Humana Expands 2015 Medicare Advantage Offerings in North Carolina; Receives High Medicare Stars Quality Ratings

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Humana Inc. HUM, one of North Carolina's leading Medicare Advantage companies, and a provider for North Carolina State Health Plan retirees, is expanding its Medicare plan offerings in North Carolina for 2015. Humana will increase availability of its $0 monthly premium Medicare Advantage HMO, add PPO products to more North Carolina counties, and lower premiums on several Local Preferred Provider Organizations (LPPOs).

Humana has also achieved high Medicare Stars Quality Ratings in North Carolina for its Medicare Advantage plans. Humana was rated as the only 4.5 star HMO in North Carolina. The Medicare Stars Quality Rating system rates the excellence of Medicare plans from one to five stars to help Medicare-eligible members compare plans based on quality and performance. The newly released Medicare Stars ratings for 2015 have been posted at www.medicare.gov.

Humana has expanded its Gold Plus HMO with a $0 monthly plan premium, to be available to North Carolina Medicare beneficiaries in Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Iredell and Wake counties. Humana is also adding a PPO product and making it available to North Carolina Medicare beneficiaries in Columbus, Cumberland and Currituck counties.

“Humana is committed to expanding our coverage in North Carolina in 2015 and to providing our Medicare Advantage members with affordable and competitive health plan options,” said Tim Moorhead, Humana's Vice President of Senior Products for North Carolina. “All of our plans offer ideal options for people on Medicare looking to receive quality health care, save money on their monthly premiums and engage in their health.”

Humana's Medicare Advantage offerings in North Carolina feature a variety of competitive benefits and services, including: a 24-hour nurse line, preventive care and covered screenings, health club memberships at no additional charge, smoking cessation classes, monthly credits for over-the-counter products, and free transportation to medical appointments.

Humana has also invested in North Carolina by recently opening its new Humana Guidance Center at 8800 Harvest Oaks Dr., Suite 100, in Raleigh. The new 5,100-square-foot center has full-time Humana customer care specialists available who are dedicated to providing guidance and service to Raleigh-area Medicare beneficiaries.

Medicare beneficiaries can sign up for Humana Medicare Advantage plans during the Medicare Annual Election Period, which runs through Dec. 7, with coverage taking effect on Jan. 1, 2015.

Humana Medicare Advantage is an alternative to original Medicare, not a supplement plan. It is a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in a Humana plan depends on contract renewal.

For more information about enrolling in any Humana plans, visit www.humana.com/medicare or call toll-free 1-855-811-2164 (TTY: 711) to speak with a licensed sales agent. Benefits, premium, service area and member cost-share is subject to change on January 1 each year. Members of this plan must continue to pay their Medicare Part B premium. Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-Star rating system. Star Ratings are calculated each year and may change from one year to the next.

About Humana

Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is a leading health and well-being company focused on making it easy for people to achieve their best health with clinical excellence through coordinated care. The company's strategy integrates care delivery, the member experience, and clinical and consumer insights to encourage engagement, behavior change, proactive clinical outreach and wellness for the millions of people we serve across the country.

More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company's web site at www.humana.com, including copies of:

• Annual reports to stockholders
• Securities and Exchange Commission filings
• Most recent investor conference presentations
• Quarterly earnings news releases
• Replays of most recent earnings release conference calls
• Calendar of events (including upcoming earnings conference call dates and times, as well as planned interaction with research analysts and institutional investors)
• Corporate Governance information