Humana and Wal-Mart join forces to offer new prescription drug plan (PDP)

Additional initiative also helps educate seniors about prescription drug benefit options; Prescription Drug Plan Information Week is July 18-24

LOUISVILLE, KY and BENTONVILLE, AR - Jul 13, 2005 - Humana Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. are joining forces to provide Medicare beneficiaries a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP). The program also offers information to help seniors navigate the new Medicare prescription drug landscape.

In an effort to educate the country's 42 million Medicare beneficiaries, the two companies this month will launch a campaign to help beneficiaries understand the important facts and features of the new Medicare prescription drug program. The effort will involve all 3,600 Wal-Mart Stores, SAM'S CLUB locations and Neighborhood Markets across the country. Representatives from Humana and the Social Security Administration will be available to help Wal-Mart customers understand their options.

Enrollment in the new Part D prescription drug plans - created as part of the 2003 Medicare Modernization Act - will begin in November, with the plans becoming effective January 1, 2006. Humana has announced its intention to offer the Medicare prescription drug plan in 46 states and the District of Columbia, and will offer a co-branded prescription drug card with Wal-Mart and SAM'S CLUB.

Humana and Wal-Mart will also work with the Social Security Administration to assist in educating seniors about the program.   Medicare's new prescription drug plans will help all eligibles pay for needed prescriptions.  Beneficiaries will find clear and simple information at their local Wal-Mart, SAM'S CLUB and Neighborhood Market pharmacies.

"Educating people with Medicare about their options in the new prescription drug plans is essential to successfully engaging these consumers in an unprecedented opportunity to obtain affordable prescription drug coverage," said Michael B. McCallister, Humana's president and chief executive officer. "This partnership will bring people with Medicare the education they're looking for, as well as the opportunity to purchase a plan branded jointly by Humana and Wal-Mart.   It's an innovative partnership and we're pleased to work with Wal-Mart to help people with Medicare learn more about their choices."

"This is an important initiative in helping Medicare beneficiaries understand this new benefit and assist them in preparing for the choices and savings they will be able to make with this new coverage," said David Dible, executive vice president Specialty Division of Wal-Mart.   "We're pleased to work with Humana on this exciting joint communication effort designed to explain, simply and clearly, the new options and savings opportunities offered through Medicare. These savings will benefit local communities and seniors."

Prescription Drug Information Week is July 18-July 24^th.  During this week, seniors will be able to go to a Wal-Mart, SAM'S CLUB location or Neighborhood Market for information about the new prescription drug program benefit.  Representatives from Humana, Wal-Mart and the Social Security Administration will be on hand from 9:00-1:00 p.m. to answer questions regarding the program. Starting in August, Humana representatives will continue to be available in select Wal-Mart locations.

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