"We're excited to be recognized by NCQA with this Excellent accreditation, as it provides employers and individual consumers confidence to make their health-plan decisions based on demonstrated value rather than just on cost," said Jeff Bringardner, president of Humana's Kentucky market commercial operations. "The award also reinforces our dedication and commitment to the health-plan members we serve in our home state of Kentucky."
Margaret E. O'Kane, president of NCQA, said of the excellent accreditation: "It is partly a health plan's members who determine whether the plan earns NCQA's Excellent accreditation status. Any plan that does so should be proud of its accomplishment. It is a sign that the plan's delivering great service and great care - it's met the toughest test in managed care."

O'Kane added that, "the Excellent accreditation also reflects a health plan's ability to work with its members' physicians to improve the quality of clinical care. It shows that the plan is building the kinds of partnerships that are critical to delivering great care and great service."

NCQA is an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to measuring the quality of America's health care. NCQA accreditation evaluates how a health plan certifies that its members are receiving high quality care and includes rigorous on-site and off-site evaluations of more than 60 standards and selected HEDIS® (Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set) performance measures. HEDIS® is a registered trademark of NCQA. NCQA accreditation standards are purposely set high to encourage health plans to continuously enhance their quality.

NCQA Accreditation is a nationally recognized, voluntary evaluation that purchasers, regulators and consumers can use to assess managed care plans.

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.