Are CenterWell and Humana the same thing?

Editorial team Published on

Yes, CenterWell is part of Humana Inc.

Overview of CenterWell and Humana

  • Healthcare Services: CenterWell is Humana's healthcare services business, combining senior primary care, home health, and pharmacy services.
  • Rebranding: Humana rebranded several of its existing services—including Humana Pharmacy, parts of Kindred at Home, and senior-focused primary care clinics—under the CenterWell name.
  • Payer Agnostic: Although owned by Humana, CenterWell facilities and services accept a variety of insurance and Medicare plans, not just Humana.

Do you have to have Humana to use CenterWell Pharmacy?

No, you do not need Humana insurance to use CenterWell Specialty Pharmacy, as they accept most Medicare and non-Humana insurance providers for specialty medications.

Insurance and Payment Details

  • Specialty Medications: CenterWell Specialty Pharmacy works with non-Humana insurance providers to help cover and coordinate complex medications.
  • Regular Mail-Order Pharmacy: Standard CenterWell Pharmacy functions primarily as a preferred mail-order network option for Humana members.

Why is Humana cancelling Medicare Advantage plans?

Humana is canceling select Medicare Advantage plans for 2027 to eliminate unprofitable coverage and reach a sustainable pre-tax profit margin of at least 3% by 2028.

Key Reasons for the Cancellations

  • Low Star Ratings: Humana is specifically targeting plans with a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services star rating of 3.5 or lower, which reduces quality bonus payments and hurts financial returns.
  • Rising Medical Costs: Insurers report that government reimbursement rates have not kept pace with high senior medical utilization and rising care costs.
  • Prescription Drug Pressures: Additional financial strains from regulatory changes, such as the rising out-of-pocket prescription drug cap under the Inflation Reduction Act, add pressure to lower-performing plans.

Impact and Next Steps

The cancellations affect approximately 600,000 members (about 8% of Humana's Medicare Advantage base). Humana expects to transition roughly 40% of those affected into alternative plans it offers. Members whose specific plans are discontinued will receive non-renewal notices and must choose new coverage during the upcoming enrollment periods.

Does Humana still own CenterWell?

Yes, Humana still owns CenterWell, operating it as its primary healthcare services division.

Ownership and Structure Details

  • Parent Company: Humana Inc. fully owns and operates CenterWell.
  • Brand Evolution: Humana rebranded its medical services—including former entities like Partners in Primary Care, Humana Pharmacy, and parts of Kindred at Home—under the unified CenterWell name.
  • Recent Growth: CenterWell continues to expand under Humana, completing acquisitions such as Florida-based primary care network MaxHealth.
  • Payer-Agnostic Model: Although owned by Humana, CenterWell services (including senior primary care, home health, and CenterWell Pharmacy) remain open to patients enrolled in other insurance plans, not just Humana.

What are people saying about Humana CenterWell Pharmacy?

People generally report poor customer satisfaction and low ratings for CenterWell Pharmacy (formerly Humana Pharmacy), though some acknowledge the basic convenience of mail-order delivery.

Common Complaints

  • Customer Service: Reviewers frequently report long phone hold times, unhelpful support staff, and communication barriers.
  • Delivery Delays: Customers often complain about late shipments, disorganized order processing, and canceled or missing refills.
  • Doctor Communication: Many users state that the pharmacy frequently claims it cannot reach their doctors to approve refills or renewals.
  • Over-the-Counter (OTC) Products: Medicare members using their health and wellness credits report that the OTC selection is limited, expensive, and low quality.

Positive Aspects

  • Convenience: When orders process smoothly, patients appreciate having mail-order medications delivered directly to their homes.
  • Plan Integration: It serves as a preferred cost-sharing mail-order pharmacy for many Humana Medicare plans, allowing eligible members to manage refills via mobile app.

Centerwell's Healthcare Revolution: What You Need to Know

9 related questions found

Who is the preferred pharmacy for Humana?

CenterWell Pharmacy is Humana's preferred mail-order pharmacy for many Medicare Advantage (MAPD) and prescription drug (PDP) plans.

Preferred Retail Pharmacies

Humana's preferred retail cost-share network varies by your specific plan and location, but commonly includes major retailers such as:

  • Walmart and Walmart Neighborhood Market
  • Publix
  • H-E-B
  • Kroger Health subsidiaries
  • Costco
  • Sam’s Club (no membership required)
  • Albertsons

Note: Specific preferred retail chains depend on your exact plan year and geographic region.

How to Check Your Specific Plan

  • Use the online Humana Pharmacy Finder tool.
  • Log in to your MyHumana account to view local preferred network details.
  • Call Humana Customer Care at 1-800-281-6918 (TTY: 711).

What carrier does CenterWell Pharmacy use?

CenterWell Pharmacy uses FedEx, UPS, and USPS as its delivery shipping partners.

  • Carrier Assignment: CenterWell chooses the delivery carrier for your order automatically based on reliability and location; you cannot select a specific carrier yourself.
  • Specialty Medications: Specialty and sensitive refrigerated orders are commonly shipped via FedEx or UPS to ensure prompt delivery with special cold packs.
  • Standard Deliveries: Regular maintenance medications may ship through USPS, UPS, or FedEx.

What is the best health insurance for seniors on Medicare?

There is no single "best" plan for everyone, as coverage depends on your location, budget, and health needs, but top-rated national Medicare Advantage providers include Humana, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare NerdWallet.

When you have Medicare, you generally choose between two main paths for your health coverage.

Option 1: Medicare Advantage (Part C)

These are all-in-one plans sold by private companies. They replace Original Medicare and often include extra perks.

  • What they include: Hospital care, doctor visits, prescription drugs, and often dental, vision, and hearing.
  • Top-rated companies:
    • Humana: Scores very high for popular plans and wide availability.
    • Aetna: Known for high government star ratings and many $0-premium options.
    • UnitedHealthcare: Offers the largest nationwide doctor and hospital network.
  • Things to know: You must usually stay within a specific network of doctors (HMO or PPO).

Option 2: Original Medicare + Medigap + Part D

This path keeps government-run Original Medicare as your base.

  • Original Medicare (Parts A & B): Covers hospital and medical care, but leaves about 20% of costs unpaid.
  • Medigap (Medicare Supplement): Private insurance that pays the 20% left over. Trusted names include Mutual of Omaha and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
  • Part D: A separate plan just for prescription drugs. Wellcare is a popular choice for affordable drug coverage.
  • Things to know: You can see any doctor in the U.S. who accepts Medicare, but you pay separate monthly premiums for Medigap and Part D.

Who is better, UnitedHealthcare or Humana?

Neither UnitedHealthcare nor Humana is universally better; UnitedHealthcare is stronger for national network size and PPO flexibility, while Humana often competes better on value, low premiums, and targeted HMO wellness benefits.

Network and Coverage

  • UnitedHealthcare: Offers a massive national provider network (nearly 1 million providers) and extensive Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) availability. Often co-branded with AARP.
  • Humana: Focuses heavily on Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans and value-based care, though its provider network can be more restrictive depending on your area.

Costs and Ratings

  • UnitedHealthcare: Generally scores higher on CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) quality ratings and offers $0 premium options in 46 states, but can lag in localized customer satisfaction.
  • Humana: Frequently praised for affordable premiums, competitive drug costs, and extra perks like Part B premium givebacks, though average CMS ratings can trail behind UHC.

What is the downside of Humana?

The main downside of Humana includes below-average customer satisfaction, a high volume of complaints regarding claim denials, and a recent drop in quality star ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Customer Satisfaction and Quality Ratings

  • Low satisfaction scores: Humana ranks below average for customer satisfaction in the majority of Medicare markets according to J.D. Power studies.
  • Declining star ratings: Only about 37% of Humana members are enrolled in plans rated 4 out of 5 stars or higher by CMS, reflecting a notable drop in quality ratings.
  • User complaints: Many customers report long hold times, unhelpful offshore customer service, and difficulties with billing errors or unauthorized dis-enrollments.

Network and Coverage Limitations

  • Strict provider networks: Many plans—particularly HMO options like Humana Gold Plus—restrict care to a specific network of doctors and require primary care physician referrals or prior authorizations for specialists. Going out-of-network can lead to steep or complete out-of-pocket costs.
  • Claim denials: Users frequently log complaints about denied coverage for specific medical procedures, prescription drugs, dental care, and vision benefits.
  • Regional exits: Humana has scaled back or exited underperforming counties and commercial markets (such as the ACA marketplace), which can lead to reduced plan choices or disruption in local availability.

Lack of Under-65 Commercial Options

  • No individual under-65 plans: Humana has fully exited the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace, short-term medical plans, and employer-sponsored group health insurance, meaning they do not offer health plans for individuals under 65 who do not qualify for Medicare, Medicaid, or military coverage.