"Humana's small group commercial business expertise continues to be without peer in the industry — especially when it comes to sales support and customer service," said Gregory H. Wolf, Humana's president and chief executive officer. "Our success in Colorado is the latest demonstration of our superiority in crafting creative solutions for the employee-benefits needs of small employers."

Commercial membership in Humana/Employers Health's Colorado health plans jumped 45 percent in 1998, bringing the total enrollment to 104,130. Leslie Barnes, director of sales for Humana in the state of Colorado, attributes the growth to planning and several other key factors.

"We priced our health insurance products in anticipation of the state and federal legislative changes that have taken place over the last few years," Barnes said. "That strategy helped us avoid taking the large rate hits that other managed health care companies are now facing."

"Humana/Employer's Health has a strong reputation for customer flexibility. That strength, coupled with our competitive rates and products, is attractive to employers and businesses throughout the state," added Barnes.

The increase in membership spans the entire state of Colorado within Humana's network of preferred provider (PPO) plans, particularly the Freedom Plus product. Humana/Employer's Health has been providing health insurance coverage to customers in Colorado since 1987.

The state of Colorado's Division of Insurance rated Humana/Employer's Health as first among insurance carriers in the small group business category. While 1998 figures have yet to be released, the 1997 report ranked Humana/Employer's Health in the top spot with a 12.8 percent market share.

Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is one of the nation's largest publicly traded managed health care companies with approximately 6.2 million medical members located primarily in 15 states and Puerto Rico. Humana offers coordinated health care through a variety of plans — health maintenance organizations, preferred provider organizations, point-of-service plans, and administrative services products — to employer groups, government-sponsored plans, and individuals.

More information about Humana is available at http://www.humana.com.