Aetna’s move to buy Louisville-based health insurance company Humana means a big change for one of the city’s most prominent companies. The sale agreement was announced Friday and won’t close for a while, but until then Louisville leaders will be considering what changes are in store for the city. Here’s some basic information about Humana:
- Louisville-based health care company Humana was founded in 1961 by Louisville lawyers David Jones and Wendell Cherry.
- What began as a chain of nursing homes and hospital acquisitions has become a different business through a series of changes. Humana now has 57,000 employees and insures more than 14 million through Medicare, Medicaid and commercial plans. It’s Louisville’s second-largest employer. About 12,000 employees are reported to be in Louisville.
- In 1981, Humana Inc. established The Humana Foundation, which serves as the philanthropic side of the company. The foundation has supported events, festivals–including the Humana Festival of New American Plays–and other causes. The Foundation’s focus is improving long-term community health. has donated more than $250 million to nonprofit organizations and social institutions.
- Humana Inc.’s offerings includes retail, employer group, and healthcare services. They sell retail items to individuals, products and plans to employer groups, and control businesses which offer various health-related services.
- Before the planned sale, Humana had an estimated $32-billion market value. That places as one of the county’s largest health care companies, though smaller than Aetna ($41 billion) . Humana has reportedly been in talks with potential buyers recently.
- Some analysts predict that if Humana were a part of a larger company,it could negotiate better doctor contracts and create a stronger network of providers.