Pedaling Fun -- Freewheelin Rolls in to Humana Guidance Center in Tamarac, Fla. Bike-sharing program free of charge, for use by anyone 18 and older

TAMARAC, Fla., Nov 05, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Do you remember the pure joy of hopping on a bicycle and going for a ride? Starting today, residents of Tamarac, Fla., will be able to experience the health benefits and fun of bike riding thanks to Freewheelin, a bike-sharing program created by Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM).

The Humana Guidance Center in Tamarac, a community resource that enables Humana to meet people in the community in which they live, will house a Freewheelin bike station with 18 bicycles. Anyone 18 or older can check out a Freewheelin bicycle between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, free of charge, by presenting a valid photo ID and credit card. Humana also will supply helmets and allow all riders to borrow bike locks for free.

"We're incredibly excited to bring a permanent Freewheelin bike-sharing station to the Humana Guidance Center in Tamarac," said Humana Florida Medicare and Medicaid Products CEO Michael A. Seltzer. "Bicycles are a fun way to get some exercise and a great way to get around town while doing something good for the environment and your health. We've seen a lot of success and enthusiasm with Humana's Freewheelin program, and we expect to see many more delighted Freewheelers in Tamarac." As part of the Freewheelin program, Freewheelers will be able to participate in scheduled bike rides that will vary based from an easy, slow, scenic cruise to a longer, more athletic work out.

How Freewheelin Works Bicycles will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at the Humana Guidance Center in Tamarac. Riders must present a credit card and a photo ID to check out a bike. No charges will be placed on the card, provided bikes are returned by 5 p.m. to the Humana Guidance Center. Freewheelers do not need to be Humana members to check out bikes. Humana will also supply helmets and allow riders to borrow bike locks free of charge. All riders will be required to attend a bicycle-safety information session and be fitted to their bicycles and helmets before heading out to the streets to pedal away. The Humana Guidance Center in Tamarac is located at King's Point, 7666 Nob Hill Rd.

A launch and celebratory "community ride" is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Thurs., Nov. 5 at the Humana Guidance Center in Tamarac. People in the community are welcome to participate in the ride, on their own bikes, or using Freewheelin bikes.

Freewheelin's Road to Success In 2008, Humana and the bicycle-advocacy group Bikes Belong took 1,000 bicycles to each of the national political conventions. Over eight days, riders in Denver and Minneapolis-St. Paul took more than 7,500 rides, pedaled nearly 42,000 miles, burned 1.3 million calories and reduced their carbon footprint by 14.6 metric tons. It was such a success that Humana decided to keep the Freewheelin program rolling, taking it to other events, including recently logging more than 2,400 rides during the 2009 National Senior Games in Palo Alto, Calif. And now Humana is bringing Freewheelin into local communities via Humana's Guidance Centers. The Freewheelin bike-sharing program is now available at three Humana Guidance Centers -- in Mesa, Ariz., Henderson, Nev., and Tamarac, Fla.

Bike-sharing is the international social movement where bikes are situated at designated stations throughout cities for individuals to use for a specified amount of time. It is a viable transportation alternative for those who prefer an environmentally friendly, cost-effective and healthy means of traveling, especially for short trips. Freewheelin is one of a number of initiatives Humana is developing to encourage people to have fun and get active, including everything from rewards for walking to video games that promote exercise.

Humana pioneered the bike-sharing program in 2007 in Louisville for its 10,000 Louisville associates. The initiative focuses on fun as well as health by encouraging people to get on a bike and ride with friends. Twenty-one percent of those riding at Humana said they were not previously getting any exercise.

About Humana Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the nation's largest publicly traded health and supplemental benefits companies, with approximately 10.3 million medical members and 7.3 million specialty members.

Humana is a full-service benefits solutions company, offering a wide array of health and supplementary benefit plans for employer groups, government programs and individuals.

Over its 48-year history, Humana has consistently seized opportunities to meet changing customer needs. Today, the company is a leader in consumer engagement, providing guidance that leads to lower costs and a better health plan experience throughout its diversified customer portfolio.

More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company's web site at www.humana.com, including copies of: -- Annual reports to stockholders -- Securities and Exchange Commission filings -- Most recent investor conference presentations -- Quarterly earnings news releases -- Replays of most recent earnings release conference calls -- Calendar of events (includes upcoming earnings conference call dates and times, as well as planned interaction with research analysts and institutional investors) -- Corporate Governance Information SOURCE: Humana Inc.

CONTACT: Humana Corporate Communications Nancy Hanewinckel, 941-539-6508 [e-mail] Copyright Business Wire 2009 -0- KEYWORD: United States

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Biking/Cycling SUBJECT CODE: Product/Service