Humana vs UnitedHealth: Founders, CEOs and History
Humana was founded in 1961 by Wendell Cherry, David A. Jones Sr. and is led by James A. (Jim) Rechtin. UnitedHealth was founded in 1977 by Richard T. Burke and is led by Stephen J. Hemsley.
Company facts
Humana
- Founded
- 1961
- Headquarters
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Current CEO
- James A. (Jim) Rechtin
- Employees
- 67,600
UnitedHealth
- Founded
- 1977
- Headquarters
- Eden Prairie, Minnesota
- Current CEO
- Stephen J. Hemsley
- Employees
- 390,000
Founders
Humana
Wendell Cherry
Wendell Cherry and his law-school classmate David A. Jones Sr. each put in about $1,000 to open the Heritage House nursing home in Louisville in 1961. The venture grew into Extendicare, the largest nursing home chain in the U.S., and went public in 1968.
David A. Jones Sr.
David A. Jones Sr. led Humana through each of its major pivots: from nursing homes (Extendicare) to hospitals in the 1970s, into health plans in the 1980s, and to a pure health benefits company after the 1993 spin-off of its hospitals as Galen Health Care.
UnitedHealth
Richard T. Burke
Richard T. Burke founded Charter Med in 1974 and formed United HealthCare Corporation in 1977 to manage newly created health maintenance organizations, starting with the Physicians Health Plan of Minnesota.
CEOs and their tenures
Humana
- Bruce Broussard2013–2024
Former Chief Executive Officer
Broussard led Humana from 2013 to 2024, growing Medicare Advantage membership, creating the CenterWell brand, and completing the 2021 Kindred at Home acquisition.
Source - James A. (Jim) Rechtin2024–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
Under Rechtin, Humana grew Medicare Advantage membership by more than 1 million for 2026 while planning exits covering about 600,000 members for 2027 to restore margins.
Source - Celeste Mellet2025–present
Chief Financial Officer
Oversees Humana's financial guidance, capital allocation, and margin recovery plan.
Source
UnitedHealth
- Andrew Witty2021–2025
Chief Executive Officer (Former)
Oversaw revenue growth past $400 billion but stepped down in May 2025, citing personal reasons, as medical costs surged and the company suspended its 2025 guidance.
Source - Stephen J. Hemsley2025–present
Chair and Chief Executive Officer
Under his second term, quarterly net margin recovered to 4.9% in Q2 2026 and 2026 adjusted EPS guidance was raised to $19.50-$20.00.
Source - Tim Noel2025–present
Chief Executive Officer, UnitedHealthcare
Remains UnitedHealthcare CEO after Robert Hunter was named UnitedHealthcare president in September 2026.
Source
Timeline: Humana and UnitedHealth side by side
1961Humana
Heritage House Opens
Lawyers David A. Jones Sr. and Wendell Cherry opened a nursing home in Louisville, the start of the company that became Humana.
1968Humana
Extendicare IPO
The nursing home company, then called Extendicare, went public and became the largest U.S. nursing home chain.
1974Humana
Renamed Humana
After shifting from nursing homes to hospitals, the company adopted the Humana name.
1974UnitedHealth
Charter Med roots
Richard Burke's managed-care business created the roots of UnitedHealth Group.
1977UnitedHealth
United HealthCare formed
United HealthCare Corporation was formed as the company developed health benefit programs.
1984UnitedHealth
Initial public offering
UnitedHealth Group went public in 1984.
1993Humana
Hospitals Spun Off
Humana spun off its hospitals as Galen Health Care, leaving a pure health benefits company.
1998UnitedHealth
Acquired HealthPartners of Arizona
UnitedHealth Group acquired HealthPartners of Arizona in 1998.
2001UnitedHealth
Acquired AmeriChoice
UnitedHealth Group acquired AmeriChoice in 2001.
2011UnitedHealth
Optum brand launched
UnitedHealth organized health services, pharmacy, technology, and analytics businesses under Optum.
2017Humana
Aetna Merger Blocked
A federal judge blocked Aetna's roughly $37 billion acquisition of Humana; Aetna paid Humana a $1 billion breakup fee.
2021Humana
Full Ownership of Kindred at Home
Humana bought the 60% of Kindred at Home it did not already own, later rebranding the home health business under CenterWell.
2024Humana
Jim Rechtin Becomes CEO
Jim Rechtin, who joined as President and COO in January 2024, succeeded Bruce Broussard as CEO in July 2024.
2025Humana
$129.7B FY2025 Revenue
Humana reported $129.66B in revenue and $1.19B in net income, and completed its exit from employer-group commercial medical coverage.
2025UnitedHealth
Stephen Hemsley returns
Stephen J. Hemsley was appointed CEO effective immediately in May 2025.
2025UnitedHealth
Revenue reaches $447.6B
UnitedHealth Group reported $447.6 billion in 2025 total revenues.
2026Humana
Medicare Advantage Surge and 2027 Pullback
Humana added more than 1 million MA members for 2026, reported Q2 revenue of $40.89B, and said it will exit plans covering about 600,000 members for 2027.
2026UnitedHealth
Optum UK sold to TPG
The sale of Optum UK to TPG closed on March 13, 2026.
2026UnitedHealth
Guidance raised
After Q2 2026 revenue of $112.0 billion, UnitedHealth raised 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $19.50-$20.00.
2026UnitedHealth
WellMed Florida stake to TPG
Optum sold an interest in Florida WellMed clinics to TPG in September 2026.
Acquisitions
UnitedHealth
- LHC Group2023$5.4B
- Change Healthcare2022$13B
- Catamaran2015$12.8B
Questions about Humana vs UnitedHealth
Who is the CEO of Humana Inc. and UnitedHealth Group Incorporated?
Humana Inc. is led by James A. (Jim) Rechtin and UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is led by Stephen J. Hemsley. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Humana Inc. founded vs UnitedHealth Group Incorporated?
Humana Inc. was founded in 1961 — 16 years before UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, which was founded in 1977. Humana Inc.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger UnitedHealth Group Incorporated.
How many employees does Humana Inc. have compared to UnitedHealth Group Incorporated?
Humana Inc. employs approximately 67,600 people, while UnitedHealth Group Incorporated employs approximately 390,000. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has the larger workforce at 390,000 employees, compared to Humana Inc.'s 67,600. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Humana Inc. and UnitedHealth Group Incorporated headquartered?
Both Humana Inc. and UnitedHealth Group Incorporated are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Humana Inc. and UnitedHealth Group Incorporated?
Humana Inc. was founded by Wendell Cherry, David A. Jones Sr.. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated was founded by Richard T. Burke.
Which company has a longer operating history — Humana Inc. or UnitedHealth Group Incorporated?
Humana Inc. has been operating for approximately 65 years, making it the more established of the two companies. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has been in operation for around 49 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Humana vs UnitedHealth overview