HispanicBusiness

and Employer Group Segments nearly offset by the impact of the accounting for the company's new South Region TRICARE contract in the company's Other Businesses.

The FY12 consolidated operating cost ratio of 15.1 percent increased 30 basis points from 14.8 percent for FY11 primarily due to the impact of the new South Region TRICARE contract discussed above, partially offset by lower year-over-year operating cost ratios for the Retail and Employer Group Segments.

Strategic transaction update -- On December 21, 2012, Humana completed its previously disclosed acquisition of Metropolitan, a Medical Services Organization that coordinates medical care for Medicare Advantage and Medicaid beneficiaries, primarily in Florida.

Retail Segment Highlights

Pretax results:

Retail Segment pretax income of $256 million in 4Q12 compares to $326 million in 4Q11, a decline of $70 million. This decrease was primarily due to a higher benefit ratio, partially offset by a lower operating cost ratio.

For FY12, pretax earnings for the Retail Segment of $1.16 billion decreased by $425 million from FY11 pretax earnings of $1.59 billion. The full-year decrease reflects the same factors impacting the fourth quarter year-over-year comparison. FY12 Retail Segment pretax results included $110 million of benefit from favorable prior period medical claims reserve development compared to $147 million in FY11.

Enrollment:

Individual Medicare Advantage membership was 1,927,600 at December 31, 2012, an increase of 287,300 members, or 18 percent from 1,640,300 at December 31, 2011, primarily due to a successful enrollment season associated with the 2012 plan year as well as age-in enrollment throughout the year.

Effective March 31, 2012, the company added approximately 62,600 members from the acquisition of Arcadian Management Services, Inc. (Arcadian). As previously announced, the company divested approximately 12,600 members acquired with Arcadian effective January 1, 2013 in accordance with the company's previously disclosed agreement with the United States Department of Justice.

January 2013 individual Medicare Advantage membership approximated 2,011,000, up approximately 83,400 from December 31, 2012, reflecting net membership additions in line with the company's expectations for the recently completed 2013 Annual Election Period (AEP) for Medicare beneficiaries and the Arcadian-related membership divestitures discussed above.

Membership in the company's individual stand-alone Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) was 2,985,600 at December 31, 2012, up 445,200, or 18 percent compared to 2,540,400 at December 31, 2011. These increases resulted primarily from higher gross sales primarily during the 2012 enrollment season, particularly for the company's innovative Humana-Walmart plan offering, supplemented by dual-eligible and age-in enrollments throughout the year.

January 2013 individual stand-alone PDP membership grew to approximately 3,113,000, an increase of approximately 127,400 from December 31, 2012, in line with the company's expectations for net additions during the AEP.

HumanaOne; medical membership increased to 444,000 at December 31, 2012, an increase of 10,400, or 2 percent, from 433,600 at December 31, 2011.

Membership in individual specialty products(a) of 948,700 at December 31, 2012 increased 21 percent from 782,500 at December 31, 2011, driven primarily by increased membership in dental offerings.

Premiums and Services Revenue:

4Q12 premiums and services revenue for the Retail Segment was $6.11 billion, an increase of 15 percent from $5.31 billion in 4Q11. The increase was primarily the result of 19 percent higher average individual Medicare Advantage membership year over year.

Benefits expense:

The 4Q12 benefit ratio for the Retail Segment was 82.6 percent, an increase of 360 basis points from 79.0 percent in 4Q11. The year-over-year increase was primarily due to a higher Medicare Advantage benefit ratio associated with new members and increased outpatient utilization for both new and existing members.

Operating costs:

The Retail Segment's operating cost ratio of 13.1 percent in 4Q12 decreased 160 basis points from 14.7 percent in 4Q11. The decrease was primarily the result of cost efficiencies resulting from higher average membership together with the company's continued focus on operating cost efficiencies.

Employer Group Segment Highlights

Pretax results:

Employer Group Segment pretax loss of $25 million in 4Q12 compares to a pretax loss of $51 million in 4Q11, and reflects an improved operating cost ratio partially offset by a year-over-year increase in the benefit ratio for this segment.

For FY12, pretax earnings for the Employer Group Segment of $253 million increased by $11 million versus FY11 pretax earnings of $242 million with the same factors impacting fourth quarter results also driving the year-over-year increase.