NHC Announces a 7.1 per cent Increase in Common Dividend and Announces Preferred Dividend

For release: May 9, 2011
Contact: Gerald Coggin, Senior VP of Corporate Relations
Phone: (615) 890-2020

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – National HealthCare Corporation (NYSE Amex: NHC, NHC.PRA), one of the nation’s oldest long-term health care companies, announced today the Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 30 cents per common share to shareholders of record June 30, 2011 and payable on September 1, 2011. This represents a 7.1% increase over last quarter’s common dividend.
The Company will also pay a quarterly dividend of 20 cents per preferred share to shareholders of record on June 15, 2011 and payable on July 15, 2011.