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Humana Adds Second Plan Option, Free Exercise Program To Baton Rouge Area Medicare Advantage Health Plan Offering

Published: Nov 23, 2004

BATON ROUGE, La., Nov. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Humana Inc. announced today plans to enhance benefit offerings for its Baton Rouge Medicare Advantage plan including the addition of a new zero premium option, enhanced pharmacy benefits and a free exercise program. Humana included the enhancements in its 2005 Medicare Advantage benefit package for Baton Rouge, filed with the federal government's Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

The 2005 benefit package is effective January 1 for Medicare eligible beneficiaries in Baton Rouge, pending CMS approval.

Humana's Medicare Advantage plans for 2005 -- as filed -- include several upgrades, including a new Gold Plus Value plan option with a zero premium, twelve month prescription drug allowance rollover benefit of up to $600, unlimited generic drug benefit, and $10 primary care physician co-pay. Both plans feature reduced inpatient co-pays (from $200 to $175) and free access to the SilverSneakers(R) Fitness Program.

"Seniors have asked for more benefits, and now they have them," said George Renaudin, Humana's Louisiana President for Senior Products. "Humana's innovative plans not only provide greater value than traditional Medicare through enhanced health care and prescription drug benefits, they also support healthy, active lifestyles with wellness benefits such as SilverSneakers, smoking cessation programs, and nutritional supplement benefits."

Currently, Humana has more than 11,000 Medicare Advantage members in the Baton Rouge area. Humana's Medicare Advantage health plan is an alternative to traditional Medicare, not a supplement. For more information about enrolling in a Humana Medicare Advantage plan, call toll-free 1-800-201-5779.

Humana is one of Louisiana's leading health benefits providers with over 33,000 health plan Medicare Advantage members statewide. In April 2004, Humana acquired Oschsner Health Plan, the third largest health benefit plan in the state. In addition to Humana's two Medicare Advantage HMO plans, Humana offers a Medicare Advantage POS plan and a Medicare Advantage PPO plan.

About Humana Medicare Advantage

Humana Medicare Advantage (formerly known as Medicare+Choice) is available to all Medicare-eligible individuals who live in a Medicare approved service area and are over 65 years old or qualified by disability. Unlike traditional Medicare, Humana Medicare Advantage includes a prescription drug benefit, limits on out-of-pocket expenses, unlimited, medically necessary inpatient hospital stays and worldwide coverage for emergency care and urgently needed care. More than 368,000 individuals are currently enrolled in a Humana Medicare Advantage plan.

About Humana Inc.

Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the nation's largest publicly traded health benefits companies, with approximately 5.8 million medical members located primarily in 15 states and Puerto Rico. Humana offers coordinated health insurance coverage and related services -- through traditional and Internet-based plans -- to employer groups, government-sponsored plans, and individuals.

More information regarding Humana is available via the Internet at http://www.humana.com/ including:

- Annual report to stockholders; - Securities and Exchange Commission filings; - Most recent investor conference presentation; - Quarterly earnings press releases; - Audio archive of most recent earnings release conference call; - Calendar of events (includes upcoming earnings conference call dates, times, and access number, as well as planned participation in investor conferences); - Corporate Governance Information.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030425/HUMANALOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.comHumana Inc.

CONTACT: Ross McLerran of Humana Corporate Communications,+1-210-617-1771, or rmclerran@humana.com

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