Humana's Your Practice

Humana and Wal-Mart Announce Partnership

Humana and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. formally announced a nationwide co-branding partnership in July to provide Medicare beneficiaries a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP). The program is helping seniors understand the new Medicare prescription drug plan landscape by educating them about important facts and features of the new Medicare prescription drug program.

The campaign involves all 3,600 Wal-Mart stores, SAM’S CLUB locations and Neighborhood Markets across the United States. Humana and Social Security Administration representatives were present in stores in July, interacting with customers and helping to educate them about their drug plan options. Humana is getting plenty of interaction with the Medicare demographic — more than 19 million of America’s seniors shopped at Wal-Mart stores in a recent quarter, according to a national survey. Medicare has an estimated 42 million beneficiaries.

In addition to Humana’s presence in stores, information packets and educational material are also available in local Wal-Mart, SAM’S CLUB and Neighborhood Market pharmacies.

Enrollment in the new Part D prescription drug plans began on November 15, and the plans become effective on January 1, 2006. Humana plans to make its Medicare PDP available in 46 states and the District of Columbia by next year, in addition to a co-branded prescription drug card with Wal-Mart and SAM’S CLUB.

Humana’s Medicare PDP will provide coverage for prescription drugs, biologic products, insulin, vaccines and certain medical supplies associated with the injection of insulin. The plan offers senior customers several advantages including:

access to prescription drug benefits regardless of their health plan
option to choose a stand-alone prescription drug plan supplement or a Medicare Advantage drug plan

“This partnership will bring people with Medicare the education they’re looking for, as well as the opportunity to purchase a plan branded jointly by Humana and Wal-Mart,” said Michael B. McCallister, Humana’s president and chief executive officer. “It’s an innovative partnership, and we’re pleased to work with Wal-Mart to help people with Medicare learn more about their choices.”

“This is an important initiative in helping Medicare beneficiaries understand this new benefit and assist them in preparing for the choices and savings they will be able to make with this new coverage,” added David Dible, executive vice president, Specialty Division of Wal-Mart. “We’re pleased to work with Humana on this exciting joint communication effort designed to explain, simply and clearly, the new options and savings opportunities offered through Medicare.”