INScompanies Blog

Alliance to Leverage Private-Sector Resources to Address Chronic Diseases

LOUISVILLE, KY - Nov 16, 2006 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM), the nation’s leading consumer-oriented health benefits company, have entered into a partnership with the aim of expanding on traditional private- sector approaches to population health management.  The partnership will leverage Humana’s resources and technologies, including the ability to discover, target and intervene on individual health risks and the expansion of that capability to the entire U.S. population.

“As an industry we need to make a greater commitment to addressing chronic diseases and the costs they impose on our healthcare systems and individual well-being,” said Dr. Jonathan Lord, Humana’s senior vice president and chief innovation officer. “Among the initiatives we will focus on are ways to use public health data to predict and identify those at risk for diabetes and other chronic diseases.”

The University of Miami-Humana Health Services Research Center will lead the research effort with an initial focus on health screening tools and chronic disease interventions using voice activated technology, mobile phone applications and social and community based interactions.  A particular focus will be on expanding current work being conducted at the Center that correlates the effects of wellness programs to reductions in weight, increased activity levels and lower medical claims costs for employer groups.

The partnership will expand upon that body of work by further analyzing Humana’s rich medical and lifestyle data to refine the CDC’s Healthy Workforce USA program, a new initiative from the CDC Office of Innovation that will define best practice metrics and program components for promoting workforce wellness in the United States.

“We believe this partnership with Humana will help us further our understanding of how to help employers and people improve their health and well being,” said Dr. Bradley Perkins, chief strategy and innovation officer for CDC.  “We know that health screenings, exercise, and other steps can be taken to prevent many chronic diseases, including diabetes.  However, we also know that many more people need to take these steps if we want to significantly improve the health and well-being of our communities and the nation.  Employers need to be an active part of that effort, and we hope our Healthy Workforce USA project can provide them with the tools, resources, and encouragement they need.”

About the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the principal agency in the United States government for protecting the health and safety of all Americans and for providing essential human services, especially for those people who are least able to help themselves.  The CDC applies research and findings to improve people’s daily lives, responds to health emergencies, and is committed to achieving true improvements in people’s health.

About Humana

Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the nation’s largest publicly traded health benefits companies, with more than 11 million medical members. Humana offers a diversified portfolio of health insurance products and related services - through traditional and consumer-choice plans - to employer groups, government-sponsored plans, and individuals.

Over its 45-year history, Humana has consistently seized opportunities to meet changing customer needs. Today, the company is a leader in consumer engagement, providing guidance that leads to lower costs and a better health plan experience throughout its diversified customer portfolio.

More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at http://www.humana.com, including copies of:

Annual report to stockholders;
Securities and Exchange Commission filings;
Most recent investor conference presentation;
Quarterly earnings news releases;
Replays of most recent earnings release conference call;
Calendar of events (includes upcoming earnings conference call dates, times, and access number, as well as planned interaction with research analysts and institutional investors);
Corporate Governance Information.

State Farm agents to sell Humana Gold Choice, Private Fee-for-Service Medicare plan

LOUISVILLE, KY and BLOOMINGTON, IL - Oct 10, 2006 - Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) and State Farm, the nation’s largest property and casualty insurer, announced today that the more than 17,000 State Farm agents will have the opportunity to be licensed to sell Humana’s Medicare Advantage private fee for service (PFFS) plans for 2007. The agents are located throughout the United States allowing people with Medicare easy access to an agent who can assist them in understanding and enrolling in these popular medical and pharmacy health benefit plans.

“Humana and State Farm both understand the importance of offering our clients choice, value and access,” said Dan Maltese, national director of strategic alliances for Humana MarketPOINT.   “Our MAPD alliance will only strengthen the core values that have allowed both companies to be leaders in their industry.”

State Farm agents sold approximately 200,000 Humana stand-alone prescription drug plans in 2006. Nationally, Humana enrolled about 3.5 million people with Medicare in the stand alone drug plans.
“Selecting the appropriate Medicare coverage is a top priority for eligible consumers.  This marketing relationship is centered on consumer choice with additional access through the State Farm agent,” said Robin Thompson, director of life/health product management at State Farm.  “The expanded marketing relationship gives consumers more choice when making important health care decisions.”

About Humana

Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the nation’s largest publicly traded health benefits companies, with more than 11 million medical members. Humana offers a diversified portfolio of health insurance products and related services - through traditional and consumer-choice plans - to employer groups, government-sponsored plans, and individuals.

Over its 45-year history, Humana has consistently seized opportunities to meet changing customer needs. Today, the company is a leader in consumer engagement, providing guidance that leads to lower costs and a better health plan experience throughout its diversified customer portfolio.

More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at http://www.humana.com, including copies of:

Annual report to stockholders;
Securities and Exchange Commission filings;
Most recent investor conference presentation;
Quarterly earnings news releases;
Replays of most recent earnings release conference call;
Calendar of events (includes upcoming earnings conference call dates, times, and access number, as well as planned interaction with research analysts and institutional investors);
Corporate Governance Information.

About State Farm

State Farm® insures more cars than any other insurer in North America and is the leading U.S. home insurer. State Farm’s 17,000 agents and 68,000 employees serve over 74 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.8 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No.22 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com®

Humana Medicare PDP is again the low-cost leader, offering lowest premiums in 38 out of 50 states

LOUISVILLE, KY - Sep 29, 2006 - Building on the success of its 2006 Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug program plan offerings, Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) today announced it has received approval from The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for a major expansion of its Medicare benefit plans and business relationships for 2007. When the open enrollment period for 2007 benefits begins Nov. 15, 2006, people eligible for Medicare will have access to a wider array of Humana’s Medicare Advantage (MAPD) and prescription drug plans (PDP).

The expansion of plan offerings will include private fee for service (PFFS) plans that feature a combination of health benefits and prescription drug coverage for one premium. This will include a zero-premium plan in some areas.

America’s 42 million Medicare beneficiaries in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia may also choose from one of Humana’s stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans with options that include generic drug coverage through the coverage gap in most areas. In 2006, Humana enrolled an estimated 3.5 million people with Medicare in a PDP benefit plan and, on average, these members will realize an annual savings of about $1,100 on their prescription drug costs, according to data published by CMS. Humana’s Medicare Part D prescription drug plans in Florida were recently given the J.D. Power and Associates award as “Highest in Member Satisfaction Among Medicare D Plan Providers in Florida.”

“For 2007, Humana’s prescription drug plan premiums will once again be below the national benchmark in each region,” said Stefen Brueckner, Humana’s vice president for senior products. “By pricing our plans appropriately in 2006, Humana was able to move the marketplace to a lower overall premium average for 2007, according to statistics released by CMS. With Humana’s lower price/high value business proposition, consumers saved approximately $1.5 billion during the first six months of 2006. And, because of Humana’s leadership position and the results of private market economics, it is estimated that taxpayers will save about $3.2 billion this year and $40 billion over the next ten years.”

Humana - Consumer Action survey

The popularity of the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan has been validated through a recent national survey of 1,000 Medicare enrollees and their caregivers. Conducted by Humana and the consumer advocacy group Consumer Action, the survey found that two-thirds of respondents said they are saving money on prescription drugs through their new Medicare PDP. Nearly 90 percent say they are happy with their plan and don’t anticipate changing plans in 2007. Additionally, 75 percent said they had a somewhat or very positive experience with their Medicare Part D program.

In response to the need for increased, easy-to-understand information, Humana has developed a series of consumer-focused education tools. One such tool is SmartSummaryRxsm , the industry’s first comprehensive, personalized record of Medicare members’ prescriptions, what they paid for those prescriptions and guidance on how they might save money in the future.

Many of the Humana-Consumer Action results closely mirror those recently announced in a survey by America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). That poll showed 70 percent of self-enrolled seniors would recommend that others sign up for the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit. The survey also revealed that two-thirds of seniors surveyed think enacting a Medicare prescription drug plan was a good idea.

About Humana

Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the nation’s largest publicly traded health benefits companies, with more than 11 million medical members. Humana offers a diversified portfolio of health insurance products and related services - through traditional and consumer-choice plans - to employer groups, government-sponsored plans, and individuals.

Over its 45-year history, Humana has consistently seized opportunities to meet changing customer needs. Today, the company is a leader in consumer engagement, providing guidance that leads to lower costs and a better health plan experience throughout its diversified customer portfolio.

More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at http://www.humana.com, including copies of:

Annual report to stockholders;
Securities and Exchange Commission filings;
Most recent investor conference presentation;
Quarterly earnings news releases;
Replays of most recent earnings release conference call;
Calendar of events (includes upcoming earnings conference call dates, times, and access number, as well as planned interaction with research analysts and institutional investors);
Corporate Governance Information.