducted and as
currently proposed to be conducted and to own, use, license and lease its
respective Assets and Properties. The Company and each Company Subsidiary is
duly qualified, licensed or admitted to do business and is in good standing as a
foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the ownership, use, licensing
or leasing of its Assets and Properties, or the conduct or nature of its
business, makes such qualification, licensing or admission necessary. Schedule
2.1 sets forth separately for the Company and each Company Subsidiary each
jurisdiction where such Person is so qualified, licensed or admitted to do
business and separately lists each other jurisdiction in which such Person owns,
uses, licenses or leases its Assets and Properties, or conducts business or has
employees or engages independent contractors.

         2.2      Authority Relative to this Agreement. The Company and each
Company Subsidiary has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver
this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party, to perform
its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby. The Company's Board of Directors has
unanimously (a) declared the Merger advisable and fair to and in the best
interest of the Company and its shareholders, (b) approved this Agreement, (c)
resolved to recommend the adoption of this Agreement and the approval of the
Merger by the Company's shareholders and (d) directed that this Agreement and
the approval of the Merger be submitted to the Company's shareholders for
adoption. The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements to which the Company is a party and the consummation by the
Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and the performance
by the Company of its obligations hereunder and thereunder, have been duly and
validly authorized by all necessary action by the Company's Board of Directors,
and no other action on the part of the Board of Directors of the Company is
required to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
and the Ancillary Agreements to which the Company is a party and the
consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
This Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements have been or will be, as applicable,
duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due
authorization, execution and delivery hereof or thereof by Parent and Merger
Sub, as applicable, each constitutes or will constitute, as applicable, a legal,
valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its respective terms, except as the enforceability thereof may
be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization,
moratorium or other similar Laws relating to the enforcement of creditors'
rights generally and by general principles of equity. The affirmative vote of
shares of Company Common Stock representing more than two-thirds of the combined
voting power of all Company Common Stock issued and outstanding on the record
date set for the Shareholder Meeting, with each class of Company Common Stock
voting together as a single class, is the only vote of

                                        8

<PAGE>

holders of capital stock of the Company necessary to approve this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby.

         2.3      Capitalization.

                  (a)      The authorized capital stock of the Company consists
only of (i) 75,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share (the
"Undesignated Common Stock"), of which 38,798,870 shares were issued and
outstanding as of May 13, 2002, (ii) 1,109,292 shares of Class A Common Stock,
$0.01 par value per share (the "Class A Common Stock" and, together with the
Undesignated Common Stock, the "Company Common Stock"), of which 313,555 shares
are issued and outstanding, and (iii) 1,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $0.01
per value per share, none of which are issued and outstanding. All of the issued
and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock are validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable, and have been issued in compliance with all applicable
federal, state and foreign securities Laws. No shares of Company Common Stock
are held in treasury or are reserved for issuance.

                  (b)      None of the Equity Securities issued by the Company
are subject to a repurchase option on the part of the Company.

                  (c)      Except as set forth on Schedule 2.3(c), there are no
outstanding Options or agreements, arrangements or understandings to which the
Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party (written or oral) to issue any
Options or other Equity Securities with respect to the Company or any Company
Subsidiary.

                  (d)      There are no preemptive rights or agreements,
arrangements or understandings to issue preemptive rights with respect to the
issuance or sale of any Equity Securities of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary created by statute, the certificate of incorporation or by-laws (or
equivalent organizational documents) of the Company or any Company Subsidiary,
or an agreement or other arrangement to which the Company or any Company
Subsidiary is a party (written or oral) or to which the Company or any Company
Subsidiary is bound and there are no agreements, arrangements or understandings
to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party (written or oral)
pursuant to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary has the right to elect
to satisfy any Liability by issuing Equity Securities.

                  (e)      Except as set forth on Schedule 2.3(e), neither the
Company nor any Company Subsidiary is a party or subject to any agreement or
understanding, and there is no agreement, arrangement or understanding between
or among any Persons, which affects, restricts or relates to voting, giving of
written consents, dividend rights or transferability of shares with respect to
the Equity Securities of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, including
without limitation any voting trust agreement or proxy.

                  (f)      Schedule 2.3(f) sets forth a schedule of all surplus
notes to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party, the principal
amount of such surplus notes, and any other parties to such surplus notes (such
notes, the "Surplus Notes"). Except for the Surplus Notes and as set forth in
Schedule 2.3(f), no debt securities or other Indebtedness of the Company or any
Company Subsidiary are issued and outstanding.

                                       9
<PAGE>

         2.4      Subsidiaries; Investments. Except as set forth in Schedule
2.4. the Company does not have, and for the past five years has not had, any
Subsidiaries other than the Company Subsidiaries, and neither the Company nor
any Company Subsidiary holds, and in the past five years neither the Company nor
any Company Subsidiary has held, any equity, membership, partnership, joint
venture or other ownership interest in any Person. The Company directly owns
100% of the Equity Securities and voting power of WCNY, and WCNY directly owns
100% of the Equity Securities and voting power of FirstChoice.

         2.5      Directors and Officers. The name of each director and officer
of the Company and each Company Subsidiary on the date hereof, and his or her
position with such Person, are listed on Schedule 2.5.

         2.6      No Conflicts. The execution and delivery by the Company of
this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which the Company is a party does
not, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement
and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not:

                  (a)      conflict with or result in a violation or breach of
any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the respective certificate of
incorporation, bylaws or equivalent organizational documents of the Company or
any Company Subsidiary;

                  (b)      subject to (i) making such filings and giving such
notices as may be required under the HSR Act and by the CMS and (ii) making such
filings and obtaining such Approvals as may be required by the NY DOI, the CT
DOI, the NY DOH and the CT DSS, conflict with or result in a violation or breach
of any Law or Order applicable to the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any
of the Assets and Properties of the Company or any Company Subsidiary; or

                  (c)      except as disclosed in Schedule 2.6, (i) conflict
with or result in a material violation or breach of, (ii) constitute a default
(or an event that, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, would
constitute a default) under, (iii) require the Company or any Company Subsidiary
to obtain any Approval or action of, make any filing with or give any notice to
any Person under, (iv) result in or give to any Person any right of termination,
cancellation, acceleration or modification in or with respect to, (v) result in
or give to any Person any additional rights or entitlement to increased,
additional, accelerated or guaranteed payments or performance under, (vi) result
in the creation or imposition of (or the obligation to create or impose) any
Lien upon the Company, any Company Subsidiary or any of the Assets and
Properties of the Company or any Company Subsidiary under or (vii) result in the
loss of a material benefit under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of
any Contract or License to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a
party or by which the Company's or any Company Subsidiary's Assets and
Properties are bound.

         2.7      Books and Records; Organizational Documents. The minute books
and stock record books and other similar records of the Company and each Company
Subsidiary have been provided or made available to Parent or its counsel prior
to the execution of this Agreement, are complete and correct in all material
respects and have been maintained in accordance with sound

                                       10

<PAGE>

business practices. Such minute books contain a true and complete record of all
actions taken at all meetings and by all written consents in lieu of meetings of
the directors, shareholders and committees of the Board of Directors of the
Company and each Company Subsidiary from the date of such Person's incorporation
through the date hereof. The Company has, prior to the execution of this
Agreement, delivered to Parent true and complete copies of the certificate of
incorporation and bylaws (or equivalent organizational documents), in each case
as amended through the date hereof, of the Company and each Company Subsidiary.
Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is in violation of any provisions
of its respective certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or equivalent
organizational documents).

         2.8      SEC Filings; Companies' Financial Statements.

                  (a)      The Company has made available to Parent a true and
complete copy of each statement, report, registration statement (with the
prospectus in the form filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act),
definitive proxy statement and other filing made with the SEC by the Company
since June 1, 1999 that is not available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov,
and, prior to the Effective Time, the Company will have furnished to Parent true
and complete copies of any additional documents filed with the SEC by Company
prior to the Effective Time (collectively, the "Company SEC Documents"). The
Company has timely filed all forms, statements and documents required to be
filed by it with the SEC since June 1, 1999. In addition, the Company has made
available to Parent all exhibits to the Company SEC Documents and will promptly
make available to Parent all exhibits to any additional Company SEC Documents
filed prior to the Effective Time. All material documents required to be filed
as exhibits to the Company SEC Documents are in full force and effect, except
those which have expired in accordance with their terms, and neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries is in material default thereunder. As of their
respective filing dates, the Company SEC Documents complied in all material
respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, and
none of the Company SEC Documents contained any untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances in
which they were made, not misleading, except to the extent corrected by a
subsequently filed Company SEC Document.

                  (b)      Attached to Schedule 2.8 are true and complete copies
of the Companies' Financials. The Companies' Financials (a) present fairly and
accurately in all material respects the financial condition, results of
operations and cash flows of the Company and each Company Subsidiary as of the
dates and during the periods indicated therein, subject, in the case of the
Interim Financial Statements, to normal year-end adjustments, which adjustments
will not be material in amount or significance, and except that the Interim
Financial Statements may not contain footnotes and (b) are consistent with the
books and records of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries (which books and
records are accurate and complete in all material respects). The financial
statements of each of the Company Subsidiaries included as part of the Audited
Financial Statements (collectively, the "Companies' SAP Financials") were
prepared in accordance with SAP. The Companies' SAP Financials present fairly,
in all material respects and in accordance with SAP, the assets, liabilities and
Statutory Surplus of each of the Company Subsidiaries. The Companies' Financials
(other than the Companies' SAP Financials) (collectively, the "Companies' GAAP
Financials") were prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a basis consistent
throughout the periods indicated and consistent with each other

                                       11
<PAGE>

(except as may be indicated in the notes attached thereto, and, in the case of
the Interim Financial Statements, subject to normal year-end adjustments, which
adjustments will not be material in amount or significance and except that the
Interim Financial Statements may not contain footnotes). Except as set forth in
Schedule 2.8, since June 1, 1999, there have been no changes in any accounting
policies, principles, methods or practices, including any such change with
respect to reserves (whether for bad debts, contingent liabilities or otherwise)
or Statutory Surplus of the Company or any Company Subsidiary. To the knowledge
of the Company, there are no adjustments or material unadjusted differences
required to be made in the Companies' Financials.

                  (c)      The Company currently provides to the NY DOI and the
CT DOI, within 30 days after the end of each month, monthly financial reports
setting forth the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of
each Company Subsidiary for such month.

         2.9      Absence of Changes. Since the Interim Financial Statement
Date, except as set forth in Schedule 2.9, (a) there has not been any Material
Adverse Change, (b) there has been no material amendment or non-renewal of any
of the Approvals held by or granted to the Company or either Company Subsidiary,
and the Company and each Company Subsidiary has used commercially reasonable
efforts to maintain such Approvals, (c) there has been no physical damage,
destruction or other casualty loss (whether or not covered by insurance)
affecting any of the real or personal property or equipment of the Company,
either Company Subsidiary or the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as a whole
in an amount exceeding $50,000, individually or in the aggregate and (d) neither
the Company nor either of the Company Subsidiaries has taken, or permitted to be
taken, any action which, if proposed to be taken on or after the date of this
Agreement, would require the consent of Parent pursuant to Section 4.1, other
than any action of the types described in subsections (d), (q) or (v) of Section
4.1.

         2.10     No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as recorded or reserved
against in the Companies' Financials (including the notes thereto), there are no
Liabilities of, relating to or affecting the Company, either Company Subsidiary
or any of the Assets and Properties of the Company or either Company Subsidiary,
other than Liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice since the Interim Financial Statement Date.

         2.11     Accounts Receivable. All accounts and notes receivable of the
Company and the Company Subsidiaries reflected on the Interim Financial
Statements or incurred in the normal course of business since the date thereof
(a) arose from bona fide transactions in the ordinary course of business,
consistent with past practice, and are payable on ordinary trade terms, (b) are
legal, valid and binding obligations of the respective debtors enforceable in
accordance with their respective terms, (c) except as disclosed in Schedule
2.30, are not subject to any valid set-off or counterclaim, (d) except as
disclosed in Schedule 2.30, do not represent obligations subject to approval,
rebate or any other repurchase or return arrangement and (e) to the knowledge of
the Company, are good and collectible (net of any reserves for doubtful accounts
shown on the applicable Interim Financial Statements), without resort to
litigation or extraordinary collection activity, in accordance with the terms
thereof.

         2.12     Banks and Brokerage Accounts. Schedule 2.12 sets forth (a) a
true and complete list of the names and locations of all banks, trust companies,
securities brokers and other

                                       12
<PAGE>

financial institutions at which the Company or either Company Subsidiary has an
account or safe deposit box or maintains a banking, custodial, trading or other
similar relationship, (b) a true and complete list and description of each such
account, box and relationship, indicating in each case the account number and
the names of the respective officers, employees, agents or other similar
representatives of the Company or either Company Subsidiary having signatory
power with respect thereto and (c) a list of each Investment Asset, the name of
the record and beneficial owner thereof, the location of the certificates, if
any, representing each such Investment Asset, the maturity date, if any, of each
such Investment Asset, and any stock or bond powers or other authority for
transfer granted with respect thereto.

         2.13     Capital Adequacy. Except as set forth on Schedule 2.13, the
Company and each of the Company Subsidiaries is in full compliance with all Laws
applicable to the adequacy and maintenance of its Statutory Surplus and, at the
Closing, will fully satisfy the Minimum Capital Requirements (except that any
shortfall in such requirements will be fully cured by virtue of Section 1.7(d)).

         2.14     Taxes.

                  (a)      All Tax Returns required to have been filed by or
with respect to the Company, either Company Subsidiary or any affiliated,
consolidated, combined, unitary or similar group of which the Company or either
Company Subsidiary is or was a member (a "Relevant Group") have been duly and
timely filed (including any extensions). All such Tax Returns are true, complete
and correct in all material respects (including with respect to the adoption and
application of all tax accounting methods utilized for each Taxable period by
the Company and each of the Company Subsidiaries, including, without limitation,
the methods of accounting for loss reserves, reserves for incurred but not
reported losses, loss adjustment expense reserves and unearned premium reserves.
All Taxes due and payable by the Company, either Company Subsidiary or any
member of a Relevant Group, including withholding Taxes, whether or not shown on
any Tax Return, or claimed to be due by any Tax Authority, for periods (or
portions of periods) through the Interim Financial Statement Date, have been
paid or accrued on the balance sheet included in the Interim Financial
Statements.

                  (b)      Neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary (or
any member of a Relevant Group) has incurred any material liability for Taxes in
the periods (or portions of periods) after the Interim Financial Statement Date.
The unpaid Taxes of the Company and each Company Subsidiary (i) did not, as of
the most recent fiscal month end, exceed the amount the reserve for Liability
for Income Tax (other than the reserve for deferred taxes established to reflect
timing differences between book and tax income) or Other Tax set forth on the
face of the balance sheet included in the Interim Financial Statements and (ii)
will not exceed the amount of such reserve as adjusted for operations and
transactions in the ordinary course of business through the Effective Time.

                  (c)      Neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary is
a party to any agreement extending the time within which to file any Tax Return,
which Tax Return has not since been timely filed. No claim has ever been made by
a Taxing Authority of any jurisdiction in which the Company or either Company
Subsidiary or any member of any Relevant Group

                                       13
<PAGE>

does not file Tax Returns that the Company, either Company Subsidiary or such
member is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.

                  (d)      The Company has no knowledge of any actions by any
Taxing Authority in connection with assessing additional Taxes against or in
respect of it, either Company Subsidiary or any Relevant Group for any past
period. There is no dispute or claim concerning any Tax Liability of the Company
or either Company Subsidiary either (i) threatened, claimed or raised by any
Taxing Authority or (ii) of which the Company is otherwise aware. There are no
Liens for Taxes upon the Assets and Properties of the Company or either Company
Subsidiary other than Liens for Taxes not yet due. Schedule 2.14 indicates those
Tax Returns, if any, of the Company, either Company Subsidiary and each member
of any Relevant Group that have been audited or examined by Taxing Authorities,
and indicates those Tax Returns of the Company, either Company Subsidiary and
each member of any Relevant Group that currently are the subject of audit or
examination. The Company has delivered to Parent complete and correct copies of
all federal, state, local and foreign income Tax Returns filed by, and all Tax
examination reports and statements of deficiencies assessed against or agreed to
by, the Company, either Company Subsidiary and each member of any Relevant Group
since the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998.

                  (e)      There are no outstanding agreements or waivers
extending the statute of limitations period applicable to any Tax Returns
required to be filed by, or which include or are treated as including, the
Company or either Company Subsidiary, which period (after giving effect to such
agreement or waiver) has not yet expired.

                  (f)      Neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary has
received any written ruling related to Taxes or entered into any agreement with
a Taxing Authority relating to Taxes.

                  (g)      Neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary has
liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than the Company or either Company
Subsidiary) (i) under Section 1.1502-6 of the Treasury regulations (or any
similar provision of state, local or foreign Law), (ii) as a transferee or
successor, (iii) by Contract or (iv) otherwise.

                  (h)      Neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary (i)
has agreed to make nor is required to make any adjustment under Section 481 of
the Internal Revenue Code by reason of a change in accounting method or (ii) is
a "consenting corporation" within the meaning of Section 341(f)(1) of the
Internal Revenue Code.

                  (i)      Neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary (i)
is a party to or bound by any obligations under any tax sharing agreement, tax
allocation agreement, tax indemnity agreement or similar Contract, or (ii) is
obligated under any Contract to afford any other Person the benefits of any net
operating losses, charitable deductions or other Tax credits, or to permit the
transfer of any revenues, receipts or gains to such Person from any Third Party.

                  (j)      Neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary is
involved in, subject to, or a party to any joint venture, partnership, Contract
or other arrangement that is treated as a partnership for federal, state, local
or foreign Income Tax purposes.

                                       14
<PAGE>

                  (k)      Except as disclosed in Schedule 2.14, neither the
Company nor either Company Subsidiary was included or is includible in the Tax
Return of any Relevant Group with any corporation other than such a return of
which the Company is the common parent corporation.

                  (l)      Neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary has
made any payments, is obligated to make any payments, or is a party to any
Contract covering any current or former employee or consultant of the Company or
either Company Subsidiary that under certain circumstances could require it to
make or give rise to any payments that are not deductible as a result of the
provisions set forth in Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code or the
Treasury regulations thereunder or would result in an excise tax to the
recipient of any such payment under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code.

                  (m)      Except as disclosed in Schedule 2.14, there is
currently no limitation on the utilization of the net operating losses, built-in
losses, capital losses, Tax credits or other similar items of the Company or
either Company Subsidiary under (i) Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code,
(ii) Section 383 of the Internal Revenue Code, (iii) Section 384 of the Internal
Revenue Code, and (iv) Section 1502 of the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury
regulations promulgated thereunder.

                  (n)      All material elections with respect to Income Taxes
affecting the Company or either Company Subsidiary are set forth in Schedule
2.14.

                  (o)      Neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary is
nor has ever been a United States real property holding corporation within the
meaning of Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Internal Revenue Code.

         2.15     Business Combinations. Except as set forth in Schedule 2.15,
neither the Company nor either of the Company Subsidiaries has, for the five
years preceding the date of this Agreement, acquired financial, voting, or other
control of any other business, whether by Business Combination or other means
(each such transaction individually a "Company Acquisition" and collectively
"Company Acquisitions"). Schedule 2.15 sets forth, with respect to each Company
Acquisition, the terms of any and all non-competition agreements with the
sellers in such transactions and the terms of any existing payment obligations
by the Company or either Company Subsidiary with respect to such transactions,
whether contingent or otherwise.

         2.16     Legal Proceedings.

                  (a)      Except as set forth in Schedule 2.16(a):

                           (i)      there are no Actions or Proceedings pending
or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against, relating to or
affecting the Company, either Company Subsidiary or the Assets or Properties of
the Company or either Company Subsidiary;

                           (ii)     there are no Actions or Proceedings
initiated by the Company, either Company Subsidiary or any Affiliate of the
Company or either Company Subsidiary;

                                       15
<PAGE>

                           (iii)    there are no facts or circumstances known to
the Company that the Company reasonably expects to give rise to any Action or
Proceeding by or against, relating to or affecting the Company or either Company
Subsidiary; and

                           (iv)     neither the Company nor either Company
Subsidiary has received notice, or otherwise has knowledge, of any Orders
outstanding against the Company or either Company Subsidiary.

                  (b)      Prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Company
has delivered to Parent all responses of counsel for the Company or either
Company Subsidiary to all auditor's requests for information for the preceding
three years (together with the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as a
consolidated group provided by such counsel) regarding Actions or Proceedings
pending or threatened against, relating to or affecting the Company or either
Company Subsidiary. Schedule 2.16(b) sets forth all Actions or Proceedings since
January 1, 2000, relating to or affecting, or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened against, the Company, either Company Subsidiary or any of the Assets
and Properties of the Company or either Company Subsidiary that involve claims
in excess of $100,000 or that seek injunctive or some other form of non-monetary
relief against the Company or either of the Company Subsidiaries.

         2.17     Compliance with Laws and Orders. Except as set forth on
Schedule 2.17, (a) neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary, (b) no
corporate director, corporate officer or Affiliate of the Company or either
Company Subsidiary and (c) to the knowledge of the Company, no agent or employee
of the Company or either Company Subsidiary, has, since January 1, 2000,
violated in any material respect, or is currently in default or violation, in
any material respect under any Law or Order applicable to the Company or Company
Subsidiary or to any of its Assets and Properties, including but not limited to
the NY Managed Care Act, the New York Prompt Pay Law (N.Y. Ins. Law sec.
3224-a), the CT Managed Care Act, the Connecticut Managed Care Accountability
Act (Public Act No. 99-284) and the Connecticut Prompt Pay Law (CT Gen. Statutes
sec. 38a-816), and the Company has no knowledge of any claim of material
violation, or of any actual material violation, of any such Laws and Orders by
the Company or either Company Subsidiary since January 1, 2000.

         2.18     Plans; ERISA.

                  (a)      Except as disclosed on Schedule 2.18, (i) neither the
Company nor either Company Subsidiary currently maintains or sponsors, or makes
or is required to make contributions to, any Plans, (ii) none of such Company
Plans is a "multi-employer plan," as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA, (iii)
none of such Company Plans is a "defined benefit pension plan" within the
meaning of Section 3(35) of ERISA, (iv) none of such Company Plans provides
post-retirement medical or health benefits (other than COBRA continuation
coverage as required by federal law or similar state insurance law), (v) none of
such Company Plans is a "welfare benefit fund," as defined in Section 419(e) of
the Internal Revenue Code, or an organization described in Sections 501(c)(9) or
501(c)(20) of the Internal Revenue Code, (vi) neither the Company nor either
Company Subsidiary is a party to any collective bargaining agreement, and (vii)
neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary has announced or otherwise
made any commitment to create or amend any Plan, other than amendments to any

                                       16
<PAGE>

qualified retirement plan as needed to retain such plan's qualified status.
Notwithstanding any statement or indication in this Agreement to the contrary,
there are no Plans (A) as to which Parent will be required to make any
contributions or with respect to which Parent shall have any obligation or
liability whatsoever, whether on behalf of any of the current employees of the
Company or either Company Subsidiary or on behalf of any other person, after the
Closing, except contributions or liabilities disclosed on the Companies'
Financials with respect to such Plans that Parent continues after the Closing,
or (B) which Parent or any Subsidiary will not be able to terminate immediately
after the Closing in accordance with their terms and ERISA. With respect to each
of such Plans, at the Closing there will be no unrecorded liabilities of the
Company or either Company Subsidiary with respect to the establishment,
implementation, operation, administration or termination of any such Plan, or
the termination of the participation in any such Plan by the Company, either
Company Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates. With respect to
each Plan currently maintained by the Company or either Company Subsidiary, the
Company has delivered to Parent true and complete copies of: (I) each of the
Plans and any related funding agreements thereto (including insurance contracts)
including all amendments, all of which are legally valid and binding and in full
force and effect and there are no defaults thereunder, (II) the currently
effective Summary Plan Description pertaining to each of such Plans, (III) all
annual reports for each of such Plans (including all related schedules) filed
with respect to the last three plan years for which a filing is due, (IV) the
most recently filed PBGC Form 1 (if applicable), (V) the most recent IRS
determination letter, opinion, notification or advisory letter (as the case may
be) for each such Plan which is intended to constitute a qualified plan under
Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code, and (VI) for each funded Plan,
financial statements consisting of (a) the consolidated statement of assets and
liabilities of such Plan as of its most recent valuation date, and (b) the
statement of changes in fund balance and in financial position or the statement
of changes in net assets available for benefits under such Plan for the most
recently-ended plan year, which such financial statements shall fairly present
the financial condition and the results of operations of such Plan in accordance
with GAAP, consistently applied, as of such dates.

                  (b)      The present value of all accrued benefits under any
Company Plan or ERISA Affiliate Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA shall not, as
of the Effective Time, exceed the value of the assets of such Plans allocated to
such accrued benefits, determined on an ongoing basis and based upon the
applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and ERISA, and each such Plan
shall be capable of being terminated as of the Effective Time in a "standard
termination" under Section 4041(b) of ERISA. With respect to each Company Plan
or ERISA Affiliate Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA, (i) no amount is
due or owing from any Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates to the PBGC or to
any "multi-employer Plan" as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA on account of any
withdrawal therefrom and (ii) no such Plan has been terminated within the last
six years other than in accordance with ERISA or at a time when the Plan was not
sufficiently funded. The transactions contemplated hereunder, including without
limitation the termination of any Company Plan or ERISA Affiliate Plan at or
prior to the Closing, shall not result in any such withdrawal or other liability
with respect to the Company or either Company Subsidiary under any applicable
Laws.

                  (c)      Neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary is
subject to any material liability, tax or penalty whatsoever to any person or
agency whomsoever as a result of engaging in a prohibited transaction under
ERISA or the Internal Revenue Code, and neither the

                                       17
<PAGE>

Company nor either Company Subsidiary has any knowledge of any circumstances
which reasonably might result in any such material liability, tax or penalty,
including but not limited to, a penalty under Section 502 of ERISA, as a result
of a breach of any duty under ERISA or under other Laws. Each Plan maintained by
the Company or either Company Subsidiary which is required to comply with the
provisions of Section 4980C of the Internal Revenue Code, or with the
requirements referred to in Section 4980D of the Internal Revenue Code, has
complied in all material respects. No event has occurred which could subject any
Company Plan to tax under Section 511 of the Internal Revenue Code. None of the
Company Plans or ERISA Affiliate Plans subject to Title IV of ERISA has been
completely or partially terminated nor has there been any "reportable event," as
such term is defined in Section 4043(b) of ERISA, with respect to any of the
Plans within the prior six years nor has any notice of intent to terminate been
filed or given with respect to any such Plan within the prior six years. Within
the last six years, there has been no (i) withdrawal by the Company, either
Company Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates that is a
substantial employer from a single-employer plan which is a Plan and which has
two or more contributing sponsors at least two of whom are not under common
control, as referred to in Section 4063(b) of ERISA, or (ii) cessation by the
Company, either Company Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates
of operations at a facility causing more than 20% of Plan participants to be
separated from employment, as referred to in Section 4062(f) of ERISA. None of
the Company, either Company Subsidiary, any of their respective ERISA Affiliates
or any other organization of which any of them are a successor or parent
corporation as defined in Section 4069(b) of ERISA, have engaged in any
transaction described in Section 4069(a) of ERISA.

                  (d)      None of the current Company Plans or ERISA Affiliate
Plans nor any trust created thereunder has incurred any "accumulated funding
deficiency" as such term is defined in Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code,
whether or not waived, as of the most recently completed plan year of such Plan,
and no condition has occurred or exists which by the passage of time could be
expected to result in an accumulated funding deficiency as of the last day of
the current plan year of any such Plan. Furthermore, none of the Company, either
Company Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has any unfunded
liability under ERISA in respect of any of the Company Plans or ERISA Affiliate
Plans. Each of the Company Plans which is intended to be a qualified plan under
Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code has received a favorable
determination letter, opinion, notification or advisory letter from the IRS or
has a period of time remaining under applicable Treasury regulations or IRS
pronouncements in which to apply for such a determination and make any
amendments necessary to obtain a favorable determination as to the qualification
of each such Plan. All of the Company Plans have been administered and
maintained in substantial compliance with their terms, ERISA, the Internal
Revenue Code and all other applicable Laws. All contributions required to be
made to each of the Company Plans under the terms of that Plan, ERISA, the
Internal Revenue Code or any other applicable Laws have been timely made. Each
Company Plan intended to meet the requirements for tax-favored treatment under
Subchapter B of Chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code is in material compliance
with such requirements. There are no Liens against the property of the Company,
either Company Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates under
Section 412(n) of the Internal Revenue Code or Sections 302(f) or 4068 of ERISA.
The Interim Financial Statements properly reflect all amounts required to be
accrued as liabilities to date under each of the Company Plans.

                                       18
<PAGE>

                  (e)      Neither the execution of this Agreement nor the
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby (whether alone or
upon the occurrence of any additional or further acts or events) will (i) result
in any obligation or liability (with respect to accrued benefits or otherwise)
on the part of Parent or its Affiliates to the PBGC, to any Plan, or to any
present or former employee, director, officer, stockholder, contractor or
consultant of Parent, the Surviving Corporation, or any their respective
Subsidiaries or any of their dependents, except liability or obligations arising
in the normal course a sponsor of a Company Plan or liability accrued on the
Interim Financial Statements, (ii) be a trigger event under any Company Plan
that will result in any payment (whether of severance pay or otherwise) becoming
due to any such present or former employee, officer, director, stockholder,
contractor, or consultant, or any of their dependents (except with respect to
termination of any qualified retirement plan or payment of benefits in the
normal course thereunder, such as upon termination of employment), or (iii)
accelerate the time of payment or vesting (except with respect to termination of
any qualified retirement plan), or increase the amount, of any compensation
theretofore or thereafter due or granted to any employee, officer, director,
shareholder, contractor, or consultant of the Company or either Company
Subsidiary or any of their dependents. With respect to any insurance policy
which provides, or has provided, funding for benefits under any Company Plan,
(A) there is and will be no liability of Parent or its Affiliates in the nature
of a retroactive or retrospective rate adjustment, loss sharing arrangement, or
actual or contingent liability as of the Effective Time, nor would there be any
such liability if such insurance policy were terminated as of the Effective
Time, except for liability to pay premiums as accrued on the Interim Financial
Statements and (B) to the knowledge of the Company, no insurance company issuing
any such policy is in receivership, conservatorship, bankruptcy, liquidation, or
similar proceeding, and no such proceedings with respect to any insurer are
imminent.

                  (f)      With respect to each Company Plan or ERISA Affiliate
Plan which provides health care coverage, the Company, each Company Subsidiary
and each ERISA Affiliate has complied in all material respects with (i) the
applicable health care continuation and notice provisions of the Consolidated
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended ("COBRA"), and the
applicable COBRA regulations and (ii) the applicable requirements of the Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and the regulations
thereunder, and none of the Company, either Company Subsidiary or any of their
respective ERISA Affiliates has incurred any liability under Section 4980B of
the Internal Revenue Code.

                  (g)      Other than routine claims for benefits under the
Company Plans, there are no pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened, Actions or Proceedings involving such Plans, or the fiduciaries,
administrators, or trustees of any of such Plans or the Company or either
Company Subsidiary as the employer or sponsor under any such Plan, with any of
the IRS, the Department of Labor, the PBGC, any participant in or beneficiary of
any such Plan or any other person whomsoever. The Company knows of any
reasonable basis for any such claim, lawsuit, dispute, action or controversy.

         2.19     Permits and Approvals.

                  (a)      The Company and each Company Subsidiary has, and the
Company and the Company Subsidiaries as a consolidated group have, all Permits
and Approvals necessary to conduct their respective and collective businesses as
currently conducted, other than such

                                       19
<PAGE>

Permits and Approvals which are not material to the business of the Company or
either Company Subsidiary and could be obtained promptly and without the
imposition of any Liabilities upon payment of a fee not in excess of $25,000 in
any instance, or $100,000 in the aggregate, and such Permits and Approvals are
valid and in full force and effect. Schedule 2.19 contains a list of each of the
Permits and Approvals of the Company and each Company Subsidiary. Neither the
Company nor either Company Subsidiary has received any notification of any
violations in respect of any such Permit or Approval, and no proceedings are
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, concerning the
revocation or limitation of any Permit or Approval of the Company or either
Company Subsidiary. Since January 1, 2000, the Company and each Company
Subsidiary has filed all material reports, registrations and statements,
together with any material amendments required to be made with respect thereto,
heretofore required to be filed with (i) the NY DOI, (ii) the CT DOI, (iii) the
NY DOH, (iv) the CT DSS, (v) the CMS and (vi) any other Governmental or
Regulatory Authority requiring the same.

                  (b)      WCNY is an HMO certified under Article 44 of the New
York Public Health Law. FirstChoice is an insurer licensed pursuant to Chapter
698 of the Connecticut General Statutes. Except as set forth in Schedule 2.13
with respect to Laws applicable to the adequacy and maintenance of Statutory
Surplus, the operations of the Company and each Company Subsidiary comply in all
material respects with the applicable provisions of the NY Managed Care Act and
the CT Managed Care Act, the applicable rules of the NY DOI, the CT DOI, the NY
DOH and the CT DSS and the terms and requirements of each Medicaid Contract,
Child Health Plus Contract, Family Health Plus Contract and Medicare Plus Choice
Contract held by them, as applicable. Except as set forth on Schedule 2.19,
since January 1, 2000, neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary has
received from the NY DOI, the CT DOI, the NY DOH, the CT DSS or CMS any
citation, suspension, revocation, limitation, warning or similar notice. The
Company does not have health plan or other operations outside of the States of
New York and Connecticut, WCNY does not have health plan or other operations
outside of the State of New York and FirstChoice does not have health plan or
other operations outside of the State of Connecticut. Neither of the Company
Subsidiaries has any business other than HMO operations and functions related
thereto. None of the Company, either of the Company Subsidiaries or any of their
respective Affiliates or Associates holds any third party administrator license.

         2.20     Real Property.

                  (a)      Schedule 2.20 contains a true and correct list of (i)
each parcel of real property leased, utilized and/or operated by the Company or
either Company Subsidiary (as lessor or lessee or otherwise) (the "Leased Real
Property") and (ii) all Liens relating to or affecting any parcel of real
property referred to in clause (i) to which the Company or either Company
Subsidiary is a party. Neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary owns
real property other than leasehold improvements, if any, on the Leased Real
Property.

                  (b)      Subject to the terms of its respective leases, the
Company and each Company Subsidiary has a valid and subsisting leasehold estate
in and the right to quiet enjoyment of the Leased Real Properties for the full
term of the leases (including renewal periods) relating thereto. Each lease
referred to in clause (i) of paragraph (a) above is a legal, valid and binding
agreement, enforceable in accordance with its terms, of the Company or

                                       20
<PAGE>

Company Subsidiary, as applicable, and of each other Person that is a party
thereto, and there is no, and neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary
has received notice of any, default (or any condition or event which, after
notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) thereunder. Neither
the Company nor either Company Subsidiary owes brokerage commissions or finders
fees with respect to any such Leased Real Property, except to the extent that
the Company or Company Subsidiary may renew the term of any such lease, in which
case, any such commissions and fees would be in amounts that are reasonable and
customary for the spaces so leased, given their intended use and terms.

                  (c)      All improvements on the Leased Real Property comply
in all material respects with and are operated in all material respects in
accordance with applicable laws (including, without limitation, Environmental
Laws) and all applicable Liens, Approvals, Contracts, covenants and
restrictions. There are no condemnation or appropriation proceedings pending or,
to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against any of such real property or
the improvements thereon. To the knowledge of the Company, each of the Leased
Real Properties and the improvements thereon complies with the Americans with
Disabilities Act.

                  (d)      True and correct copies of the documents under which
the Leased Real Property is leased, subleased (to or by the Company, either
Company Subsidiary or otherwise), utilized, and/or operated (the "Lease
Documents") have been delivered to Parent. The Lease Documents are unmodified
and in full force and effect, and there are no other Contracts between the
Company or either Company Subsidiary and any third parties, or, to the knowledge
of the Company, by and among any third parties, claiming an interest in the
interest of the Company or either Company Subsidiary in the Leased Real Property
or otherwise relating to the use or occupancy of the Leased Real Property.

         2.21     Tangible Personal Property. Except as set forth in Schedule
2.21, the Company and each Company Subsidiary is in possession of and owns, or
has valid leasehold interests in or valid rights under Contract to use, all
tangible personal property used in the conduct of its business, including all
tangible personal property reflected on the Companies' Financials and tangible
personal property acquired since the Audited Financial Statement Date, other
than property disposed of since such date in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice. All such tangible personal property (including
plant, property and equipment) is free and clear of all Liens and is adequate
and suitable in all material respects for the conduct by the Company or such
Company Subsidiary, as applicable, of its business as presently conducted, and
its use complies in all material respects with all applicable Laws. Schedule
2.21 contains a list of all motor vehicles owned, leased or otherwise used or
insured by the Company or either Company Subsidiary, setting forth the make,
model, vehicle identification number and year of manufacture of each vehicle,
indicating whether each vehicle is owned or leased and, if owned, the name of
any lienholder and the amount of the lien or, if leased, the name of the lessor
and the general terms of the lease.

         2.22     Intellectual Property.

                  (a)      Schedule 2.22 contains an accurate and complete list
of (i) all patents and patent applications, trademarks, service marks, Internet
domain names and applications therefor, and copyrights and copyright
applications, which are part of the Companies' Intellectual

                                       21
<PAGE>

Property and which have been issued or registered by, or filed with, any United
States, foreign or international governmental or other body having authority to
issue, register or review the same, and (ii) all licenses, sublicenses and other
agreements pursuant to which the Company or either Company Subsidiary is granted
rights under any third party Intellectual Property, other than licenses to use
"off the shelf" software, or pursuant to which any third party is authorized to
use any Intellectual Property. With respect to "off the shelf" software, site
licenses are maintained and complied with by the Company or a Company
Subsidiary, as applicable, permitting use by all current employees of such
Person.

                  (b)      All of the Companies' Intellectual Property is: (i)
owned solely and exclusively by the Company or a Company Subsidiary, free and
clear of any and all mortgages, pledges, liens, security interests, conditional
sale agreements or encumbrances of any kind or (ii) rightfully used or otherwise
enjoyed by the Company or a Company Subsidiary pursuant to one or more license
agreements, each of which license agreements is valid and enforceable.

                  (c)      Neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary is,
and no action is currently pending which asserts that the Company or either
Company Subsidiary is, infringing on any Intellectual Property of any Person.
Neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary has received notice from any
Person asserting that the Company or either Company Subsidiary is infringing on
any Intellectual Property of any Person, and, to the knowledge of the Company,
there is no basis for any such claim. No action is currently pending which
asserts that any Person is infringing on any of the Companies' Intellectual
Property, neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary has asserted any
claim of such infringement against any Person and, to the knowledge of the
Company, there is no basis for any such claim.

                  (d)      All Intellectual Property registrations included in
the Companies' Intellectual Property have been duly maintained, are in full
force and effect and have not been cancelled, expired or abandoned.

         2.23     Government Healthcare Matters.

                  (a)      Schedule 2.23(a) contains a true and complete list of
each Contract, including all amendments, with CMS, the NY DOH, any county
located in the State of New York, the CT DSS or any other Governmental or
Regulatory Authority to which the Company or either Company Subsidiary is a
party. Except as set forth in Schedule 2.23(a), the Company and each Company
Subsidiary (i) is in compliance with all such Contracts, (ii) is not in breach
or default of such Contract and (iii) is currently meeting all conditions of
participation for any and all of its Medicare and Medicaid businesses, and for
the Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus programs, in each such case other
than any non-compliance, breach, default or failure to meet such conditions
which the Company reasonably expects would not result in the termination of such
Contract or, with respect to each such Contract, the imposition of a fine or
corrective action which would require expenditures in excess of $50,000 in any
instance or $100,000 in the aggregate. There do not exist any factual
circumstances that with notice or lapse of time would constitute a breach or
default of any Contract disclosed or required to be disclosed on Schedule
2.23(a) or the conditions of participation for the Medicare and Medicaid
programs or for the Child Health Plus or Family Health Plus programs, other than
such circumstances which, individually or in the aggregate, the Company
reasonably expects would not result in the

                                       22
<PAGE>

termination of such Contract or, with respect to each such Contract, the
imposition of a fine or corrective action which would require expenditures in
excess of $50,000 in any instance or $100,000 in the aggregate.

                  (b)      Schedule 2.23(b) contains (i) a list of the dates of
all surveys performed by any Governmental or Regulatory Authority to which the
Company or either Company Subsidiary was a party at any time since January 1,
2000, and any deficiencies for which a plan of correction was required and (ii)
a list of all notices of noncompliance, requests for remedial action, return of
overpayment or imposition of fines (whether ultimately paid or otherwise
resolved) by any Governmental or Regulatory Authority or as a result of the
participation by the Company or either Company Subsidiary in the Medicare,
Medicaid, Child Health Plus or Family Health Plus programs at any time since
January 1, 2000.

         2.24     Commercial Subscriber Agreements. Schedule 2.24 sets forth (i)
a list of any and all forms for small and large group and individual commercial
subscriber, beneficiary or membership agreements which have been approved by the
DOI, (ii) the applicable, approved rates for such agreements and (iii) with
respect to each group subscriber agreement, the name and address of any large
group and the number of members of such group. The Company has delivered to
Parent copies of such agreements with respect to the 20 largest commercial
subscriber groups by membership as of the date hereof. All member or commercial
subscriber agreements to which the Company or either Company Subsidiary is a
party were entered into in the ordinary course of business and constitute legal,
valid and binding agreements of the parties thereto. Except as set forth in
Schedule 2.24, to the knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor either
Company Subsidiary has violated any of the material terms or conditions of any
membership or commercial subscriber agreement, and all material covenants to be
performed by any other party thereto have, to the knowledge of the Company, been
fully performed. Except as set forth in Section 2.6(a), no Approval of any other
party, including but not limited to any Governmental or Regulatory Authority, is
required under any such agreement as a result of the Merger or any of the
transactions contemplated hereby.

         2.25     Provider Agreements. Schedule 2.25 sets forth a list of all
Persons who are parties to provider agreements or similar Contracts for health
care services, supplies or Pharmaceuticals, and sets forth the number of covered
lives serviced by each such Person. The Company has delivered to Parent copies
of such agreements for the 20 largest providers doing business with the Company
and each Company Subsidiary, on the basis of revenues collected or accrued for
the twelve months ended March 31, 2002. Schedule 2.25 also designates those
providers who through capitation or some other financial risk transfer
arrangements have contractually assumed liability of ten percent or more for the
delivery of specified health care services to members or subscribers. Except as
disclosed in Schedule 2.25, to the knowledge of the Company, neither the Company
nor either Company Subsidiary has violated any of the material terms or
conditions of any provider agreement or similar Contract, other than violations
which, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to
result in the termination of such Contract or give rise to a claim which could
reasonably be expected to require expenditures in excess of $50,000. Except as
disclosed in Schedule 2.25, no such provider has ceased or materially reduced
its provision of services to any plan beneficiary or group of the Company or
either Company Subsidiary or has threatened to do so. Schedule 2.25 lists all of
those provider agreements or similar Contracts which the Company or either
Company

                                       23
<PAGE>

Subsidiary intends not to renew, which Contract, if not renewed or replaced,
could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. Attached to
Schedule 2.25 are (i) a standard base form (or forms) of provider agreement used
by the Company or either Company Subsidiary as an agreement with its respective
providers and (ii) summary reports setting forth (A) the Company's and each
Company Subsidiary's primary care physician membership listing for April 2002,
(B) the Company's and each Company Subsidiary's primary care physician
capitation report for April 2002, (C) the Company's and each Company
Subsidiary's primary care physician check register for April 2002 and (D) a list
of all fee-for-service providers to whom the Company or either Company
Subsidiary have made payments in excess of $250,000 per year, calculated on an
annualized basis, during calendar year 2001 or the four-month period ended April
30, 2002, and identifying which providers are par and which are non-par. Except
as disclosed in Schedule 2.25, any and all provider agreements and similar
Contracts are in compliance with all legal requirements as to form and substance
under the applicable Laws, including but not limited to any investment,
anti-referral, kickback or fee splitting prohibitions. Except as disclosed in
Schedule 2.25, no contractual or other relationship exists with any Person which
would violate any federal or state Laws as to investment, anti-referral,
kickback or fee splitting prohibitions.

         2.26     Contracts.

                  (a)      Schedule 2.26(a) contains a true and complete list of
each Designated Contract to which the Company or either Company Subsidiary is a
party.

                  (b)      Each Contract required to be disclosed in Schedule
2.26(a) is in full force and effect and constitutes a legal, valid and binding
agreement, enforceable in accordance with its terms. Neither the Company nor
either Company Subsidiary is, neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary
has received notice that it is and, to the knowledge of the Company, no other
party to any such Contract is, nor has received notice that it is, in violation
or breach of or default under any such Contract (or with notice or lapse of time
or both, would be in violation or breach of or default under any such Contract).

                  (c)      Except as disclosed in Schedule 2.26(c), neither the
Company nor either Company Subsidiary is a party to or bound by (i) any
Designated Contract that automatically terminates or allows termination by the
other party thereto upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or (ii) any Contract that contains any covenant or other provision
which limits the ability of the Company or either Company Subsidiary to compete
with any Person in any line of business or in any area or territory.

         2.27     Suppliers. Set forth on Schedule 2.27 are the names and
addresses of all the suppliers from which the Company or either Company
Subsidiary ordered supplies, software and other goods or services with an
aggregate purchase price of $50,000 or more during the twelve month period ended
March 31, 2002, and the amount for which each such supplier invoiced the Company
or Company Subsidiary, as applicable, during such period. Neither the Company
nor either Company Subsidiary has received any notice or has any reason to
believe that any such supplier will not sell supplies, merchandise and other
goods to the Company or either Company Subsidiary at any time after the
Effective Time on terms and conditions substantially similar to

                                       24
<PAGE>

those used in its current sales to the Company or a Company Subsidiary, subject
only to general and customary price increases and decreases.

         2.28     Audit Reports. Schedule 2.28 sets forth a true, accurate and
complete list of all reports and correspondence regarding all Agency Audits, and
all other audit reports prepared by the CMS, the NY DOI, the CT DOI, the NY DOH,
the CT DSS or any other Governmental or Regulatory Authority relating to the
operations or business of the Company or either Company Subsidiary, from each
year (or part thereof) since January 1, 2000.

         2.29     Membership. Schedule 2.29 sets forth the true and accurate
number, with respect to the Company and each Company Subsidiary, of all (i)
Medicare subscribers, (ii) Medicaid subscribers, (iii) subscribers in the
Commercial Lines of Business, (iv) Child Health Plus subscribers and (v) Family
Health Plus subscribers, in each case as of March 31, 2002 (excluding the effect
of customary retroactive terminations).

         2.30     Premiums. Except as set forth in Schedule 2.30, all premiums
or other payments received by the Company or either Company Subsidiary since
January 1, 2000 were bona fide payments received from Governmental or Regulatory
Authorities without subsequent setoff, overpayment, disgorgement or recoupment
for fiscal years prior to Closing. Except as set forth in Schedule 2.30, all
premiums for any Commercial Lines of Business were paid by unaffiliated third
parties in arms length transactions and the receipt by and collection of such
premiums complied with all Laws, without setoff, recoupment, dispute or
repayment for unearned premiums.

         2.31     Claims. Attached to Schedule 2.31 are copies of lag reports
setting forth the Company's and each Company Subsidiary's payment of medical
claims during the four-month period ended April 30, 2002. Except as set forth in
Schedule 2.31, (a) subject to customary lags, consistent with the attached lag
reports, all claims made by any parties under any and all products, lines of
business or other medical plans offered by the Company or either Company
Subsidiary have been paid within the applicable statutory time limit, (b) to the
knowledge of the Company, all claims, capitated payments and other payments to
providers made by any parties under any and all products, lines of business or
other medical plans offered by the Company or either Company Subsidiary have
been paid accurately and completely in accordance with the applicable provider's
written Contract for medical services and (c) there has been no allegation of
insufficient, untimely or otherwise inadequate payment or handling of claims.
Except as set forth in Schedule 2.31, all such payments have been made in
material compliance with any and all Contracts between the Company or either
Company Subsidiary, and each subscriber, beneficiary, patient or provider to
whom or to which payment is or was due, and there is no basis for any allegation
of noncompliance with respect to the payment of any claims under any such
Contract.

         2.32     Insurance.

                  (a)      Schedule 2.32(a) contains a true and complete list
(including the names and addresses of the insurers, the expiration dates
thereof, the annual premiums and payment terms thereof, the period of time
covered thereby and a brief description of the interests insured thereby) of all
liability, property, workers' compensation, directors' and officers' liability,

                                       25
<PAGE>

fidelity bond, reinsurance, medical malpractice and other insurance policies
currently in effect that insure the business, operations or employees of the
Company or either Company Subsidiary or affect or relate to the ownership, use
or operation of any of the Assets and Properties of the Company or either
Company Subsidiary and that have been issued to the Company, such Company
Subsidiary or to any Person for the benefit of the Company or such Company
Subsidiary. Except as disclosed in Schedule 2.32(a), none of the insurance
coverage provided by the policies set forth in Schedule 2.32(a) will terminate
or lapse by reason of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
any of the Ancillary Agreements. Each policy listed in Schedule 2.32(a) is valid
and binding and in full force and effect, all premiums due thereunder have been
paid when due and none of the Company, either Company Subsidiary or any Person
to whom such policy has been issued has received any notice of cancellation or
termination in respect of any such policy or is in default thereunder, and to
the knowledge of the Company, there is no reason or state of facts that the
Company reasonably expects to lead to the cancellation of any of such policies
or of any threatened termination of, or material premium increase with respect
to, any of such policies. The insurance policies listed in Schedule 2.32(a) are
in amounts and have coverages as required by any Contract to which the Company
or either Company Subsidiary with such policies is a party or by which any of
their respective Assets and Properties is bound.

                  (b)      Schedule 2.32(b) contains a list of all claims made
under any insurance policies covering the Company or either Company Subsidiary
in the last two years. Except as set forth in Schedule 2.32(b), neither the
Company nor either Company Subsidiary has received notice that any insurer under
any policy referred to in this Section is denying, disputing or questioning
liability with respect to a claim thereunder or defending under a reservation of
rights clause.

         2.33     Power of Attorney; Guarantees. Schedule 2.33 sets forth a
complete list or outstanding powers of attorney executed on behalf of the
Company or either Company Subsidiary. Except as set forth on Schedule 2.33,
neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary (i) is a guarantor or
otherwise liable for any indebtedness of any other Person, (ii) holds any trust
funds or (iii) acts in the capacity of trustee.

         2.34     Affiliate Transactions.

                  (a)      Except as disclosed in Schedule 2.34, (i) there are
no Contracts or Liabilities between the Company or either Company Subsidiary, on
the one hand, and (A) any current or former officer, director, manager, member,
shareholder, unit holder or any Affiliate or Associate of the Company or either
Company Subsidiary or (B) any Person who is an Associate of any such officer,
director, shareholder, unit holder or Affiliate, on the other hand, (ii) neither
the Company nor either Company Subsidiary provides or causes to be provided any
assets, services or facilities to any such current or former officer, director,
manager, member, shareholder, unit holder, Affiliate or Associate, (iii) none of
the Company, either Company Subsidiary nor any current or former officer,
director, manager, member, shareholder, unit holder, Affiliate or Associate
provides or causes to be provided any assets, services or facilities to the
Company or either Company Subsidiary and (iv) neither the Company nor either
Company Subsidiary beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, any Investment
Assets of any such current or former officer, director, manager, member,
shareholder, unit holder, Affiliate or Associate.

                                       26
<PAGE>

                  (b)      Except as disclosed in Schedule 2.34, no current or
former officer, director, manager, member, shareholder, unit holder, employee or
any Affiliate or Associate of the Company or either Company Subsidiary owns any
Equity Securities in, or derives any financial benefit from, any provider or
Person doing business with the Company or either Company Subsidiary.

                  (c)      Except as disclosed in Schedule 2.34, no Material
Adverse Change will result with respect to the Company or either Company
Subsidiary if the Company or either Company Subsidiary loses the benefits of the
Contracts, Liabilities, assets, services or facilities disclosed or required to
be disclosed in Schedule 2.34.

                  (d)      Except as disclosed therein, each of the Contracts
and Liabilities disclosed (or required to be disclosed) on Schedule 2.34 has
been submitted to and approved by each applicable Governmental or Regulatory
Authority, as required by applicable Law (including, without limitation, the NY
DOH pursuant to 10 NYCRR sec. 98-1.11).

                  (e)      Except as disclosed in Schedule 2.34. neither the
Company nor either of the Company Subsidiaries has ever paid excessive dividends
or distributions in violation of any applicable Law, including, without
limitation, the New York Insurance Law and Connecticut General Statutes section
38a. Schedule 2.34 sets forth all dividends, distributions and other payments
paid by the Company or either of the Company Subsidiaries since January 1, 2000
to any of their shareholders or their respective Affiliates or Associates, or
otherwise in respect of the Company's or either Company Subsidiary's Equity
Securities. With respect to any dividends, distributions or other payments which
required the approval of any Governmental or Regulatory Authority, a copy of
each such approval is attached to Schedule 2.34.

         2.35     Employees; Labor Relations.

                  (a)      Neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary is
a party to any collective bargaining agreement and there is no unfair labor
practice or labor arbitration proceedings pending with respect to the Company or
either Company Subsidiary, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, and
there are no facts or circumstances known to the Company or either Company
Subsidiary that could reasonably be expected to give rise to such complaint or
claim. To the knowledge of the Company, there are no organizational efforts
presently underway or threatened involving any employees of the Company or
either Company Subsidiary or any of the employees performing work for the
Company or either Company Subsidiary but provided by an outside employment
agency, if any. There has been no work stoppage, strike or, to the knowledge of
the Company, other concerted action by employees of the Company or either
Company Subsidiary.

                  (b)      Except as disclosed in Schedule 2.35(b), all
employees of the Company and either Company Subsidiary are employed at will, and
no employees of the Company or either Company Subsidiary are represented by a
union. Schedule 2.35(b) sets forth, individually and by category, the name of
each officer, employee and consultant of the Company and each Company
Subsidiary, together with each such person's position or function, annual base
salary or wage and any incentive, severance or bonus arrangements with respect
to such person. Other than the employees listed on Schedule 2.35(b) and any
consultants retained pursuant to a

                                       27
<PAGE>

consulting agreement described on Schedule 2.26(a), no person (including any
Affiliate or Associate of the Company or either Company Subsidiary, or any
employee of any such Affiliate or Associate) provides services in the nature of
employment or consulting services to the Company or either Company Subsidiary.
The completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not
result in any payment or increased payment becoming due by the Company or either
Company Subsidiary to any current or former officer, director or employee of, or
consultant to, the Company or either Company Subsidiary, and, to the knowledge
of the Company, no employee of the Company or either Company Subsidiary has made
any threat, or otherwise revealed an intent, to terminate such employee's
relationship with the Company or either Company Subsidiary, for any reason,
including because of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. Neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary is party to any
agreement for the provision of labor from any outside agency, other than
standard Contracts, entered into in the ordinary course of business, for the
provision of temporary personnel on a short-term basis. Since January 1, 2000,
there have been no claims by employees of such outside agencies against the
Company or either Company Subsidiary, and no claims by any governmental agency
against the Company or either Company Subsidiary with regard to such employees.

                  (c)      Except as set forth on Schedule 2.35(c), since
January 1, 2000, there have been no federal or state claims made against the
Company or either Company Subsidiary based on sex, sexual or other harassment,
age, disability, race or other discrimination or common law claims, including
claims of wrongful termination, by any employees of the Company or either
Company Subsidiary or by any of the employees performing work for the Company or
either Company Subsidiary but provided by an outside employment agency, and to
the knowledge of the Company there are no facts or circumstances that could
reasonably be expected to give rise to such complaint or claim. Except as set
forth in Schedule 2.35(c), since January 1, 2000, neither the Company nor has
either Company Subsidiary received any notice of any claim that it has not
complied in any material respect with, any Laws relating to the employment of
employees, including without limitation, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair
Labor Standards Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Immigration Reform
and Control Act of 1986, and any provisions of any other Laws relating to wages,
hours, collective bargaining, the payment of Social Security and similar taxes,
equal employment opportunity, employment nor either Company Subsidiary has
received any notice that it is liable for any arrearages of wages or any taxes
or penalties for failure to comply with any of the foregoing.

                  (d)      Neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary has
written policies and/or employee handbooks or manuals except as described in
Schedule 2.35(d).

                  (e)      To the knowledge of the Company, no officer, employee
or consultant of the Company nor either Company Subsidiary is obligated under
any Contract or other agreement or subject to any Order or Law that would
interfere with the Company's or either Company Subsidiary's business as
currently conducted. Neither the execution nor delivery of this Agreement, nor
the carrying on of the Company's or either Company Subsidiary's business as
presently conducted nor any activity of such officers, employees or consultants
in connection with the carrying on of the Company's or either Company
Subsidiary's business as presently conducted, will conflict with or result in a
material breach of the terms, conditions or provisions

                                       28
<PAGE>

of, constitute a default under, or trigger a condition precedent to any rights
under any Contract or other agreement under which any of such officer's,
employees or consultants is now bound.

                  (f)      There are no individuals currently providing
services, or who have within the last five years provided services, to the
Company or either of the Company Subsidiaries whose status as an employee or
consultant to such Person has not been properly reflected in the Tax filings of
such Person.

         2.36     Environmental Matters.

                  (a)      The Company and each Company Subsidiary possesses any
and all Environmental Permits necessary to or required for the operation of its
business. The Company and/or each Company Subsidiary will obtain, prior to the
Closing, any Environmental Permits that must be obtained as of or immediately
after the Closing in order for Parent, the Surviving Corporation and/or such
Person to conduct the business of such Person as it was conducted prior to the
Closing.

                  (b)      The Company and each Company Subsidiary is in
compliance with (i) all terms, conditions and provisions of its Environmental
Permits; and (ii) all Environmental Laws.

                  (c)      None of the Company, either Company Subsidiary, any
predecessor of the Company or either Company Subsidiary, nor any entity
previously owned by the Company or either Company Subsidiary has received any
notice of alleged, actual or potential responsibility for, or any inquiry
regarding, (i) any Release or threatened or suspected Release of any Hazardous
Material, or (ii) any violation of Environmental Law.

                  (d)      None of the Company, either Company Subsidiary, any
predecessor of the Company or either Company Subsidiary, nor any entity
previously owned by the Company or either Company Subsidiary has any obligation
or liability with respect to any Hazardous Material, including any Release or
threatened or suspected Release of any Hazardous Material, and there have been
no events, facts or circumstances which could form the basis of any such
obligation or liability.

                  (e)      No Releases of Hazardous Material(s) have occurred
at, from, in, to, on, or under any Site and no Hazardous Material is present in,
on, about or migrating to or from any Site.

                  (f)      None of the Company, either Company Subsidiary, any
predecessor of the Company or either Company Subsidiary, nor any entity
previously owned by the Company or either Company Subsidiary, has transported or
arranged for the treatment, storage, handling, disposal or transportation of any
Hazardous Material at or to any location.

                  (g)      No Site is a current or proposed Environmental
Clean-up Site.

                  (h)      There are no Liens under or pursuant to any
Environmental Law on any Site.

                                       29
<PAGE>

                  (i)      There is no (i) underground storage tank, active or
abandoned, (ii) polychlorinated biphenyl containing equipment, (iii)
asbestos-containing material, (iv) radon, (v) lead-based paint or (vi) urea
formaldehyde at any Site. Any underground storage tank meets all 1998 upgrade
requirements.

                  (j)      There have been no environmental investigations,
studies, audits, tests, reviews or other analyses conducted with respect to any
Site which have not been delivered to Parent prior to execution of this
Agreement.

                  (k)      Neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary is
a party, whether as a direct signatory or as successor, assign, third party
beneficiary, guarantor or otherwise, to, and neither the Company nor either
Company Subsidiary is otherwise bound by, any lease or other contract under
which the Company or either Company Subsidiary is obligated or may be obligated
by any representation, warranty, covenant, restriction, indemnification or other
undertaking respecting Hazardous Materials or under which any other person is or
has been released respecting Hazardous Materials.

                  (l)      The Company, each Company Subsidiary, all
predecessors of the Company or either Company Subsidiary, and any entity
previously owned by the Company or either Company Subsidiary have provided all
notifications and warnings, made all reports, and kept and maintained all
records required pursuant to Environmental Laws.

         2.37     Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; Proper Business Practices. To
the knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary,
and no agent, employee or other Person associated with or acting on behalf of
the Company or either Company Subsidiary has, directly or indirectly, used any
corporate funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other
unlawful expenses relating to political activity, made any unlawful payment to
foreign or domestic government officials or employees or to foreign or domestic
political parties or campaigns from corporate funds, violated any provision of
the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or made any bribe,
rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other similar unlawful payment.

         2.38     Takeover Statutes. The Company's Board of Directors has taken
all appropriate action to approve this Agreement, the Voting Agreements, the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby pursuant to the provisions
of Section 912 of the NYBCL such that Section 912 of the NYBCL does not apply to
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. No other Takeover
Statute applicable to the Company or either Company Subsidiary is applicable to
this Agreement, the Voting Agreements, the Merger or the other transactions
contemplated hereby.

         2.39     Other Negotiations; Brokers; Third Party Expenses. None of the
Company, either Company Subsidiary, nor any of their respective officers,
directors, employees, agents, shareholders, members or Affiliates (nor any
investment banker, financial advisor, attorney, accountant or other Person
retained by or acting for or on behalf of the Company, either Company Subsidiary
or any such Affiliate) (a) has entered into any Contract that conflicts with any
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (b) has entered into any
Contract or had any discussions with any Person regarding any transaction
involving the Company or either

                                       30
<PAGE>

Company Subsidiary which could result in Parent, the Company, either Company
Subsidiary or any general partner, limited partner, officer, director, employee,
agent or Affiliate of any of them being subject to any claim for liability to
said Person as a result of entering into this Agreement or consummating the
transactions contemplated hereby. Other than HLHZ, no broker, investment banker,
financial advisor or other Person is entitled to any broker's, finder's,
financial advisor's or similar fee or commission in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby based on arrangements made by
or on behalf of the Company or either Company Subsidiary. A complete and correct
copy of each Contract between the Company or either Company Subsidiary, on the
one hand, and HLHZ, on the other hand, is attached to Schedule 2.39.

         2.40     Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Company has been advised in
writing by HLHZ that in the opinion of HLHZ, as of the date hereof, the
consideration to be received by the shareholders of the Company pursuant to this
Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to the shareholders of the
Company, a signed copy of which opinion will be delivered to Parent upon the
execution of this Agreement.

         2.41     Proxy Statement. The proxy statement (other than any
information supplied by Parent in writing and stated to be specifically for use
in such proxy statement) to be sent to the shareholders of the Company in
connection with the Shareholder Meeting (such proxy statement as amended or
supplemented is referred to herein as the "Proxy Statement") shall not, on the
date the Proxy Statement is first mailed to the Company's shareholders, at the
time of the Shareholder Meeting or at the Effective Time, contain any statement
which, at such time, is false or misleading with respect to any material fact,
or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements
made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not false
or misleading; or omit to state any material fact necessary to correct any
statement in any earlier communication with respect to the solicitation of
proxies for the Shareholder Meeting which has become false or misleading. The
Proxy Statement shall at all relevant times (including, without limitation, on
the date of mailing to the Company's shareholders, at the time of the
Shareholder Meeting and at the Effective Time) comply in all material respects
as to form and substance with the provisions of the Exchange Act. If at any time
prior to the Effective Time any event or information should be discovered by the
Company which should be set forth in a supplement to the Proxy Statement, the
Company shall promptly inform Parent.

         2.42     Non-Solicitation. Since April 10, 2002, neither the Company
nor either Company Subsidiary has taken, nor has the Company permitted the
officers, directors, employees, shareholders, attorneys, investment advisors,
agents, representatives, Affiliates or Associates of the Company or either
Company Subsidiary (collectively, "Representatives") to (directly or indirectly)
take, any of the following actions with any Person other than Parent and its
designees: (a) solicit, encourage, initiate, entertain, accept receipt of,
review or encourage any proposals or offers from, or participate in or conduct
discussions with or engage in negotiations with, any Person relating to any
offer or proposal, oral, written or otherwise, formal or informal (a "Competing
Proposed Transaction"), with respect to any possible Business Combination with
the Company, either of the Company Subsidiaries or any of their respective
Subsidiaries or Affiliates, (b) engage in any discussions or negotiations with,
or provide any non-public information with respect to or access to any of the
books or records of the Company or either Company Subsidiary to any Person,
other than Parent, relating to (or which the Company or

                                       31
<PAGE>

either Company Subsidiary believed would be used for the purpose of formulating
an offer or proposal with respect to), or otherwise assist, cooperate with,
facilitate or encourage any effort or attempt by any such Person with regard to,
any possible Business Combination with the Company, either Company Subsidiary or
any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates, (c) agree to, enter into a
Contract with any Person, other than Parent, providing for, or approve a
Business Combination with the Company, either Company Subsidiary or any of their
respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates, (d) make or authorize any statement,
recommendation, solicitation or endorsement in support of any possible Business
Combination with the Company, either Company Subsidiary or any of their
respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates other than by Parent, or (e) authorize or
permit any of the Company's Representatives to take any such action.

         2.43     Disclosure. No representation or warranty contained in this
Agreement, and no statement contained in any schedule to this Agreement
furnished to Parent pursuant to any provision of this Agreement (including the
Companies' Financials and the notes thereto) or in any of the closing documents
delivered by Parent pursuant to any provision of this Agreement contains any
untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary
in order to make the statements herein or therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

                                    ARTICLE 3
                    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT

         Parent hereby represents and warrants to the Company that:

         3.1      Organization and Qualification. Each of Parent and Merger Sub
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation. Each of Parent and Merger Sub has
full corporate power and authority to conduct its business as now conducted and
as currently proposed to be conducted and to own, use and lease its respective
Assets and Properties. Each of Parent and Merger Sub is duly qualified, licensed
or admitted to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which
the ownership, use, licensing or leasing of its respective Assets and
Properties, or the conduct or nature of its business, makes such qualification,
licensing or admission necessary.

         3.2      Authority Relative to this Agreement. Each of Parent and
Merger Sub has full corporate power and authority, to execute and deliver this
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party, to perform its
respective obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery by each
of Parent and Merger Sub of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which
it is a party and the consummation by each of Parent and a Merger Sub of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly and authorized by
all necessary action by the respective Boards of Directors of Parent and Merger
Sub, and no other action on the part of the Board of Directors of either Parent
or Merger Sub is required to authorize the execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party and the
consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated hereby
and thereby. This Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which Parent and/or
Merger Sub is a party have been or will be, as applicable, duly and validly
executed and delivered by Parent and/or Merger Sub, as applicable, and, assuming
the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof

                                       32
<PAGE>

by the Company and/or the other parties thereto, constitutes or will constitute,
as applicable, a legal, valid and binding obligation of Parent and/or Merger
Sub, as applicable, enforceable against Parent and/or Merger Sub, as applicable,
in accordance with its respective terms, except as the enforceability thereof
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization,
moratorium or other similar Laws relating to the enforcement of creditors'
rights generally and by general principles of equity.

         3.3      Merger Sub Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of
Merger Sub consists only of 100 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per
share, all of which are issued and outstanding.

         3.4      No Conflicts. The execution and delivery by each of Parent and
Merger Sub of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party
does not, and the performance by each of Parent and Merger Sub of its respective
obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a
party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby
do not and will not:

                  (a)      conflict with or result in a violation or breach of
any of the terms, conditions or provisions of its respective certificate of
incorporation or bylaws;

                  (b)      conflict with or result in a violation or breach of
any Law or Order applicable to it or its Assets or Properties; or

                  (c)      (i) conflict with or result in a violation or breach
of, (ii) constitute a default (or an event that, with or without notice or lapse
of time or both, would constitute a default) under, (iii) require it to obtain
any consent, approval or action of, make any filing with or give any notice to
any Person as a result of the terms of (except for (A) such consents approvals,
orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings as may be
required under applicable state or federal securities laws, (B) such filings as
may be required under the HSR Act and (C) such Approvals as may be required from
any Governmental or Regulatory Authority under the Laws of any state), (iv)
result in or give to any Person any right of termination, cancellation,
acceleration or modification in or with respect to, (v) result in or give to any
person any additional rights or entitlement to increased, additional,
accelerated or guaranteed payments or performance under, (vi) result in the
creation or imposition of (or the obligation to create or impose) any Lien upon
it or its Assets or Properties, or (vii) result in the loss of a material
benefit under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Contract or
License to which it is a party or by which any of its Assets and Properties are
bound.

         3.5      Financing. As of the Effective Time, Parent will have access
to funds in an amount sufficient to allow it to pay the Merger Consideration.

         3.6      Investment Advisors. No broker, investment banker, financial
advisor or other Person is entitled to any broker's, finder's, financial
advisor's or similar fee or commission in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby based on arrangements made by or on behalf of
Parent.

         3.7      Disclosure. No representation or warranty contained in this
Agreement, and no statement contained in any schedule to this Agreement
furnished by Parent pursuant to any

                                       33
<PAGE>

provision of this Agreement or in any of the closing documents delivered by
Parent pursuant to any provision of this Agreement contains any untrue statement
of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make
the statements herein or therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading.

                                    ARTICLE 4
                       CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME

         4.1      Conduct of Business of the Company. During the period from the
date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of
this Agreement or the Effective Time, the Company agrees, unless otherwise
required pursuant to the express terms of this Agreement or if Parent has given
its prior consent in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld),
to carry on, and to cause each Company Subsidiary to carry on, its business in
the usual, regular and ordinary course of business, to pay, and to cause each
Company Subsidiary to pay, its Liabilities and Taxes when due in the usual,
regular and ordinary course of business, to pay or perform and to cause each
Company Subsidiary to pay or perform its other obligations when due in the
usual, regular and ordinary course of business (other than Liabilities, Taxes
and other obligations, if any, contested in good faith through appropriate
proceedings), and to use, and to cause each Company Subsidiary to use,
reasonable efforts to preserve intact its business organization, keep available
the services of its officers and key employees and preserve its relationships
with key providers, subscribers, suppliers, licensors, licensees, independent
contractors and other Persons having business dealings with the Company and/or
the Company Subsidiaries, and maintain the Company's and the Company
Subsidiaries' respective Permits and Approvals, all with the express purpose and
intent of preserving unimpaired the Company's and each Company Subsidiary's
goodwill and ongoing business through the Effective Time. Except as otherwise
expressly permitted by this Agreement, neither the Company nor either Company
Subsidiary shall, without the prior written consent of Parent (which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld), take or agree in writing or otherwise to
take any action that would make any of the Company's representations or
warranties contained in this Agreement to be untrue or incorrect or prevent the
Company from performing, or cause the Company not to perform, its agreements and
covenants hereunder or knowingly cause any condition to Parent's closing
obligations in Section 7.1 or Section 7.3 not to be satisfied. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, during the period from the date of this
Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement
or the Effective Time, except as required or expressly permitted by this
Agreement, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary shall cause or permit
any of the following with respect to the Company or any Company Subsidiary,
without the prior written consent of Parent (which consent shall (i) not be
unreasonably withheld, except in the case of those matters set forth in
subsections (e) and (v) below, with respect to which Parent may grant or deny
consent in its sole and absolute discretion, and (ii) be granted as promptly as
reasonably practicable, and in any event within two Business Days, or such
shorter period as may be warranted due to exigent circumstances):

                  (a)      cause or permit any amendments to its certificate of
incorporation or by laws (or comparable organizational documents);

                  (b)      declare or pay any dividend on or make any other
payment, dividend or distribution (whether in stock or property) in respect of
any of its Equity Securities, or split,

                                       34
<PAGE>

combine or reclassify any of its Equity Securities or issue or authorize the
issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution
for shares of its Equity Securities; provided, however, that the Company or
either Company Subsidiary may declare or pay cash dividends, so long as such
dividends will not impair the obligation of the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries to satisfy the Minimum Capital Requirements;

                  (c)      except as expressly contemplated by Section 1.6(d),
accelerate, amend or change the period of exercisability or vesting of options
or other rights granted under its stock plans or authorize cash payments in
exchange for any options or other rights granted under any of such plans;

                  (d)      enter into any Contract or commitment, or amend or
otherwise modify or waive any of the terms of any of its Contracts, other than
(i) Contracts with providers (other than any Affiliate or Associate of the
Company or either Company Subsidiary) entered into in the ordinary course of
business which (A) involve total obligations of less than $1,000,000 per annum
in the case of any provider that is a hospital or similar facility, or $150,000
per annum in the case of any other provider, and (B) have a term of not more
than one year and (ii) Contracts (excluding Contracts with providers) which
involve total obligations of less than $50,000 per annum and which are not
otherwise material to the business of the Company or the contracting Company
Subsidiary, as applicable;

                  (e)      issue, deliver or sell or authorize or propose the
issuance, delivery or sale of, any Equity Securities, or other agreements or
commitments of any character obligating it to issue any such shares or other
convertible securities;

                  (f)      transfer to any person or entity any rights to any
Intellectual Property other than non-exclusive licenses in connection with the
provision of services or benefits in the ordinary course of business;

                  (g)      sell, lease, license or otherwise dispose of or
encumber any of its Assets and Properties, other than transactions in connection
with cash management and investment activities entered into in the ordinary
course of business, consistent with past practice, provided that the Company
specifically notifies Parent of all such transactions in excess of $100,000;

                  (h)      acquire any Assets and Properties from any other
Person, other than acquisitions in the ordinary course of business, consistent
with past practice, not to exceed $100,000 in the aggregate during any month;

                  (i)      incur any Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness
incurred in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice, not
to exceed $50,000 in any instance or $100,000 in the aggregate during any month;

                  (j)      enter into any operating lease, other than in the
ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice, and providing for
payments of not greater than $50,000 over the term of the lease in any instance
or $100,000 in the aggregate during any month;

                  (k)      pay, discharge or satisfy any claim, liability or
obligation (absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise)
arising other than in the ordinary course

                                       35
<PAGE>

of business, other than the payment, discharge or satisfaction of liabilities
reflected or reserved against in the Companies' Financials and reasonable
expenses incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement;

                  (l)      make any capital expenditures, capital additions or
capital improvements, other than in the ordinary course of business, consistent
with past practice, not to exceed $50,000 in any instance or $100,000 in the
aggregate during any month;

                  (m)      reduce the amount of any insurance coverage provided
by existing insurance policies, or fail to renew any such insurance policy;

                  (n)      terminate or waive any right of substantial value;

                  (o)      (i) adopt or amend any employee benefit or stock
purchase or option plan, (ii) hire any new director level or officer level
consultant or employee, (iii) pay any special bonus or special remuneration to
any employee, consultant or director or (iv) increase the salaries, wage rates,
bonus levels, benefits, severance, termination pay, perquisites or compensation
of any employee or consultant, other than increases in salaries or wage rates to
non-director level or non-officer level employees, on an individual basis, in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

                  (p)      establish or modify any targets, goals, pools or
similar provisions under any Plan, employment Contract or other employee
compensation arrangement or independent contractor Contract or other
compensation arrangement;

                  (q)      commence a lawsuit other than (i) for the routine
collection of bills, (ii) in such cases where it in good faith determines that
failure to commence suit would result in the material impairment of a valuable
aspect of its business, provided that it consults with Parent prior to the
filing of such a suit, or (iii) for a breach of this Agreement;

                  (r)      acquire or agree to acquire by merging or
consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial portion of the assets of, or
by any other manner, any business or any corporation, partnership, association
or other business organization or division thereof;

                  (s)      make or change any election in respect of Taxes,
adopt or change any accounting method in respect of Taxes, file any Tax Return
or any amendment to a Tax Return (except for any Tax return that relates to the
2001 taxable period), enter into any closing agreement, settle any claim or
assessment in respect of Taxes, or consent to any extension or waiver of the
limitation period applicable to any claim or assessment in respect of Taxes;

                  (t)      make any change in accounting policies, principles,
methods, practices or procedures (including for bad debts, contingent
liabilities or otherwise, respecting capitalization or expense of research and
development expenditures, depreciation or amortization rates or timing of
recognition of income and expense);

                  (u)      revalue any of its assets, including writing off
notes or accounts receivable or writing down any other assets;

                                       36

<PAGE>

                  (v)      (i) enter into any Contract with any Affiliate or
Associate of the Company or either Company Subsidiary, (ii) enter into any other
transaction which, if it had been entered into prior to the date hereof, would
be required to be disclosed pursuant to Section 2.34, or (iii) make any payment
to any Affiliate or Associate of the Company or either Company Subsidiary, other
than payments required to be made pursuant to the express terms of any written
Contract listed on Schedule 4.1;

                  (w)      fail to maintain or renew any Permits, fail to comply
with any Law or Order in any material respect, or violate any Designated
Contract in any material respect;

                  (x)      take or agree in writing or otherwise to take, any of
the actions described in Sections 5.1(a) through(w)above.

         4.2      Operational Consultation. During the period from the date of
this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this
Agreement or the Effective Time, the Company shall, and shall cause each Company
Subsidiary to, (a) confer with Parent concerning any and all material
operational matters relating to the Company or either Company Subsidiary, (b)
review and obtain Parent's approval (not to be unreasonably withheld) for the
2003 Adjustable Community Rate filing for the Medicare line of business,
scheduled to be filed by no later than July 1, 2002, (c) report not less than
monthly to Parent concerning the business, operations and finances of the
Company and the Company Subsidiaries, (d) review with Parent any material
disbursements or payments (excluding payments to providers that are not
Affiliates or Associates of the Company or either Company Subsidiary, other than
payments required to be made pursuant to the express terms of any written
Contract listed on Schedule 4.1) and (e) cooperate with Parent as may be
reasonably requested by Parent from time to time to develop and implement an
integration plan for the Company and the Company Subsidiaries.

         4.3      Child Health Plus Audit. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, at the Closing, the amount of any premium
overpayments determined to be due in connection with the audit by NY DOH of
WCNY's participation in the Child Health Plus program shall be fully reserved
for the outstanding liability on the Company's financial statements.

                                    ARTICLE 5
                              ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

         5.1      Shareholder Meeting. The Company will, consistent with
applicable Law and its certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as soon as
practicable following the date of this Agreement (but in any event not later
than the date of mailing of the Proxy Statement as prescribed by Section 5.2),
duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of shareholders (the
"Shareholder Meeting") for the purpose of considering the approval and adoption
of this Agreement and the Merger and at such meeting call for a vote in respect
of the approval and adoption of this Agreement and the Merger. The Company shall
consult with Parent regarding the date of the Shareholder Meeting and shall not
postpone or adjourn (other than for the absence of a quorum or as may be
reasonably necessary due to a delay in mailing the Proxy Statement solely as a
result of the period of time necessary to respond to any comments received from
the SEC staff with respect to the Proxy Statement) the Shareholder Meeting
without the consent of

                                       37

<PAGE>

Parent. The Company will, through its Board of Directors, recommend to its
shareholders the adoption of this Agreement, and shall not withdraw or modify
such recommendation (provided, however, that the Board of Directors of the
Company may exclude such recommendation from the Proxy Statement and otherwise
change its recommendation if, pursuant to Section 5.5, it is permitted to
endorse, recommend or approve and/or agree on a Superior Proposal). Subject to
Section 5.5, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to solicit from
shareholders of the Company proxies in favor of the adoption of this Agreement
and the Merger and shall take all other action necessary or advisable to secure
the vote or consent of shareholders required to effect the Merger. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company agrees that its
obligations pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 5.1 shall not be
affected in any way by the commencement, public proposal, public disclosure or
communication to the Company of a Competing Proposed Transaction or by any
modification or withdrawal by the Board of Directors of its recommendation with
respect to this Agreement and the Merger.

         5.2      Preparation of the Proxy Statement. The Company shall as soon
as practicable after the date hereof (but in no event later than 20 days after
the date hereof) prepare and file a preliminary Proxy Statement with the SEC and
shall use its reasonable best efforts to respond to any comments of the SEC or
its staff as promptly as practicable and to cause the Proxy Statement to be
mailed to the Company's shareholders as promptly as practicable (but in no event
later than five Business Days after (a) the tenth day after the filing date of
the preliminary Proxy Statement (in the event the SEC staff does not review such
preliminary Proxy Statement), or (b) the Company has received notification from
the SEC staff that its review of the preliminary Proxy Statement has been
satisfactorily completed, if applicable). The Company shall notify Parent
promptly (but in any event not later than two Business Days) after the receipt
of any comments from the SEC or its staff and of any request by the SEC or its
staff for amendments or supplements to the Proxy Statement or for additional
information and will supply Parent with copies of all correspondence between the
Company or any of its representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC or its
staff, on the other hand, with respect to the Proxy Statement or the Merger. If
at any time prior to the Shareholder Meeting there shall occur any event or
circumstance that should be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Proxy
Statement (provided that the receipt of any comments from the SEC or its staff
relating to the Proxy Statement shall not be deeded to be an "event" or
"circumstance" for such purposes), the Company shall as soon as practicable (but
in no event later than five Business Days after the occurrence of such event or
circumstance) prepare and file such an amendment or supplement with the SEC and
shall use its reasonable best efforts to respond to any comments of the SEC or
its staff as promptly as practicable and to cause such amendment or supplement
to be mailed to the Company's shareholders as promptly as practicable (but in no
event later than five Business Days after (a) the tenth day after the filing
date of such amendment or supplement (in the event the SEC staff does not review
such preliminary Proxy Statement), or (b) the Company has received notification
from the SEC staff that its review of such amendment or supplement has been
satisfactorily completed, if applicable). The Company shall not file or mail any
Proxy Statement, or any amendment or supplement thereto, to which Parent
reasonably objects. Parent shall cooperate with the company in the preparation
of the Proxy Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto. The Proxy
Statement shall (i) solicit the adoption of this Agreement and the Merger by the
shareholders of the Company, (ii) subject to Section 5.5, include the
recommendation of the Board of Directors of the Company to the Company's
shareholders that

                                       38

<PAGE>

they vote in favor of the adoption of this Agreement and the Merger and (iii)
include the fairness opinion of HLHZ referred to in Section 2.40.

         5.3      Access to Information. Between the date of this Agreement and
the earlier of the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement, upon
reasonable notice the Company shall, and shall cause each Company Subsidiary to,
(a) give Parent and its officers, employees, accountants, actuaries, counsel,
financing sources and other agents and representatives (collectively, the
"Parent Representatives") full access during normal business hours to all of its
buildings, offices, and other facilities and to all of its Books and Records,
whether located on its premises or at another location; (b) permit Parent and
the Parent Representatives to make such inspections during normal business hours
as they may require; (c) cause its officers to furnish Parent and the Parent
Representatives such financial, operating, technical, actuarial and cost data
and other information with respect to the business and Assets and Properties and
Taxes of the Company and each Company Subsidiary as Parent and the Parent
Representatives from time to time may request, including without limitation
financial statements, schedules and work papers; (d) allow Parent and the Parent
Representatives the opportunity to interview during normal business hours such
officers, employees, accountants, actuaries, counsel and other personnel and
Affiliates of the Company and each Company Subsidiary with the Company's prior
written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed;
and (e) assist and cooperate with Parent and the Parent's Representatives in the
development of integration plans for implementation by Parent and the Company
following the Effective Time; provided, however, that no investigation pursuant
to this Section 5.3 shall affect or be deemed to modify any representation or
warranty made by the Company herein. Materials furnished to Parent pursuant to
this Section 5.3 may be used by Parent for strategic and integration planning
purposes relating to accomplishing the transactions contemplated hereby.

         5.4      Public Disclosure. Unless otherwise required by Law (including
federal and state securities laws), prior to the Effective Time, no party hereto
shall (and each party hereto shall cause its respective Affiliates, Associates,
employees, agents and representatives not to) issue any press release or make
any other public disclosure (whether or not in response to any inquiry) with
respect to the existence of, any subject matter of, or the terms and conditions
of, this Agreement unless approved by the other party prior to release.

         5.5      No Solicitation

                  (a)      The Company acknowledges that the Company's Board of
Directors has extensively solicited proposals for the sale of the Company from
financial and strategic buyers and obtained valuations of the Company and
relevant comparables from investment banks. Accordingly, and as a material
inducement to Parent to execute this Agreement, until the earlier of the
Effective Time and the date of termination of this Agreement pursuant to the
provisions of Section 8.1 hereof, the Company will not take, and will not permit
either Company Subsidiary to take, nor will the Company permit any of the
Company's Representatives to (directly or indirectly) take any of the following
actions with any Person other than Parent and its designees: (a) solicit,
initiate or knowingly encourage any proposals or offers from, or participate in
or conduct discussions with or engage in negotiations with, any Person relating
to any Competing Proposed Transaction with respect to any possible Business
Combination with the Company, either of the Company Subsidiaries or any of their
respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates (whether

                                       39

<PAGE>

such Subsidiaries are in existence on the date hereof or are hereafter
organized), (b) engage in any discussions or negotiations with, or provide any
non-public information with respect to or access to any of the books or records
of the Company or either Company Subsidiary to any Person, other than Parent,
relating to (or which the Company or either Company Subsidiary believes would be
used for the purpose of formulating an offer or proposal with respect to), or
otherwise knowingly assist, cooperate with, facilitate or encourage any effort
or attempt by any such Person with regard to, any possible Business Combination
with the Company, either Company Subsidiary or any of their respective
Subsidiaries or Affiliates (whether such Subsidiaries are in existence on the
date hereof or are hereafter organized), (c) agree to, enter into a Contract
with any Person, other than Parent, providing for, or approve a Business
Combination with the Company, either Company Subsidiary or any of their
respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates (whether such Subsidiaries are in
existence on the date hereof or are hereafter organized), (d) make or authorize
any statement, recommendation, solicitation or endorsement in support of any
possible Business Combination with the Company, either Company Subsidiary or any
of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates (whether such Subsidiaries are in
existence on the date hereof or are hereafter organized) other than by Parent,
or (e) authorize or permit any of the Company's Representatives to take any such
action; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit the Company's
Board of Directors from, to the extent applicable, complying with Rules 14d-9
and 14e-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act with regard to a Competing Proposed
Transaction. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, at any time
prior to the time at which this Agreement shall have been adopted by the
Company's shareholders, if the Board of Directors of the Company shall have not
violated the provisions of this Section 5.5(a) and shall have received an
unsolicited written Competing Proposed Transaction then, to the extent that the
Board of Directors of the Company (i) believes in good faith after advice from
its financial advisor and after considering all terms and conditions of such
written Competing Proposed Transaction, including the likelihood and timing of
its consummation, that such Competing Proposed Transaction would result in a
transaction more favorable to Company's shareholders from a financial point of
view than the transaction contemplated by this Agreement (any such more
favorable Competing Proposed Transaction being referred to in this Agreement as
a "Superior Proposal") and (ii) determines in good faith after receiving advice
from outside legal counsel that it is necessary for the Board of Directors of
the Company to take any of the following actions to comply with its fiduciary
duties to shareholders under applicable law, Company and the Representatives
may, subject to compliance with Section 5.5(c), furnish in connection therewith
information to, and enter into, maintain or continue discussions or negotiations
with, any person that makes such unsolicited Superior Proposal after the date
hereof, and such actions shall not be considered a breach of this Section 5.5 or
any other provisions of this Agreement, provided that in each such event the
Company notifies Parent of such determination by the Company's Board of
Directors and provides Parent with a true and complete copy of the Superior
Proposal received from such third party, and provides (or has provided) Parent
with all documents containing or referring to non-public information of Company
that are supplied to such third party; provided, however, that the Company
provides such non-public information pursuant to a non-disclosure agreement at
least as restrictive on such third party as the Confidentiality Agreement is on
Parent. The Company shall, and shall cause each Company Subsidiary to,
immediately cease and cause to be terminated any such contacts or negotiations
with any Person relating to any such transaction or Business Combination
referred to in the second sentence of this Section 5.5(a).

                                       40

<PAGE>

                  (b)      Neither the Company's Board of Directors nor any
committee thereof shall (i) withdraw or modify, or propose publicly to withdraw
or modify, in a manner adverse to Parent or Merger Sub, the approval of this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or the recommendation that the
shareholders of the Company vote in favor of the adoption of this Agreement at
the Shareholders Meeting or (ii) recommend, adopt or approve, or proposed
publicly to recommend, adopt or approve, any Competing Proposed Transaction
(such actions are hereinafter referred to as an "Adverse Recommendation
Change"); provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit the Company's
Board of Directors from, to the extent applicable, complying with Rules 14d-9
and 14e-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act with regard to a Competing Proposed
Transaction. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, at any time
prior to the time at which this Agreement shall have been adopted by Company's
shareholders, if the Board of Directors of the Company shall have not violated
the provisions of Section 5.5(a) and shall have received an unsolicited written
Competing Proposed Transaction then, to the extent that the Board of Directors
of the Company (i) believes in good faith after receiving advice from its
financial advisor and after considering all terms and conditions of such written
Competing Proposed Transaction, including the likelihood and timing of its
consummation, that such Competing Proposed Transaction would result in a
transaction more favorable to the Company's shareholders from a financial point
of view than the transaction contemplated by this Agreement and (ii) determines
in good faith after advice from outside legal counsel that it is necessary for
the Board of Directors of the Company to take any of the following actions to
comply with its fiduciary duties to shareholders under applicable Law, the
Company's Board of Directors may make an Adverse Recommendation Change, and such
actions shall not be considered a breach of this Section 5.5, provided that in
each such event Company notifies Parent of such determination by the Company
Board of Directors and provides Parent with a true and complete copy of the
Superior Proposal received from such third party, and provides (or has provided)
Parent with all documents containing or referring to non-public information of
Company that are supplied to such third party; provided, however, that Company
provides such non-public information pursuant to a non-disclosure agreement at
least as restrictive on such third party as the Confidentiality Agreement is on
Parent; and provided, further, that the Company's Board of Directors may not
make an Adverse Recommendation Change in response to an unsolicited Superior
Proposal until after the third Business Day following Parent's receipt of
written notice (a "Notice of Adverse Recommendation") from the Company advising
Parent that the Company's Board of Directors intends to make such an Adverse
Recommendation Change and specifying the terms and conditions of such Superior
Proposal (it being understood and agreed by the parties that any amendment to
the financial terms or any other material term of such Superior Proposal shall
require a new Notice of Adverse Recommendation and a new three Business Day
period). In determining whether to make an Adverse Recommendation Change in
response to a Superior Proposal, the Company's Board of Directors shall take
into account any changes to the terms of this Agreement proposed by Parent in
response to a Notice of Adverse Recommendation or otherwise.

                  (c)      In addition to the obligations of the Company set
forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 5.5, if the Company receives
prior to the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement any offer or
proposal (formal or informal, oral, written or otherwise) relating to, or any
inquiry or contact from any Person with respect to, a Competing Proposed
Transaction, the Company shall immediately notify Parent thereof and provide
Parent with the details thereof, including the identity of the Person or Persons
making such offer or

                                       41

<PAGE>

proposal, and will keep Parent fully informed on a current basis of the status
and details of any such offer or proposal and of any modifications to the terms
thereof. The Company acknowledges that this Section 5.5 was a significant
inducement for Parent to enter into this Agreement and the absence of such
provisions would have resulted in either (i) a material reduction in the Merger
Consideration or (ii) a failure to induce Parent to enter into this Agreement.

         5.6      Approvals. Subject to Section 5.2, Parent shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all Approvals from Governmental or
Regulatory Authorities as may be required in connection with the Merger, and the
Company shall provide Parent with such assistance and information as is required
to obtain such Approvals. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts
to obtain all Approvals from any other Person as may be required in connection
with the Merger.

         5.7      Notification of Certain Matters. The Company shall give prompt
notice to Parent, and Parent shall give prompt notice to the Company, of (a) the
occurrence or non-occurrence of any event, the occurrence or non-occurrence of
which will cause any representation or warranty of the Company or Parent,
respectively, contained in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate at or prior
to the Effective Time and (b) any failure of the Company or Parent, as the case
may be, to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement to be
complied with or satisfied by it hereunder; provided, however, that the delivery
of any notice pursuant to this Section 5.7 shall not limit or otherwise affect
any remedies available to the party receiving such notice.

         5.8      Additional Documents and Further Assurances; Cooperation.

                  (a)      At any time or from time to time after the Closing,
each party hereto, at the request of any other party hereto, shall execute and
deliver such other instruments and do and perform such other acts and things
(including, but not limited to, all action reasonably necessary to seek and
obtain any and all Approvals of any Government or Regulatory Authority or Person
required in connection with the Merger) as may be necessary or desirable for
effecting completely the consummation of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence,
if, at any time after the Effective Time, any further action is necessary or
desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement or to vest the Surviving
Corporation with full right, title and possession to all assets, properties,
rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company, the officers and
directors of the Company are fully authorized in the name of the Company to
take, and will take, all such lawful and necessary action, so long as such
action is not inconsistent with the Agreement. Each party agrees to use
commercially reasonable efforts to cause the conditions to its obligations to
consummate the Merger to be satisfied.

                  (b)      Except as otherwise expressly permitted by this
Agreement, Parent shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company
(which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), take or agree in writing or
otherwise to take any action that would make any of Parent's representations or
warranties contained in this Agreement to be untrue or incorrect or prevent
Parent from performing its agreements and covenants hereunder or knowingly cause
any condition to the Company's closing obligations in Section 7.1 or Section 7.2
not to be satisfied.

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<PAGE>

         5.9      Company's Auditors. The Company will use commercially
reasonable efforts to cause its independent auditors to facilitate on a timely
basis (a) the review of the Company's audit or work papers, including the
examination of selected interim financial statements and data and (b) the
delivery of such representations from the Company's independent accountants as
may be reasonably requested by Parent or its accountants.

         5.10     Takeover Statutes. If any Takeover Statute is or may become
applicable to the transactions contemplated hereby, the Board of Directors of
the Company will grant such approvals within its power and take such actions
within its power as are necessary so that the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements may be consummated as promptly as
practicable on the terms contemplated hereby and otherwise take such actions
within its power to eliminate the effects of any Takeover Statute on any of the
transactions contemplated hereby.

         5.11     Delivery of Stock Ledger, Minute Book and Assets and
Properties of the Company. At the Closing, (a) the Company shall deliver the
original stock ledgers and minute books of the Company and each Company
Subsidiary to Parent and (b) the Company shall cause the directors and officers
of the Company and each Company Subsidiary, and their respective Affiliates and
Associates, to return to the Company and/or the Company Subsidiaries any Assets
and Properties of the Company or either Company Subsidiary used by such
director, officer, Affiliate or Associate.

         5.12     Resignations. At the Closing, the Company shall deliver to
Parent the resignations of all officers and directors of the Company and each of
the Company Subsidiaries from such positions, effective at the Effective Time.

         5.13     Certain Expenses. Any Expenses payable by the Company,
including, without limitation, any fees payable by the Company to HLHZ, shall be
deducted and paid from the aggregate Merger Consideration.

         5.14     Termination of Affiliate Agreements. The Company shall cause
all Contracts disclosed or required to be disclosed in Schedule 2.34, other than
any such Contracts designated by Parent in writing prior to the Closing, to be
terminated prior to the Closing.

         5.15     Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

                  (a)      Parent and the Surviving Corporation agree that all
rights to indemnification and exculpation from Liabilities or acts or omissions
occurring at or prior to the Effective Time in favor of current or former
directors or officers of the Company or either Company Subsidiary, as provided
in the Company's and the Company Subsidiaries' respective certificate of
incorporation and bylaws, in each case as in effect on the date hereof, shall
survive the Merger and shall continue in full force and effect after the
Effective Time; provided, however, that such indemnification and exculpation
obligations shall be subject to any limitation imposed from time to time under
applicable Law.

                  (b)      For six years after the Effective Time, Parent will
cause the Surviving Corporation to provide "run-off" officers' and directors'
liability insurance in respect of acts or omissions occurring on or prior to the
Effective Time on terms substantially similar to those of

                                       43

<PAGE>

such policy in effect on the date hereof; provided that $300,000 shall be
deducted and paid from the aggregate Merger Consideration to defray the cost to
the Surviving Corporation of providing such insurance.

                                    ARTICLE 6
                                   TAX MATTERS

         6.1      Tax Returns. Parent shall prepare and file (or cause to be
prepared and filed) all Tax Returns with respect to the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries for all taxable periods ending on or before the date of the Closing
and not filed prior to the Closing, as well as all Tax Returns for all taxable
periods ending after the Closing.

         6.2      Termination of Tax Sharing Agreements. The Company hereby
agrees and covenant that neither the Company nor either Company Subsidiary has
or will have any obligations to another party pursuant to any tax sharing
agreement or any similar arrangement in effect at any time before or at the
Effective Time, and any further obligation that might otherwise have existed
thereunder shall be extinguished as of the Effective Time.

         6.3      Conduct of Audits and Other Procedural Matters. Parent shall
have the right to control any audit or examination by any Taxing Authority, and
have the right to initiate any claim for refund or amended return, and contest,
resolve and defend against any assessment, notice of deficiency or other
adjustment or proposed adjustment of Taxes for all taxable periods of the
Company and the Company Subsidiaries.

         6.4      FIRPTA Compliance. At or prior to the Effective Time, the
Company shall deliver to Parent a properly executed statement in a form
reasonably acceptable to Parent for purposes of satisfying Parent's obligations
under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1445-2(c)(3).

                                    ARTICLE 7
                            CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER

         7.1      Conditions to Obligations of Each Party to Effect the Merger.
The respective obligations of each party to this Agreement to effect the Merger
shall be subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Closing of the following
conditions:

                  (a)      HSR Approval. Any waiting period applicable to the
consummation of the Merger under the HSR Act shall have expired or been
terminated.

                  (b)      No Injunctions or Regulatory Restraints; Illegality.
No temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other
Order issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or Governmental or
Regulatory Authority or other legal or regulatory restraint or prohibition
preventing the consummation of the Merger shall be in effect; no Governmental or
Regulatory Authority shall have notified any party to this Agreement that such
Governmental or Regulatory Authority intends to commence proceedings to restrain
or prohibit the transactions contemplated hereby or force rescission, unless
such Governmental or Regulatory Authority shall have withdrawn such notice and
abandoned any such proceedings prior to the time which otherwise would have been
the Effective Time; nor shall there be any action taken, or any Law or Order
enacted, entered, enforced or deemed applicable to the Merger

                                       44

<PAGE>

or the other transactions contemplated by the terms of this Agreement that would
prohibit the consummation of the Merger.

                  (c)      Shareholder Approval. This Agreement and the Merger
shall have been approved and adopted by the requisite vote of the shareholders
of the Company in accordance with the NYBCL and the certificate of incorporation
of the Company.

         7.2      Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Company. The
obligations of the Company to consummate the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the satisfaction at or prior
to the Closing of each of the following conditions, any of which may be waived,
in writing, by the Company:

                  (a)      Representations and Warranties. The representations
and warranties made by Parent in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all
material respects when made and at and as of the Effective Time as though such
representations and warranties were made at and as of the Effective Time (other
than representations and warranties which by their express terms are made solely
as of a specified earlier date and except for any changes specifically
contemplated or permitted by this Agreement), and the representations and
warranties made as of a specified date earlier than the Effective Time shall
also be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date;
provided, however, that in the case of any representation or warranty that is
already qualified by materiality (whether by means of the use of the term
"material" or a variation thereof, or the use of a minimum dollar threshold),
such materiality qualifiers shall not be taken into account in determining
whether the conditions set forth in this Section 7.2(a) have been satisfied.

                  (b)      Performance. Parent shall have performed and complied
with each agreement, covenant and obligation required by this Agreement to be so
performed or complied with by Parent at or before the Effective Time.

                  (c)      Officers' Certificate. Parent shall have delivered to
the Company (i) a certificate, dated as of the date of the Closing and executed
by its President and Chief Executive Officer, certifying that the conditions set
forth in Sections 7.2(a) and 7.2(b) have been fulfilled and (ii) a certificate
attaching (A) copies of the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of Parent
as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, (B) copies of resolutions
adopted by Parent's board of directors authorizing the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement and (C) a certificate of good standing of Parent issued by the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of a date not more than ten days
prior to the Effective Time, certified in the case of (A) and (B) as of the date
of the Closing by the Secretary of Parent as being true, correct and complete.

                  (d)      Acquisition of the Florida Companies. Parent shall
have consummated the acquisition of all of the outstanding Equity Securities of
the Florida Companies, pursuant to the terms of the Florida Companies
Acquisition Agreement.

                  (e)      Governmental and Regulatory Approvals. Approvals from
any Governmental or Regulatory Authority necessary for the consummation of the
transactions

                                       45

<PAGE>

contemplated hereby shall have been obtained without the imposition of any
conditions or requirements which are materially adverse to the Company.

         7.3      Additional Conditions to the Obligations of Parent. The
obligations of Parent to consummate the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the satisfaction at or prior
to the Closing of each of the following conditions, any of which may be waived,
in writing, exclusively by Parent:

                  (a)      Representations and Warranties. The representations
and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement shall be true and correct
in all material respects when made and at and as of the Effective Time as though
such representations and warranties were made at and as of the Effective Time
(other than representations and warranties which by their express terms are made
solely as of a specified earlier date and except for any changes specifically
contemplated or permitted by this Agreement) and the representations and
warranties made as of a specified date earlier than the Effective Time shall
also have been true and correct in all material respects on and as of such
earlier date; provided, however, that in the case of any representation or
warranty that is already qualified by materiality (whether by means of the use
of the term "material" or a variation thereof, or the use of a minimum dollar
threshold), such materiality qualifiers shall not be taken into account in
determining whether the conditions set forth in this Section 7.3(a) have been
satisfied.

                  (b)      Performance. The Company shall have performed and
complied with each agreement, covenant and obligation required by this Agreement
to be so performed or complied with by the Company at or before the Effective
Time.

                  (c)      Officers' Certificates. The Company shall have
delivered to Parent (i) a certificate, dated as of the date of the Closing and
executed by its President and Chief Executive Officer, certifying that the
conditions set forth in Sections 7.3(a), 7.3(b) and 7.3(i) have been fulfilled
and (ii) a certificate attaching (A) copies of the certificate of incorporation
and by-laws (or comparable organizational documents) of the Company and each
Company Subsidiary as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, (B)
copies of resolutions adopted by the Company's board of directors and
shareholders authorizing the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (C)
a certificate of good standing of the Company and each Company Subsidiary issued
by the Secretary of State of the state of its incorporation as of a date not
more than ten days prior to the Effective Time, certified in the case of (A) and
(B) as of the date of the Closing by the Secretary of the Company as being true,
correct and complete.

                  (d)      Consents. Parent shall have been furnished with
evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the written Approval of those Persons
whose Approval is required in connection with the Merger under any Contract
listed on Schedule 2.6.

                  (e)      Regulatory Approvals. There shall not have been any
action taken, or any Law or Order enacted, entered, enforced or deemed
applicable to the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by the terms of
this Agreement which would permit consummation of the Merger only (i) if
material divestitures were made, (ii) if Parent, the Surviving Corporation or
either of the Company Subsidiaries were to agree to material limitations on the
business activities or operations of Parent, the Surviving Corporation or either
of the Company

                                       46

<PAGE>

Subsidiaries or (iii) upon satisfaction of any other condition or requirement,
the effect of which, either individually or in the aggregate, in the reasonable
opinion of Parent, would materially adversely effect the business or operations
of Parent, the Surviving Corporation or either of the Company Subsidiaries or
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  (f)      Corporate Legal Opinion. Parent shall have received a
legal opinion from Foley & Lardner, corporate counsel to the Company, in the
form attached as Exhibit E.

                  (g)      No Material Adverse Change. There shall have occurred
no Material Adverse Change.

                  (h)      Acquisition of the Florida Companies. Parent shall
have consummated the acquisition of all of the outstanding Equity Securities of
the Florida Companies, pursuant to the terms of the Florida Companies
Acquisition Agreement.

                  (i)      Dissenting Shareholders. Holders of not more than 10%
of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock shall have delivered prior to
the Shareholder Meeting timely written notice of such holder's intent to demand
payment as a dissenting shareholder for such shares in accordance with the
NYBCL.

                  (j)      Resignations. Parent shall have received each of the
resignations described in Section 5.12.

                  (k)      Minimum Capital Requirements. The Balance Sheets
delivered by the Company shall satisfy the Minimum Capital Requirements.

                  (1)      Governmental and Regulatory Approvals. Approvals from
any Governmental or Regulatory Authority necessary for the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained without the imposition
of any conditions or requirements which are materially adverse to Parent.

                  (m)      Termination of Options. Parent shall have received
evidence reasonably satisfactory to it that the Stock Option Plans, and all
Options granted under the Stock Option Plan, shall have been terminated in
accordance with Section 1.6(d).

                                    ARTICLE 8
                        TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

         8.1      Termination. Except as provided in Section 8.2 below, this
Agreement may be terminated and the Merger cancelled at any time prior to the
Effective Time:

                  (a)      by mutual written agreement of Parent and the
Company;

                  (b)      by Parent or the Company if: (i) the Closing has not
occurred before 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on October 31, 2002 (provided, however,
that (A) the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.l(b)(i)
shall not be available to any party whose willful failure to fulfill any
obligation hereunder has been the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the
Closing to occur on or before such date and (B) such date shall automatically be
extended until

                                       47

<PAGE>

December 31,2002 in the event that any of the conditions set forth in Section
7.1 (a), 7.2(e) or 7.3(1) shall not have been satisfied by October 31, 2002);
(ii) there shall be a final nonappealable order of a federal or state court in
effect preventing consummation of the Merger; (iii) there shall be any statute,
rule, regulation or order enacted, promulgated or issued or deemed applicable to
the Merger by any Governmental or Regulatory Authority that would make
consummation of the Merger illegal; or (iv) any of the Approvals required to be
obtained from any Governmental or Regulatory Authority to permit the
consummation of the Merger as provided in Section 5.6 shall be denied, or shall
be granted with conditions or requirements that are materially adverse to the
terminating party, and any applicable periods to appeal such decision shall have
expired (provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under
this Section 8.1(b)(iv) shall not be available to any party whose willful
failure to fulfill any obligation hereunder has been the cause of, or resulted
in, the failure to obtain such Approval);

                  (c)      by Parent if there shall be any action taken, or any
Law or Order enacted, promulgated or issued or deemed applicable to the Merger,
by any Governmental or Regulatory Authority, which would: (i) prohibit Parent's
ownership or operation of all or any material portion of the business of the
Company or the Company Subsidiaries, (ii) compel Parent to dispose of or hold
separate all or any portion of the Assets and Properties of the Company or the
Company Subsidiaries as a result of the Merger, or (iii) prevent or impair
Parent's ability to operate the Company or the Company Subsidiaries in a manner
substantially similar to their respective operations prior to the date of this
Agreement;

                  (d)      by Parent if (i) any representation or warranty of
the Company in this Agreement is not true and correct in any material respect
either on the date of this Agreement or at the Closing, such that the conditions
set forth in clauses (a) or (h) of Section 7.3 would not be satisfied, and, if
such breach of a representation or warranty is capable of being cured, such
breach shall not have been fully cured within 15 days following delivery by
Parent to the Company of written notice of such breach, or (ii) the Company
shall not have complied in full with any covenant or agreement contained in this
Agreement and, if such failure to comply is capable of being cured, such
non-compliance shall not have been fully cured within 15 days following delivery
by Parent to the Company of written notice of such non-compliance, or (iii) the
Company or any Company Subsidiary makes a general assignment for the benefit of
creditors, or any proceeding shall be instituted by or against the Company or
any Company Subsidiary seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or
seeking liquidation, winding up or reorganization, arrangement, adjustment,
protection, relief or composition of any Indebtedness under any applicable Laws;

                  (e)      by the Company if (i) any representation or warranty
of Parent in this Agreement is not true and correct in any material respect
either on the date of this Agreement or at the Closing, such that the conditions
set forth in clause (a) of Section 7.2 would not be satisfied, and, if such
breach of a representation or warranty is capable of being cured, such breach
shall not have been fully cured within 15 days following delivery by the Company
to Parent of written notice of such breach, or (ii) Parent shall not have
complied in full with any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement and,
if such failure to comply is capable of being cured, such non-compliance shall
not have been fully cured within 15 days following delivery by the Company to
Parent of written notice of such non-compliance, or (iii) Parent makes a general
assignment for the benefit of creditors, or any proceeding shall be instituted
by

                                       48

<PAGE>

or against Parent seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking
liquidation, winding up or reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection,
relief or composition of any Indebtedness under any applicable Laws;

                  (f)      by Parent, if (i) the Company shall have failed to
comply with Section 5.5, (ii) the board of directors of the Company shall have
failed to present and recommend the approval and adoption of this Agreement and
the Merger to the shareholders of the Company, or withdrawn, modified or changed
its recommendation of this Agreement or the Merger in a manner adverse to
Parent, (iii) the board of directors of the Company shall have approved or
recommended to the shareholders of the Company a Competing Proposed Transaction,
(iv) a Competing Proposed Transaction shall have been announced or otherwise
become publicly known and the Board of Directors of the Company shall have (A)
failed to recommend against acceptance of such by its shareholders (including by
taking no position, or indicating its inability to take a position, with respect
to the acceptance of a Competing Proposed Transaction involving a tender offer
or exchange offer by its stockholders), (B) failed to reconfirm its approval and
recommendation of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby within
10 Business Days of the first announcement or other public knowledge of such
proposal for a Competing Proposed Transaction or (C) determined that the
Competing Proposed Transaction was a Superior Proposal, or (v) the board of
directors of the Company shall have resolved to take any of the actions
described above; or

                  (g)      by Parent or the Company, if the Merger shall fail to
receive the requisite votes for approval at the Shareholders' Meeting or any
adjournment or postponement thereof (provided that the right to terminate this
Agreement under this subsection (g) shall not be available to the Company in the
event that the failure to obtain such shareholder approval shall have been
caused by the action or failure to act of the Company and such action or failure
constitutes a breach by the Company of this Agreement).

                  (h)      by Parent, if Parent and the Company are unable to
agree upon the Balance Sheets pursuant to Section 1.7(c).

         8.2      Effect of Termination. Except as set forth in Section 8.3, in
the event of a valid termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 8.1,
this Agreement shall forthwith become void and there shall be no liability or
obligation on the part of Parent, Merger, or the Company, or their respective
officers, directors, shareholders, members or Affiliates or Associates;
provided, however, that termination of this Agreement shall be without prejudice
to any rights any party may have hereunder against any other party for any
breaches of this Agreement prior to its termination; and provided, further, that
the provisions of Sections 5.4, 8.2 and Article 9, and the applicable
definitions set forth in Article 10, of this Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect and survive any termination of this Agreement.

         8.3      Expenses and Termination Fee.

                  (a)      Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 8.3,
regardless of whether the Closing occurs, the parties hereto shall pay their own
Expenses arising after April 10, 2002.

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<PAGE>

                  (b)      Without limiting any other remedies available to
Parent for any willful or intentional breach of this Agreement, in the event
that (i) Parent shall terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(d) or
Section 8.1(f), (ii) Parent or the Company shall terminate this Agreement
pursuant to Section 8.1(b)(i) without the Shareholders' Meeting having occurred
(provided that the sole reason for the failure of the Shareholders' Meeting to
have occurred shall not be the failure of the SEC to approve the Proxy
Statement, notwithstanding the Company's best efforts to obtain such approval)
or (iii) Parent or the Company shall terminate this Agreement pursuant to
Section 8.1(g) and at any time after the date of this Agreement and prior to the
Shareholders' Meeting there shall have been a Competing Proposed Transaction
with respect to the Company, and the Company shall have executed a definitive
agreement with respect to such Competing Proposed Transaction, or such Competing
Proposed Transaction shall have been consummated within nine months of such
termination, then the Company shall pay to the Company (the "Termination Fee") a
sum equal to all of Parent's Expenses (other than any such Expenses previously
paid by the Company), and an additional amount equal to $300,000. Any
Termination Fee shall be paid by wire transfer in same day funds to the account
or accounts designated by Parent within three Business Days of the date of
termination.

                  (c)      In the event that Parent or the Company shall
terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(g) and the Termination Fee is
not payable pursuant to subsection (b)(iii) of this Section 8.3, then the
Company shall pay to Parent, in same day funds within three (3) Business Days of
the date of termination, a sum equal to all of Parent's Expenses (other than any
such Expenses previously paid by the Company).

         8.4      Termination of Representations and Warranties. Each of the
representations and warranties of the Parent, the Company and Merger Sub
contained in this Agreement shall terminate at the Effective Time.

                                    ARTICLE 9
                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

         9.1      Notices. All notices, requests and other communications
hereunder must be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given only if
delivered personally against written receipt or by facsimile transmission
against facsimile confirmation or mailed by internationally recognized overnight
courier prepaid, to the parties at the following addresses or facsimile numbers:

If to Parent or Merger Sub:

         WellCare Acquisition Company
         67 East 11th Street, Suite 318
         New York, NY 10003
         Facsimile No.: (212) 388-1659
         Attn: Todd Farha, President and Chief Executive Officer

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<PAGE>

with a copy to:

         Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP
         2100 Reston Parkway, Suite 203
         Reston,VA 20191
         Facsimile No.: (703) 621-3001
         Attn: Thaddeus Bereday, Esq.

If to the Company to:

         The WellCare Management Group, Inc.
         6800 Dale Mabry, Suite 268
         Tampa, FL 33164
         Facsimile No.: (813) 290-6369
         Attn: Sandip Patel, Esq.

with a copy to:

         Foley & Lardner
         100 North Tampa Street, Suite 2700
         Tampa, FL 33602-5804
         Facsimile No.: (813) 221-4210
         Attn: Martin A. Traber, Esq.

All such notices, requests and other communications will (a) if delivered
personally to the address as provided in this Section 9.1, be deemed given upon
delivery, (b) if delivered by facsimile transmission to the facsimile number as
provided for in this Section 9.1, be deemed given upon facsimile confirmation,
and (c) if delivered by overnight courier to the address as provided in this
Section 9.1, be deemed given on the earlier of the first Business Day following
the date sent by such overnight courier or upon receipt (in each case regardless
of whether such notice, request or other communication is received by any other
Person to whom a copy of such notice is to be delivered pursuant to this Section
9.1). Any party from time to time may change its address, facsimile number or
other information for the purpose of notices to that party by giving notice
specifying such change to the other party hereto.

         9.2      Entire Agreement; Modification. This Agreement and the
Exhibits and Schedules hereto, and each of the Ancillary Agreements, constitute
the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof
and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral,
among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may
be amended or modified only by an instrument in writing duly executed by the
parties to this Agreement.

         9.3      Waiver. Any term or condition of this Agreement may be waived
at any time by the party that is entitled to the benefit thereof, but no such
waiver shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument duly executed
by or on behalf of the party waiving such term or condition. No waiver by any
party of any term or condition of this Agreement, in any one or more instances,
shall be deemed to be or construed as a waiver of the same or any other term or

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<PAGE>

condition of this Agreement on any future occasion. All remedies, either under
this Agreement or by Law or otherwise afforded, will be cumulative and not
alternative.

         9.4      Third Party Beneficiaries. The terms and provisions of this
Agreement are intended solely for the benefit of each party hereto and their
respective successors or permitted assigns, and it is not the intention of the
parties to confer third-party beneficiary rights, and this Agreement does not
confer any such rights, upon any other Person.

         9.5      No Assignment; Binding Effect. Neither this Agreement nor any
right, interest or obligation hereunder may be assigned (by operation of law or
otherwise) by any party without the prior written consent of the other party and
any attempt to do so will be void. Subject to the preceding sentence, this
Agreement is binding upon, inures to the benefit of and is enforceable by the
parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

         9.6      Headings. The headings and table of contents used in this
Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and do not define
or limit the provisions hereof.

         9.7      Invalid Provisions. If any provision of this Agreement is held
to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under any present or future Law, and if
the rights or obligations of any party hereto under this Agreement will not be
materially and adversely affected thereby, (a) such provision will be fully
severable, (b) this Agreement will be construed and enforced as if such illegal,
invalid or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part hereof, (c) the
remaining provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect and
will not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision or by
its severance herefrom and (d) in lieu of such illegal, invalid or unenforceable
provision, there will be added automatically as a part of this Agreement a
legal, valid and enforceable provision as similar in terms to such illegal,
invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible.

         9.8      Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the domestic laws of the State of New York, without
giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether
of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the
application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.

         9.9      Jurisdiction; Venue. All actions and proceedings arising out
of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined in any New York
state or federal court sitting in the City of New York, and each party hereby
irrevocably accepts and consents to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of those
courts for such purpose. In addition, each party hereby irrevocably waives, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter
have to the laying of venue of any action or proceeding arising out of or
relating to this Agreement or any judgment entered by any court in respect
thereof brought in any state or federal court sitting in the city of New York
and further irrevocably waives any claim that any action or proceeding brought
in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

         9.10     Waiver of Trial by Jury. IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING
HEREFROM, THE PARTIES HERETO CONSENT TO TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY IN ANY ACTION,
PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM BROUGHT BY ANY PARTY HERETO

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<PAGE>

AGAINST THE OTHER OR THEIR SUCCESSORS IN RESPECT OF ANY MATTER ARISING OUT OF OR
IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION OR
PROCEEDING.

         9.11     Interpretation. The parties hereto agree that this Agreement
is the product of negotiation between sophisticated parties and individuals, all
of whom were represented by counsel, and each of whom had an opportunity to
participate in and did participate in, the drafting of each provision hereof.
Accordingly, ambiguities in this Agreement, if any, shall not be construed
strictly or in favor of or against any party hereto but rather shall be given a
fair and reasonable construction.

         9.12     Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.

         9.13     Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that
irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this
Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were
otherwise breached. It is agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an
injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce
specifically the terms and provisions hereof.

                                   ARTICLE 10
                                   DEFINITIONS

         10.1     Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following defined
terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

         "1993 Plan" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.6(d).

         "1996 Plan" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.6(d).

         "Actions or Proceedings" means any action, suit, complaint, petition,
investigation, proceeding, arbitration, litigation, audit or other proceeding,
whether civil, criminal or administrative, in law or in equity, or commenced by
or before any arbitrator or Governmental or Regulatory Authority.

         "Adverse Recommendation Change" has the meaning set forth in Section
5.5.

         "Affiliate" means, as applied to any Person, (a) any other Person
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with,
that Person, (b) any other Person that owns or controls (i) ten percent (10%) or
more of any class of equity securities of that Person or any of its Affiliates
or (ii) ten percent (10%) or more of any class of equity securities (including
any equity securities issuable upon the exercise of any option or convertible
security) of that Person or any of its Affiliates, or (c) as to a corporation,
each director and officer thereof, and as to a partnership, each general partner
thereof, and as to a limited liability company, each managing member or
similarly authorized person thereof (including officers), and as to any other
entity, each Person exercising similar authority to those of a director or
officer of a corporation. For the purposes of this definition, "control"
(including with correlative meanings, the terms

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<PAGE>

"controlling", "controlled by", and "under common control with") as applied to
any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct
or cause the direction of the management and policies of that Person, whether
through ownership of voting securities or by contract or otherwise.

         "Agency Audits" means any audits and all other state or federal audits,
recoupments and overpayment, false claim, fine or penalty actions, in each case
including any threatened or preliminary reports, audits, recoupments and
overpayment, false claim, fine or penalty actions, (i) covering any of the
following, or any matter similar to any of the following: Medicare/Medicaid dual
HMO enrollment, newborn eligibility payments, downward substitution of (nursing
home) care, death audits (payments for deceased members), recipients enrolled in
counties with no certificates of authority, recipients ineligible for HMO
coverage, coordination of benefits, patient responsibility, deductible, dual
payments to another provider, and non-compliance with the Medicaid or Medicare
HMO/managed care contract or applicable Laws, including but not limited to
non-compliance with quality assurance requirements, reporting requirements,
emergency room and other claim payment requirements, marketing practices
requirements, employee compensation requirements, member grievance requirements
or similar matters, or (ii) conducted or threatened to be conducted by the CMS,
the NY DOI, the CT DOI, the NY DOH or the CT DSS.

         "Aggregate Net Worth Amount" means the sum (whether a positive or
negative number) of the Net Worth Amounts reflected on the Balance Sheets for
the Company and each Company Subsidiary.

         "Aggregate Required Net Worth Amount" means the sum of the Required Net
Worth Amounts for the Company and each Company Subsidiary, in each case as of
the date of the Balance Sheets.

         "Agreement" means this Agreement and Plan of Merger, including (unless
the context otherwise requires) the Exhibits and Schedules and the certificates
and instruments delivered in connection herewith, or incorporated by reference,
as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with
the terms hereof.

         "Ancillary Agreements" means the Voting Agreements and the
Non-Competition Agreements.

         "Applicable Accounting Principles" shall mean (a) with respect to the
Company, GAAP, and (b) with respect to each of the Company Subsidiaries, SAP
applied in accordance with all applicable Laws.

         "Approval" means any approval, authorization, consent, qualification or
registration, or any waiver of any of the foregoing, required to be obtained
from or made with, or any notice, statement or other communication required to
be filed with or delivered to, any Governmental or Regulatory Authority or any
other Person.

         "Assets and Properties" of any Person means all assets and properties
of every kind, nature, character and description (whether real, personal or
mixed, whether tangible or intangible, whether absolute, accrued, contingent,
fixed or otherwise and wherever situated),

                                       54

<PAGE>

including the goodwill related thereto, operated, owned, licensed or leased by
such Person, including cash, cash equivalents, Investment Assets, accounts and
notes receivable, chattel paper, documents, instruments, general intangibles,
real estate, equipment, inventory, goods and Intellectual Property.

         "Associate" means, with respect to any Person, any corporation or other
business organization of which such Person is an officer or partner or is the
beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, often percent (10%) or more of any
class of equity securities, any trust or estate in which such Person has a
substantial beneficial interest or as to which such Person serves as a trustee
or in a similar capacity and any relative or spouse of such Person, or any
relative of such spouse, who has the same home as such Person.

         "Audited Financial Statement Date" means December 31,2001.

         "Audited Financial Statements" means the following financial
statements: (a) with respect to the Company, the audited consolidated balance
sheet of the Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2001 and December 31,
2000, and the related audited consolidated statements of operations,
shareholders' deficiency and cash flows for the years ended December 31,2001 and
December 31, 2000, (b) with respect to WCNY, the audited statements of admitted
assets, liabilities and surplus - statutory basis as of December 31, 2001 and
December 31, 2000, and the related audited statements of operations - statutory
basis, changes in surplus - statutory basis and cash flows - statutory basis for
the years ended December 31,2001 and December 31, 2000, and (c) with respect to
FirstChoice, the audited statements of admitted assets, liabilities and surplus
- statutory basis as of December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2000, and the
related audited statements of operations - statutory basis, changes in surplus -
statutory basis and cash flows - statutory basis for the years ended December
31,2001 and December 31, 2000.

         "Balance Sheet(s)" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.7(c).

         "Books and Records" means all files, documents, instruments, papers,
books and records relating to the business or Assets and Properties of a
Company, including financial statements, internal reports, Tax Returns and all
related work papers, schedules, correspondence, auditor communications,
actuarial worksheets or calculations, budgets, pricing guidelines, ledgers,
journals, deeds, title policies, minute books, stock certificates and books,
stock transfer ledgers, Contracts, Licenses, customer lists, computer files,
claims data, medical management information and programs (including data
processing files and records), retrieval programs, operating data and plans and
environmental studies and plans.

         "Business Combination" means, with respect to any Person, (a) any
merger, consolidation, share exchange reorganization or other business
combination transaction to which such Person is a party, (b) any sale, dividend,
split or other disposition of any capital stock or other equity interests of
such Person (except for issuances of common stock upon conversion of preferred
stock outstanding on the date hereof or the exercise of options or warrants
outstanding on the date hereof or issued in accordance with the covenants of
this Agreement), (c) any acquisition, tender offer (including a self tender), or
exchange offer for 15% or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of
such Person or the filing of a registration statement under

                                       55

<PAGE>

the Securities Act in connection therewith, (d) any sale, dividend or other
disposition of all or a material or significant portion of the Assets and
Properties of such Person (including by way of exclusive license or joint
venture formation) or (e) the entering into of any agreement or understanding,
the granting of any rights or options, or the acquiescence of such Person, with
respect to any of the foregoing.

         "Business Day" means a day other than Saturday, Sunday or any day on
which banks located in the State of New York are authorized or obligated to
close.

         "Certificate of Merger" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.

         "Certificates" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.8(c).

         "Child Health Plus" shall mean the State of New York's Child Health
Plus program and the State of Connecticut's Healthcare for Uninsured Kids and
Youth Part B ("Husky B") program.

         "Class A Common Stock" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).

         "Closing" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.

         "CMS" means the United States Center for Medicare and Medicaid
Services.

         "COBRA" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.18(f).

         "Commercial Lines of Business" shall mean the commercial lines of
business of FirstChoice but shall exclude all Medicare business.

         "Companies' Financials" means the Audited Financial Statements and the
Interim Financial Statements.

         "Companies' GAAP Financials" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.8(b).

         "Companies' Intellectual Property" shall mean any Intellectual Property
that (a) is owned by, (b) is licensed to, (c) was developed or created by or for
any Company or (d) is used in or necessary for the conduct of the business of
each Company as presently or heretofore conducted or as proposed to be
conducted, including any Intellectual Property created by any of the Companies'
founders, employees or consultants and including any Intellectual Property
created by any of the Companies' founders prior to the creation of such Company.

         "Companies' SAP Financials" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.8(b).

         "Company" has the meaning set forth in the forepart of this Agreement.

         "Company Accountants" shall mean Deloitte & Touche LLP.

         "Company Acquisition" and "Company Acquisitions" shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in Section 2.15 of this Agreement.

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<PAGE>

         "Company Common Stock" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).

         "Company Plan" means a Plan maintained by the Company or either Company
Subsidiary, or to which the Company or either Company Subsidiary contributes,
for the benefit of its current or former employees.

         "Company SEC Documents" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(a).

         "Company Subsidiaries" shall mean WCNY and FirstChoice.

         "Competing Proposed Transaction" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.42.

         "Confidentiality Agreement" shall mean that certain letter agreement
dated May 2,2001 between HLHZ and the Company.

         "Contract" means any contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding,
whether oral or written.

         "CT DOI" means the State of Connecticut Department of Insurance.

         "CT DSS" means the State of Connecticut Department of Social Services.

         "CT Managed Care Act" means the Connecticut Managed Care Act (Public
Act No. 97-99, as amended by Public Act No. 97-8).

         "Designated Contract" means any Contract of the following types:

                           (i)      any distributor, sales, advertising, agency
or manufacturer's representative Contract;

                           (ii)     any continuing Contract for the purchase of
materials, supplies, equipment or services involving more than $100,000 per
annum;

                           (iii)    any Contract with any officer, director,
employee, consultant, or Affiliate or Associate of the foregoing;

                           (iv)     any Contract that expires or may be renewed
at the option of any person other than a Company so as to expire more than one
year after the date of this Agreement;

                           (v)      any trust indenture, mortgage, promissory
note, loan agreement or other Contract for the borrowing of money, any currency
exchange, commodities or other hedging arrangement or any leasing transaction of
the type required to be capitalized in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles;

                           (vi)     any Contract for capital expenditures in
excess of $100,000 in the aggregate;

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<PAGE>

                           (vii)    any Contract limiting the freedom of any
Company to engage in any line of business or to compete with any other Person or
any confidentiality, secrecy or nondisclosure Contract;

                           (viii)   any Contract pursuant to which a Company is
a lessor or lessee of any machinery, equipment, motor vehicles, office
furniture, fixtures or other personal property involving in the case of any such
Contract more than $50,000 per annum; or

                           (ix)     any Contract of guarantee, support,
indemnification, assumption or endorsement of, or any similar commitment with
respect to, the obligations, liabilities (whether accrued, absolute, contingent
or otherwise) or indebtedness of any other Person.

         "Dissenting Shareholders" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.6(c).

         "Dissenting Shares" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.6(c).

         "Effective Time" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.

         "Environment" means air, surface water, ground water, or land,
including land surface or subsurface, and any receptors such as persons,
wildlife, fish, biota or other natural resources.

         "Environmental Clean-up Site" means any location which is listed or
proposed for listing on the National Priorities List, the CHM Environmental
Response, Compensation and Liability Information System, or on any similar state
list of sites relating to investigation or cleanup, or which is the subject of
any pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding, or investigation related to
or arising from any location at which there has been a Release or threatened or
suspected Release of a Hazardous Material.

         "Environmental Law" means any federal, state, local or foreign
environmental, health and safety or other Law relating to of Hazardous
Materials, including without limitation the CHM, Environmental Response
Compensation and Liability Act, the Clean Air Act, the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act, the Solid Waste Disposal Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide
and Rodenticide Act, and the California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic
Enforcement Act.

         "Environmental Permit" means any permit, license, approval, consent or
authorization required under or in connection with any Environmental Law and
includes without limitation any and all orders, consent orders or binding
agreements issued by or entered into with a Governmental or Regulatory
Authority.

         "Equity Equivalents" means securities (including Options to purchase
any shares of capital stock or limited liability company units) which, by their
terms, are or may be exercisable, convertible or exchangeable for or into common
stock, preferred stock, limited liability company units or other securities
either at the election of the holder thereof or otherwise.

         "Equity Security" or "Equity Securities" means all shares of capital
stock of all classes, any and all limited liability company units, membership
interests or other equity of any type and all Equity Equivalents.

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<PAGE>

         "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

         "ERISA Affiliate" means any corporation or other entity that, along
with the Company or either Company Subsidiary, constitutes a controlled group of
business within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA.

         "ERISA Affiliate Plan" means a Plan maintained by an ERISA Affiliate,
other than the Company or either Company Subsidiary.

         "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

         "Expenses" shall mean all out-of-pocket expenses (including, without
limitation, reasonable attorneys fees and expenses, all fees and expenses of
accountants, financial advisors, experts and consultants) incurred by any party
hereto, or by any of their respective Affiliates or Associates, in connection
with or related to the preparation, negotiation or execution of this Agreement,
the performance of any obligations pursuant to this Agreement or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without
limitation, the filing of any HSR Act notice or any other filings required to be
filed by any Governmental or Regulatory Authority.

         "Family Health Plus" shall meant the State of New York's Family Health
Plus program (N.Y. Social Services Law section 369-ee).

         "FirstChoice" means FirstChoice HealthPlans of Connecticut, Inc., a
Connecticut corporation.

         "Florida Companies" means, collectively, Well Care HMO, Inc., a Florida
corporation, HealthEase of Florida, Inc., a Florida corporation, Comprehensive
Health Management, Inc., a Florida corporation, and Comprehensive Health
Management of Florida, L.C., a Florida limited liability company.

         "Florida Companies Acquisition Agreement" means the Purchase Agreement
of even date herewith entered into among Parent, the Florida Companies and the
stockholders of the Florida Companies.

         "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States, as in effect from time to time.

         "Governmental or Regulatory Authority" means any court, tribunal,
arbitrator, authority, agency, bureau, board, commission, department, official
or other instrumentality of the United States, any state thereof, any foreign
country or any domestic or foreign state, county, city or other political
subdivision, and shall include all self regulatory organizations, insurance and
health care authorities and any stock exchange, quotation service and the
National Association of Securities Dealers. The foregoing shall include, but not
be limited to, the NY DOI, the CT DOI, the NY DOH, the CT DSS, any Medicare or
Medicaid authorities, the CMS and any other federal or state insurance, health
care, or HMO regulatory body that regulates the Company or either Company
Subsidiary.

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<PAGE>

         "Hazardous Material" means (a) any chemical, material, substance or
waste including, containing or constituting petroleum or petroleum products,
solvents (including chlorinated solvents), nuclear or radioactive materials,
asbestos in any form that is or could become friable, radon, lead-based paint,
urea formaldehyde foam insulation or polychlorinated biphenyls, (b) any
chemicals, materials, substances or wastes which are now defined as or included
in the definition of "hazardous substances," "hazardous wastes," "hazardous
materials," "extremely hazardous wastes," "restricted hazardous wastes," "toxic
substances," "toxic pollutants" or words of similar import under any
Environmental Law, (c) any biohazardous or biomedical waste, as such terms are
defined by the Laws of the United States or (d) any other chemical, material,
substance or waste which is regulated by any Governmental or Regulatory
Authority or which could constitute a nuisance.

         "HLHZ" means Houlihan Lokey Howard and Zukin, financial advisor to the
Company.

         "HMO" means health maintenance organization.

         "HSR Act" means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976, as amended.

         "Income Tax" means (a) any income, alternative or add-on minimum, gross
income, gross receipts, franchise or profits tax, including estimated taxes
relating to any of the foregoing, or other similar tax or other like assessment
or charge of similar kind whatsoever, excluding any Other Tax, together with any
interest and any penalty, addition to tax or additional amount imposed by any
Taxing Authority responsible for the imposition of any such Tax (domestic or
foreign); or (b) any liability of a Person for the payment of any taxes,
interest, penalty, addition to tax or like additional amount resulting from the
application of Treas. Reg. Section 1.1502-6 or comparable provisions of any
Taxing Authority in respect of a Tax Return of a Relevant Group or any
Contract.

         "Indebtedness" of any Person means all obligations of such Person (a)
for borrowed money, (b) evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar
instruments, (c) for the deferred purchase price of goods or services (other
than provider claims, rent payments and trade payables or accruals incurred in
the ordinary course of business), (d) under capital leases and (e) in the nature
of guarantees of the obligations described in clauses (a) through (d) above of
any other Person.

         "Intellectual Property" means all trademarks and trademark rights,
trade names and trade name rights, service marks and service mark rights,
service names and service name rights, patents and patent rights, utility models
and utility model rights, copyrights, mask work rights, brand names, trade
dress, product designs, product packaging, business and product names, logos,
slogans, rights of publicity, trade secrets, inventions (whether patentable or
not), invention disclosures, improvements, processes, formulae, industrial
models, processes, designs, specifications, technology, methodologies, computer
software (including all source code and object code), firmware, development
tools, flow charts, annotations, all Web addresses, sites and domain names, all
data bases and data collections and all rights therein, any other confidential
and proprietary right or information, whether or not subject to statutory
registration, and all related technical information, manufacturing, engineering
and technical drawings, know-how

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<PAGE>

and all pending applications for and registrations of patents, utility models,
trademarks, service marks and copyrights, and the right to sue for past
infringement, if any, in connection with any of the foregoing, and all
documents, disks, records, files and other media on which any of the foregoing
is stored.

         "Interim Financial Statement Date" means March 31,2002.

         "Interim Financial Statements" means (a) the unaudited consolidated
balance sheet of the Company and subsidiaries as of March 31,2002, and the
related unaudited consolidated statement of operations, shareholders' deficiency
and cash flows for the three month period ended on such date, (b) the unaudited
statements of admitted assets, liabilities and surplus -statutory basis of WCNY
as of March 31, 2002, and the related unaudited statements of operations -
statutory basis, changes in surplus - statutory basis and cash flows - statutory
basis for the three month period ended on such date and (c) the unaudited
statements of admitted assets, liabilities and surplus - statutory basis of
FirstChoice as of March 31,2002, and the related unaudited statements of
operations - statutory basis, changes in surplus - statutory basis and cash
flows - statutory basis for the three month period ended on such date.

         "Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

         "Investment Assets" means all debentures, notes and other evidences of
Indebtedness, stocks, securities (including rights to purchase and securities
convertible into or exchangeable for other securities), interests in joint
ventures and general and limited partnerships, mortgage loans, margin accounts
and other investment or portfolio assets owned of record or beneficially by the
Company or either Company Subsidiary.

         "IRS" means the United States Internal Revenue Service or any successor
entity.

         "June 30 Financials" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.7(b).

         "Law" or "Laws" means any law, statute, order, decree, consent decree,
judgment, rule, regulation, ordinance or other pronouncement having the effect
of law whether in the United States, any foreign country, or any domestic or
foreign state, county, city or other political subdivision or of any
Governmental or Regulatory Authority. "Law" and "Laws" shall include, but not be
limited to, all Laws relating to (i) the licensure, certification, qualification
or authority to transact business relating to the provision of and/or payment
for health benefits and insurance, including but not limited to ERISA, the
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended, the Health
Insurance Portability and Accounting Act of 1996 and Titles XVIII and XIX of the
United States Code, (ii) all Laws relating to the regulation of HMOs, workers
compensation, managed care organizations, insurance, preferred provider
organizations, point-of-service plans, certificates of need, third-party
administrators, utilization review, coordination of benefits, hospital
reimbursement, Medicare and Medicaid participation, physician investment, fraud
and abuse and patient referrals and (iii) all other Laws governing the
corporate, business, financial or other activities of the Companies.

         "Lease Documents" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.20(d).

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<PAGE>

         "Leased Real Property(ies)" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.20(a).

         "Liabilities" means all Indebtedness, obligations and other liabilities
of a Person, whether absolute, accrued, contingent (or based upon any
contingency), known or unknown, fixed or otherwise, or whether due or to become
due.

         "License" means any Contract that grants a Person the right to use or
otherwise enjoy the benefits of any Intellectual Property (including without
limitation any covenants not to sue with respect to any Intellectual Property).

         "Liens" means any mortgage, pledge, assessment, security interest,
lease, lien, easement, license, covenant, condition, restriction, adverse claim,
levy, charge, option, equity, adverse claim or restriction or other encumbrance
of any kind, or any conditional sale Contract, title retention Contract or other
Contract to give any of the foregoing, except for any restrictions on transfer
generally arising under any applicable federal or state securities law.

         "Material Adverse Change" means any circumstance, change in, or effect
on the Company or either Company Subsidiary that, individually or in the
aggregate with any other circumstances, changes in, or effects on, the Company
or either Company Subsidiary is, or would be reasonably expected to be,
materially adverse to the financial condition, business, operations, assets or
Liabilities, key provider relationships, Governmental or Regulatory Authority
relationships (as they currently exist), compliance with Laws, results of
operations or the condition (financial or otherwise) of any Company.

         "Medicaid" means the applicable provision of Title XIX of the Social
Security Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and the state laws and
regulations implementing the Medicaid program.

         "Medicare" means the applicable provisions of Title XVIII of the Social
Security Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

         "Merger" has the meaning set forth in Recital A.

         "Merger Consideration" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.6(a).

         "Merger Sub" has the meaning set forth in the forepart of this
Agreement.

         "Merger Sub Common Stock" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.6(e).

         "Minimum Capital Requirements" has the meaning set forth in Section
1.7(c).

         "NAIC" means the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

         "Net Worth Amount" means, with respect to the Company or either Company
Subsidiary, the positive or negative number calculated as (a) the total assets
of such Person reduced by (b) the total liabilities of such Person, calculated
in each case in accordance with the Applicable Accounting Principles; provided,
however, that in calculating the Net Worth Amount of the Company, the Net Worth
Amounts of the Company Subsidiaries shall be excluded to the extent

                                       62

<PAGE>

that the Net Worth Amounts of the Company Subsidiaries would otherwise be
included in the Net Worth Amount of the Company on a GAAP basis.

         "Notice of Adverse Recommendation" has the meaning set forth in Section
5.5.

         "NYBCL" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.

         "NY DOH" means the State of New York Department of Health.

         "NY DOI" means the State of New York Department of Insurance.

         "NY Managed Care Act" means the New York Managed Care Act, codified at
1996 N.Y. Laws Ch. 705.

         "Option" with respect to any Person means any security, right,
subscription, warrant, option, "phantom" stock right or other Contract that
gives the right to (a) purchase or otherwise receive or be issued any Equity
Securities of such Person or any security of any kind convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for Equity Securities or other equity interests of
such Person or (b) receive any benefits or rights similar to any rights enjoyed
by or accruing to the holder of Equity Securities or other equity interests of
such Person, including any rights to participate in the equity, income or
election of directors or officers of such Person.

         "Order" means any writ, judgment, decree, injunction or similar order
of any Governmental or Regulatory Authority (in each such case whether
preliminary or final).

         "Other Tax" means any sales, use, ad valorem, business license,
withholding, payroll, employment, excise, stamp, transfer, recording,
occupation, premium, property, value added, custom duty, severance, windfall
profit or license tax, governmental fee or other similar assessment or charge,
together with any interest and any penalty, addition to tax or additional amount
imposed by any Taxing Authority responsible for the imposition of any such tax
(domestic or foreign).

         "Parent" has the meaning set forth in the forepart of this Agreement.

         "Parent Representatives" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3.

         "Paying Agent" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.8(a).

         "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established under
ERISA.

         "Permit" or "Permits" means any license, permit, franchise or
authorization.

         "Person" means any natural person, corporation, general partnership,
limited partnership, limited liability company or partnership, proprietorship,
other business organization, trust, union, association or Governmental or
Regulatory Authority.

         "Plan" mean (a) an "employee benefit plan" (as such term is defined in
Section 3(3) of ERISA) and (b) any similar employment, severance or other
arrangement or policy (whether

                                       63

<PAGE>

written or oral) providing for health, life, vision or dental insurance coverage
(including self-insured arrangements), workers' compensation, disability
benefits, supplemental unemployment benefits, vacation benefits or retirement
benefits, fringe benefits, or for profit sharing, deferred compensation,
bonuses, stock options, stock appreciation or other forms of incentive
compensation or post-retirement insurance, compensation or benefits.

         "Proxy Statement" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.41.

         "PTO" means the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

         "Regulated Entities" means WCNY and FirstChoice.

         "Release" means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting,
emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping or disposing of a
Hazardous Material into the Environment.

         "Relevant Group" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).

         "Representatives" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.42.

         "Required Net Worth Amount" means, with respect to the Company and each
of the Company Subsidiaries, the minimum Net Worth Amount that will permit such
Person to comply, as of the date of determination, with all applicable Laws, all
NAIC standards and the Applicable Accounting Principles (in each case, without
special consideration from any Governmental or Regulatory Authority), taking
into account the total liabilities of such Person as of the date of
determination (and including the effect of any audit adjustments, adjustments
for regulatory charges, refunds, assessments or allocations).

         "Review Report" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.7(b).

         "SAP" means, with respect to WCNY, statutory accounting principles as
defined under NY DOI regulation 172, including but not limited to the accounting
standards as codified by the NAIC and, with respect to FirstChoice, the
accounting standards as codified by the NAIC.

         "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor
entity.

         "SEC Documents" means, with respect to any Person, each report,
schedule, form, statement or other document filed or required to be filed with
the SEC by such Person pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

         "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, together
with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

         "Shareholder Meeting" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.

         "Site" means any of the real properties currently or previously owned,
leased, occupied, used or operated by any Company, any predecessors of such
Company, or any entities previously owned by a Company, including all soil,
subsoil, surface waters and groundwater.

                                       64

<PAGE>

         "Social Security Act" means the Social Security Act of the United
States, as amended.

         "Stock Option Plans" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.6(d).

         "Statutory Surplus" means, with respect to any of the Regulated
Entities, the amount of such Company's surplus determined in accordance with
SAP.

         "Subsidiary" means any Person in which any Company or Parent, as the
context requires, directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries or otherwise,
beneficially owns at least 50% of either the equity interest in, or the voting
control of, such Person, whether or not existing on the date hereof.

         "Superior Proposal" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.5.

         "Surplus Notes" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(f).

         "Surviving Corporation" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.

         "Takeover Statute" means a "fair price," "merger moratorium," "control
share acquisition" or other similar antitakeover statute or regulation enacted
under state or federal laws in the United States.

         "Tax" or "Taxes" means Income Taxes and/or Other Taxes, as the context
requires.

         "Taxing Authority" means any governmental agency, board, bureau, body,
department or authority of any United States federal, state or local
jurisdiction or any foreign jurisdiction, having or purporting to exercise
jurisdiction with respect to any Tax.

         "Tax Laws" means the Internal Revenue Code, federal, state, county,
local or foreign laws relating to Taxes and any regulations or official
administrative pronouncements released thereunder.

         "Tax Returns" means any return, report, information return, schedule,
certificate, statement or other document (including any related or supporting
information) filed or required to be filed with, or, where none is required to
be filed with a Taxing Authority, the statement or other document issued by, a
Taxing Authority in connection with any Tax.

         "Termination Fee" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3(b).

         "Undesignated Common Stock" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.3(a).

         "Voting Agreement" and "Voting Agreements" have the meanings set forth
in Recital E.

         "WCNY" means Well Care of New York, Inc., a New York corporation.

         10.2     Construction.

                  (a)      Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise
requires, (i) words of any gender include each other gender, (ii) words using
the singular or plural number also include the

                                       65

<PAGE>

plural or singular number, respectively, (iii) the phrases "ordinary course of
business" and "ordinary course of business consistent with past practice" refer
to the business and practice of a Company, (iv) the words "include," "includes"
and "including" shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase "without
limitation" and (v) the predicate of any noun or pronoun shall be the
immediately preceding prior noun. All accounting terms used herein and not
expressly defined herein shall have the meanings given to them under GAAP.

                  (b)      When used herein, the phrase "to the knowledge of any
Person, "to the best knowledge of any Person, "known to" any Person or any
similar phrase, means (i) with respect to any Person who is an individual, the
actual knowledge of such Person, (ii) with respect to any other Person, the
actual knowledge of the directors and officers of such Person and other
individuals that have a similar position or have similar powers and duties as
the officers and directors of such Person, and (iii) in the case of each of (i)
and (ii), the knowledge of facts that such individuals should have after due
inquiry. For this purpose, "due inquiry" with respect to any matter means
inquiry of and consultations with (A) the directors and officers of such Person
and other individuals that have a similar position or have similar powers and
duties as such officers and directors, (B) other employees of and the advisors
to such Person, including legal counsel and outside auditors, who have principal
responsibility for the matter in question or are otherwise likely to have
information relevant to the matter, and (C) the stockholders owning more than
ten percent (10%) of the equity interests, by vote or value, of such Person.

                  (c)      All references to "dollars" or "$" in this Agreement
shall mean United States dollars.

                            [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

                                       66

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Merger Sub and the Company have executed
this Agreement or caused this Agreement to be signed by their duly authorized
representatives, all as of the date first written above.

WellCare Acquisition Company

By:   /s/ Todd Farha
      ------------------------------------------
      Todd Farha
      President and Chief Executive Officer

WellCare Merger Sub, Inc.

By:   /s/ Todd Farha
      ------------------------------------------
      Todd Farha
      President and Chief Executive Officer

The WellCare Management Group, Inc.

By:   ------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Merger Sub and the Company have executed
this Agreement or caused this Agreement to be signed by their duly authorized
representatives, all as of the date first written above.

WellCare Acquisition Company

By:   ------------------------------------------
      Todd Farha
      President and Chief Executive Officer

WellCare Merger Sub, Inc.

By:   ------------------------------------------
      Todd Farha
      President and Chief Executive Officer

By:   /s/ Kiran C. Patel
      ------------------------------------------
Name: Kiran C. Patel, M.D.
Title:

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