Company: HUM
Filing Date: 2025-02-20
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0000049071-25-000007
Chunk: 160

Company: HUMANA INC
Filing Date: 2025-02-20
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 7
Chunk 160
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 operating costs. We allocate the indirect costs shared by the segments primarily as a function of revenues. As a result, the profitability of each segment is interdependent.

Consolidated operating costs increased $0.5 billion, or 3.9%, from $13.2 billion in the 2023 period to $13.7 billion in the 2024 period. The consolidated operating cost ratio decreased 70 basis points from 12.5% in the 2023 period to 11.8% in the 2024 period. The ratio decrease was primarily due to scale efficiencies associated with growth in individual Medicare Advantage membership, administrative cost efficiencies resulting from our value creation initiatives, a lesser impact of commission expense for brokers in the 2024 period compared to the 2023 period as a result of significant individual Medicare Advantage membership growth in 2023, a lesser impact from charges related to value creation initiatives in the 2024 period compared to the 2023 period, as well as the impact of the accrued charge related to certain anticipated litigation expenses in the 2023 period. These factors were partially offset by significantly reduced compensation accruals in the 2023 period related to the annual incentive plan offered to employees across all levels of the company as our 2023 performance was negatively impacted by higher-than-anticipated Medicare Advantage utilization trends, as well as higher impairment costs in the 2024 period.

47

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization increased $60 million, or 7.7%, from $779 million in the 2023 period to $839 million in the 2024 period primarily due to capital expenditures.

Interest Expense

Interest expense increased $167 million, or 33.9%, from $493 million in the 2023 period to $660 million in the 2024 period primarily due to an increase in interest rates and higher average debt balances. 

Income Taxes

Our effective tax rate was 25.5% and 25.2% for the 2024 period and 2023 period, respectively. The year-over-year increase in the effective income tax rate is primarily due to a change in the mix of current year earnings between our Insurance segment and our CenterWell health services segment, as our CenterWell health services segment is subject to a higher effective tax rate than our Insurance segment. For a complete reconciliation of the federal statutory rate to the effective tax rate, refer to Note 12 to the audited Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item