Humana Press Release

MEMPHIS, TN - Jul 26, 2006 - Humana-Tennessee (NYSE: HUM) today announced it has renewed its relationship with Baptist Memorial Health Care, cementing the companies' partnership through July 2009. The new three-year contract takes effect August 1, 2006, and will benefit Humana commercial and Medicare members, as they continue to have access to health care services from all Baptist Memorial Health Care hospitals, minor medical centers and outpatient facilities in Tennessee and Mississippi.

"We're pleased to continue to offer health-plan members in-network benefit choices that include Baptist," said Evans Looney, president of Humana's Tennessee and Mississippi commercial operations. "Baptist and its employees represent an important part of Humana's network of contracted health care providers in West Tennessee and North Mississippi," Looney said.

There are 14 hospitals in Baptist Memorial Health Care's system: nine in Tennessee and five in Mississippi. Baptist also operates four minor medical centers in the Memphis area, and numerous outpatient facilities in the region.
"We are thrilled to continue our relationship with Humana," said David Elliott, CEO of Baptist Health Services Group. "Our partnership with Humana helps make our networks more accessible to employers and covered lives throughout the Mid-South."

Earlier this year, Humana announced that it would award three scholarships to nursing students at the Baptist College of Health Sciences, in recognition of Baptist's commitment to promoting patient safety and quality improvement. Both Humana and Baptist are committed to helping guide consumers in making health care purchasing decisions - based on measures that lead to improved patient outcomes.

Humana and Baptist support quality-improvement initiatives in both the public and private sector such as The Leapfrog Group and Bridges To Excellence programs.

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:

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 research analysts and institutional investors);
Corporate Governance information.

About Baptist Memorial Health Care

One of the largest and top-rated integrated health networks in the country, Baptist Memorial Health Care comprises 14 hospitals; more than 2,900 affiliated physicians; home, hospice and psychiatric are throughout the area; minor medical centers; a network of surgery, rehabilitation and other outpatient centers; and an education system highlighted by the Baptist College of Health Sciences. In fiscal year 2005, Baptist provided more than $324 million in community benefit, and the organization had an economic impact of more than $2 billion on the communities it served in fiscal year 2004. For more information about Baptist, please visit www.baptistonline.org or call (800) 4-BAPTIST.