Additional initiative also helps educate seniors about prescription drug
benefit options; Prescription Drug Plan Information Week is July 18-24
LOUISVILLE, Ky. and BENTONVILLE, Ark., July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 work with the Social Security Administration 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 current 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 24th. 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.
About Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood
Markets and SAM'S CLUB locations in the United States. Internationally, the
company operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Japan, Mexico,
Puerto Rico, South Korea and the United Kingdom. The company's securities are
listed on the New York and Pacific stock exchanges under the symbol WMT.
Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com.
About Humana Inc.
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is one of the nation's
largest publicly traded health benefits companies, with approximately 7
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 44-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;
- Replay 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
institutional investors);
- Corporate Governance Information.
SOURCE Humana Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.humana.com
http://www.walmart.com
Photo Notes:http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030425/HUMANALOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/423125.html
CONTACT:
Tom Noland of Humana Inc., +1-502-580-3674,
or tnoland@humana.com ; or Jacquie Young of Wal-Mart,
+1-479-277-7589, or Jacqueline.Young@wal-mart.com
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