Humana and State Farm® form strategic alliance to offer new Medicare prescription drug plan
Exclusive strategic alliance expands Humana’s ability to offer Medicare beneficiaries new drug benefit for 2006
LOUISVILLE, KY - Sept 30, 2005 - Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) and State Farm®, the nation’s largest property and casualty insurer, announced today that they have entered into a strategic alliance whereby State Farm agents will be able to offer Humana’s Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) to their 7.5 million Medicare-eligible customers. State Farm’s more than 17,000 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 this new benefit option.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Enrollment in the new Part D drug benefit – created as part of the 2003 Medicare Modernization Act – will begin in November, with plans becoming effective Jan. 1, 2006. Humana has received approval from The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to offer the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) to the millions of Medicare-eligible beneficiaries residing in 46 states and the District of Columbia, representing all of the states for which Humana applied.
“State Farm’s philosophy of being a good neighbor to their members is consistent with Humana’s consumer-focused, guidance approach to health benefits,” said Stefen Brueckner, Humana’s Vice President of Senior Products. “This is a win-win relationship for both companies, and will offer us a tremendous distribution channel to the millions of people who qualify for Medicare and who will be eligible to enroll in the Medicare Part D drug benefit in November.”
"State Farm is proud to team up with Humana,” said Susan D. Waring, Executive Vice President and CAO of State Farm Life and Vice President of State Farm Health. “Their consumer focus and long-standing commitment to customer service are exemplary. This new alliance fills a major need for our customers.”
Humana and State Farm will be working closely together to educate State Farm customers about the new Medicare prescription drug plan. State Farm customers and other Medicare beneficiaries may contact a State Farm agent to enroll in the PDP. State Farm agents will begin selling Humana’s PDP plans on Nov. 15.
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