Former Miami Dolphins Coach Don Shula Begins Open Enrollment
with Midnight Signing
HALLANDALE, Fla., Nov. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Shortly after
midnight, Don Shula became what is believed to be the first person in the
United States to sign up for the new Medicare Part D prescription drug plan
(PDP). Shula, the former head coach of the Miami Dolphins and a member of the
Pro Football Hall of Fame, signed his Humana (NYSE: HUM) application at a Wal-
Mart store in Hallandale, Fl., just as the official enrollment period for
people with Medicare got underway.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051115/NYTU094 )
"I want to show that I am a firm believer in what the Medicare program can
do to give access to affordable prescription drug coverage," Shula said. "This
is an exciting time for people with Medicare. I urge everyone who is eligible
for Medicare to explore their options and compare plans based on what's most
important to them -- including monthly out-of-pocket costs, deductibles, or if
their medication is included in the plan design -- and then, sign up."
Those eligible for Medicare have until May 15, 2006, to enroll in a
Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO or Private Fee for Service (PFFS) plan that
includes prescription drug coverage or a stand alone PDP without the risk of
paying a premium penalty. Humana is offering the PDP in 46 states plus the
District of Columbia, and is the largest national provider of the Medicare
Advantage regional PPO with plans available in 23 states.
"We are very excited that Coach Shula chose Humana as his prescription
drug plan provider," said Michael Seltzer, CEO- Florida for Humana's Medicare
and Medicaid products. "We are finding that once Medicare beneficiaries, and
their adult children who are helping them, take the time to navigate the
information surrounding the Medicare Part D benefit, they gain a much clearer
understanding of how the plans work, and are selecting plans that best suit
their budget, health and lifestyle requirements. In this case, Humana's
Medicare Advisors were able to give Coach Shula the guidance he needed to pick
a plan among many different choices that was right for him."
Rene Garcia, Florida House of Representatives District 110, applauded
Humana's ongoing educational outreach regarding new Medicare prescription drug
coverage options. "Medicare beneficiaries and their families are taking the
information that Humana provides and using it to make choices that best meet
their needs. It's real consumerism, and I'm delighted to see the results, as
illustrated by Coach Shula's enrollment in a Humana prescription drug plan,
Garcia said."
About Humana
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, 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;
* 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
institutional investors);
* Corporate Governance Information.
SOURCE Humana
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