History of Humana in Timeline

Humana Inc. is a for-profit American health insurance company headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. As of 2024, it holds the 92nd position on the Fortune 500 list, making it the highest-ranked company in Kentucky. Humana is also the fourth-largest health insurance provider in the United States.

1961: Nursing Home Company Founded

In 1961, David A. Jones Sr. and Wendell Cherry founded a nursing home company.

1968: Extendicare Inc.

In 1968, the nursing home company became known as Extendicare Inc., becoming the largest nursing home company in the United States.

1972: Purchase of Hospitals

In 1972, Jones and Cherry sold the nursing home chain to purchase hospitals, making Humana one of the first two for-profit hospital ventures in the U.S.

1974: Corporate Name Change to Humana Inc.

In 1974, the corporate name was changed to Humana Inc. to reflect a higher level of human care.

1978: Takeover of American Medicorp Inc.

In 1978, Humana grew through the takeover of American Medicorp Inc., which doubled the company's size.

1979: Principal Sponsor of Humana Festival of New American Plays

Since 1979, Humana has been a principal sponsor of the annual Humana Festival of New American Plays in Louisville, Kentucky.

1987: Lawsuit Against NBC Over "St. Elsewhere" Storyline

In 1987, Humana sued NBC over a storyline in the television medical drama "St. Elsewhere" in which the hospital was to be sold to a for-profit medical corporation and renamed "Ecumena". Humana failed to block the airing of the show but was successful at forcing NBC into showing a disclaimer at the beginning of the September 30 episode saying that the drama had no connection whatsoever with Humana.

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1993: Humana Military Healthcare Services (HMHS) Founded

In 1993, Humana founded Humana Military Healthcare Services (HMHS) as a wholly owned subsidiary.

1993: Spin-off of Hospital Operations

In 1993, Humana, then the largest hospital operator in the country with 77 hospitals, spun off hospital operations to create Galen Health Care.

1995: Awarded First TRICARE Contract

In 1995, Humana Military Healthcare Services (HMHS) was awarded their first TRICARE contract.

May 30, 1996: Linda Peeno's Congressional Testimony

On May 30, 1996, Linda Peeno, a physician formerly contracted by Humana, testified before Congress, stating she felt the "managed care" model was inherently unethical, claiming she was effectively rewarded for causing a patient's death because it saved the company money.

1996: Service to Military Beneficiaries Begins

In 1996, Humana Military Healthcare Services (HMHS) began serving military beneficiaries.

1997: Directive from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

In 2009, Senate Republicans pointed out in a letter to Sebelius that a 1997 directive from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services explicitly allowed HMOs to tell members about legislation and urge them to express opinions.

1998: Unsuccessful Acquisition Attempt by United Healthcare

In 1998, United Healthcare made an unsuccessful attempt to acquire Humana, which Humana pulled out of after United stock dropped $2.9 billion in value.

1999: The Awful Truth Report on Humana

In 1999, season one of Michael Moore's TV series The Awful Truth reported on Humana refusing to pay for a diabetic patient needing a transplant. After Moore conducted a fake funeral on the Humana building's steps, Humana changed its policy and authorized the man's treatment three days later.

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2001: Cofounder of Availity

In 2001, Humana was a cofounder of Availity.

2004: Managed Care Contractor for TRICARE South Region

From 2004 to 2009, Humana Military Healthcare Services (HMHS) was the managed care contractor for the Department of Defense Military Health System TRICARE South Region.

2005: Tour Partner of the PGA Tour

From 2005 to 2015, Humana was a tour partner of the PGA Tour.

2005: Partnership with Virgin Group

In 2005, Humana partnered with Virgin Group, offering financial incentives to members for healthy behavior.

November 16, 2006: Partnership with CDC

On November 16, 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Humana Inc. partnered to expand on traditional private-sector approaches to population health management.

June 28, 2007: Humana's Response to Linda Peeno's Testimony

On June 28, 2007, following the use of Linda Peeno's testimony in Michael Moore's 2007 documentary Sicko, Humana declared that Peeno was a "part-time contractor" not a full time associate and disputed portions of her Congressional testimony.

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September 21, 2009: Investigation into Humana for Deceptive Flyers

On September 21, 2009, the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services opened an investigation into Humana for sending flyers to Medicare recipients that the AARP characterized as deceptive, alleging core Medicare benefits could be cut by the Obama administration's healthcare reform.

2009: Managed Care Contractor for TRICARE South Region

From 2004 to 2009, Humana Military Healthcare Services (HMHS) was the managed care contractor for the Department of Defense Military Health System TRICARE South Region.

2009: Protest of Contract Award Upheld

In 2009, Humana Military Healthcare Services (HMHS) protested the award of the Managed Care Support Contract to United Military and Veterans Services, and the Government Accountability Office upheld the protest in late 2009.

2010: Acquisition of Concentra Inc.

In 2010, Humana bought Texas-based Concentra Inc., which owns urgent-care and physical therapy centers, for $790 million, effectively returning to healthcare services.

May 2011: Use of mobileStorm

In May 2011, Humana announced it would be using mobileStorm to transmit protected health information to patients.

2011: HMHS Regains Contract

In 2011, HMHS regained the five-year contract to administer medical benefits to military members and families in the South region, a contract worth $23.5 billion.

2014: Threat of Exclusion from New Health Insurance Markets

In 2009, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius threatened that bad actors may be excluded from new health insurance markets that were to open in 2014.

March 2015: Sale of Concentra

In March 2015, Humana announced the sale of Concentra to private equity firm Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe and Select Medical Holdings Corporation for about $1 billion.

July 2015: Aetna Announces Acquisition of Humana

In July 2015, Aetna announced it would acquire Humana for $37 billion in cash and stock, approximately $230 a share at that time.

2015: Tour Partner of the PGA Tour

From 2005 to 2015, Humana was a tour partner of the PGA Tour.

January 2017: Merger Blocked by Federal Judge

In January 2017, the proposed merger between Aetna and Humana was blocked by a federal judge.

February 2017: Aetna and Humana Quash Merger Agreement

In February 2017, Aetna Inc. and Humana Inc. terminated their $34 billion merger agreement after judges ruled against the merger for a second time.

July 2018: Acquisition of Kindred Healthcare Stake

In July 2018, Humana joined two private equity firms in the acquisition of Kindred Healthcare, providing Humana with a 40% stake in the company's home health, hospice and community care businesses for approximately $800 million.

August 2018: Creation of Humana Studio H

In August 2018, Humana announced the creation of a digital health and analytics division called Humana Studio H.

October 2018: Lawsuit Filed Against Generic Drug Price Fixing

In October 2018, Humana filed a smaller lawsuit alleging that defendants engaged in a conspiracy to fix the price of generic drugs.

2018: TRICARE Regional Realignment

In 2018, the contract to administer medical benefits to military members and families was moved to the new TRICARE East region during the TRICARE regional realignment.

August 2019: Lawsuit Filed Against Generic Drug Price Fixing

In August 2019, Humana filed a lawsuit alleging that 37 defendants engaged in a “far-reaching conspiracy” to “blatantly fix the price” of generic drugs.

December 2019: Acquisition of Enclara Healthcare

In December 2019, Humana announced it would acquire Enclara Healthcare from Consonance Capital Partners and Enclara management.

2021: Susan Diamond Named CFO

In 2021, Susan Diamond was announced as the new permanent CFO, with the company focusing on home healthcare and acquiring a 60% stake in Kindred at Home.

April 2022: Sale of Kindred at Home Interest

In April 2022, Humana announced it would sell a 60% interest of its Kindred at Home division to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice for US$2.8 billion.

December 22, 2022: Award of TRICARE East Region Contract to Humana Military

On December 22, 2022, the Department of Defense announced the award of the managed care support contract for the TRICARE East Region to Humana Military.

February 2023: Exit from Employer-Based Commercial Group Insurance Market

In February 2023, Humana announced they were exiting the employer-based commercial group insurance market.

2024: Humana Ranks on Fortune 500 List

In 2024, Humana ranked 92 on the Fortune 500 list, making it the highest-ranked company based in Kentucky by revenues and the fourth-largest health insurance provider in the U.S.