Humana has already begun to educate Medicare members who could be particularly vulnerable this hurricane season through telephonic outreach and inclusion of planning information at local market events and seminars.  Humana Medicare special needs members who require oxygen, kidney dialysis, home health, or electricity for life support are also being urged to make emergency plans in advance with their primary care physician, asked to consider registering at a local special needs hurricane shelter and encouraging Medicare members to utilize Humana's mail order service for 90-day refills - especially if medications do not require refrigeration.

"Our number one priority for members living in an area prone to hurricanes is to ensure they have access to prescription medication," said William Fleming, PharmD, Humana vice president, pharmacy and clinical integration.  "Humana has the ability to respond immediately to lift 'refill too soon' edits so that our members can get their prescriptions refilled before the storm hits.  We are confident in our ability to respond immediately, and have already successfully tested this new process with our pharmacy vendor."

The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Association forecasts a very active 2006 season, with 13-16 named storms, 8-10 hurricanes, and 4-6 major hurricanes.  There are now some 45 million permanent residents along the hurricane-prone coastline, and the population is still growing. 

The most rapid growth has been in the Sunbelt from Texas through the Carolinas.  Florida, where hurricanes are most frequent, leads the nation in new residents.  In addition to the permanent residents, the holiday, weekend, and vacation populations swell in some coastal areas 10- to 100-fold.  Older adults should prepare now for loss of electricity that often results after a hurricane or tropical storm and keep the following in mind:

• Make a list of all your prescription medications and plan to have at least a 30-day supply of these, so you will not run out of medication;
• Have an extra pair of prescription glasses, or supply of contact lenses on hand;
• If you rely on oxygen, contact your oxygen supplier and obtain a two-day supply prior to the storm;
• If you receive home health care or require electricity for life support, make emergency plans in advance with your primary care physician.  You should also consider registering in advance at a special needs shelter if you rely on oxygen or other special medical needs; as they are equipped to handle circumstances during periods of service interruptions;
• Have a cooler and ice available for your medications; and
• Keep the following vital personal information on hand at all times:
  o Humana or other health insurance ID card
  o Social Security Card
  o Medicare Card
  o Drivers license or passport - a government-approved photo ID
  o Primary Care Physician contact information

About Humana
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is one of the nation's largest publicly traded health benefits companies, with approximately 9.3 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 45-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: