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Humana Assumes Medicare Membership of SunCoast Physicians Health Plan, Inc.

Humana Assumes Medicare Membership of SunCoast Physicians Health Plan, Inc.

August 13, 2007 at 3:46 PM EDT

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Approximately 600 South Florida members moved to Humana

MIRAMAR, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 13, 2007--Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) announced today that it is assisting the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in providing uninterrupted access to health and prescription benefits for the nearly 600 Medicare members of SunCoast Physicians Health Plan, Inc., in Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Broward counties.

SunCoast's contract with CMS was terminated following action by the Florida Department of Finance which placed SunCoast into receivership. The state of Florida immediately began a liquidation of the plan.

"Humana and our vast network of primary care doctors, specialists, hospitals and pharmacies welcome SunCoast members to our organization," said Mike Seltzer, CEO of Humana Medicare and Medicaid in Florida. "Humana has a long and proven history of being a trusted Medicare provider for over 125,000 seniors in South Florida. We work very hard to offer our members guidance, exceptional service and first-class benefits. We look forward to the opportunity of building a lasting and trusting relationship with our new members."

SunCoast Physicians Health Plan members will be enrolled in a comparable Humana Medicare plan and will receive medical and prescription drug benefits similar to the benefits they received through SunCoast. A dedicated Humana customer care team has been set up to work with these Medicare beneficiaries should they have questions about this change.

Those who may have questions can call Humana toll-free at 1-800-819-6931. TTY users call 1-800-833-3301.

"We have taken the necessary steps to make certain these Medicare members will continue to have access to their physicians, medical facilities and prescription drugs," said Terry Smith, M.D., Humana's chief Medicare medical officer in Florida.

Humana Medical Plan will allow beneficiaries to continue to see their current providers, including both primary care providers and specialists, whether they are in or outside of the Humana Medical Plan network. Until October 31, 2007, beneficiaries will pay in-network cost sharing when using out-of-network providers.

In addition, SunCoast members currently receiving treatment for chemotherapy, radiation therapy, end stage renal disease dialysis or organ transplantation will continue to receive SunCoast benefits already prescribed at Humana Medical Plan network cost sharing amounts, until the earlier of the end of treatment or December 31, 2007.

The SunCoast beneficiaries will also continue to receive the prescription drugs they are taking under the SunCoast formulary until Humana can transition them to the Humana formulary.

About Humana

Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the nation's largest publicly traded health benefits companies, with approximately 11.3 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.

Humana is Florida's largest Medicare health benefits company with more than half a million members statewide.

Over its 46-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.

CONTACT:
Humana Corporate Communications
Mitch Lubitz, 813-287-6180
813-732-0386 (cell)
mlubitz@humana.com
http://www.humana.com

SOURCE: Humana Inc.