UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-Q

[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

xQUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31,September 30, 2003


OR

¨TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _____ to _____


Commission file number 1-5975



HUMANA INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

61-0647538

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

500 West Main Street

Louisville, Kentucky 40202

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(502) 580-1000

(Registrant'sRegistrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months, and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    YesXxNo ______

  
¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    YesXxNo ____

  
¨

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer'sissuer’s classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date.

Class of Common Stock
$0.16 2/3 par value

Outstanding at
April

September 30, 2003
161,536,949 shares



Humana Inc.

$0.16 2/3 par value

161,094,579 shares



Humana Inc.

FORM 10-Q

SEPTEMBER 30, 2003

INDEX

Page

MARCH 31, 2003

INDEX

Part I: Financial Information

Page

Item 1.

Financial Statements

Item 1.

Financial Statements (Unaudited)
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31,September 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002

3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended
March 31, September 30, 2003 and 2002

4

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the threenine months ended March 31,September 30, 2003 and 2002

5

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

6

Item 2.

Management'sManagement’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

17

19

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

33

36

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

33

36

Part II: Other Information

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

34

37

Item 5.Other Information40
Item 6.

Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

37

40

Signatures and Certifications

38

Signatures
41


Humana Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2003


 

 

2002


 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

(Audited)

 

 

 

(in thousands, except share amounts)

 

ASSETS

Current assets:

   Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

532,652

 

 

$

721,357

 

   Investment securities

 

 

1,411,356

 

 

 

1,405,833

 

   Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $29,556
      at March 31, 2003, and $30,178 at December 31, 2002:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      Premiums

 

 

472,972

 

 

 

348,562

 

      Administrative services fees

 

 

55,726

 

 

 

68,316

 

   Other

 

 

258,481

 

 

 

250,857

 



      Total current assets

 

 

2,731,187

 

 

 

2,794,925

 



Property and equipment, net

 

 

423,465

 

 

 

459,842

 

Other assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Long-term investment securities

 

 

312,517

 

 

 

288,724

 

   Goodwill

 

 

776,874

 

 

 

776,874

 

   Other

 

 

185,144

 

 

 

279,665

 

 



      Total other assets

 

 

1,274,535

 

 

 

1,345,263

 

 

 


 

 


 

      Total assets

 

$

4,429,187

 

 

$

4,600,030

 



LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:

   Medical and other expenses payable

 

$

1,226,043

 

 

$

1,142,131

 

   Trade accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

 

512,723

 

 

 

552,689

 

   Book overdraft

 

 

84,579

 

 

 

94,882

 

   Unearned premium revenues

 

 

117,604

 

 

 

335,757

 

   Short-term debt

 

 

265,000

 

 

 

265,000

 



      Total current liabilities

 

 

2,205,949

 

 

 

2,390,459

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

 

334,328

 

 

 

339,913

 

Other long-term obligations

 

 

268,131

 

 

 

263,184

 



      Total liabilities

 

 

2,808,408

 

 

 

2,993,556

 



Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders' equity:

   Preferred stock, $1 par; 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued

 

 

--

 

 

 

--

 

   Common stock, $0.162/3 par; 300,000,000 shares authorized;
    171,371,759 shares issued at March 31, 2003, and 171,334,893
    shares issued at December 31, 2002

 

 

28,562

 

 

 

28,556

 

   Capital in excess of par value

 

 

931,460

 

 

 

931,089

 

   Retained earnings

 

 

752,107

 

 

 

720,877

 

   Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

 

23,257

 

 

 

22,455

 

   Unearned stock compensation

 

 

(3,961

)

 

 

(6,516

)

   Treasury stock, at cost, 10,584,719 shares at March 31, 2003,
      and 8,362,537 shares at December 31, 2002

 

 

(110,646

)

 

 

(89,987

)



      Total stockholders' equity

 

 

1,620,779

 

 

 

1,606,474

 



      Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

 

$

4,429,187

 

 

$

4,600,030

 



See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


Humana Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)

For the three months ended
March 31,


2003


2002


(in thousands, except per share results)

Revenues:

   Premiums

$

2,842,949

$

2,641,812

   Administrative services fees

61,136

65,013

   Investment and other income

27,631

25,757



      Total revenues

2,931,716

2,732,582



Operating expenses:

   Medical

2,371,434

2,194,539

   Selling, general and administrative

447,045

435,064

   Depreciation and amortization

31,140

29,796

   Restructuring charge

30,760

--



      Total operating expenses

2,880,379

2,659,399



Income from operations

51,337

73,183

Interest expense

3,935

4,404



Income before income taxes

47,402

68,779

Provision for income taxes

16,172

22,009



Net income

$

31,230

$

46,770



Basic earnings per common share

$

0.20

$

0.28



Diluted earnings per common share

$

0.19

$

0.28



See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

Humana Inc.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

   

September 30,

2003


  

December 31,

2002


 
   (in thousands, except share amounts) 

ASSETS

         

Current assets:

         

Cash and cash equivalents

  $635,837  $721,357 

Investment securities

   1,682,402   1,405,833 

Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $34,097 at September 30, 2003 and $30,178 at December 31, 2002:

         

Premiums

   461,684   348,562 

Administrative services fees

   10,952   68,316 

Other

   288,836   250,857 
   


 


Total current assets

   3,079,711   2,794,925 

Property and equipment, net

   413,402   459,842 

Other assets:

         

Long-term investment securities

   320,464   288,724 

Goodwill

   776,874   776,874 

Other

   159,273   279,665 
   


 


Total other assets

   1,256,611   1,345,263 
   


 


Total assets

  $4,749,724  $4,600,030 
   


 


LIABILITIESAND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

         

Current liabilities:

         

Medical and other expenses payable

  $1,296,566  $1,142,131 

Trade accounts payable and accrued expenses

   438,926   552,689 

Book overdraft

   218,751   94,882 

Unearned revenues

   108,161   335,757 

Short-term debt

   —     265,000 
   


 


Total current liabilities

   2,062,404   2,390,459 

Long-term debt

   644,440   339,913 

Other long-term obligations

   283,756   263,184 
   


 


Total liabilities

   2,990,600   2,993,556 
   


 


Commitments and contingencies

         

Stockholders’ equity:

         

Preferred stock, $1 par; 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued

   —     —   

Common stock, $0.16 2/3 par; 300,000,000 shares authorized; 173,112,860 shares issued at September 30, 2003 and 171,334,893 shares issued at December 31, 2002

   28,854   28,556 

Capital in excess of par value

   961,015   931,089 

Retained earnings

   883,502   720,877 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

   20,086   22,455 

Unearned restricted stock compensation

   (357)  (6,516)

Treasury stock, at cost, 12,018,281 shares at September 30, 2003 and 8,362,537 shares at December 31, 2002

   (133,976)  (89,987)
   


 


Total stockholders’ equity

   1,759,124   1,606,474 
   


 


Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

  $4,749,724  $4,600,030 
   


 


See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

Humana Inc.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

   Three months ended
September 30,


  Nine months ended
September 30,


   2003

  2002

  2003

  2002

   (in thousands, except per share results)

Revenues:

                

Premiums

  $3,016,298  $2,752,336  $8,772,652  $8,137,887

Administrative services fees

   66,984   61,056   199,788   189,900

Investment and other income

   28,483   28,235   100,999   78,362
   

  

  

  

Total revenues

   3,111,765   2,841,627   9,073,439   8,406,149
   

  

  

  

Operating expenses:

                

Medical

   2,528,123   2,301,021   7,344,534   6,811,748

Selling, general and administrative

   458,381   429,019   1,371,196   1,278,516

Depreciation and amortization

   27,112   30,523   100,232   90,556
   

  

  

  

Total operating expenses

   3,013,616   2,760,563   8,815,962   8,180,820
   

  

  

  

Income from operations

   98,149   81,064   257,477   225,329

Interest expense

   4,737   4,107   12,473   12,888
   

  

  

  

Income before income taxes

   93,412   76,957   245,004   212,441

Provision for income taxes

   31,293   24,626   82,379   67,981
   

  

  

  

Net income

  $62,119  $52,331  $162,625  $144,460
   

  

  

  

Basic earnings per common share

  $0.39  $0.32  $1.03  $0.88
   

  

  

  

Diluted earnings per common share

  $0.38  $0.31  $1.01  $0.86
   

  

  

  

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

Humana Inc.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

   

Nine months ended

September 30,


 
   2003

  2002

 
   (in thousands) 

Cash flows from operating activities

         

Net income

  $162,625  $144,460 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

         

Depreciation and amortization

   100,232   90,556 

Writedown of property and equipment

   17,233   —   

Provision for deferred income taxes

   30,213   34,221 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

         

Receivables

   7,509   (231,012)

Other assets

   (17,022)  268 

Medical and other expenses payable

   154,435   78,045 

Other liabilities

   (85,899)  4,742 

Unearned revenues

   (227,596)  (235,063)

Other

   (18,810)  12,481 
   


 


Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

   122,920   (101,302)
   


 


Cash flows from investing activities

         

Purchases of property and equipment, net

   (62,497)  (83,581)

Divestiture

   —     1,109 

Purchases of investment securities

   (3,659,394)  (1,639,803)

Maturities of investment securities

   585,461   273,199 

Proceeds from sales of investment securities

   2,768,446   1,339,124 
   


 


Net cash used in investing activities

   (367,984)  (109,952)
   


 


Cash flows from financing activities

         

Common stock repurchases

   (44,147)  (25,439)

Proceeds from issuance of senior notes

   299,139   —   

Net commercial paper conduit (repayments) borrowings

   (265,000)  2,000 

Change in book overdraft

   123,869   (48,355)

Proceeds from swap exchange

   31,556   —   

Other

   14,127   7,364 
   


 


Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

   159,544   (64,430)
   


 


Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

   (85,520)  (275,684)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

   721,357   651,420 
   


 


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

  $635,837  $375,736 
   


 


Supplemental cash flow disclosures:

         

Interest payments

  $11,324  $8,099 

Income tax payments, net

  $43,335  $25,552 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

Humana Inc.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 


Humana Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)

For the three months ended
March 31,


2003


2002


(in thousands)

Cash flows from operating activities

  Net income

$

31,230

$

46,770

  Adjustments to reconcile net income
    to net cash used in operating activities:

      Non-cash restructuring charge

30,760

--

      Depreciation and amortization

31,140

29,796

      Provision for deferred income taxes

3,646

12,880

      Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

        Receivables

(48,553

)

(45,810

)

        Other assets

5,685

(2,398

)

        Medical and other expenses payable

83,912

63,977

        Other liabilities

(29,012

)

(10,804

)

        Unearned revenues

(218,153

)

(237,758

)

      Other

1,115

3,210



          Net cash used in operating activities

(108,230

)

(140,137

)



Cash flows from investing activities

  Purchases of property and equipment

(21,634

)

(31,256

)

  Purchases of investment securities

(1,545,241

)

(425,135

)

  Maturities of investment securities

196,923

115,954

  Proceeds from sales of investment securities

1,320,246

303,896



    Net cash used in investing activities

(49,706

)

(36,541

)



Cash flows from financing activities

  Common stock repurchases

(20,817

)

--

  Change in book overdraft

(10,303

)

10,673

  Other

351

467



    Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

(30,769

)

11,140



Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

(188,705

)

(165,538

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

721,357

651,420



Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$

532,652

$

485,882



Supplemental cash flow disclosures:

  Interest payments

$

4,068

$

4,010

  Income tax payments (refunds), net

$

3,716

$

(5,488

)

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


Humana Inc.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Unaudited

(1) Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the disclosures normally required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or those normally made in an Annual Report on Form 10-K. References throughout this document to "we," "us," "our,"“we,” “us,” “our,” the "Company,"“Company,” and "Humana,"“Humana,” mean Humana Inc. and all entities we own. For further information, the reader of this Form 10-Q should refer to our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, on March 21, 2003.

 

The preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. The areas involving the most significant use of estimates are the estimation of medical expenses payable, the recognition of revenue related to our TRICARE contracts, the valuation and related impairment recognition of investment securities, and the valuation and related impairment recognition of long-lived assets, including goodwill. Although our estimates are based on knowledge of current events and anticipated future events, actual results may ultimately differ materially from those estimates. Refer to "Critical“Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates"Estimates” in Humana'sHumana’s 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K for information on accounting policies that the Company considers critical in preparing its Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

The financial information has been prepared in accordance with our customary accounting practices and has not been audited. In our opinion, the information presented reflects all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of interim results. All such adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature.

(2) Significant Accounting Policies

 

New Accounting Standards

 

On January 1, 2003, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 146,Accounting for Exit or Disposal Activities, or Statement 146. Statement 146 addresses the recognition, measurement, and reporting of costs that are associated with exit and disposal activities, including certain lease termination costs and severance-type costs under a one-time benefit arrangement rather than an ongoing benefit arrangement or an individual deferred-compensation contract. Statement 146 requires liabilities associated with exit and disposal activities to be expensed as incurred and impacts the timing of recognition for exit or disposal activities that were initiated after December 31, 2002. The adoption of Statement 146 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

In November 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued FASB Interpretation No. 45,Guarantor'sGuarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others, an interpretation of FASB Statements No. 5, 57, and 107 and Rescission of FASB Interpretation No. 34,or FIN 45.45. FIN 45 requires that upon issuance of a guarantee, the entity must recognize a liability for the fair value of the obligation it assumes under that guarantee. FIN 45 requires disclosure about each guarantee even if the likelihood of the guarantors having to make any payments under the guarantee is remote. The provisions for initial recognition and measurement are effective on a prospective basis for guarantees that are issued or modified after December 31, 2002. Refer to Note 89 for guarantee disclosures. The adoption of the recognition provision of FIN 45 did not have a material impact on our financial position, res ultsresults of operations or cash flows.

 

In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46,Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an interpretationInterpretation of ARB 51,or FIN 46. The primary objectives of FIN 46 are to provide guidance on the identification of entities for which control is achieved through means other than through voting rights (variable interest entities, or VIEs) and how to determine when and which business enterprise should consolidate the VIE (the primary beneficiary). The provisions of FIN 46 as amended by FASB Staff Position 46-6,Effective Date of FASB Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entitiesare effective immediately for VIEs created after January 31, 2003 and no later than July 1,December 31, 2003 for VIEs created before February 1, 2003. In addition, FIN

Humana Inc.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

46 requires that both the primary beneficiary and all other enterprises with a significant variable interest make additional disclosure in filings issued after January 31, 2003. The adoption of FIN 46 is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

We have stock-based employee compensation plans, including stock options and restricted stock awards, which are described more fully in Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements in Humana'sHumana’s 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

We account for our stock option plans under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25,Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees and related interpretations, or APB No. 25. No compensation cost is reflected in net income related to fixed-based stock option awards to employees when the option has an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. Compensation expense is recorded for restricted stock grants over their vesting periods based on fair value, which is equal to the market price of Humana common stock on the date of the grant. The following table illustrates the effects on net income and earnings per share if we had applied the fair value recognition provisions of FASB Statement No. 123,Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, to our stock-based awards.

For the three months ended
March 31,


2003


2002


(in thousands, except per share results)

Net income, as reported

$

31,230

$

46,770

Add: Restricted stock compensation expense included in reported net income, net of related tax

 

1,403

 

 

1,572

Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation
expense determined under fair value based method
for all fixed-based options and restricted stock
awards, net of related tax

 

 

 

(2,396)

 

 

 

 

 

(2,267)



Adjusted net income

$

30,237

 

$

46,075



 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

     Basic, as reported

$

0.20

 

$

0.28



     Basic, pro forma

$

0.19

 

$

0.28



     Diluted, as reported

$

0.19

 

$

0.28



     Diluted, pro forma

$

0.19

 

$

0.27



   Three months ended
September 30,


  Nine months ended
September 30,


 
   2003

  2002

  2003

  2002

 
   (in thousands, except per share results) 

Net income, as reported

  $62,119  $52,331  $162,625  $144,460 

Add: Restricted stock compensation expense included in reported net income, net of related tax

   644   915   3,448   3,981 

Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all fixed-based options and restricted stock awards, net of related tax

   (1,925)  (2,084)  (7,085)  (6,913)
   


 


 


 


Adjusted net income

  $60,838  $51,162  $158,988  $141,528 
   


 


 


 


Earnings per share:

                 

Basic, as reported

  $0.39  $0.32  $1.03  $0.88 

Basic, pro forma

  $0.38  $0.31  $1.00  $0.86 

Diluted, as reported

  $0.38  $0.31  $1.01  $0.86 

Diluted, pro forma

  $0.37  $0.31  $0.99  $0.84 

Humana Inc.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

(3) Restructuring Charge

 

During the fourth quarter of 2002, we finalized a plan to reducerealign our administrative cost structure with the consolidation of seven customer service centers into four and an enterprise-wide workforce reduction.

 

The following table presents the componentsa rollforward of the restructuring charge we recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and the year ended December 31, 2002:2002 and the nine months ended September 30, 2003:

 

 

Severance


 

 


 

 

No. of Employees


 

Cost


 

Long-lived Assets


 

Lease Discontinuance


 

Total


 

 

(dollars in thousands)

Fourth quarter 2002 charge

 

2,600

 $

32,105

 $

2,448

 $

1,324

 $

35,877

Cash payments

 

(500)

 

(910)

 

--

 

--

 

(910)

Non-cash

 

--

 

--

 

(2,448)

 

--

 

(2,448)

 

 


 


 


 


 


   Balance at December 31, 2002

 

2,100

 

31,195

 

--

 

1,324

 

32,519

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First quarter 2003 charge

 

--

 

--

 

30,760

 

--

 

30,760

Cash payments

 

(455)

 

(4,075)

 

--

 

(176)

 

(4,251)

Non-cash

 

--

 

--

 

(30,760)

 

--

 

(30,760)

 

 


 


 


 


 


   Balance at March 31, 2003

 

1,645

 $

27,120

 $

--

 $

1,148

 $

28,268

 

 


 


 


 


 


   Severance

  Lease
Discontinuance


  Total

 
  No. of
Employees


  Cost

   
   (dollars in thousands) 

Year ended December 31, 2002

    

Provision

  2,600  $32,105  $1,324  $33,429 

Cash payments

  (500)  (910)  —     (910)
   

 


 


 


Balance at December 31, 2002

  2,100   31,195   1,324   32,519 

Nine months ended September 30, 2003

                

Cash payments

  (1,600)  (16,085)  (800)  (16,885)
   

 


 


 


Balance at September 30, 2003

  500  $15,110  $524  $15,634 
   

 


 


 


 

Severance

 

During the fourth quarter of 2002, we recorded severance and related employee benefit costs of $32.1 million ($19.6 million after tax) in connection with the customer service center consolidation and an enterprise-wide workforce reduction. Severance costs were estimated based upon the provisions of the Company'sCompany’s existing employee benefit plans and policies. The plan to reduce our administrative cost structure is expected to ultimately affect approximately 2,600 positions throughout the entire organization, including customer service, claim administration, clinical operations, provider network administration, as well as other corporate and field-based positions. As part of the plan, we expect to hire approximately 300 employees to support newly consolidated operations, thereby resulting in a net reduction of approximately 2,300 positions. As of March 31,September 30, 2003, approximately 9552,100 positions had been eliminated. Severance is paid biweekly resulting in payments in periods subsequent to termination. We expect the remainingadditional positions towill be eliminated by December 31, 20 03, with most of2003, and the severance being paid in 2003.remaining positions eliminated no later than June 30, 2004.

(4) Long-lived Asset ImpairmentCharge

 

Impairment

Our decision to eliminate threethe Jacksonville, Florida, San Antonio, Texas and Madison, Wisconsin customer service centers during the fourth quarter of 2002 prompted a review for the possible impairment of long-lived assets associated with these centers. Assets under operating leases supported the Madison service center and, therefore, were not applicable to our impairment analysis. Under a transition plan, we continued to use the long-lived assets of the Jacksonville and San Antonio customer service centers until mid-2003, the completion date for consolidating these two customer service centers. The long-lived assets of our customer service centers were supported by the future cash flows expected to result from members serviced by those centers. Cash flows from members serviced by a particular service center represented the lowest level of independently identifiable cash flows. For example, cash flows from members located primarily in the state of Florida and serviced by the Jacksonville service center supported the Jacksonville center’s long-lived assets until those members’ service was transitioned elsewhere.

Our impairment review during the fourth quarter of 2002 for the possible impairment of long-lived assets used in these operations. We will continue to use some long-lived assets associated with these customer service center operations until mid-2003, the expected completion date for consolidating these operations. We are currently evaluating alternatives with respect to future use of these long-lived assets, including possible sale.

       Our fourth quarter of 2002 impairment review indicated that estimated future undiscounted cash flows attributableexpected to our business supported by ourresult from the remaining use of the San Antonio, Texas customer service operationscenter long-lived assets, primarily buildings, were insufficient to recover thetheir carrying value of certain long-lived assets, primarily buildings used in these operations.value. Accordingly, we adjustedreduced the carrying value of these long-lived assets to their estimated fair value resulting in a non-cash impairment charge of $2.4 million ($1.5 million after tax). Estimated fair value was based on an independent third party appraisal of during the buildings.

       Our firstfourth quarter of 20032002.

Unlike our San Antonio impairment review, indicated thata greater number of more profitable members in Florida caused the estimated future undiscounted cash flows attributableexpected to our business supported by ourresult from the remaining use of the Jacksonville, Florida customer service operations were insufficient to recover the carrying value of certaincenter’s long-lived assets, primarily a building, used in ourto exceed the carrying value as of the fourth quarter of 2002 impairment review. However, impairment was triggered during the first quarter of 2003 with the passage of time and the approaching date for closing the center. As members serviced by the Jacksonville, Florida operations.customer service

Humana Inc.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

center were transferred to other service centers during 2003, the undiscounted cash flows expected from the remaining members serviced by the center fell during the first quarter of 2003 to a level no longer supporting the carrying value of the center’s long-lived assets. Accordingly, we recordedreduced the carrying value of these long-lived assets to their estimated fair value resulting in a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $17.2 million ($10.5 million after tax) during the first quarter of 2003. Estimated fair value was based on

We used an independent third party appraisal to assist us in evaluating the fair value of the buildings. Additionally, we recorded aThe non-cash impairment chargecharges are included with selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.

We are in the process of selling the buildings previously used in our Jacksonville and San Antonio customer service operations and have classified them as held for sale. The carrying amount of the buildings approximated $27.6 million at September 30, 2003 based on their fair value less estimated costs to sell the buildings. We are no longer depreciating these buildings effective July 1, 2003. The impact of ceasing depreciation of the buildings was not material to our results of operations.

Accelerated Depreciation

After finalizing plans during the first quarter of 2003 to abandon software used in the Jacksonville, Florida operations by March 2003, we reduced the estimated useful life of the software effective January 1, 2003. Accordingly, we accelerated the depreciation of the remaining software balance of approximately $13.5 million ($8.3 million after tax) during the first quarter of 2003 related to accelerated depreciation of software we ceased using in the first quarter of 2003.

(4)

(5) Other Intangible Assets

 

Other intangible assets primarily relate to acquired subscriber, provider, and government contracts, and the cost of acquired licenses and are included with other long-term assets on the condensed consolidated balancesbalance sheets. Amortization expense for other intangible assets was approximately $3.9$9.2 million for the threenine months ended March 31,September 30, 2003, and $11.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002. The following table presents our estimate of amortization expense for the remaining ninethree months of 2003, and for each of the five succeeding fiscal years:

(in thousands)


For the nine month period ending December 31, 2003

$

7,681

For the years ending December 31,:

  2004

$

9,060

  2005

$

5,440

  2006

$

352

  2007

$

352

  2008

$

227

   (in thousands)

For the three month period ending December 31, 2003

  $2,389

For the years ending December 31,:

    

2004

  $9,060

2005

  $5,440

2006

  $352

2007

  $352

2008

  $227

The following table presents details of our other intangible assets at March 31,September 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002:

 

March 31, 2003


 

December 31, 2002


 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

Cost


 

Amortization


 

Net


 

Cost


 

Amortization


 

Net


 

(in thousands)

Other intangible assets:

  Subscriber contracts

$

85,496

 

$

70,011

 

$

15,485

 

$

85,496

 

$

68,284

 

$

17,212

  Provider contracts

 

12,128

 

 

6,252

 

 

5,876

 

 

12,128

 

 

5,644

 

 

6,484

  Government contracts

 

11,820

 

 

11,306

 

 

514

 

 

11,820

 

 

9,764

 

 

2,056

  Licenses and other

 

5,065

 

 

1,215

 

 

3,850

 

 

5,065

 

 

1,161

 

 

3,904







   Total other intangible assets

$

114,509

$

88,784

$

25,725

$

114,509

$

84,853

$

29,656







   September 30, 2003

  December 31, 2002

   Cost

  

Accumulated

Amortization


  Net

  Cost

  

Accumulated

Amortization


  Net

   (in thousands)

Other intangible assets:

                        

Subscriber contracts

  $85,496  $73,466  $12,030  $85,496  $68,284  $17,212

Provider contracts

   12,128   7,468   4,660   12,128   5,644   6,484

Government contracts

   11,820   11,820   —     11,820   9,764   2,056

Licenses and other

   5,065   1,322   3,743   5,065   1,161   3,904
   

  

  

  

  

  

Total other intangible assets

  $114,509  $94,076  $20,433  $114,509  $84,853  $29,656
   

  

  

  

  

  

Humana Inc.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

(5)(6) Comprehensive Income

 

The following table presents details supporting the computation of comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended March 31,September 30, 2003 and 2002:

For the three months ended
March 31,


2003


2002


(in thousands)

Net income

$

31,230

$

46,770

Net unrealized investment gains (losses), net of tax

 

802

 

 

(8,367)



Comprehensive income, net of tax

$

32,032

$

38,403



   Three months ended
September 30,


  Nine months ended
September 30,


   2003

  2002

  2003

  2002

   (in thousands)

Net income

  $62,119  $52,331  $162,625  $144,460

Net unrealized investment (losses) gains, net of tax

   (9,753)  17,184   (2,369)  24,149
   


 

  


 

Comprehensive income, net of tax

  $52,366  $69,515  $160,256  $168,609
   


 

  


 

 

(6)(7) Earnings Per Common Share

 

We compute basic earnings per common share on the basis of the weighted average number of unrestricted common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per common share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of unrestricted common shares outstanding plus the dilutive effect of outstanding employee stock options and restricted shares using the treasury stock method. There were no adjustments required to be made to net income for purposes of computing basic or diluted earnings per common share. Stock options to purchase 6,773,524 shares at March 31, 2003 and 6,395,627 shares at March 31, 2002, were not dilutive and, therefore, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per common share.

 

The following table presents details supporting the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share for the three and nine months ended March 31,September 30, 2003 and 2002:

For the three months ended
March 31,


2003


2002


(in thousands, except per share results)

Net income available for common stockholders

$

31,230

$

46,770

Weighted average outstanding shares of common stock used
  to compute basic earnings per common share

 

157,739

 

 

164,255

Dilutive effect of:

   Employee stock options

 

359

 

 

1,035

   Restricted stock

 

3,308

 

 

2,414



Shares used to compute diluted earnings per common share

 

161,406

 

 

167,704

   Basic earnings per common share

$

0.20

 

$

0.28



   Diluted earnings per common share

$

0.19

 

$

0.28



   Three months ended
September 30,


  Nine months ended
September 30,


   2003

  2002

  2003

  2002

   (in thousands, except per share results)

Net income available for common stockholders

  $62,119  $52,331  $162,625  $144,460

Weighted average outstanding shares of common stock used to compute basic earnings per common share

   159,454   163,933   158,202   164,348

Dilutive effect of:

                

Stock options

   1,713   885   872   1,107

Restricted stock

   1,382   2,716   2,310   2,787
   

  

  

  

Shares used to compute diluted earnings per common share

   162,549   167,534   161,384   168,242
   

  

  

  

Basic earnings per common share

  $0.39  $0.32  $1.03  $0.88
   

  

  

  

Diluted earnings per common share

  $0.38  $0.31  $1.01  $0.86
   

  

  

  

Number of antidilutive stock options excluded from computation

   1,568   5,081   4,427   4,947

Humana Inc.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

(7)   Stock Repurchase Plan(8) Equity

For the nine months ended September 30, 2003, we purchased 2.2 million shares in the open market at a cost of $20.8 million, or an average of $9.31 per share under prior authorization by the Board of Directors and 1.4 million shares in connection with employee stock plans at a cost of $23.3 million, or an average of $16.27 per share. In July 2002,2003, the Board of Directors authorized thean additional use of up to $100 million for the repurchase of our common shares.shares exclusive of shares repurchased in connection with employee stock plans. No amounts have been repurchased under the July 2003 authorization as of September 30, 2003. The shares may be purchased from time to time at prevailing prices in the open market by block purchases, or in privately negotiated transactions. We have engaged Lehman Brothers Inc. and Banc of America Securities, LLC to broker these transactions. During

For the threenine months ended March 31,September 30, 2003, we repurchased 2.2capital in excess of par value increased $16.7 million from the exercise of 1.9 million employee stock options and $13.6 million from the excess tax benefit associated with the August 7, 2003 vesting of 3.9 million shares at a cost of $20.8restricted stock and the exercise of 1.9 million or an average of $9.31 per share. Cumulatively, through March 31, 2003, we have purchased in the open market 8.6 million shares at a cost of $94.9 million, or an average of $10.98 per share. The total remaining share repurchase authorization as of March 31, 2003 was $5.1 million.employee stock options.

(8)

(9) Guarantees and Contingencies

 

Guarantees

 

Our 5-year and 7-year airplane operating leases provide for a residual value guarantee of no more than $17.9$13.6 million at the end of the lease terms which expire December 29, 2004 for the 5-year leases and January 1, 2010 for the 7-year lease. We have the right to exercise a purchase option with respect to the leased equipment or the equipment can be sold to a third party. If we decide not to exercise our purchase option at the end of the lease, we must pay the lessor a maximum amount of $13.1$8.8 million related to the 5-year leases and $4.8 million related to the 7-year lease. The amount will be reduced by the net sales proceeds of the airplanes to a third party. A $3.5$1.7 million gain in connection with a 1999 sale/leaseback transaction is being deferred until the residual value guarantee is resolved at the end of the lease term. Welease. After considering the current fair value of the airplanes and any deferred gain, we do not believe that we will have any payment obligationexposure from the residual value guarantee at the end of the lease because we will exercise the purchase obligation, or th ethe net proceeds from the sale of the airplanes will exceed the maximum amount payable to the lessor. During the second quarter of 2003, we terminated one 5-year airplane lease early. The impact of this transaction was not material.

 

We have $17.4$19.2 million in undrawn letters of credit outstanding at March 31,September 30, 2003. Letters of credit totaling $11.9$13.7 million have been issued to ensure our payment to a beneficiary for assumed obligations of our wholly owned captive insurance subsidiary related to pre-1993 professional liability risks for which the beneficiary remains directly liable. Other letters of credit totaling $5.5 million were issued to ensure our payment to various beneficiaries for miscellaneous contractual obligations. These letters of credit reneware required to be renewed automatically on an annual basis unless the beneficiary otherwise notifies us. Over the past 10 years, we have not had to fund any letters of credit.

 

Through indemnity agreements approved by the state regulatory authorities, certain of our regulated subsidiaries generally are guaranteed by Humana Inc., our parent company, in the event of insolvency for (1)one, member coverage for which premium payment has been made prior to insolvency; (2)two, benefits for members then hospitalized until discharged; and (3)three, payment to providers for services rendered prior to insolvency.

 

Government Contracts

 

Our Medicare+Choice contracts with the federal government are renewed for a one-year term each December 31 unless terminatednotice of termination is received at least 90 days prior thereto. LegislativeSeparate legislative proposals to add a prescription drug benefit and increase private plan options for the program passed by both houses are currently being considered which may revisedebated by House and Senate conferees. Although President Bush’s deadline for passage of this legislation has passed, negotiations are still underway. There is considerable uncertainty regarding the Medicare+Choice program's current reimbursement rates. Wepassage of a final bill and we are unable to predict the outcomeprovisions of these proposalsany final bill that would emerge from the Conference Committee or theits impact they may have on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

We have extended our current TRICARE contracts with the Department of Defense. The contract for Regions 2 and 5 was extended to April 30, 2004 and the contract for Regions 3 and 4 was extended to June 30, 2004, each subject to a one yearone-year renewal at the Government'sGovernment’s option. We believe these extensions should continue our contracts throughuntil the new TRICARE Next Generation, or T-Nex, transition described belowbelow.

.Humana Inc.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

On August 21, 2003, the Department of Defense notified us that we were awarded the contract for the South Region, one of three newly created regions under the government’s revised TRICARE Program. The Department of Defense recently announced a plan to consolidate the total number of prime contracts from seven to three under the new T-Nex program. The Department of Defense has statedDefense’s bid process provided that a bidder cancould be awarded only one prime contract, although a bidder would be allowed to secondarily participate in another contract. We submitted a bid in January 2003 to participateprime contract as a prime contractor for the South region. Additionally, we partnered withsubcontractor. Aetna Government Health Plans, LLC, a subsidiary of Aetna, Inc., to participatesubmitted a bid for the North Region contract with us as a subcontractor should Aetna Government Health Plans, LLC besubcontractor. HealthNet Federal Services, Inc., a subsidiary of HealthNet, Inc., was awarded the North region. We expect an announcementRegion contract in August 2003.

Pursuant to the Department of Defense’s bid process, each of the three awards is subject to protests by unsuccessful bidders of prime contracts. Protests have been filed that affect the contract awards in mid to late 2003 witheach of the three regions. The transition to the new regions is not expected until at least mid to late 2004. At this time we are unable2004, subject to predict whether wethe final outcome of the pending appeals.

In addition, retail pharmacy benefits for TRICARE beneficiaries will be administered separately under the new Department of Defense TRICARE Retail Pharmacy Program. On September 26, 2003, we were notified that we were not awarded athe retail pharmacy contract. Under government contract procurement regulations, we have the right to protest the award decision, which we did on October 14, 2003. We do not believe the loss of the retail pharmacy contract or the effective dateultimate outcome of the contract. In addition, we are currently evaluatingour appeal will have a request for proposal to provide retail phar macy support for TRICARE beneficiaries.material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

 

We currently have Medicaid contracts with the Puerto Rico Health Insurance Administration in Puerto Rico through June 30, 2005, subject to each party agreeing upon annual rates. We are currently in negotiationsIn July 2003, we signed amendments to the Puerto Rico Medicaid contracts regarding a premium rate increase for the second year renewal option for theannual period July 1, 2003 throughending June 30, 2004. Our other Medicaid contracts are in Florida and Illinois, generallyand are annual contracts. As of March 31,September 30, 2003, Puerto Rico accounted for approximately 85%84% of our total Medicaid membership.

 

The loss of any of theseour existing government contracts or significant changes in these programs as a result of legislative action, including reductions in premium payments to us, or increases in member benefits without corresponding increases in premium payments to us, may have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

Securities Litigation

 

In late 1997, three purported class action complaints were filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida by former stockholders of Physician Corporation of America, or PCA, against PCA and certain of its former directors and officers. We acquired PCA by a merger that became effective on September 8, 1997. The three actions were consolidated into a single action entitledIn re Physician Corporation of America Securities Litigation. The consolidated complaint alleges that PCA and the individual defendants knowingly or recklessly made false and misleading statements in press releases and public filings with respect to the financial and regulatory difficulties of PCA's workers'PCA’s workers’ compensation business. On May 5, 1999, plaintiffs moved for certification of the purported class, and on August 25, 2000, the defendants moved for summary judgment. On July 24, 2002, the Court denied the defendant's motion. A trial date is expected to bedefendants’ motion for summary judgment and set 90 days after the Court rulescase on the plaintiff'sCourt’s trial calendar for December 2, 2002. The Court subsequently postponed the trial subject to the plaintiff’s motion for class certification.certification, which was granted on May 20, 2003. On January 31, 2001,June 4, 2003, the defendants filed a third-party complaintrequested the Court of Appeals for declaratory judgmentthe Eleventh Circuit to grant permission to appeal the class certification order. Thereafter, the parties reached agreement to settle the case for the amount of $10.2 million. The settlement agreement is subject to notice to the class and approval by the Court. A final hearing on the settlement is scheduled for November 24, 2003. A provision for the settlement was previously made in our financial statements during the fourth quarter of 2002. The Company has pursued insurance coverage seeking a determination that the defense costs and liability, if any, resultingfor this matter from the class action defense were covered by an insurance policy issued by one insurer and, in the alternative, declaring that there is coverage under policies issued by two other insurers. On April 25, 2002, the Court dismissed the third-party complaint without prejudice finding that it could be refiled in the future ifinsurers, each of which has denied coverage. The Company intends to continue to pursue the insurance claims were not otherwise resolved. On April 23, 2003, one of the insurers, National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA ("National Union") filed a complaint against PCA and the defendant officers and directors and certain underwriters at Lloyd's of London ("Lloyd's") in the Southern District of Florida. National Union's complaint seeks a declaration that Lloyd's is responsible for the insura nce coverage or, in the alternative, that National Union has no duty to advance defense costs or provide coverage.proceeds.

 

Managed Care Industry Purported Class Action Litigation

 

We arehave been involved in several purported class action lawsuits that are part of a wave of generally similar actions that target the health care payer industry and particularly target managed care companies. These include a lawsuit against us and nine of our competitors that purports to be brought on behalf of physicians who have treated our members. As a result of action by the Judicial Panel on Multi District Litigation, most of the cases against us, as well as similar cases against other companies in the industry, have beencase was consolidated in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and arehas been styledIn re Managed Care Litigation. The cases include separate suits against us and five other managed care companies that purport to have been brought on behalf of members, which are referred to as the subscriber track cases, and a single action against us and eight other companies that purports to have been brought on behalf of providers, which is referred to as the provider track case.

Humana Inc.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 In the subscriber track cases, the plaintiffs seek a recovery under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, for all persons who are or were subscribers at any time during the four-year period prior to the filing of the complaints. Plaintiffs also seek to represent a subclass of policyholders who purchased insurance through their employers' health benefit plans governed by ERISA, and who are or were subscribers at any time during the six-year period prior to the filing of the complaints. The complaints allege, among other things, that we intentionally concealed from members certain information concerning the way in which we conduct business, including the methods by which we pay providers. The plaintiffs do not allege that any of the purported practices resulted in denial of any claim for a particular benefit, but instead, claim that we provided the purported class with health insurance benefits of lesser value than promised. The complaints also allege an industry-wide conspiracy to engage in the various alleged improper practices.

       On February 20, 2002, the Court issued its ruling on the defendants' motions to dismiss the Second Consolidated Amended Complaint (the "Amended Complaint"). The Amended Complaint was filed on June 29, 2001, after the Court dismissed most of the claims in the original complaints, but granted leave to refile. In its February 20, 2002, ruling, the Court dismissed the RICO claims of ten of the sixteen named plaintiffs, including three of the four involving us, on the ground that the McCarran-Ferguson Act prohibited their claims because they interfered with the state regulatory processes in the states in which they resided (Florida, New Jersey, California and Virginia). With respect to ERISA, the Court dismissed the misrepresentation claims of current members, finding that they have adequate remedies under the law and failed to exhaust administrative remedies. Claims for former members were not dismissed. The Court also refused to dismiss claims by all plaintiffs for b reach of fiduciary duty arising from alleged interference with the doctor-patient relationship by the use of so-called "gag clauses" that assertedly prohibited doctors from freely communicating with members. The plaintiffs sought certification of a class consisting of all members of our medical plans, excluding Medicare and Medicaid plans, for the period from 1990 to 1999. On September 26, 2002, the Court denied the plaintiffs' request for class certification. On October 9, 2002, the plaintiffs asked the Court to reconsider its ruling on that issue. The Court denied the motion on November 25, 2002. The Court has set a trial date on the individual named plaintiffs' claims for September 22, 2003.

       In the provider track case, the plaintiffs assert that we and other defendants improperly paid providers'providers’ claims and "downcoded"“downcoded” their claims by paying lesser amounts than they submitted. The complaint alleges, among other things, multiple violations under RICO as well as various breaches of contract and violations of regulations governing the timeliness of claim payments. We moved to dismiss the provider track complaint on September 8, 2000, and the other defendants filed similar motions thereafter. On March 2, 2001, the Court dismissed certain of the plaintiffs'plaintiffs’ claims pursuant to the defendants'defendants’ several motions to dismiss. However, the Court allowed the plaintiffs to attempt to correct the deficiencies in their complaint with an amended pleading with respect to all of the allegations except a claim under the federal Medicare regulations, which was dismissed with prejudice. The Court also left undisturbed the plaintiffs'plaintiffs’ claims for breach of contract. On March 2 6,26, 2001, the plaintiffs filed their amended complaint, which, among other things, added four state or county medical associations as additional plaintiffs. Two of those, the Denton County Medical Society and the Texas Medical Association, purport to bring their actions against us, as well as against several other defendant companies. The Medical Association of Georgia and the California Medical Association purport to bring their actions against various other defendant companies. The associations seek injunctive relief only. The defendants filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint on April 30, 2001.

 

On September 26, 2002, the Court granted the plaintiffs'plaintiffs’ request to file a second amended complaint, adding additional plaintiffs, including the Florida Medical Association, which purports to bring its action against all defendants. On October 21, 2002, the defendants moved to dismiss the second amended complaint. The Court has not yet ruled.ruled on that motion.

 

Also on September 26, 2002, the Court certified a global class consisting of all medical doctors who provided services to any person insured by any defendant from August 4, 1990, to September 30,26, 2002. The class includes two subclasses. A national subclass consists of medical doctors who provided services to any person insured by a defendant when the doctor has a claim against such defendant and is not required to arbitrate that claim. A California subclass consists of medical doctors who provided services to any person insured in California by any defendant when the doctor was not bound to arbitrate the claim. On October 10, 2002, the defendants asked the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit to review the class certification decision. On November 20, 2002, the Court of Appeals agreed to review the class issue. The District Court has ruled that discovery can proceed during the pendency of the request to the Eleventh Circuit,appellate court heard oral argument on September 11, 2003. Discovery is ongoing, and the Eleventh Circuit rejected a request to halt discovery.

       The Court has set a trial date of December 8,June 30, 2004. In the meantime, Aetna Inc., announced on May 22, 2003, that it has entered into a settlement agreement with the plaintiffs. Another defendant, Cigna Corporation, entered into a settlement agreement September 4, 2003. The agreements have been filed with the Court and are subject to approval by the Court.

 Other

We intend to defend this action vigorously.

 

Other

The Academy of Medicine of Cincinnati, the Butler County Medical Society, the Northern Kentucky Medical Society, and several physicians have filed antitrust suits in state courts in Ohio and Kentucky against Aetna Health, Inc., Humana Health Plan of Ohio, Inc., Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, and United Healthcare of Ohio, Inc., alleging that the defendants have conspiredviolated the Ohio and Kentucky antitrust laws by conspiring to fix the reimbursement rates paid to physicians in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region. The companion suits are filed in state courts in Ohio and Kentucky and allege violation, respectively, of the Ohio and Kentucky antitrust laws. Each suit seeks class certification, damages and injunctive relief. Plaintiffs cite no evidence that any such conspiracy existed, but base their allegations on assertions that physicians in the Greater Cincinnati region are paid less than physicians in other major cities in Ohio and Kentucky.

 

The Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas (Ohio)state courts in Ohio and the Boone County Circuit Court (Kentucky) haveKentucky each denied motions by the defendants to compel arbitration or alternatively to dismiss. Defendants have filed notices of appeal with respect to the orders denying arbitration. The Ohio court has agreed to stay proceedings pending resolution of the appeal. The Kentucky court granted a similar request with respect to the physician plaintiffs, who are subject to arbitration agreements, but denied the requested stay with respect to the association plaintiffs and any physician plaintiffs whose contracts do not contain arbitration provisions. Defendants requested a stay from the Kentucky Court of Appeals pending appeal of the arbitration issue. The Court of Appeals denied the stay, and discovery began in the Kentucky action. The plaintiffs have filed

Humana Inc.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

motions to certify a class in each case. The purported classes allegedly consist respectively, of all physicians who have practiced medicine at any time since January 1, 1992, in a four county region in Southwestern Ohio or a three county region in Northern Kentucky.

 

On October 23, 2003, we entered into a settlement agreement with the plaintiffs that specifies an increase in future reimbursement we pay to a class consisting of physicians in a 12-county area in Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky over the next three years. We intendexpect to continueincrease the reimbursement, in the aggregate, we will pay physicians for future services over the amounts paid to defend these actions vigorously.them in 2003 as follows: $20 million in 2004, an additional $15 million in 2005 and an additional $10 million in 2006. The agreement also provides for a committee to monitor our contracting practices for the period 2007 through 2010, with reporting to us if any anticompetitive behavior is believed to have occurred. The agreement is subject to approval by the courts.

 

Government Audits and Other Litigation and Proceedings

 

In July 2000, the Office of the Florida Attorney General initiated an investigation, apparently relating to some of the same matters that are involved in the managed care industry purported class action lawsuitslitigation described above. While the Attorney General has filed no action against us, he has indicated that he may do so in the future. On September 21, 2001, the Texas Attorney General initiated a similar investigation. No actions have been filed against us by either state. These investigations are ongoing, and we have cooperated with the regulators in both states.

 

On May 31, 2000, we entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement, or CIA, with the Office of Inspector General, or OIG, of the Department of Health and Human Services. Under the CIA, we are obligated to, among other things, provide training, conduct periodic audits and make periodic reports to the OIG.

 

In addition, our business practices are subject to review by various state insurance and health care regulatory authorities and federal regulatory authorities. There has been increased scrutiny by these regulators of the managed health care companies'companies’ business practices, including claims payment practices and utilization management practices. We have been and continue to be subject to such reviews. Some of these have resulted in fines and could require changes in some of our practices and could also result in additional fines or other sanctions.

 

We also are involved in other lawsuits that arise in the ordinary course of our business operations, including claims of medical malpractice, bad faith, nonacceptance or termination of providers, failure to disclose network discounts, and various other provider arrangements, andas well as challenges to subrogation practices. We also are subject to claims relating to performance of contractual obligations to providers, members, and others, including failure to properly pay claims and challenges to the use of certain software products in processing claims. Pending state and federal legislative activity may increase our exposure for any of these types of claims.

 

In addition, someseveral courts, including several federal appellate courts, recently have issued decisions which could have the effect of eroding the scope of ERISA preemption for employer-sponsored health plans, thereby exposing us to greater liability for medical negligence claims. This includes decisions which hold that plans may be liable for medical negligence claims in some situations based solely on medical necessity decisions made in the course of adjudicating claims. In addition, some courts have issued rulings which make it easier to hold plans liable for medical negligence on the part of network providers on the theory that providers are agents of the plans and that the plans are therefore vicariously liable for the injuries to members by providers.

 

Personal injury claims and claims for extracontractual damages arising from medical benefit denials are covered by insurance from our wholly owned captive insurance subsidiary and excess carriers, except to the extent that claimants seek punitive damages, which may not be covered by insurance in certain states in which insurance coverage for punitive damages is not permitted. In addition, insurance coverage for all or certain forms of liability has become increasingly costly and may become unavailable or prohibitively expensive in the future. On January 1, 2002, and again on January 1, 2003, we reduced the amount of coverage purchased from third party insurance carriers and increased the amount of risk we retain due to substantially higher insurance rates.

 

We do not believe that any pending or threatened legal actions against us or any pending or threatened audits or investigations by state or federal regulatory agencies will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. However, the likelihood or outcome of current or future suits, like the purported class action lawsuits described above, or governmental investigations, cannot be accurately predicted with certainty. In addition, the increased litigation, which has accompanied the negative publicity and public perception of our industry, adds to this uncertainty. Therefore, such legal actions and governments audits and investigations could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

(9)

Humana Inc.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

(10) Segment Information

 

We manage our business with two segments: Commercial and Government. The Commercial segment consists of members enrolled in products marketed to employer groups and individuals, and includes three lines of business: fully insured medical, administrative services only, or ASO, and specialty. The Government segment consists of members enrolled in government-sponsored programs, and includes three lines of business: Medicare+Choice, Medicaid, and TRICARE. We identified our segments in accordance with the aggregation provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131,Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information, which is consistent with information used by our Chief Executive Officer in managing our business. The segment information aggregates products with similar economic characteristics. These characteristics include the nature of customer groups and pricing, benefits and underwriting requirements.

 

The results of each segment are measured by income before income taxes. We allocate all selling, general and administrative expenses, investment and other income, interest expense, and goodwill, but no other assets or liabilities, to our segments. Members served by our two segments generally utilize the same medical provider networks, enabling us to obtain more favorable contract terms with providers. Our segments also share overhead costs and assets. As a result, the profitability of each segment is interdependent.

 

Our segment results for the three and nine months ended March 31,September 30, 2003 and 2002 are as follows:

Commercial Segment


For the three months ended March 31,


2003


2002


(in thousands)

Revenues:

  Premiums:

    Fully insured

       HMO

$

735,590

$

635,817

       PPO

801,363

707,444



          Total fully insured

1,536,953

1,343,261

    Specialty

78,603

82,727



      Total premiums

1,615,556

1,425,988

  Administrative services fees

29,590

25,147

  Investment and other income

21,853

18,315



      Total revenues

1,666,999

1,469,450



Operating expenses:

  Medical

1,313,580

1,167,524

  Selling, general and administrative

276,037

255,605

  Depreciation and amortization

19,228

17,167

  Restructuring charge

17,852

--



      Total operating expenses

1,626,697

1,440,296



Income from operations

40,302

29,154

Interest expense

3,063

3,059



Income before income taxes

$

37,239

$

26,095



   Commercial Segment

   

Three months ended

September 30,


  

Nine months ended

September 30,


   2003

  2002

  2003

  2002

   (in thousands)

Revenues:

                

Premiums:

                

Fully insured

                

HMO

  $710,491  $656,803  $2,174,539  $1,936,472

PPO

   856,793   723,094   2,481,317   2,139,959
   

  

  

  

Total fully insured

   1,567,284   1,379,897   4,655,856   4,076,431

Specialty

   81,199   84,806   238,737   251,347
   

  

  

  

Total premiums

   1,648,483   1,464,703   4,894,593   4,327,778

Administrative services fees

   31,035   26,567   90,981   77,290

Investment and other income

   24,700   23,594   83,451   60,145
   

  

  

  

Total revenues

   1,704,218   1,514,864   5,069,025   4,465,213
   

  

  

  

Operating expenses:

                

Medical

   1,379,781   1,235,141   4,046,845   3,608,662

Selling, general and administrative

   277,981   253,737   838,061   748,691

Depreciation and amortization

   16,442   18,052   66,941   52,682
   

  

  

  

Total operating expenses

   1,674,204   1,506,930   4,951,847   4,410,035
   

  

  

  

Income from operations

   30,014   7,934   117,178   55,178

Interest expense

   4,062   3,394   10,230   9,650
   

  

  

  

Income before income taxes

  $25,952  $4,540  $106,948  $45,528
   

  

  

  

Humana Inc.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 


Government Segment


For the three months ended March 31,


2003


2002


(in thousands)

Revenues:

  Premiums:

    Medicare+Choice

$

635,842

$

672,186

    TRICARE

470,321

432,385

    Medicaid

121,230

111,253



      Total premiums

1,227,393

1,215,824

  Administrative services fees

31,546

39,866

  Investment and other income

5,778

7,442



      Total revenues

1,264,717

1,263,132



Operating expenses:

  Medical

1,057,854

1,027,015

  Selling, general and administrative

171,008

179,459

  Depreciation and amortization

11,912

12,629

  Restructuring charge

12,908

--



      Total operating expenses

1,253,682

1,219,103



Income from operations

11,035

44,029

Interest expense

872

1,345



Income before income taxes

$

10,163

$

42,684



   Government Segment

   

Three months ended

September 30,


  

Nine months ended

September 30,


   2003

  2002

  2003

  2002

   (in thousands)

Revenues:

                

Premiums:

                

Medicare+Choice

  $626,840  $647,265  $1,893,114  $1,981,931

TRICARE

   620,477   521,466   1,627,212   1,484,789

Medicaid

   120,498   118,902   357,733   343,389
   

  

  

  

Total premiums

   1,367,815   1,287,633   3,878,059   3,810,109

Administrative services fees

   35,949   34,489   108,807   112,610

Investment and other income

   3,783   4,641   17,548   18,217
   

  

  

  

Total revenues

   1,407,547   1,326,763   4,004,414   3,940,936
   

  

  

  

Operating expenses:

                

Medical

   1,148,342   1,065,880   3,297,689   3,203,086

Selling, general and administrative

   180,400   175,282   533,135   529,825

Depreciation and amortization

   10,670   12,471   33,291   37,874
   

  

  

  

Total operating expenses

   1,339,412   1,253,633   3,864,115   3,770,785
   

  

  

  

Income from operations

   68,135   73,130   140,299   170,151

Interest expense

   675   713   2,243   3,238
   

  

  

  

Income before income taxes

  $67,460  $72,417  $138,056  $166,913
   

  

  

  

 


Humana Inc.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

       The consolidated financial statements of Humana Inc. in this document present the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows, and should be read in conjunction with the following discussion and analysis. References to "we," "us," "our," "Company," and "Humana" mean Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries. This discussion includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this filing and in future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in our press releases, investor presentations, and in oral statements made by or with the approval of one of our executive officers, the words or phrases like "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "likely will result," "estimates," "projects" or variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guaran tees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, among other things, information set forth in the "Cautionary Statements" section of this document. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking eventsAs discussed in this document might not occur. There may also be other risks thatNote 4, we are unable to predict at this time. Any of these risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements.

       Introduction

       Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Humana Inc. is one of the nation's largest publicly traded health benefits companies, based on our 2002 revenues of $11.3 billion. We offer coordinated health insurance coverage andrecorded non-cash pretax charges related services through a variety of traditional and Internet-based plans for employer groups, government-sponsored programs, and individuals. As of March 31, 2003, we had approximately 6.6 million members in our medical insurance programs, as well as approximately 1.7 million members in our specialty products programs.

       We manage our business with two segments: Commercial and Government. The Commercial segment consists of members enrolled in products marketed to employer groups and individuals, and includes three lines of business: fully insured medical, administrative services only, or ASO, and specialty. The Government segment consists of members enrolled in government-sponsored programs, and includes three lines of business: Medicare+Choice, Medicaid, and TRICARE. We identified our segments in accordance with the aggregation provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131,Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information which is consistent with information used by our Chief Executive Officer in managing our business. The segment information aggregates products with similar economic characteristics. These characteristics include the nature of customer groups and pricing, benefits and underwriting requirements.

       The results of each segment are measured by income before income taxes. We allocate all selling, general and administrative expenses, investment and other income, interest expense, and goodwill, but no other assets or liabilities, to our segments. Members served by our two segments generally utilize the same medical provider networks, enabling us to obtain more favorable contract terms with providers. Our segments also share overhead costs and assets. As a result, the profitability of each segment is interdependent.

       Our business strategy centers on increasing Commercial segment profitability while maintaining our existing strength in the Government segment. Our strategy to increase Commercial segment profitability focuses on providing solutions for employers to the rising cost of health care through the use of innovativewritedown and consumer-driven product designs which are supported by service excellence and advanced electronic capabilities, including education, tools and technologies for our members provided primarily through the Internet. The intent of our Commercial segment strategy is to enable us to further penetrate commercial markets with potential for profitable growth and to transform the traditional consumer experience for both employers and members to result in a high degree of consumer satisfaction, loyalty and brand awareness. We are in the process of reducing our administrative cost structure primarily to support our Commercial strategy.

       Restructuring Charge

       During the fourth quarter of 2002, we finalized a plan to reduce our administrative cost structure with the consolidation of seven customer service centers into four and an enterprise-wide workforce reduction.

       The following table presents the components of the restructuring charge we recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and the year ended December 31, 2002:

 

 

Severance


 


 

 

No. of Employees


 

Cost


 

Long-lived Assets


 

Lease Discontinuance


 

Total


 

 

(dollars in thousands)

Fourth quarter 2002 charge

 

2,600

 $

32,105

 $

2,448

 $

1,324

 $

35,877

Cash payments

 

(500)

 

(910)

 

--

 

--

 

(910)

Non-cash

 

--

 

--

 

(2,448)

 

--

 

(2,448)

 

 


 


 


 


 


   Balance at December 31, 2002

 

2,100

 

31,195

 

--

 

1,324

 

32,519

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First quarter 2003 charge

 

--

 

--

 

30,760

 

--

 

30,760

Cash payments

 

(455)

 

(4,075)

 

--

 

(176)

 

(4,251)

Non-cash

 

--

 

--

 

(30,760)

 

--

 

(30,760)

 

 


 


 


 


 


   Balance at March 31, 2003

 

1,645

 $

27,120

 $

--

 $

1,148

 $

28,268

 

 


 


 


 


 


       Severance

       During the fourth quarter of 2002, we recorded severance and related employee benefit costs of $32.1 million ($19.6 million after tax) in connection with customer service center consolidation and an enterprise-wide workforce reduction. Severance costs were estimated based upon the provisions of the Company's existing employee benefit plans and policies. The plan to reduce our administrative cost structure is expected to affect approximately 2,600 positions throughout the entire organization including customer service, claim administration, clinical operations, provider network administration, as well as other corporate and field-based positions. As part of the plan, we expect to hire approximately 300 employees to support newly consolidated operations, thereby resulting in a net reduction of approximately 2,300 positions. As of March 31, 2003, approximately 955 positions had been eliminated. We expect the remaining positions to be eliminated by December 31, 20 03, with most of the severance being paid in 2003.

       Long-lived Asset Impairment

       Our decision to eliminate three customer service centers prompted a review during the fourth quarter of 2002 for the possible impairment of long-lived assets used in these operations. We will continue to use some long-lived assets associated with these customer service center operations until mid-2003, the expected completion date for consolidating these operations. We are currently evaluating alternatives with respect to future use of these long-lived assets, including possible sale.

       Our fourth quarter of 2002 impairment review indicated that estimated future undiscounted cash flows attributable to our business supported by our San Antonio, Texas customer service operations were insufficient to recover the carrying valueaccelerated depreciation of certain long-lived assets primarily buildings used in these operations. Accordingly, we adjusted the carrying value of these long-lived assets to their estimated fair value resulting in a non-cash impairment charge of $2.4$30.8 million ($1.5 million after tax). Estimated fair value was based on an independent third party appraisal of the buildings.

       Our first quarter of 2003 impairment review indicated that estimated future undiscounted cash flows attributable to our business supported by our Jacksonville, Florida customer service operations were insufficient to recover the carrying value of certain long-lived assets, primarily a building used in our Florida operations. Accordingly, we recorded a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $17.2 million ($10.5 million after tax) during the first quarter of 2003. Estimated fair value was based on an independent third party appraisal of the buildings. Additionally, we recorded a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $13.5 million ($8.3 million after tax) during the first quarter of 2003 related to accelerated depreciation of software we ceased using in the first quarter of 2003.

Comparison of Results of Operations

       The following discussion primarily deals with our results of operations for the threenine months ended March 31, 2003, or the 2003 quarter, and the three months ended March 31, 2002, or the 2002 quarter.

September 30, 2003. The following table presents certain financial data for our two segments:

For the three months ended
March 31,


2003


2002


(in thousands, except ratios)

Premium revenues:

  Fully insured

$

1,536,953

$

1,343,261

  Specialty

78,603

82,727



    Total Commercial

1,615,556

1,425,988



  Medicare+Choice

635,842

672,186

  TRICARE

470,321

432,385

  Medicaid

121,230

111,253



    Total Government

1,227,393

1,215,824



      Total

$

2,842,949

$

2,641,812



Administrative services fees:

  Commercial

$

29,590

$

25,147

  Government

31,546

39,866



    Total

$

61,136

$

65,013



Medical expense ratios:

  Commercial

81.3

%

81.9

%

  Government

86.2

%

84.5

%



    Total

83.4

%

83.1

%



SG&A expense ratios:

  Commercial

16.8

%

17.6

%

  Government

13.6

%

14.3

%



    Total

15.4

%

16.1

%



Income before income taxes:

   Commercial

$

37,239

$

26,095

   Government

10,163

42,684



     Total

$

47,402

$

68,779



     The following table presents a comparisondetails the impact of our medical membership at March 31, 2003 and 2002:

 

 

March 31,


 

Change


 

 

 

2003


 

2002


 

Members


 

Percentage


 

Commercial segment medical members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Fully insured

 

2,348,800

 

2,332,400

 

16,400

 

0.7

%

   ASO

 

654,600

 

621,800

 

32,800

 

5.3

%





      Total Commercial

 

3,003,400

 

2,954,200

 

49,200

 

1.7

%





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Government segment medical members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Medicare+Choice

 

327,100

 

363,700

 

(36,600

)

(10.1

)%

   Medicaid

 

491,400

 

476,800

 

14,600

 

3.1

%

   TRICARE

 

1,752,500

 

1,742,300

 

10,200

 

0.6

%

   TRICARE ASO

 

1,050,800

 

997,900

 

52,900

 

5.3

%





      Total Government

 

3,621,800

 

3,580,700

 

41,100

 

1.1

%





Total medical membership

6,625,200

6,534,900

90,300

1.4

%





       Overview

       Net income was $31.2 million, or $0.19 per diluted share in the 2003 quarter compared to $46.8 million, or $0.28 per diluted share in the 2002 quarter. The decrease in net income primarily was due to the 2003 quarter non-cash restructuring charge of $30.8 million ($18.8 million after tax).

       Premium Revenues and Medical Membership

       Premium revenues increased 7.6% to $2.84 billion for the 2003 quarter, compared to $2.64 billion for the 2002 quarter. Higher premium revenues resulted primarily from increasing fully insured commercial premium yields. Premium yield represents the percentage increase in the average premium per member over the comparable period in the prior year. Items impacting premium yield include changes in premium rates, changes in government reimbursement rates, changes in the geographic mix of membership, and changes in the mix of benefit plans selected by our membership.

       Commercial segment premium revenues increased 13.3% to $1.62 billion for the 2003 quarter, compared to $1.43 billion for the 2002 quarter. This increase resulted from higher premium yieldsthese charges on our fully insured commercial business, which were in the 13% to 15% range, and slightly higher membership levels. Our fully insured commercial medical membership increased 0.7%, or 16,400 members, to 2,348,800 at March 31, 2003 compared to 2,332,400 at March 31, 2002. We expect fully insured commercial premium yield to continue in the 13% to 15% range for the remainder of 2003. Also, we expect Commercial segment medical membership, both fully insured and administrative services (discussed below) to grow at a rate of 2% to 4% by December 31, 2003.

       Government segment premium revenues increased 1.0% to $1.23 billion for the 2003 quarter, compared to $1.22 billion for the 2002 quarter. This increase was primarily attributable to our TRICARE business, partially offset by a reduction in our Medicare+Choice membership. TRICARE premium revenues grew from the annual increase in our contractually determined base revenues and as a result of Congressionally legislated benefit changes, an increase in eligible beneficiaries, and a decrease in the use of military treatment facilities. Medicare+Choice membership was 327,100 at March 31, 2003, compared to 363,700 at March 31, 2002, a decline of 36,600 members, or 10.1%. This decrease was due to our exit of various counties on January 1, 2003, as well as attrition of some members leaving our plans in certain markets as a result of new benefit designs. Premium yield on our Medicare+Choice business for the 2003 quarter was in the 4% to 6% range. We expect Medicare+Choice prem ium yield to continue in the 4% to 6% range for the remainder of 2003 with membership falling to between 310,000 to 320,000 by December 31, 2003.

       Administrative Services Fees

       Our administrative services fees for the 2003 quarter were $61.1 million, a decrease of $3.9 million from $65.0 million for the 2002 quarter. For the Commercial segment, administrative services fees increased $4.4 million, or 17.7%, to $29.6 million for the 2003 quarter. This increase reflects a higher average fee per member and growth in ASO membership of 5.3%, which was 654,600 members at March 31, 2003, compared to 621,800 at March 31, 2002. The $8.3 million decrease in our Government segment administrative services fees primarily was due to lower fees derived from the TRICARE for Life program. TRICARE for Life is a program for seniors where we provide medical benefit administrative services.

       Investment and Other Income

       Investment and other income totaled $27.6 million for the 2003 quarter, an increase of $1.8 million from $25.8 million for the 2002 quarter. This increase primarily resulted from an increase in the average invested balance.

       Medical Expense

       The medical expense ratio, or MER, is computed by taking total medical expenses as a percentage of premium revenues. MER for the 2003 quarter was 83.4%, increasing 30 basis points from the 2002 quarter as increases in the Government segment outweighed improvements in the Commercial segment.

       The Commercial segment's MER for the 2003 quarter was 81.3%, decreasing 60 basis points from the 2002 quarter of 81.9%. This improvement was significant considering the shift in the mix of business to larger group sizes, which traditionally experience a higher medical expense ratio and lower selling, general and administrative expense ratio than our small group membership. Large group commercial membership represented 65% of our fully insured commercial membership at March 31, 2003 compared to 63% at March 31, 2002. The improvement in MER primarily resulted from pricing discipline and attrition of groups with a high medical expense ratio. Pricing discipline produces the delivery of premium rate increases commensurate with underlying claims costs to ensure margins.

       The Government segment's MER for the 2003 quarter was 86.2%, increasing 170 basis points from the 2002 quarter of 84.5%. The increase was due to our TRICARE operations. Our MER for TRICARE was higher than prior year due primarily to increases in utilization of services and the timing of contractual adjustments. The increase in utilization was largely attributable to increases in the number of eligible beneficiaries and decreases in the utilization of military treatment facilities, or MTF's. Changes in the number of eligible beneficiaries and utilization of MTF's have resulted from activity and deployments surrounding the military conflicts in the Middle East. Contractual adjustments result from bid price adjustments, or BPAs, and change orders. BPAs are utilized to adjust premium revenues for unanticipated changes in costs, primarily due to changes in utilization patterns, the number of beneficiaries and medical cost inflation. Change orders occur when we perform services or incur costs under the directive of the federal government that were not originally specified in our contracts. Under federal regulations we are entitled to an equitable adjustment to the contract price.

       SG&A Expense

       Total selling, general and administrative, or SG&A, expenses as a percentage of premium revenues and administrative services fees, or SG&A expense ratio, for the 2003 quarter was 15.4%, decreasing 70 basis points from the 2002 quarter of 16.1%. As indicated in the preceding table, the SG&A expense ratio improved for both the Commercial and Government segments. This improvement resulted from reductions in the number of employees due to operational efficiencies gained from streamlining various processes through technology and other initiatives. For example, the percentage of our inbound contacts handled electronically, generally to check eligibility and claims status, has consistently improved from 48% in March 2002 to 63% in March 2003. We have also seen operational improvement through the use of technology with an increase in the number of claims adjudicated electronically. Our largest claims processing platform now moves approximately 75% of i ts claims through the system without being adjudicated by claims staff compared to approximately 66% at the beginning of 2002. The Commercial segment also saw improvement from a changing mix of members toward larger group members. Costs to distribute and administer our products to large group members are lower than that of small group members. For the full year of 2003, we expect a Commercial segment SG&A ratio of between 16.3%-16.5% and a Government segment SG&A ratio approximately equal to 2002's 13.3%.segments:

 Depreciation and amortization for the 2003 quarter totaled $31.1 million compared to $29.8 million for the 2002 quarter, an increase of $1.3 million, or 4.5%. This increase was the result of increased capital expenditures primarily related to our technology initiatives.

       Interest Expense
   For the nine months ended September 30,
2003


   Commercial

  Government

  Total

   (in thousands)

Line item affected:

            

Selling, general and administrative

  $4,325  $12,908  $17,233

Depreciation and amortization

   13,527   —     13,527
   

  

  

Total pretax impact

  $17,852  $12,908  $30,760
   

  

  

       Interest expense was $3.9 million for the 2003 quarter, compared to $4.4 million for the 2002 quarter, a decrease of $0.5 million. This decrease primarily resulted from lower interest rates.

       Income TaxesHumana Inc.

       On an interim basis, the provision for income taxes is provided for at the anticipated effective tax rate for the year. Our effective tax rate for the 2003 quarter was approximately 34% compared to 32% for the 2002 quarter. The higher effective tax rate in the 2003 quarter resulted primarily from a lower proportion of tax-exempt investment income to pretax income.

       MembershipNOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

       The following table presents our medical and specialty membership at March 31, 2003, and at the end of each quarter in 2002:(Unaudited)

 

 

2003


 

2002


 

 

March 31


 

March 31


 

June 30


 

Sept. 30


 

Dec. 31


Medical Membership:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial segment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Fully insured

 

2,348,800

 

2,332,400

 

2,319,600

 

2,323,600

 

2,340,300

   ASO

 

654,600

 

621,800

 

627,500

 

658,600

 

652,200

 

 


 


 


 


 


     Total Commercial

 

3,003,400

 

2,954,200

 

2,947,100

 

2,982,200

 

2,992,500

 

 


 


 


 


 


Government segment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Medicare+Choice

 

327,100

 

363,700

 

354,100

 

349,000

 

344,100

   Medicaid

 

491,400

 

476,800

 

487,900

 

506,100

 

506,000

   TRICARE

 

1,752,500

 

1,742,300

 

1,761,000

 

1,755,700

 

1,755,800

   TRICARE ASO

 

1,050,800

 

997,900

 

1,021,900

 

1,038,400

 

1,048,700

 

 


 


 


 


 


     Total Government

 

3,621,800

 

3,580,700

 

3,624,900

 

3,649,200

 

3,654,600

 

 


 


 


 


 


       Total medical members

 

6,625,200

 

6,534,900

 

6,572,000

 

6,631,400

 

6,647,100

 

 


 


 


 


 


Specialty Membership:

Commercial segment

 

1,650,100

 

1,659,300

 

1,638,200

 

1,629,400

 

1,640,000

 

 


 


 


 


 


 

       Liquidity(11) Debt

 Cash flows used in operating activities of $108.2 million for the 2003 quarter improved from cash flows used in operating activities of $140.1 million for the 2002 quarter by $31.9 million, or 22.8%. This increase primarily was attributable to the improvement in earnings.

       The use of cash flows from our operations for the 2003 and 2002 quarters results from the timing of Medicare+Choice premium receipts. This timing resulted in only two monthly Medicare+Choice premium receipts during the quarters rather than a normal three. The Medicare+Choice premium receipt is payable to us on the first day of each month. When the first day of a month falls on a weekend or holiday, we receive this payment at the end of the previous month. This receipt is significant, the timing of which causes material fluctuation in operating cash flows. The Medicare+Choice premium receipts for January 2003 of $205.8 million and for January 2002 of $216.6 million were received early in December 2002 and December 2001, respectively, because January 1 is always a holiday.

       Medical and other expenses payable increased $83.9 million during the 2003 quarter versus an increase of $64.0 million during the 2002 quarter. The increase in medical and other expenses payable primarily results from higher membership levels and medical claims trend.

       Total net premium and ASO receivables increased to $528.7 million, or 26.8%, during the first quarter of 2003, as presented in the following table:

March 31,

December 31,

Change


2003


2002


Dollars


Percentage


(Dollars in thousands)

TRICARE:

   Base receivable

$

206,537

$

197,544

$

8,993

4.6

%

   Bid price adjustments (BPAs)

 

106,453

 

 

104,044

 

 

2,409

 

 

2.3

%

   Change orders

 

45,633

 

 

57,630

 

 

(11,997

)

 

(20.8

)%





358,623

359,218

(595

)

(0.2

)%

   Less: long-term portion of BPAs

--

(86,471

)

86,471

100.0

%





      TRICARE subtotal

358,623

272,747

85,876

31.5

%

Commercial

199,631

174,309

25,322

14.5

%

Allowance for doubtful accounts

(29,556

)

(30,178

)

622

2.1

%





      Total net receivables

$

528,698

$

416,878

$

111,820

26.8

%





       TRICARE base receivables are collected monthly in the ordinary course of business. The timing of BPA collections occurs at contractually specified intervals, typically in excess of 6 months after the end of a contract year. At December 31, 2002, we classified $86.5 million of the BPA receivables associated with our Regions 3 and 4 TRICARE contract as long-term because the federal government was not contractually obligated to pay us the amounts until January 2004. We also had a BPA amount payable within one year under the Regions 3 and 4 contract of $23.2 million at December 31, 2002, which required classification in trade accounts payable and accrued expenses in our consolidated balance sheet. Since the net collection was due within 12 months and an appropriate right of offset existed between the payable and receivable, both of these amounts were classified into current assets and included with premium receivables at March 31, 2003. Thus, excluding th e impact of changes in balance sheet classifications, TRICARE receivables increased $22.6 million. Higher base receivables and BPA receivables resulting from contractual risk-sharing were partially offset by a reduction of change order receivables due to collections during the quarter. We do not expect TRICARE receivables to exceed the March 31, 2003 balance of $358.6 million for the remainder of 2003.

       Commercial premium and ASO receivables increased $25.3 million during the 2003 quarter primarily due to the timing of collections relative to a few large accounts.

       Capital Expenditures

       Our ongoing capital expenditures relate primarily to our technology initiatives and administrative facilities necessary for activities such as claims processing, billing and collections, medical utilization review and customer service. Total capital expenditures were $21.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003, compared to $31.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2002. We expect our total capital expenditures in 2003 to be approximately $105 million, most of which will be used for our technology initiatives and improvement of administrative facilities.

       Stock Repurchase Plan

       In July 2002, the Board of Directors authorized the use of up to $100 million for the repurchase of our common shares. The shares may be purchased from time to time at prevailing prices in the open market, by block purchases, or in privately negotiated transactions. We have engaged Lehman Brothers Inc. and Banc of America Securities, LLC to broker these transactions. During the 2003 quarter, we repurchased 2.2 million shares at a cost of $20.8 million, or an average of $9.31 per share. Cumulatively, through March 31, 2003, we have purchased in the open market 8.6 million shares at a cost of $94.9 million, or an average of $10.98 per share. The total remaining share repurchase authorization as of March 31, 2003 was $5.1 million.

       Debt

The following table presents our short-term and long-term debt outstanding at March 31,September 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002:

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

2003


 

 

2002


 

 

(in thousands)

 

Short-term debt:

  Conduit commercial paper financing program

$

265,000

 

 

$

265,000

 

 


 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Senior notes

$

328,937

 

 

$

334,368

 

  Other long-term borrowings

 

5,391

 

 

 

5,545

 

 


 

 


 

    Total long-term debt

$

334,328

 

 

$

339,913

 

 


 

 


 

 

   

September 30,

2003


  

December 31,

2002


   (in thousands)

Short-term debt:

        

Conduit commercial paper financing program

  $—    $265,000
   

  

Long-term debt:

        

6.30% senior, unsecured notes due 2018, net of unamortized discount of $852 at September 30, 2003

  $299,148  $—  

7.25% senior, unsecured notes due 2006, net of unamortized discount of $412 at September 30, 2003 and $521 at December 31, 2002

   299,588   299,479

Fair value of interest rate swap agreements

   12,047   34,889

Deferred gain from interest rate swap exchange

   28,578   —  
   

  

Total senior notes

   639,361   334,368

Other long-term borrowings

   5,079   5,545
   

  

Total long-term debt

  $644,440  $339,913
   

  

Senior Notes

 The

On August 5, 2003, we issued $300 million 71/4%6.30% senior unsecured notes are due August 1, 2006.2018. Our net proceeds, reduced for the cost of the offering, were approximately $295.7 million. The net proceeds are being used for general corporate purposes, including the funding of our short term cash needs.

 

In order to hedge the risk of changes in the fair value of our $300 million 71/4%6.30% senior notes and our $300 million 7.25% senior notes attributable to fluctuations in interest rates, we entered into interest rate swap agreements. Interest rate swap agreements, which are considered derivatives, are contracts that exchange interest payments on a specified principal amount, or notional amount, for a specified period. Our interest rate swap agreements exchange the 71/4% fixed interest rate under our senior notes for a variable interest rate, which was 2.96% at March 31, 2003. The $300 million swap agreements mature on August 1, 2006, and have the same critical terms as our senior notes. Changes in the fair value of the 71/4%6.30% or 7.25% senior notes and the swap agreements due to changing interest rates are assumed to offset each other completely, resulting in no impact to earnings from hedge ineffectiveness.

Our swap agreements are recognized in our consolidated balance sheet at fair value with an equal and offsetting adjustment to the carrying value of our senior notes. The fair value of our interest rate swap agreements are estimated based on quoted market prices of comparable agreements, and reflectsreflect the amounts we would receive (or pay) to terminate the agreements at the reporting date.

Our interest rate swap agreements exchange the fixed interest rate under our 6.30% and 7.25% senior notes for a variable interest rate. At March 31,September 30, 2003, the $29.4variable interest rate was 2.04% for the 6.30% senior notes and 6.27% for the 7.25% senior notes. The $300 million swap agreements for the 6.30% senior notes mature on August 1, 2018, and the $300 million swap agreements for the 7.25% senior notes mature on August 1, 2006, and each has the same critical terms as the related senior notes.

In June 2003, we recorded a deferred gain and received proceeds of $31.6 million in exchange for new swap agreements having current market terms related to our 7.25% senior notes. The new swap agreements have the same critical terms as our 7.25% senior notes. The corresponding deferred swap gain of $31.6 million is being amortized to reduce interest expense over the remaining term of the 7.25% senior notes. The carrying value of our 7.25% senior notes has been increased $28.6 million by the remaining deferred swap gain balance at September 30, 2003.

At September 30, 2003, the $12.0 million fair value of our swap agreements is included in other long-term assets. Likewise, the carrying value of our senior notes has been increased $29.4$12.0 million to its fair value. The counterparties to our swap agreements are major financial institutions with which we also have other financial relationships.

Humana Inc.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Credit Agreements

 

We maintain two unsecured revolving credit agreements consisting of a $265 million, 4-year revolving credit agreement and a $265 million, 364-day revolving credit agreement with a one-year term out option. A one year term out option converts the outstanding borrowings, if any, under the credit agreement to a one year term loan upon expiration. The 4-year revolving credit agreement expires in October 2005. In October 2002,2003, for the second time, we renewed the 364-day revolving credit agreement which expires in October 2003,2004, unless extended.

 

There were no balances outstanding under either agreement at March 31,September 30, 2003. Under these agreements, at our option, we can borrow on either a competitive advance basis or a revolving credit basis. The revolving credit portion of both agreements bear interest at either a fixed rate or floating rate based on LIBOR plus a spread. The spread, which varies depending on our credit ratings, ranges from 80 to 125 basis points for our 4-year agreement, and 85 to 137.5 basis points for our 364-day agreement. We also pay an annual facility fee regardless of utilization. This facility fee, currently 25 basis points, may fluctuate between 15 and 50 basis points, depending upon our credit ratings. The competitive advance portion of any borrowings under either credit agreement will bear interest at market rates prevailing at the time of borrowing on either a fixed rate or a floating rate basis, at our option.

 

These credit agreements, and the agreement relating to the conduit commercial paper program described below, contain customary restrictive and financial covenants as well as customary events of default, including financial covenants regarding the maintenance of net worth, and minimum interest coverage and maximum leverage ratios. At March 31,September 30, 2003, we were in compliance with all applicable financial covenant requirements. The terms of each of these credit agreements also include standard provisions related to conditions of borrowing, including a customary material adverse effect clause which could limit our ability to borrow. We have not experienced a material adverse effect and we know of no circumstances or events which would be reasonably likely to result in a material adverse effect. We do not believe the material adverse effect clause poses a material funding risk to Humana in the future.

 

Commercial Paper Programs

 

We maintain indirect access to the commercial paper market through our conduit commercial paper financing program. Under this program, a third party issues commercial paper and loans the proceeds of those issuances to us so that the interest and principal payments on the loans match those on the underlying commercial paper. The $265 million, 364-day revolving credit agreement supports the conduit commercial paper financing program of up to $265 million. The weighted average interest rate on ourAt September 30, 2003, we had no conduit commercial paper borrowings was 1.68% at March 31, 2003. The carrying value of these borrowings approximates fair value as the interest rate on the borrowings varies at market rates.outstanding.

 

We also maintain and may issue short-term debt securities under a commercial paper program when market conditions allow. The program is backed by our credit agreements described above. Aggregate borrowingUnder the terms of our credit agreements, aggregate borrowings under both the credit agreements and commercial paper program cannot exceed $530 million.

 

Other Borrowings

 

Other borrowings of $5.4$5.1 million at March 31,September 30, 2003 represent financing for the renovation of a building, bear interest at 2%, are collateralized by the building, and are payable in various installments through 2014.

Humana Inc.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The consolidated financial statements of Humana Inc. in this document present the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows, and should be read in conjunction with the following discussion and analysis. References to “we,” “us,” “our,” “Company,” and “Humana” mean Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries. This discussion includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this filing and in future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in our press releases, investor presentations, and in oral statements made by or with the approval of one of our executive officers, the words or phrases like “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “likely will result,” “estimates,” “projects” or variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward–looking statements. These forward–looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, among other things, information set forth in the “Cautionary Statements” section of this document. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward–looking events discussed in this document might not occur. There may also be other risks that we are unable to predict at this time. Any of these risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward–looking statements.

Introduction

Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Humana is one of the nation’s largest publicly traded health benefits companies, based on our 2002 revenues of $11.3 billion. We offer coordinated health insurance coverage and related services through a variety of traditional and Internet-based plans for employer groups, government-sponsored programs, and individuals. As of September 30, 2003, we had approximately 6.6 million members in our medical insurance programs, as well as approximately 1.6 million members in our specialty products programs.

We manage our business with two segments: Commercial and Government. The Commercial segment consists of members enrolled in products marketed to employer groups and individuals, and includes three lines of business: fully insured medical, administrative services only, or ASO, and specialty. The Government segment consists of members enrolled in government-sponsored programs, and includes three lines of business: Medicare+Choice, Medicaid, and TRICARE. We identified our segments in accordance with the aggregation provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131,Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information, which is consistent with information used by our Chief Executive Officer in managing our business. The segment information aggregates products with similar economic characteristics. These characteristics include the nature of customer groups and pricing, benefits and underwriting requirements.

The results of each segment are measured by income before income taxes. We allocate all selling, general and administrative expenses, investment and other income, interest expense, and goodwill, but no other assets or liabilities, to our segments. Members served by our two segments generally utilize the same medical provider networks, enabling us to obtain more favorable contract terms with providers. Our segments also share overhead costs and assets. As a result, the profitability of each segment is interdependent.

Our business strategy centers on increasing Commercial segment profitability while maintaining our existing strength in the Government segment. Our strategy to increase Commercial segment profitability focuses on providing solutions for employers to the rising cost of health care through the use of innovative and consumer-centric product designs which are supported by service excellence and advanced electronic capabilities, including education, tools and technologies for our members provided primarily through the Internet. The intent of our Commercial segment strategy is to enable us to further penetrate commercial markets with potential for profitable growth and to transform the traditional consumer experience for both employers and members to result in a high degree of consumer engagement, satisfaction, loyalty and brand awareness.

Restructuring Charge

During the fourth quarter of 2002, we finalized a plan to realign our administrative cost structure with the consolidation of seven customer service centers into four and an enterprise-wide workforce reduction.

The following table presents a rollforward of the restructuring charge for the year ended December 31, 2002 and the nine months ended September 30, 2003:

   Severance

       
   No. of
Employees


  Cost

  Lease
Discontinuance


  Total

 
Year ended December 31, 2002  (dollars in thousands) 

Provision

  2,600  $32,105  $1,324  $33,429 

Cash payments

  (500)  (910)  —     (910)
   

 


 


 


Balance at December 31, 2002

  2,100   31,195   1,324   32,519 

Nine months ended September 30, 2003

                

Cash payments

  (1,600)  (16,085)  (800)  (16,885)
   

 


 


 


Balance at September 30, 2003

  500  $15,110  $524  $15,634 
   

 


 


 


Severance

During the fourth quarter of 2002, we recorded severance and related employee benefit costs of $32.1 million ($19.6 million after tax) in connection with the customer service center consolidation and an enterprise-wide workforce reduction. Severance costs were estimated based upon the provisions of the Company’s existing employee benefit plans and policies. The plan to reduce our administrative cost structure is expected to ultimately affect approximately 2,600 positions throughout the entire organization, including customer service, claim administration, clinical operations, provider network administration, as well as other corporate and field-based positions. As of September 30, 2003, approximately 2,100 positions had been eliminated. Severance is paid biweekly resulting in payments in periods subsequent to termination. We expect additional positions will be eliminated by December 31, 2003, and the remaining positions eliminated no later than June 30, 2004.

Long-lived Asset Charge

Impairment

Our decision to eliminate the Jacksonville, Florida, San Antonio, Texas and Madison, Wisconsin customer service centers during the fourth quarter of 2002 prompted a review for the possible impairment of long-lived assets associated with these centers. Assets under operating leases supported the Madison service center and, therefore, were not applicable to our impairment analysis. Under a transition plan, we continued to use the long-lived assets of the Jacksonville and San Antonio customer service centers until mid-2003, the completion date for consolidating these two customer service centers. The long-lived assets of our customer service centers were supported by the future cash flows expected to result from members serviced by those centers. Cash flows from members serviced by a particular service center represented the lowest level of independently identifiable cash flows. For example, cash flows from members located primarily in the state of Florida and serviced by the Jacksonville service center supported the Jacksonville center’s long-lived assets until those members’ service was transitioned elsewhere.

Our impairment review during the fourth quarter of 2002 indicated that estimated undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the remaining use of the San Antonio, Texas customer service center long-lived assets, primarily buildings, were insufficient to recover their carrying value. Accordingly, we reduced the carrying value of these long-lived assets to their estimated fair value resulting in a non-cash impairment charge of $2.4 million ($1.5 million after tax) during the fourth quarter of 2002.

Unlike our San Antonio impairment review, a greater number of more profitable members in Florida caused the estimated undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the remaining use of the Jacksonville, Florida customer service center’s long-lived assets, primarily a building, to exceed the carrying value as of the fourth quarter of 2002 impairment review. However, impairment was triggered during the first quarter of 2003 with the passage of time and the approaching date for closing the center. As members serviced by the Jacksonville, Florida customer service center were transferred to other service centers during 2003, the undiscounted cash flows expected from the remaining members serviced by the center fell during the first quarter of 2003 to a level no longer supporting the carrying value of the center’s long-lived assets. Accordingly, we reduced the carrying value of these long-lived assets to their estimated fair value resulting in a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $17.2 million ($10.5 million after tax) during the first quarter of 2003.

We used an independent third party appraisal to assist us in evaluating the fair value of the buildings. The non-cash impairment charges are included with selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.

We are in the process of selling the buildings previously used in our Jacksonville and San Antonio customer service operations and have classified them as held for sale. The carrying amount of the buildings approximated $27.6 million at September 30, 2003 based on their fair value less estimated costs to sell the buildings. We are no longer depreciating these buildings effective July 1, 2003. The impact of ceasing depreciation of the buildings was not material to our results of operations.

Accelerated Depreciation

After finalizing plans during the first quarter of 2003 to abandon software used in the Jacksonville, Florida operations by March 2003, we reduced the estimated useful life of the software effective January 1, 2003. Accordingly, we accelerated the depreciation of the remaining software balance of approximately $13.5 million ($8.3 million after tax) during the first quarter of 2003.

The following table details the impact of the non-cash pretax charges related to the writedown and accelerated depreciation of certain long-lived assets on our Commercial and Government segments for the nine months ended September 30, 2003:

   For the nine months ended September 30, 2003

   Commercial

  Government

  Total

   (in thousands)

Line item affected:

            

Selling, general and administrative

  $4,325  $12,908  $17,233

Depreciation and amortization

   13,527   —     13,527
   

  

  

Total pretax impact

  $17,852  $12,908  $30,760
   

  

  

Comparison of Results of Operations

The following table presents certain consolidated financial data for our two segments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002:

   Three months ended
September 30,


  Nine months ended
September 30,


 
   2003

  2002

  2003

  2002

 
   (in thousands, except ratios) 

Premium revenues:

                 

Fully insured

  $1,567,284  $1,379,897  $4,655,856  $4,076,431 

Specialty

   81,199   84,806   238,737   251,347 
   


 


 


 


Total Commercial

   1,648,483   1,464,703   4,894,593   4,327,778 
   


 


 


 


Medicare+Choice

   626,840   647,265   1,893,114   1,981,931 

TRICARE

   620,477   521,466   1,627,212   1,484,789 

Medicaid

   120,498   118,902   357,733   343,389 
   


 


 


 


Total Government

   1,367,815   1,287,633   3,878,059   3,810,109 
   


 


 


 


Total

  $3,016,298  $2,752,336  $8,772,652  $8,137,887 
   


 


 


 


Administrative services fees:

                 

Commercial

  $31,035  $26,567  $90,981  $77,290 

Government

   35,949   34,489   108,807   112,610 
   


 


 


 


Total

  $66,984  $61,056  $199,788  $189,900 
   


 


 


 


Medical expense ratios:

                 

Commercial

   83.7%  84.3%  82.7%  83.4%

Government

   84.0%  82.8%  85.0%  84.1%
   


 


 


 


Total

   83.8%  83.6%  83.7%  83.7%
   


 


 


 


SG&A expense ratios:

                 

Commercial

   16.6%  17.0%  16.8%  17.0%

Government

   12.9%  13.3%  13.4%  13.5%
   


 


 


 


Total

   14.9%  15.2%  15.3%  15.4%
   


 


 


 


Income before income taxes:

                 

Commercial

  $25,952  $4,540  $106,948  $45,528 

Government

   67,460   72,417   138,056   166,913 
   


 


 


 


Total

  $93,412  $76,957  $245,004  $212,441 
   


 


 


 


The following table presents a comparison of our medical membership at September 30, 2003 and 2002:

   September 30,

  Change

 
   2003

  2002

  Members

  Percentage

 

Commercial segment medical members:

             

Fully insured

  2,324,600  2,323,600  1,000  0.0%

ASO

  711,800  658,600  53,200  8.1%
   
  
  

 

Total Commercial

  3,036,400  2,982,200  54,200  1.8%
   
  
  

 

Government segment medical members:

             

Medicare+Choice

  324,600  349,000  (24,400) (7.0)%

Medicaid

  460,800  506,100  (45,300) (9.0)%

TRICARE

  1,746,300  1,755,700  (9,400) (0.5)%

TRICARE ASO

  1,057,000  1,038,400  18,600  1.8%
   
  
  

 

Total Government

  3,588,700  3,649,200  (60,500) (1.7)%
   
  
  

 

Total medical membership

  6,625,100  6,631,400  (6,300) (0.1)%
   
  
  

 

The following discussion deals with our results of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2003, or the 2003 quarter, and the three months ended September 30, 2002, or the 2002 quarter, as well as the nine months ended September 30, 2003, or the 2003 period, and the nine months ended September 30, 2002, or the 2002 period.

Overview

Net income was $62.1 million, or $0.38 per diluted share in the 2003 quarter compared to $52.3 million, or $0.31 per diluted share in the 2002 quarter. Net income was $162.6 million, or $1.01 per diluted share in the 2003 period compared to $144.5 million, or $0.86 per diluted share in the 2002 period. The increase in net income was driven by the improvement in our Commercial segment. Included in net income for the 2003 period was the previously discussed $18.8 million after tax, or $0.12 per diluted share, non-cash charge related to long-lived assets and accelerated depreciation of software partially offset by a $10.1 million after tax gain, or $0.06 per diluted share, from the sale of an interest in a privately held venture capital investment. The net impact of these items reduced net income for the 2003 period by $8.7 million, or $0.05 per diluted share.

Premium Revenues and Medical Membership

Premium revenues increased 9.6% to $3.02 billion for the 2003 quarter, compared to $2.75 billion for the 2002 quarter. For the 2003 period, premium revenues were $8.77 billion, an increase of 7.8% compared to $8.14 billion for the 2002 period. Higher premium revenues resulted primarily from increasing fully insured commercial per member premiums. Items impacting per member premiums include changes in premium and government reimbursement rates, as well as changes in the geographic mix of membership, the mix of product offerings, and the mix of benefit plans selected by our membership.

Commercial segment premium revenues increased 12.5% to $1.65 billion for the 2003 quarter, compared to $1.46 billion for the 2002 quarter. For the 2003 period, commercial segment premium revenues were $4.89 billion, an increase of 13.1% compared to $4.33 billion for the 2002 period. These increases resulted from higher per member premiums on our fully insured commercial business, which were in the 12% to 14% range.

We expect Commercial fully insured and ASO medical membership to achieve a combined increase for all of 2003 in the range of 2% to 3%. We also expect growth of Commercial fully insured per member premiums to range from 12% to 14% for 2003.

Government segment premium revenues increased 6.2% to $1.37 billion for the 2003 quarter, compared to $1.29 billion for the 2002 quarter. For the 2003 period, government segment premium revenues were $3.88 billion, a increase of 1.8% compared to $3.81 billion for the 2002 period. These increases primarily were attributable to our TRICARE business, partially offset by a reduction in our Medicare+Choice membership. Our annual renewal increased rates under our base TRICARE contract and led to an increase in TRICARE premium revenues of $99.0 million or 19.0% for the 2003 quarter compared to the 2002 quarter and $142.4 million or 9.6% for the 2003 period compared to the 2002 period. Medicare+Choice membership was 324,600 at September 30, 2003, compared to 349,000 at September 30, 2002, a decline of 24,400 members, or 7.0%. This decline was due to our exit of various counties on January 1, 2003, as well as attrition of some members leaving our plans in certain markets as a result of new benefit designs. Medicare+Choice per member premiums increased in the 4% to 6% range. We expect Medicare+Choice per member premiums to continue to increase in the 4% to 6% range for 2003 with membership falling to between 325,000 to 330,000 by December 31, 2003.

Administrative Services Fees

Our administrative services fees for the 2003 quarter were $67.0 million, an increase of $5.9 million, or 9.7%, from $61.1 million for the 2002 quarter. For the 2003 period, our administrative services fees were $199.8 million, an increase of $9.9 million, or 5.2%, compared to the 2002 period. For the Commercial segment, administrative services fees increased $4.4 million, or 16.8%, from $26.6 million for the 2002 quarter to $31.0 million for the 2003 quarter, and increased $13.7 million, or 17.7%, from $77.3 million to $91.0 million when comparing the 2003 period with the 2002 period. These increases reflect a higher average fee per member and growth in ASO membership of 8.1%, which was 711,800 members at September 30, 2003, compared to 658,600 members at September 30, 2002. Administrative services fees for the Government segment increased $1.5 million, or 4.2%, when comparing the 2003 quarter with the 2002 quarter, and decreased $3.8 million, or 3.4%, when comparing the 2003 period with the 2002 period. The changes in Government segment administrative services fees primarily were due to the timing of contractual adjustments related to TRICARE for Life, a program for seniors where we provide medical benefit administrative services.

Investment and Other Income

Investment and other income totaled $28.5 million for the 2003 quarter, an increase of $0.3 million from $28.2 million for the 2002 quarter, as higher average invested balances compensated for lower investment yields. For the 2003 period, investment and other income totaled $101.0 million, an increase of $22.6 million from $78.4 million for the 2002 period. This increase in the 2003 period primarily resulted from an increase in capital gains consisting primarily of the $15.2 million pretax gain from the sale of an interest in a privately held venture capital investment.

Medical Expense

The medical expense ratio, or MER, is computed by taking total medical expenses as a percentage of premium revenues. MER for the 2003 quarter was 83.8%, increasing 20 basis points from the 2002 quarter of 83.6%. For the 2003 period, our medical expense ratio was 83.7%, which was the same as the 2002 period.

The Commercial segment’s MER for the 2003 quarter was 83.7%, a decrease of 60 basis points from the 2002 quarter of 84.3%. Likewise, the 2003 period’s MER decreased 70 basis points to 82.7% from 83.4% in the 2002 period. The improvement in MER primarily resulted from pricing discipline and attrition of groups with a high medical expense ratio. Pricing discipline produces the delivery of premium rate increases commensurate with underlying claims costs to ensure margins.

The Government segment’s 84.0% MER for the 2003 quarter increased 120 basis points compared to 82.8% in the 2002 quarter. For the 2003 period, the ratio was 85.0%, an increase of 90 basis points when compared to the 2002 period of 84.1%. The MER increase for the 2003 quarter and 2003 period was primarily due to TRICARE. Our MER for TRICARE was higher than the prior year due primarily to increases in utilization of services. The increase in utilization was largely attributable to an increase in activity and deployments surrounding the military conflicts in the Middle East.

SG&A Expense

Total selling, general and administrative, or SG&A, expenses as a percentage of premium revenues and administrative services fees, or SG&A expense ratio, for the 2003 quarter was 14.9%, a decrease of 30 basis points from the 2002 quarter of 15.2%. For the 2003 period, the SG&A expense ratio was 15.3%, a decrease of 10 basis points when compared to the 2002 period of 15.4%. The 2003 period included $17.2 million of costs associated with a building writedown in connection with our service center closures, increasing the SG&A ratio 20 basis points.

The SG&A expense ratio for the Commercial segment decreased 40 basis points and 20 basis points, respectively in the 2003 quarter and period compared to the 2002 quarter and period. Likewise, the Government segment’s SG&A expense ratio decreased 40 basis points and 10 basis points, respectively, in the 2003 quarter and period compared to the 2002 quarter and period. These decreases were attributable to operational efficiencies gained from completing the consolidation of service centers by the end of the second quarter of 2003. We expect our Commercial segment SG&A ratio to range from 16.5% to 16.9% and our Government segment SG&A ratio to range from 12.8% to 13.2% for the 2003 year.

Depreciation and amortization for the 2003 quarter totaled $27.1 million compared to $30.5 million for the 2002 quarter, a decrease of $3.4 million, or 11.2%. For the 2003 period, depreciation and amortization totaled $100.2 million compared to $90.6 million for the 2002 period, an increase of $9.6 million, or 10.7%. The decrease in the 2003 quarter primarily was due to lower amortization related to other intangible assets as costs associated with an acquired government contract became fully amortized in the second quarter of 2003. The increase in the 2003 period versus the 2002 period is due to the previously discussed accelerated depreciation of software recorded in the first quarter of 2003 of $13.5 million.

Interest Expense

Interest expense was $4.7 million for the 2003 quarter, compared to $4.1 million for the 2002 quarter, an increase of $0.6 million, or 15.3%. For the 2003 period, interest expense was $12.5 million, compared to $12.9 million for the 2002 period, a decrease of $0.4 million, or 3.2%. The increase in the 2003 quarter compared to the 2002 quarter primarily was due to the issuance of $300 million senior notes in August 2003 while the decrease in the 2003 period versus the 2002 period primarily resulted from lower interest rates.

Income Taxes

Our effective tax rate for the 2003 quarter and period was approximately 34% compared to 32% for the 2002 quarter and period. The higher effective tax rate in the 2003 quarter and period resulted primarily from a lower proportion of tax-exempt investment income to pretax income.

Membership

The following table presents our medical and specialty membership at September 30, 2003, June 30, 2003, March 31, 2003, and at the end of each quarter in 2002:

   2003

  2002

   Sept. 30

  June 30

  March 31

  Dec. 31

  Sept. 30

  June 30

  March 31

Medical Membership:

                     

Commercial segment:

                     

Fully insured

  2,324,600  2,350,400  2,348,800  2,340,300  2,323,600  2,319,600  2,332,400

ASO

  711,800  670,300  654,600  652,200  658,600  627,500  621,800
   
  
  
  
  
  
  

Total Commercial

  3,036,400  3,020,700  3,003,400  2,992,500  2,982,200  2,947,100  2,954,200
   
  
  
  
  
  
  

Government segment:

                     

Medicare+Choice

  324,600  324,200  327,100  344,100  349,000  354,100  363,700

Medicaid

  460,800  492,700  491,400  506,000  506,100  487,900  476,800

TRICARE

  1,746,300  1,750,800  1,752,500  1,755,800  1,755,700  1,761,000  1,742,300

TRICARE ASO

  1,057,000  1,052,500  1,050,800  1,048,700  1,038,400  1,021,900  997,900
   
  
  
  
  
  
  

Total Government

  3,588,700  3,620,200  3,621,800  3,654,600  3,649,200  3,624,900  3,580,700
   
  
  
  
  
  
  

Total medical members

  6,625,100  6,640,900  6,625,200  6,647,100  6,631,400  6,572,000  6,534,900
   
  
  
  
  
  
  

Specialty Membership:

                     

Commercial segment

  1,639,100  1,642,000  1,650,100  1,640,000  1,629,400  1,638,200  1,659,300
   
  
  
  
  
  
  

Liquidity

Cash flows provided by operating activities of $122.9 million for the 2003 period improved from cash flows used in operating activities of $101.3 million for the 2002 period by $224.2 million. This increase primarily was attributable to an improvement in earnings and collections of receivables primarily associated with our TRICARE business.

The timing of Medicare+Choice premium receipts significantly impacts cash flows from operations. This timing resulted in only eight monthly Medicare+Choice premium receipts during the 2003 and 2002 periods rather than a normal nine. The Medicare+Choice premium receipt is payable to us on the first day of each month. When the first day of a month falls on a weekend or holiday, we receive this payment at the end of the previous month. This receipt is significant, the timing of which causes material fluctuation in operating cash flows. The Medicare+Choice premium receipts for January 2003 of $205.8 million and for January 2002 of $216.6 million were received early in December 2002 and December 2001, respectively, because January 1 is always a holiday.

Medical and other expenses payable increased $154.4 million from $1,142.1 million at December 31, 2002 to $1,296.6 million at September 30, 2003 primarily due to higher medical claims trend and membership levels.

Total net premium and ASO receivables increased $55.7 million, or 13.4%, from $416.9 million at December 31, 2002 to $472.6 million at September 30, 2003, as presented in the following table:

   

September 30,

2003


  

December 31,

2002


  Change

 
    Dollars

  Percentage

 
   (in thousands) 

TRICARE:

                

Base receivable

  $275,578  $197,544  $78,034  39.5%

Bid price adjustments (BPAs)

   55,141   104,044   (48,903) (47.0)%

Change orders

   2,370   57,630   (55,260) (95.9)%
   


 


 


 

    333,089   359,218   (26,129) (7.3)%

Less: long-term portion of BPAs

   —     (86,471)  86,471  100.0%
   


 


 


 

TRICARE subtotal

   333,089   272,747   60,342  22.1%

Commercial

   173,644   174,309   (665) (0.4)%

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   (34,097)  (30,178)  (3,919) (13.0)%
   


 


 


 

Total net receivables

  $472,636  $416,878  $55,758  13.4%
   


 


 


 

TRICARE base receivables are collected monthly in the ordinary course of business. The timing of BPA collections occurs at contractually specified intervals, typically in excess of 6 months after the end of a contract year. At December 31, 2002, we classified $86.5 million of the BPA receivables associated with our Regions 3 and 4 TRICARE contract as long-term because the federal government was not contractually obligated to pay us the amounts until January 2004. As of September 30, 2003, since the receivable was due within 12 months, these amounts were classified into current assets and included with premium receivables at September 30, 2003. We also had a net BPA amount, payable within one year under the Regions 3 and 4 contract, of $23.3 million at December 31, 2002, which required classification in trade accounts payable and accrued expenses in our consolidated balance sheet. As of September 30, 2003, we had a net BPA receivable, rather than payable, under the Regions 3 and 4 contract. Thus, excluding the impact of changes in balance sheet classifications, TRICARE receivables decreased $2.8 million and total receivables decreased $7.5 million. Collections of BPA and change order receivables during the 2003 period contributed to the reduction.

Book overdraft increased $123.9 million to $218.8 million at September 30, 2003. The timing of normal check processing procedures caused a higher number of claim checks to be outstanding at September 30, 2003 than at December 31, 2002.

Capital Expenditures

Our ongoing capital expenditures relate primarily to our technology initiatives and administrative facilities necessary for activities such as claims processing, billing and collections, medical utilization review and customer service. Total capital expenditures were $62.5 million for the 2003 period, compared to $83.6 million for the 2002 period. We expect our total capital expenditures for the full 2003 year to be approximately $95 million, most of which will be used for our technology initiatives and improvement of administrative facilities.

Stock Repurchase Plan

For the nine months ended September 30, 2003, we purchased 2.2 million shares in the open market at a cost of $20.8 million, or an average of $9.31 per share under prior authorization by the Board of Directors and 1.4 million shares in connection with employee stock plans at a cost of $23.3 million, or an average of $16.27 per share. In July 2003, the Board of Directors authorized an additional use of up to $100 million for the repurchase of our common shares exclusive of shares repurchased in connection with employee stock plans. No amounts have been repurchased under the July 2003 authorization as of September 30, 2003. The shares may be purchased from time to time at prevailing prices in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions.

Debt

The following table presents our short-term and long-term debt outstanding at September 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002:

   

September 30,

2003


  

December 31,

2002


   (in thousands)

Short-term debt:

        

Conduit commercial paper financing program

  $—    $265,000
   

  

Long-term debt:

        

6.30% senior, unsecured notes due 2018, net of unamortized discount of $852 at September 30, 2003

  $299,148  $—  

7.25% senior, unsecured notes due 2006, net of unamortized discount of $412 at September 30, 2003 and $521 at December 31, 2002

   299,588   299,479

Fair value of interest rate swap agreements

   12,047   34,889

Deferred gain from interest rate swap exchange

   28,578   —  
   

  

Total senior notes

   639,361   334,368

Other long-term borrowings

   5,079   5,545
   

  

Total long-term debt

  $644,440  $339,913
   

  

Senior Notes

On August 5, 2003, we issued $300 million 6.30% senior notes due August 1, 2018. Our net proceeds, reduced for the cost of the offering, were approximately $295.7 million. The net proceeds are being used for general corporate purposes, including the funding of our short term cash needs.

In order to hedge the risk of changes in the fair value of our $300 million 6.30% senior notes and our $300 million 7.25% senior notes attributable to fluctuations in interest rates, we entered into interest rate swap agreements. Interest rate swap agreements, which are considered derivatives, are contracts that exchange interest payments on a specified principal amount, or notional amount, for a specified period. Changes in the fair value of the 6.30% or 7.25% senior notes and the swap agreements due to changing interest rates are assumed to offset each other completely, resulting in no impact to earnings from hedge ineffectiveness. Our swap agreements are recognized in our consolidated balance sheet at fair value with an equal and offsetting adjustment to the carrying value of our senior notes. The fair value of our interest rate swap agreements are estimated based on quoted market prices of comparable agreements, and reflect the amounts we would receive (or pay) to terminate the agreements at the reporting date.

Our interest rate swap agreements exchange the fixed interest rate under our 6.30% and 7.25% senior notes for a variable interest rate. At September 30, 2003, the variable interest rate was 2.04% for the 6.30% senior notes and 6.27% for the 7.25% senior notes. The $300 million swap agreements for the 6.30% senior notes mature on August 1, 2018, and the $300 million swap agreements for the 7.25% senior notes mature on August 1, 2006, and each has the same critical terms as the related senior notes.

In June 2003, we recorded a deferred gain and received proceeds of $31.6 million in exchange for new swap agreements having current market terms related to our 7.25% senior notes. The new swap agreements have the same critical terms as our 7.25% senior notes. The corresponding deferred swap gain of $31.6 million is being amortized to reduce interest expense over the remaining term of the 7.25% senior notes. The carrying value of our 7.25% senior notes has been increased $28.6 million by the remaining deferred swap gain balance at September 30, 2003.

At September 30, 2003, the $12.0 million fair value of our swap agreements is included in other long-term assets. Likewise, the carrying value of our senior notes has been increased $12.0 million to its fair value. The counterparties to our swap agreements are major financial institutions with which we also have other financial relationships.

Credit Agreements

We maintain two unsecured revolving credit agreements consisting of a $265 million, 4-year revolving credit agreement and a $265 million, 364-day revolving credit agreement with a one-year term out option. A one year term out option converts the outstanding borrowings, if any, under the credit agreement to a one year term loan upon expiration. The 4-year revolving credit agreement expires in October 2005. In October 2003, for the second time, we renewed the 364-day revolving credit agreement which expires in October 2004, unless extended.

There were no balances outstanding under either agreement at September 30, 2003. Under these agreements, at our option, we can borrow on either a competitive advance basis or a revolving credit basis. The revolving credit portion of both agreements bear interest at either a fixed rate or floating rate based on LIBOR plus a spread. The spread, which varies depending on our credit ratings, ranges from 80 to 125 basis points for our 4-year agreement, and 85 to 137.5 basis points for our 364-day agreement. We also pay an annual facility fee regardless of utilization. This facility fee, currently 25 basis points, may fluctuate between 15 and 50 basis points, depending upon our credit ratings. The competitive advance portion of any borrowings under either credit agreement will bear interest at market rates prevailing at the time of borrowing on either a fixed rate or a floating rate basis, at our option.

These credit agreements, and the agreement relating to the conduit commercial paper program described below, contain customary restrictive and financial covenants as well as customary events of default, including financial covenants regarding the maintenance of net worth, and minimum interest coverage and maximum leverage ratios. At September 30, 2003, we were in compliance with all applicable financial covenant requirements. The terms of each of these credit agreements also include standard provisions related to conditions of borrowing, including a customary material adverse effect clause which could limit our ability to borrow. We have not experienced a material adverse effect and we know of no circumstances or events which would be reasonably likely to result in a material adverse effect. We do not believe the material adverse effect clause poses a material funding risk to Humana in the future.

Commercial Paper Programs

We maintain indirect access to the commercial paper market through our conduit commercial paper financing program. Under this program, a third party issues commercial paper and loans the proceeds of those issuances to us so that the interest and principal payments on the loans match those on the underlying commercial paper. The $265 million, 364-day revolving credit agreement supports the conduit commercial paper financing program of up to $265 million. At September 30, 2003, we had no conduit commercial paper borrowings outstanding.

We also maintain and may issue short-term debt securities under a commercial paper program when market conditions allow. The program is backed by our credit agreements described above. Under the terms of our credit agreements, aggregate borrowings under both the credit agreements and commercial paper program cannot exceed $530 million.

Other Borrowings

Other borrowings of $5.1 million at September 30, 2003 represent financing for the renovation of a building, bear interest at 2%, are collateralized by the building, and are payable in various installments through 2014.

 

Shelf Registration

 

On April 1, 2003, our universal shelf registration became effective with the SEC.Securities and Exchange Commission. This allows us to register debt or equity securities, from time to time, up to a total of $600 million, with the amount, price and terms to be determined at the time of the sale. After the issuance of our $300 million, 6.30% senior notes, we have up to $300 million remaining from a total of $600 million under the universal shelf registration. The universal shelf registration allows us to use the net proceeds from any future sales of our securities for our operations and for other general corporate purposes, including repayment or refinancing of borrowings, working capital, capital expenditures, investments, acquisitions, or the repurchase of our outstanding securities.

 

Regulatory Requirements

 

Certain of our subsidiaries operate in states that regulate the payment of dividends, loans or other cash transfers to Humana Inc., our parent company, require minimum levels of equity, and limit investments to approved securities. The amount of dividends that may be paid to Humana Inc. by these subsidiaries, without prior approval by state regulatory authorities, is limited based on the entity'sentity’s level of statutory income and statutory capital and surplus. In most states, prior notification is provided before paying a dividend even if approval is not required. During the 2003 period, dividends of $121 million were paid to Humana Inc. by these subsidiaries.

As of March 31,September 30, 2003, we maintained aggregate statutory capital and surplus of $1,049.5an estimated $1,057 million in our state regulated health insurance subsidiaries. Each of these subsidiaries was in compliance with applicable statutory requirements, which aggregated $587.3approximately $612 million. Although the minimum required levels of equity are largely based on premium volume, product mix, and the quality of assets held, minimum requirements can vary significantly at the state level. Certain states rely on risk-based capital requirements, or RBC, to define the required levels of equity. RBC is a model developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to monitor an entity'sentity’s solvency. This calculation indicates recommended minimum levels of required capital and surplus and signals regulatory measures should actual surplus fall below these recommended levels. Some states are in the process of phasing in these RBC requirements over a number of years. If RBC were fully implemented b yby all states at March 31,September 30, 2003, each of our subsidiaries would be in compliance, and we would have $393.5an estimated $377 million of aggregate capital and surplus above any of the minimum level requiredlevels that require corrective action under RBC.

 

One TRICARE subsidiary under the Regions 3 and 4 contract with the Department of Defense is required to maintain current assets at least equivalent to its current liabilities. We were in compliance with this requirement at March 31,September 30, 2003.

 

Future Liquidity Needs

 

We believe that funds from future operating cash flows and funds available under our credit agreements and commercial paper program and shelf registration statement are sufficient to meet future liquidity needs. We also believe these sources of funds together with the ability to issue securities under the shelf registration statement are adequate to allow us to fund selected expansion opportunities, as well as to fund capital requirements.

Cautionary Statements

 

This document includes both historical and forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are made within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and we are including this statement for purposes of complying with these safe harbor provisions. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, among other things, the information discussed below. In making these statements, we are not undertaking to address or update each factor in future filings or communications regarding our business or results. Our business is highly complicated, regulated and competitive with many different factors affecting results.

 

If the premiums we charge are insufficient to cover the cost of health care services delivered to our members, or if our estimates of medical claim reserves based upon our estimates of future medical claims are inadequate, our profitability could decline.

 

We use a significant portion of our revenues to pay the costs of health care services delivered to our members. These costs include claims payments, capitation payments, allocations of some centralized expenses and various other costs incurred to provide health insurance coverage to our members. These costs also include estimates of future payments to hospitals and others for medical care provided to our members. Generally, premiums in the health care business are fixed for one-year periods. Accordingly, costs we incur in excess of our medical cost projections generally are not recovered in the contract year through higher premiums. We estimate the costs of our future medical claims and other expenses using actuarial methods and assumptions based upon claim payment patterns, medical inflation, historical developments, including claim inventory levels and claim receipt patterns, and other relevant factors. We also record medical claims reserves for future p ayments.payments. We continually review estimates of future payments relating to medical claims costs for services incurred in the current and prior periods and make necessary adjustments to our reserves. However, increases in the use or cost of services by our members, competition, government regulations and many other factors may and often do cause actual health care costs to exceed what was estimated and reflected in premiums.

 

These factors may include:

 

Failure to adequately price our products or estimate sufficient medical claim reserves may result in a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

 If we fail to effectively implement our operational and strategic initiatives, our business could be materially adversely affected.

       Our future performance depends in large part upon our management team's ability to execute our strategy to position the company for the future. This strategy includes the growth of our Commercial segment business, introduction of new products and benefit designs, the successful implementation of our e-business initiatives and the selection and adoption of new technologies. We believe that the adoption of new technologies will contribute toward a reduction in administrative costs as we more closely align our workforce with our membership. Additionally, we are consolidating our service centers and their related systems as part of our operational initiatives. There can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully implement our operational and strategic initiatives that are intended to position the company for future growth. Failure to implement this strategy may result in a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and c ash flows.

       If we fail to continue to properly maintain the integrity of our data or to strategically implement new information systems, our business could be materially adversely affected.

       Our business depends significantly on effective information systems and the integrity and timeliness of the data we use to run our business. Our business strategy involves providing members and providers with easy to use products that leverage our information to meet their needs. Our ability to adequately price our products and services, provide effective and efficient service to our customers, and to accurately report our financial results depends significantly on the integrity of the data in our information systems. As a result of our past acquisition activities, we have acquired additional systems. We have been taking steps to reduce the number of systems we operate and have upgraded and expanded our information systems capabilities. If the information we rely upon to run our businesses was found to be inaccurate or unreliable or if we fail to maintain effectively our information systems and data integrity, we could have operational disruptions, have pr oblems in determining medical cost estimates and establishing appropriate pricing, have customer and physician and other health care provider disputes, have regulatory problems, have increases in operating expenses, lose existing customers, have difficulty in attracting new customers, or suffer other adverse consequences. Our information systems require an ongoing commitment of significant resources to maintain and enhance existing systems and develop new systems to keep pace with continuing changes in information processing technology, evolving industry and regulatory standards, and changing customer preferences. For example, the administrative simplification provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA and the Department of Labor's ERISA claim processing regulations require changes to our current systems.

       We depend on independent third parties for significant portions of our systems-related support, equipment, facilities, and certain data, including data center operations, data network, voice communication services and pharmacy data processing. This dependence makes our operations vulnerable to such third parties' failure to perform adequately under the contract, due to internal or external factors. Although there are a limited number of service organizations with the size, scale and capabilities to effectively provide certain of these services, especially with regard to pharmacy benefits processing and management, we believe that other organizations could provide similar services on comparable terms. A change in service providers, however, could result in a decline in service quality and effectiveness or less favorable contract terms which could adversely affect our operating results.

       There can be no assurance that our process of improving existing systems, developing new systems to support our operations and improving service levels will not be delayed or that additional systems issues will not arise in the future. Failure to adequately maintain the integrity of our information systems and data may result in a material adverse effect on our financial positions, results of operations and cash flows.

If we do not design and price our products properly and competitively, our membership and profitability could decline.

 

We are in a highly competitive industry. Many of our competitors are more established in the health care industry and have a larger market share and greater financial resources than we do in some markets. In addition, other companies may enter our markets in the future. Contracts for the sale of commercial products are generally bid upon or renewed annually. While health plans compete on the basis of many factors, including service and the quality and depth of provider networks, we expect that price will continue to be a significant basis of competition. In addition to the challenge of controlling health care costs, we face competitive pressure to contain premium prices.

 

Premium increases, introduction of new product designs, and our relationship with our providers in various markets, among others,other issues, could affect our membership levels. Other actions that could affect membership levels include the possible exit of or entrance to Medicare+Choice service and the exit of commercial products in someor Commercial markets. If we do not compete effectively in our markets, if we set rates too high or too low in highly competitive markets to keep or increase our market share, if membership does not increase as we expect, or if it declines, or if we lose accounts with favorable medical cost experience while retaining accounts with unfavorable medical cost experience, our business and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

 

If we fail to effectively implement our operational and strategic initiatives, our business could be materially adversely affected.

Our future performance depends in large part upon our management team’s ability to execute our strategy to position the company for the future. This strategy includes the growth of our Commercial segment business, introduction of new products and benefit designs, including our Smart products, the successful implementation of our e-business initiatives and the selection and adoption of new technologies. We believe that the adoption of new technologies will contribute toward a reduction in administrative costs as we more closely align our workforce with our membership. Additionally, we have consolidated our service centers and their related systems as part of our operational initiatives. There can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully implement our operational and strategic initiatives that are intended to position the company for future growth. Failure to implement this strategy may result in a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

If we fail to continue to properly maintain the integrity of our data or to strategically implement new information systems, our business could be materially adversely affected.

Our business depends significantly on effective information systems and the integrity and timeliness of the data we use to run our business. Our business strategy involves providing members and providers with easy to use products that leverage our information to meet their needs. Our ability to adequately price our products and services, provide effective and efficient service to our customers, and to accurately report our financial results depends significantly on the integrity of the data in our information systems. As a result of our past acquisition activities, we have acquired additional systems. We have been taking steps to reduce the number of systems we operate, have upgraded and expanded our information systems capabilities, and are gradually migrating existing business to fewer systems. If the information we rely upon to run our businesses was found to be inaccurate or unreliable or if we fail to maintain effectively our information systems and data integrity, we could have operational disruptions, have problems in determining medical cost estimates and establishing appropriate pricing, have customer and physician

and other health care provider disputes, have regulatory problems, have increases in operating expenses, lose existing customers, have difficulty in attracting new customers, or suffer other adverse consequences. Our information systems require an ongoing commitment of significant resources to maintain and enhance existing systems and develop new systems to keep pace with continuing changes in information processing technology, evolving industry and regulatory standards, and changing customer preferences.

We depend on independent third parties for significant portions of our systems-related support, equipment, facilities, and certain data, including data center operations, data network, voice communication services and pharmacy data processing. This dependence makes our operations vulnerable to such third parties’ failure to perform adequately under the contract, due to internal or external factors. Due to continued consolidation in the industry, there are a limited number of service organizations with the size, scale and capabilities to effectively provide certain of these services, especially with regard to pharmacy benefits processing and management, we believe that other organizations could provide similar services on comparable terms. A change in service providers, however, could result in a decline in service quality and effectiveness or less favorable contract terms which could adversely affect our operating results.

There can be no assurance that our process of improving existing systems, developing new systems to support our operations and improving service levels will not be delayed or that additional systems issues will not arise in the future. Failure to adequately maintain the integrity of our information systems and data may result in a material adverse effect on our financial positions, results of operations and cash flows.

If we fail to manage prescription drug costs successfully, our financial results could suffer.

 

In general, prescription drug costs have been rising over the past few years. These increases are due to the introduction of new drugs costing significantly more than existing drugs, direct to consumer advertising by the pharmaceutical industry that creates consumer demand for particular brand-name drugs, and members seeking medications to address lifestyle changes. In order to control prescription drug costs, we have implemented multi-tiered copayment benefit designs for prescription drugs, including our four-tiered copayment benefit design, Rx4.Rx4 and an Rx allowance program. We are also evaluating other multi-tiered designs. We cannot assure that these efforts will be successful in controlling costs. Failure to control these costs could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

 

We are involved in various legal actions, which, if resolved unfavorably to us, could result in substantial monetary damages.

 

We are a party to a variety of legal actions that affect our business, including employment and employment discrimination-related suits, employee benefit claims, breach of contract actions, and tort claims and shareholder suits involving alleged securities fraud.claims.

 

We and some of our competitors in the health benefits business are defendants in a number of purported class action lawsuits. These include separate suits against us and five of our competitors that purport to be brought on behalf of members of managed care plans, which we refer to as the subscriber track cases. In addition, there is a singlean action against us and eightnine of our competitors that purports to be brought on behalf of health care providers, which we refer to as the provider track case. These suits allegeproviders. This suit alleges breaches of federal statutes, including ERISA and RICO.

 

In addition, because of the nature of the health care business, we are subject to a variety of legal actions relating to our business operations, including the design, management and offering of products and services. These include and could include in the future:

In some cases, substantial non-economic or punitive damages as well as treble damages under the federal False Claims Act, RICO and other statutes may be sought. While we currently have insurance coverage for some of these potential liabilities, other potential liabilities may not be covered by insurance, insurers may dispute coverage or the amount of insurance may not be enough to cover the damages awarded.

 

In addition, some types of damages, like punitive damages, may not be covered by insurance, particularly in those jurisdictions in which coverage of punitive damages is prohibited. Insurance coverage for all or some forms of liability may become unavailable or prohibitively expensive in the future.

 

A description of material legal actions in which we are currently involved is included under "Legal Proceedings"“Legal Proceedings” of Item 31 in Part I.II. We cannot predict the outcome of these suits with certainty, and we are incurring expenses in the defense of these matters. In addition, recent court decisions, including some that erode protections under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or ERISA, and legislative activity may increase our exposure for any of these types of claims. Therefore, these legal actions could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

 

As a government contractor, we are exposed to additional risks that could adversely affect our business or our willingness to participate in government health care programs.

 

A significant portion of our revenues relates to federal, state and local government health care coverage programs, including the TRICARE, Medicare+Choice, and Medicaid programs. These programs involve various risks, including:

Act.

 Increased litigation and negative publicity could increase our cost of doing business.

       The managed care industry continues to receive significant negative publicity reflecting the public perception of the industry. This publicity and perception have been accompanied by increased litigation, including some large jury awards, legislative activity, regulation and governmental review of industry practices. These factors may adversely affect our ability to market our products or services, may require us to change our products or services, may increase the regulatory burdens under which we operate and may require us to pay large judgments or fines. Any combination of these factors could further increase our cost of doing business and adversely affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Our industry is currently subject to substantial government regulation, which, along with possible increased governmental regulation or legislative reform, increases our costs of doing business and could adversely affect our profitability.

 

The health care industry in general, and health management organizations, or HMOs, and preferred provider organizations, or PPOs, in particular, are subject to substantial federal and state government regulation, including:

 

State regulations require our licensed, operating subsidiaries to maintain minimum net worth requirements and restrict some investment activities. Additionally, those regulations restrict the ability of our subsidiaries to make dividend payments, loans, loan repayments or other payments to us.

 

In recent years, significant federal and state legislation affecting our business has been enacted. State and federal governmental authorities are continually considering changes to laws and regulations applicable to us and are currently considering regulations relating to:

All of these proposals could apply to us.

 

There can be no assurance that we will be able to continue to obtain or maintain required governmental approvals or licenses or that legislative or regulatory changes will not have a material adverse effect on our business. Delays in obtaining or failure to obtain or maintain required approvals, or moratoria imposed by regulatory authorities, could adversely affect our revenue or the number of our members, increase costs or adversely affect our ability to bring new products to market as forecasted.

 

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners, or NAIC, has adopted risk-based capital requirements, also known as RBC, which is subject to state-by-state adoption and to the extent implemented, sets minimum capitalization requirements for insurance and HMO companies. The NAIC recommendations for life insurance companies were adopted in all states and the prescribed calculation for HMOs has been adopted in most states in which we operate. The HMO rules may increase the minimum capital required for some of our subsidiaries.

 

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, includes administrative provisions directed at simplifying electronic data interchange through standardizing transactions, establishing uniform health care provider, payer and employer identifiers and seeking protections for confidentiality and security of patient data. Under the new HIPAA standard transactions and code sets rules, we must make significant systems enhancements and invest in new technological solutions. The compliance and enforcement date for standard transactions and code sets rules has been extendedwas October 16, 2003. We have continued to be in compliance with this regulation. However, as many providers indicated that they could not yet comply, CMS stated that covered entities making a good faith effort to comply with HIPAA transactions and code-set standards would be allowed to implement contingency plans to maintain their operations and cash flows. On October 17,15, 2003, based on our submissionwe announced implementation of a compliancecontingency plan including work planto accept non-compliant electronic transactions from our providers. We will continue to accept and process transactions sent in pre-HIPAA electronic formats from providers who are showing a good-faith effort until all providers and clearinghouses are capable of transmitting fully compliant standards transactions as defined in the HIPAA implementation strategy toguidelines or until CMS begins enforcement of the SecretaryHIPAA Electronic Data Interchange regulations. Management believes that the implementation of Health and Human Services. Ifour contingency plans will minimize any disruptions in our business operations during this transition. However, if entities with which we do business do not timelyultimately comply with HIPAA'sthe HIPAA transactions and code set standards, it could result in disruptions of certain of our business operations. Under

Additionally, under the new HIPAA privacy rules, which became effect iveeffective on April 14, 2003, we must now comply with a variety of requirements concerning the use and disclosure of individuals'individuals’ protected health information, establish rigorous internal procedures to protect health information and enter into business associate contracts with those companies to whom protected health information is disclosed. Regulations issued in February 2003 set standards for the security of electronic health information requiring compliance by April 21, 2005. Violations of these rules will subject us to significant penalties. Compliance with HIPAA regulations requires significant systems enhancements, training and administrative effort. The final rules do not provide for complete federal preemption of state laws, but rather preempt all inconsistent state laws unless the state law is more stringent. HIPAA could also expose us to additional liability for violations by our business associates.

 

Another area receiving increased focus is the time in which various laws require the payment of health care claims. Many states already have legislation in place covering payment of claims within a specific number of days. However, due to provider groups advocating for laws or regulations establishing even stricter standards, procedures and penalties, we expect additional regulatory scrutiny and supplemental legislation with respect to claims payment practices. The provider-sponsored bills are characterized by stiff penalties for late payment, including high interest rates payable to providers and costly fines levied by state insurance departments and attorneys general. This legislation and possible future regulation and oversight could expose our Company to additional liability and penalties.

 On November 21, 2000,

Separate legislative proposals to add a prescription drug benefit and increase private plan options for the Department of Labor published its final regulation on claims and appeals review procedures under ERISA. The claims procedure regulation applies to all employee benefit plans governed by ERISA, whether benefits are provided through insurance products or are self-funded. As a result, the new claims and appeals review regulation impacts nearly all employer and union-sponsored health and disability plans, except church and government plans. Similar to legislation recentlyprogram passed by many states,both houses are currently being debated by House and Senate conferees. Although President Bush’s deadline for passage of this legislation has passed, negotiations are still underway. There is considerable uncertainty regarding the new ERISA claimspassage of a final bill and appeals procedures impose shorter and more detailed procedures for processing and reviewing claims and appeals. Accordingwe are unable to predict the Departmentprovisions of Labor, however,any final bill that would emerge from the Conference Committee or its ERISA claims and appeals regulation does not preempt state insurance and utilization review laws that impose different proceduresimpact on our financial position, results of operations or time lines, unless complying with the state law would make compliance with the new ERISA regulation impossible. Unlike its state counte rparts, the ERISA claims and appeals rules do not provide for independent external review to decide disputed medical questions. Instead, the federal regulation will generally make it easier for claimants to avoid state-mandated internal and external review processes and to file suit in federal court. The new ERISA claims and appeals rules generally became effective July 1, 2002 or the first day of the first plan year beginning after July 1, 2002, whichever is later. In any case, health plans have been subject to the new rules with respect to all claims filed on or after January 1, 2003.cash flows.

 

We are also subject to various governmental audits and investigations. These can include audits and investigations by state attorneys general, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, the Office of the Inspector General of Health and Human Services,

the Office of Personnel Management, the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, and state Departments of Insurance and Departments of Health. These activities could result in the loss of licensure or the right to participate in various programs, or the imposition of fines, penalties and other sanctions. In addition, disclosure of any adverse investigation or audit results or sanctions could negatively affect our reputation in various markets and make it more difficult for us to sell our products and services.

 

If we fail to maintain satisfactory relationships with the providers of care to our members, our business could be adversely affected.

 

We contract with physicians, hospitals and other providers to deliver health care to our members. Our products encourage or require our customers to use these contracted providers. These providers may share medical cost risk with us or have financial incentives to deliver quality medical services in a cost-effective manner.

 

In any particular market, providers could refuse to contract with us, demand higher payments, or take other actions that could result in higher health care costs for us, less desirable products for customers and members or difficulty meeting regulatory or accreditation requirements. In some markets, some providers, particularly hospitals, physician/hospital organizations or multi-specialty physician groups, may have significant market positions and negotiating power. In addition, physician or practice management companies, which aggregate physician practices for administrative efficiency and marketing leverage, may, in some cases, compete directly with us. If these providers refuse to contract with us, use their market position to negotiate favorable contracts or place us at a competitive disadvantage, our ability to market products or to be profitable in those areas could be adversely affected.

 We currently are in negotiations with HCA Inc. regarding our contracts in Florida covering 30 hospitals, which expire on May 31, 2003. Although we have included estimated hospital rate increases in our Commercial premium rates and in our Medicare benefit designs, we are currently unable to predict the outcome of these negotiations, but believe such outcome will not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

In some situations, we have contracts with individual or groups of primary care physicians for an actuarially determined, fixed, per-member-per-month fee under which physicians are paid an amount to provide all required medical services to our members (i.e. capitation). The inability of providers to properly manage costs under these capitation arrangements can result in the financial instability of these providers and the termination of their relationship with us. In addition, payment or other disputes between a primary care provider and specialists with whom the primary care provider contracts can result in a disruption in the provision of services to our members or a reduction in the services available to our members. The financial instability or failure of a primary care provider to pay other providers for services rendered could lead those other providers to demand payment from us, even though we have made our regular fixed payments to the primary provider. Th ereThere can be no assurance that providers with whom we contract will properly manage the costs of services, maintain financial solvency or avoid disputes with other providers. Any of these events could have an adverse effect on the provision of services to our members and our operations.

 

Our ability to obtain funds from our subsidiaries is restricted.

 

Because we operate as a holding company, we are dependent upon dividends and administrative expense reimbursements from our subsidiaries to fund the obligations of Humana Inc., the parent company. These subsidiaries generally are regulated by state departmentsDepartments of insurance.Insurance. In most states, we are required to seek prior approval by these state regulatory authorities before we transfer money or pay dividends from these subsidiaries that exceed specified amounts, or, in some states, any amount. In addition, we normally notify the state Departments of Insurance prior to making payments that do not require approval. We are also required by law to maintain specific proscribedprescribed minimum amounts of capital in these subsidiaries. One TRICARE subsidiary under the Regions 3 and 4 contract with the Department of Defense is required to maintain assets at least equivalent to its current liabilities. In addition,

Increased litigation and negative publicity could increase our cost of doing business.

The health benefits industry continues to receive significant negative publicity reflecting the public perception of the industry. This publicity and perception have been accompanied by increased litigation, including some large jury awards, legislative activity, regulation and governmental review of industry practices. These factors may adversely affect our ability to market our products or services, may require us to change our products or services, may increase the regulatory burdens under which we normally notify the state departmentsoperate and may require us to pay large judgments or fines. Any combination of insurance prior to making payments that do not require approval.these factors could further increase our cost of doing business and adversely affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.


Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk

Humana Inc.

       We are exposed to market risks, such as changes in interest rates. To manage the volatility relating to these exposures, we net the exposures on a consolidated basis to take advantage of natural offsets. A portion of our natural offsets changed when we issued $300 million 71/4% senior notes during 2001. This change was mitigated when we entered into interest rate swap agreements as discussed in as discussed in Management's Discussion and Analysis herein. Changes in the fair value of the 71/4%

We are exposed to market risks, such as changes in interest rates. To manage the volatility relating to these exposures, we net the exposures on a consolidated basis to take advantage of natural offsets. A portion of our natural offsets changed when we issued $300 million 7.25% senior notes during 2001 and $300 million 6.30% senior notes during 2003. This change was mitigated when we entered into interest rate swap agreements as discussed in Management’s Discussion and Analysis herein. Changes in the fair value of the 7.25% and 6.30% senior notes and the swap agreements due to changing interest rates are assumed to offset each other completely, resulting in no impact to earnings from hedge ineffectiveness.

 

No material changes have occurred in our exposures to market risk since the date of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 Within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report, we

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer, or CEO, and Chief Financial Officer, or CFO, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures including our internal controls.controls over financial reporting for the quarter ended September 30, 2003.

 

The company'scompany’s management, including the CEO and CFO, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures including our internal controls over financial reporting will prevent all error and all fraud. However, they have been designed to give reasonable assurance about the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures including our internal controls over financial reporting. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within our Company have been detected. These inherentControl system limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; overevents. Over time, controlcontrols may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

 

Based on this evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures including our internal controls over financial reporting are effective in timely alerting them to material information required to be included in our periodic SEC reports. There have been no significant changes in our internal controls over financial reporting or in other factors that could significantlyare reasonably likely to affect those controls subsequent toover financial reporting during the date we carried out our evaluation.Company’s quarter ended September 30, 2003.

Part II. Other Information


Part 2. Other Information

Humana Inc.

Item 1:Legal Proceedings

 

Securities Litigation

 

In late 1997, three purported class action complaints were filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida by former stockholders of Physician Corporation of America, or PCA, against PCA and certain of its former directors and officers. We acquired PCA by a merger that became effective on September 8, 1997. The three actions were consolidated into a single action entitledIn re Physician Corporation of America Securities Litigation. The consolidated complaint alleges that PCA and the individual defendants knowingly or recklessly made false and misleading statements in press releases and public filings with respect to the financial and regulatory difficulties of PCA's workers'PCA’s workers’ compensation business. On May 5, 1999, plaintiffs moved for certification of the purported class, and on August 25, 2000, the defendants moved for summary judgment. On July 24, 2002, the Court denied the defendant's motion. A trial date is expected to bedefendants’ motion for summary judgment and set 90 days after the Court rulescase on the plaintiff'sCourt’s trial calendar for December 2, 2002. The Court subsequently postponed the trial subject to the plaintiff’s motion for class certification.certification, which was granted on May 20, 2003. On January 31, 2001,June 4, 2003, the defendants filed a third-party complaintrequested the Court of Appeals for declaratory judgmentthe Eleventh Circuit to grant permission to appeal the class certification order. Thereafter, the parties reached agreement to settle the case for the amount of $10.2 million. The settlement agreement is subject to notice to the class and approval by the Court. A final hearing on the settlement is scheduled for November 24, 2003. A provision for the settlement was previously made in our financial statements during the fourth quarter of 2002. The Company has pursued insurance coverage seeking a determination that the defense costs and liability, if any, resultingfor this matter from the class action defense were covered by an insurance policy issued by one insurer and, in the alternative, declaring that there is coverage under policies issued by two other insurers. On April 25, 2002, the Court dismissed the third-party complaint without prejudice finding that it could be refiled in the future ifinsurers, each of which has denied coverage. The Company intends to continue to pursue the insurance claims were not otherwise resolved. On April 23, 2003, one of the insurers, National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA ("National Union") filed a complaint against PCA and the defendant officers and directors and certain underwriters at Lloyd's of London ("Lloyd's") in the Southern District of Florida. National Union's complaint seeks a declaration that Lloyd's is responsible for the insura nce coverage or, in the alternative, that National Union has no duty to advance defense costs or provide coverage.proceeds.

 

Managed Care Industry Purported Class Action Litigation

 

We arehave been involved in several purported class action lawsuits that are part of a wave of generally similar actions that target the health care payer industry and particularly target managed care companies. These include a lawsuit against us and nine of our competitors that purports to be brought on behalf of physicians who have treated our members. As a result of action by the Judicial Panel on Multi District Litigation, most of the cases against us, as well as similar cases against other companies in the industry, have beencase was consolidated in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and arehas been styledIn re Managed Care Litigation. The cases include separate suits against us and five other managed care companies that purport to have been brought on behalf of members, which are referred to as the subscriber track cases, and a single action against us and eight other companies that purports to have been brought on behalf of providers, which is referred to as the provider track case.

 In the subscriber track cases, the plaintiffs seek a recovery under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, for all persons who are or were subscribers at any time during the four-year period prior to the filing of the complaints. Plaintiffs also seek to represent a subclass of policyholders who purchased insurance through their employers' health benefit plans governed by ERISA, and who are or were subscribers at any time during the six-year period prior to the filing of the complaints. The complaints allege, among other things, that we intentionally concealed from members certain information concerning the way in which we conduct business, including the methods by which we pay providers. The plaintiffs do not allege that any of the purported practices resulted in denial of any claim for a particular benefit, but instead, claim that we provided the purported class with health insurance benefits of lesser value than promised. The complaints also allege an industry-wide conspiracy to engage in the various alleged improper practices.

       On February 20, 2002, the Court issued its ruling on the defendants' motions to dismiss the Second Consolidated Amended Complaint (the "Amended Complaint"). The Amended Complaint was filed on June 29, 2001, after the Court dismissed most of the claims in the original complaints, but granted leave to refile. In its February 20, 2002, ruling, the Court dismissed the RICO claims of ten of the sixteen named plaintiffs, including three of the four involving us, on the ground that the McCarran-Ferguson Act prohibited their claims because they interfered with the state regulatory processes in the states in which they resided (Florida, New Jersey, California and Virginia). With respect to ERISA, the Court dismissed the misrepresentation claims of current members, finding that they have adequate remedies under the law and failed to exhaust administrative remedies. Claims for former members were not dismissed. The Court also refused to dismiss claims by all plaintiffs for b reach of fiduciary duty arising from alleged interference with the doctor-patient relationship by the use of so-called "gag clauses" that assertedly prohibited doctors from freely communicating with members. The plaintiffs sought certification of a class consisting of all members of our medical plans, excluding Medicare and Medicaid plans, for the period from 1990 to 1999. On September 26, 2002, the Court denied the plaintiffs' request for class certification. On October 9, 2002, the plaintiffs asked the Court to reconsider its ruling on that issue. The Court denied the motion on November 25, 2002. The Court has set a trial date on the individual named plaintiffs' claims for September 22, 2003.

       In the provider track case, the plaintiffs assert that we and other defendants improperly paid providers'providers’ claims and "downcoded"“downcoded” their claims by paying lesser amounts than they submitted. The complaint alleges, among other things, multiple violations under RICO as well as various breaches of contract and violations of regulations governing the timeliness of claim payments. We moved to dismiss the provider track complaint on September 8, 2000, and the other defendants filed similar motions thereafter. On March 2, 2001, the Court dismissed certain of the plaintiffs'plaintiffs’ claims pursuant to the defendants'defendants’ several motions to dismiss. However, the Court allowed the plaintiffs to attempt to correct the deficiencies in their complaint with an amended pleading with respect to all of the allegations except a claim under the federal Medicare regulations, which was dismissed with prejudice. The Court also left undisturbed the plaintiffs'plaintiffs’ claims for breach of contract. On March 2 6,26, 2001, the plaintiffs filed their amended complaint, which, among other things, added four state or county medical associations as additional plaintiffs. Two of those, the Denton County Medical Society and the Texas Medical Association, purport to bring their actions against us, as well as against several other defendant companies. The Medical Association of Georgia and the California Medical Association purport to bring their actions against various other defendant companies. The associations seek injunctive relief only. The defendants filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint on April 30, 2001.

 

On September 26, 2002, the Court granted the plaintiffs'plaintiffs’ request to file a second amended complaint, adding additional plaintiffs, including the Florida Medical Association, which purports to bring its action against all defendants. On October 21, 2002, the defendants moved to dismiss the second amended complaint. The Court has not yet ruled.ruled on that motion.

 

Also on September 26, 2002, the Court certified a global class consisting of all medical doctors who provided services to any person insured by any defendant from August 4, 1990, to September 30,26, 2002. The class includes two subclasses. A national subclass consists of medical doctors who provided services to any person insured by a defendant when the doctor has a claim against such defendant and is not required to arbitrate that claim. A California subclass consists of medical doctors who provided services to any person insured in California by any defendant when the doctor was not bound to arbitrate the claim. On October 10, 2002, the defendants asked the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit to review the class certification decision. On November 20, 2002, the Court of Appeals agreed to review the class issue. The District Court has ruled that discovery can proceed during the pendency of the request to the Eleventh Circuit,appellate court heard oral argument on September 11, 2003.

Discovery is ongoing, and the Eleventh Circuit rejected a request to halt discovery.

       The Court has set a trial date of December 8,June 30, 2004. In the meantime, Aetna Inc., announced on May 22, 2003, that it has entered into a settlement agreement with the plaintiffs. Another defendant, Cigna Corporation, entered into a settlement agreement September 4, 2003. The agreements have been filed with the Court and are subject to approval by the Court.

 Other

We intend to defend this action vigorously.

 

Other

The Academy of Medicine of Cincinnati, the Butler County Medical Society, the Northern Kentucky Medical Society, and several physicians have filed antitrust suits in state courts in Ohio and Kentucky against Aetna Health, Inc., Humana Health Plan of Ohio, Inc., Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, and United Healthcare of Ohio, Inc., alleging that the defendants have conspiredviolated the Ohio and Kentucky antitrust laws by conspiring to fix the reimbursement rates paid to physicians in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region. The companion suits are filed in state courts in Ohio and Kentucky and allege violation, respectively, of the Ohio and Kentucky antitrust laws. Each suit seeks class certification, damages and injunctive relief. Plaintiffs cite no evidence that any such conspiracy existed, but base their allegations on assertions that physicians in the Greater Cincinnati region are paid less than physicians in other major cities in Ohio and Kentucky.

 

The Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas (Ohio)state courts in Ohio and the Boone County Circuit Court (Kentucky) haveKentucky each denied motions by the defendants to compel arbitration or alternatively to dismiss. Defendants have filed notices of appeal with respect to the orders denying arbitration. The Ohio court has agreed to stay proceedings pending resolution of the appeal. The Kentucky court granted a similar request with respect to the physician plaintiffs, who are subject to arbitration agreements, but denied the requested stay with respect to the association plaintiffs and any physician plaintiffs whose contracts do not contain arbitration provisions. Defendants requested a stay from the Kentucky Court of Appeals pending appeal of the arbitration issue. The Court of Appeals denied the stay, and discovery began in the Kentucky action. The plaintiffs have filed motions to certify a class in each case. The purported classes allegedly consist respectively, of all physicians who have practiced medicine at any time since January 1, 1992, in a four county region in Southwestern Ohio or a three county region in Northern Kentucky.

 

On October 23, 2003, we entered into a settlement agreement with the plaintiffs that specifies an increase in future reimbursement we pay to a class consisting of physicians in a 12-county area in Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky over the next three years. We intendexpect to continueincrease the reimbursement, in the aggregate, we will pay physicians for future services over the amounts paid to defend these actions vigorously.them in 2003 as follows: $20 million in 2004, an additional $15 million in 2005 and an additional $10 million in 2006. The agreement also provides for a committee to monitor our contracting practices for the period 2007 through 2010, with reporting to us if any anticompetitive behavior is believed to have occurred. The agreement is subject to approval by the courts.

 

Government Audits and Other Litigation and Proceedings

 

In July 2000, the Office of the Florida Attorney General initiated an investigation, apparently relating to some of the same matters that are involved in the managed care industry purported class action lawsuitslitigation described above. While the Attorney General has filed no action against us, he has indicated that he may do so in the future. On September 21, 2001, the Texas Attorney General initiated a similar investigation. No actions have been filed against us by either state. These investigations are ongoing, and we have cooperated with the regulators in both states.

 

On May 31, 2000, we entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement, or CIA, with the Office of Inspector General, or OIG, of the Department of Health and Human Services. Under the CIA, we are obligated to, among other things, provide training, conduct periodic audits and make periodic reports to the OIG.

 

In addition, our business practices are subject to review by various state insurance and health care regulatory authorities and federal regulatory authorities. There has been increased scrutiny by these regulators of the managed health care companies'companies’ business practices, including claims payment practices and utilization management practices. We have been and continue to be subject to such reviews. Some of these have resulted in fines and could require changes in some of our practices and could also result in additional fines or other sanctions.

 

We also are involved in other lawsuits that arise in the ordinary course of our business operations, including claims of medical malpractice, bad faith, nonacceptance or termination of providers, failure to disclose network discounts, and various other provider arrangements, andas well as challenges to subrogation practices. We also are subject to claims relating to performance of contractual obligations to providers, members, and others, including failure to properly pay claims and challenges to the use of certain software products in processing claims. Pending state and federal legislative activity may increase our exposure for any of these types of claims.

In addition, someseveral courts, including several federal appellate courts, recently have issued decisions which could have the effect of eroding the scope of ERISA preemption for employer-sponsored health plans, thereby exposing us to greater liability for medical negligence claims. This includes decisions which hold that plans may be liable for medical negligence claims in some situations based solely on medical necessity decisions made in the course of adjudicating claims. In addition, some courts have issued rulings which make it easier to hold plans liable for medical negligence on the part of network providers on the theory that providers are agents of the plans and that the plans are therefore vicariously liable for the injuries to members by providers.

 

Personal injury claims and claims for extracontractual damages arising from medical benefit denials are covered by insurance from our wholly owned captive insurance subsidiary and excess carriers, except to the extent that claimants seek punitive damages, which may not be covered by insurance in certain states in which insurance coverage for punitive damages is not permitted. In addition, insurance coverage for all or certain forms of liability has become increasingly costly and may become unavailable or prohibitively expensive in the future. On January 1, 2002, and again on January 1, 2003, we reduced the amount of coverage purchased from third party insurance carriers and increased the amount of risk we retain due to substantially higher insurance rates.

 

We do not believe that any pending or threatened legal actions against us or any pending or threatened audits or investigations by state or federal regulatory agencies will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. However, the likelihood or outcome of current or future suits, like the purported class action lawsuits described above, or governmental investigations, cannot be accurately predicted with certainty. In addition, the increased litigation, which has accompanied the negative publicity and public perception of our industry, adds to this uncertainty. Therefore, such legal actions and government audits and investigations could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.


Part II. Other Information, continued

Part II. Other Information, continued

Humana Inc.

Item 2:

Changes in securities

None.

None.

Item 3:

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

None.

Item 4:

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

None.

None.

Item 5:

Other Information

In September 2003, the Company appointed Frank A. D’Amelio to its Board of Directors.

Item 6:

None.

Item 6:

Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)

Exhibit Index:

(a)Exhibit Index:

4.1

Indenture dated as of August 2003 covering the Company’s 6.30% Senior Notes due 2018.

4.2

First Supplemental Indenture covering the Company’s 6.30% Senior Notes due 2018.

   12.110.1

Amended and Restated 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of October 2003.

10.2

Amended and Restated RFC Loan Agreement, dated as of October 2003.

10.3

Summary of changes to Humana Inc. Retirement Plans.

12

Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.

31.1

   99.1

CEO certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant   to Section 906302 of the Sarbanes - Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2

CFO certification pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes - Oxley Act of 2002.

32

   99.2

CEO and CFO certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes - Oxley Act of 2002.

(b)Reports on Form 8-K

(b)

For the quarter ended March 31,(1)    On July 28, 2003, and through the date of this report, we furnished a report on Form 8-K on April 28, 2003 regarding our first   quarter'ssecond quarter of 2003 earnings release.

(2)    On August 5, 2003, we filed reports regarding the issuance of our $300 million 6.30% senior notes due 2018 and certain related exhibits.


SIGNATURES(3)    On August 22, 2003, we filed a report regarding the TRICARE South region bid announcement.

       Pursuant(4)    On September 26, 2003, we filed reports regarding the TRICARE retail pharmacy contract bid announcement.

(5)    On October 15, 2003, we filed a report concerning our contingency plans related to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

Humana Inc.(6)    On October 23, 2003, we filed a report regarding the settlement of litigation in Cincinnati, Ohio.

(Registrant)

(7)    On October 27, 2003, we furnished a report regarding our third quarter of 2003 earnings release.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

HUMANA INC.
(Registrant)

Date:

May 14,November 5, 2003

By:

/s/ JamesS/    JAMES H. BloemBLOEM        


James H. Bloem

Senior Vice President

And Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer)

Date:

May 14,November 5, 2003

By:

/s/ ArthurS/    ARTHUR P. HipwellHIPWELL        


Arthur P. Hipwell

Senior Vice President and

General Counsel


41

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Michael B. McCallister, principal executive officer of Humana Inc., certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Humana Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

c) presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls; and

6. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date:

May 14, 2003

Signature

/s/ Michael B. McCallister

Michael B. McCallister

Principal Executive Officer


CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, James H. Bloem, principal financial officer of Humana Inc., certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Humana Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

c) presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls; and

6. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date:

May 14, 2003

Signature

/s/ James H. Bloem

James H. Bloem

Principal Financial Officer