LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The University of Louisville’s College of Business recently released the results of a study that evaluated Humana’s economic and community impact on Kentucky.
The study, which examined gross contributions and multiplier effects from 2017-2023, demonstrated the company’s value both as an employer and through ripple effects across industries and localities. Each year, Humana drove an average of $13.9 billion in GDP, $2.6 billion in tax revenues, $75.5 million in charitable contributions, and more than 60,000 jobs throughout the Commonwealth.
Headquartered in Louisville since 1961, Humana is a leading integrated health and wellness company that serves as an active community partner and positive economic driver for both its corporate hometown and the state overall. Together, the company’s Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, TRICARE and specialty insurance and its CenterWell health care services employ about 63,000 people nationwide, with more than 10,000 of them working in Kentucky. The positions cover a wide range of career fields from customer care specialists and business management in the corporate headquarters to physicians and nurses in the six CenterWell Senior Primary Care centers in Louisville, Frankfort and Lexington. For one of those locations, Humana’s CenterWell Senior Primary Care partnered with the Louisville Urban League to open a center on the city’s west side – an area that has suffered from significant underinvestment.
According to UofL’s report, an employment multiplier effect means the more than 10,000 Humana jobs in Kentucky support another approximate 50,000 jobs in the Commonwealth. The multiplier effect also applies when assessing financial impact, meaning the average $4.5 billion Humana contributes to the state’s gross domestic output adds an additional $9.4 billion to Kentucky’s output.
“Humana has a profound impact on Louisville and statewide,” Thomas Lambert, PhD, University of Louisville Applied Economist who led the study, noted in the report. “Our state domestic output and Louisville area output would shrink quite a bit if they did not exist. Big effects.”
Community Support
Humana’s investment in Louisville and Kentucky reaches far beyond its payroll. The company also supports its local community through non-profit investments and partnerships. Humana Healthy Horizons, the company’s Medicaid business, partners with numerous organizations dedicated to improving the region’s most pressing health issues – such as food and housing insecurity, chronic disease management, behavioral health, maternal health, and much more.
“Our Kentucky roots run deep. Humana was founded in Louisville, and our presence here is not only important to our history, but also our future,” said Jeb Duke, President, Humana Healthy Horizons – Kentucky, which currently serves about 160,000 of the state’s most vulnerable individuals. “We are proud to contribute to the fabric of our community, and work directly with the community-based organizations that serve our members at the ground level. By fostering these local connections, we can meet our members where they are and increase positive health outcomes for all Kentuckians.”
One example of this work includes responding to natural disasters, such as the devastating tornadoes in Western Kentucky. This involved support for a rapid-response free health clinic, expanded broadband infrastructure to support community hotspots and telehealth, and collaboration with community organizations on workforce development initiatives. Based on learnings from this disaster and others that Humana has responded to in Kentucky, Humana Healthy Horizons continues to build strong relationships with community-based organizations that support disaster readiness and now offers a meal benefit to members when the governor declares a state of emergency due to disasters.
Another is Humana’s national affordable housing strategy. As part of its $90 million commitment to housing stability, the company has invested in four residential communities in Kentucky. The investments go well beyond simply a financial investment, with Humana continuing to work with these residential communities to provide needed services. At Zion Manor in West Louisville, Humana recently hosted a health fair that included free health screenings and educational resources to help the residents achieve their best health.
Humana has a longstanding strategic partnership with Volunteers of America (VOA). VOA began its family first recovery program (FFR) in Kentucky, which creates a focused treatment program that supports mothers recovering from substance use disorder and addresses underlying physical, mental, and behavioral health challenges. With Humana’s continued financial and operational support, VOA is scaling this program to additional states like Georgia, Oklahoma and Ohio.
The company’s community impact is not limited to the support provided through its Medicaid business. Humana, its employees and the Humana Foundation regularly give time and financial support to aid community-based organizations, especially during times of need.
At a critical moment in 2023, the Humana Foundation quickly committed $1 million to bolster mental health resources in its hometown, following the aftermath of mass shootings in downtown Louisville. The donation continues to support victims and families, along with others in the community struggling from ongoing hardship and trauma that the city has endured in recent years. The donation is part of the Humana Foundation’s commitment to health equity and creating healthy emotional connections for the communities it serves.
The Humana Foundation can deliver on its commitments because of the dedication, support and wide expanse of Humana employees. In valuing the volunteer hours and financial donations from the Humana workforce, corporate donations and grants from the Humana Foundation, the study found an average of around $51 million annually is estimated to have been given in support of Kentucky communities.
The full report can be found on the University of Louisville’s website: Humana Impact Report : University of Louisville – College of Business .
