Humana Pitching Medicare Plan at Wal-Mart

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Humana Inc. plans to promote its Medicare prescription drug plan to shoppers at hundreds of Wal-Mart stores.

The Louisville-based health benefits company also said Wednesday it will team with the retail giant to offer a Medicare prescription drug card featuring both the Humana and Wal-Mart brands. The drug card can be used at other pharmacies besides those at Wal-Mart stores.

It’s part of an aggressive marketing campaign by Humana to increase its Medicare business. Humana plans to expand its Medicare presence from 25 to 46 states within the next year.

“This unique opportunity to co-brand and co-market our Medicare prescription drug plan with the world’s largest retailer gives us an early advantage in the prescription drug program,” Humana spokesman Tom Noland said.

Starting next Monday, Humana representatives will be at about 500 select Wal-Mart stores nationwide for a week to answer questions about the Medicare prescription drug program and to promote the company’s plan, Noland said.

About half of the stores will be in Florida, Texas and Arizona, where Humana has built a strong Medicare presence. The other stores were chosen by Wal-Mart based on the high level of spending by Medicare-age shoppers, Noland said.

The campaign to raise awareness of the Medicare drug plan will involve all Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club warehouse stores nationally. The Social Security Administration will dispatch representatives to some stores to discuss the program. Elsewhere, Wal-Mart pharmacists will provide the information.

Enrollment begins Nov. 15 for the new prescription drug coverage under Medicare. The benefit begins Jan. 1, 2006.

Humana has about 7 million medical members nationwide, and in Puerto Rico.