Humana and Wal-Mart to offer new prescription drug plan

Healthcare Financial Management, Sept, 2005

Humana Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., announced on July 13 that they are joining forces to provide Medicare beneficiaries a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. The program also oilers information to help seniors navigate the new Medicare prescription drug landscape.

In an effort to educate the country's 42 million Medicare beneficiaries, the two companies launched a campaign to help beneficiaries understand the important facts and features of the new Medicare prescription drug program. The effort will involve all 3,600 Wal-Mart Stores, Sam's Club locations, and Neighborhood Markets across the country. Representatives from Humana and the Social Security Administration will be available to help Wal-Mart customers understand their options.

Enrollment in the new Part D prescription drug plans, created as part of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, will begin in November, with the plans becoming effective Jan. 1, 2006. Humana has announced its intention to offer the Medicare prescription drug plan in 46 states and the District of Columbia, and will offer a co-branded prescription drug card with Wal-Mart and Sam's Club.

To read the Humana press release, go to www.humana.com. Under the heading "Humana News and Highlights," click on "Humana and Wal-Mart Join Forces to Offer New Prescription Drug Plan (PDP)."