Affordable Heathcare

Objectives

Make Healthcare Affordable

Target

CVS Health (Aetna / Caremark)

The combination of retail pharmacy, insurance, and PBM under one roof makes the affordability harm narrative especially compelling. CVS has one of the most powerful consumer-facing surfaces of any healthcare company — retail pharmacies in nearly every community, plus insurance and PBM. Consumers can switch pharmacies immediately to Walgreens, Walmart, Costco, or independents.

Better alternatives

Independent/local pharmacies (community-owned, patient-focused care) Costco Pharmacy (significantly lower drug prices, transparent pricing) Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drugs / Cost Plus Pharmacy (radical price transparency, generic drugs at cost + 15%) GoodRx (prescription discount platform, not a pharmacy but reduces out-of-pocket costs) Kaiser Permanente (integrated nonprofit-model health system, available in select regions) Health Partners / Group Health cooperatives (member-owned, nonprofit health plans) Oscar Health (tech-forward insurer with transparent pricing tools) Cigna (competitor insurer — has faced less public scrutiny than Aetna on claim denials) UPMC Health Plan (regional nonprofit integrated health plan) National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC) member clinics (free/low-cost care for uninsured) Federally Qualified Health Centers / Community Health Centers (sliding-scale fees, federally funded) Amazon Pharmacy (transparent pricing, Prime discount program for generics) Walmart Pharmacy (low-cost generics, $4 prescription program) Sam's Club Pharmacy (low-cost prescriptions, no membership required for pharmacy)

Ways to take a stand

easy

I pledge to delete the cvs app from my phone

Removing the CVS app reduces engagement metrics and eliminates the digital touchpoint CVS uses to drive pharmacy refills, ExtraCare loyalty spending, and front-store purchases. It signals disengagement from their retail ecosystem.

easy

I pledge to stop using my extracare loyalty card

CVS's ExtraCare program drives repeat visits and provides valuable consumer data that CVS monetizes. Stopping use withdraws both your spending signal and the data revenue tied to your purchase history.

medium

I pledge to stop buying front-store products at cvs retail locations

CVS stores generate significant revenue from general merchandise, health products, and beauty items — all of which can be purchased elsewhere. Redirecting this spending to independent retailers or competitors removes a meaningful consumer revenue stream.

medium

I pledge to switch my prescriptions to an independent or competing pharmacy

Caremark and CVS pharmacies account for a massive share of CVS Health's retail revenue. Transferring your prescriptions to a local independent pharmacy, Costco Pharmacy, or Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drugs directly reduces their dispensing volume.

medium

I pledge to request my employer or union stop offering aetna as a health plan option

Aetna is one of CVS Health's largest revenue drivers. Formally requesting that your HR department or union benefits committee evaluate and drop Aetna at the next plan renewal period applies direct pressure on the insurance arm.

hard

I pledge to switch away from aetna health insurance at my next open enrollment

Aetna contributes billions in premium revenue to CVS Health annually. Choosing a competing insurer during open enrollment is one of the highest-impact individual actions available, directly reducing the premium base Aetna depends on.

Target

Humana

Humana is a direct consumer brand especially familiar to seniors and their families. Medicare Advantage enrollment is a consumer choice, and family members advocating for elderly relatives have strong motivation to switch plans. The billing fraud narrative is powerful and well-publicized.

Better alternatives

Kaiser Permanente (nonprofit integrated care model, consistently ranked for affordability and quality) Oscar Health (tech-driven transparency, lower-cost plans, focus on accessible care) Molina Healthcare (Medicaid/Medicare focus, serves low-income and underserved populations) Centene Corporation (large Medicaid insurer, government-sponsored coverage focus) HCSC (Health Care Service Corporation) (member-owned mutual, nonprofit structure in several states) Local nonprofit health cooperatives (e.g., Group Health, HealthPartners — member-governed, profit-reinvested into care) Community health centers / FQHCs (Federally Qualified Health Centers — sliding-scale fees, community-owned) Direct Primary Care (DPC) practices (flat monthly fee, no insurer middleman, transparent pricing) State Medicaid programs (if income-eligible — publicly administered, no profit extraction) Healthcare.gov ACA marketplace plans from nonprofit insurers (filter by nonprofit/co-op status on exchange)

Ways to take a stand

easy

I pledge to delete the humana mobile app

Removing the Humana app from your phone reduces their engagement metrics and signals disengagement to their digital analytics teams. App activity data is a valuable asset Humana monetizes.

easy

I pledge to opt out of humana's data sharing and marketing programs

Humana profits from member health data for analytics and marketing partnerships. Opting out of non-essential data sharing reduces the value they extract from your membership.

medium

I pledge to cancel my humana dental or vision plan

Humana's supplemental dental and vision plans are standalone, optional products that are straightforward to cancel and switch to a competitor like Delta Dental or VSP.

hard

I pledge to switch my medicare advantage plan to a competing insurer

During Medicare open enrollment, switching your Medicare Advantage plan away from Humana directly reduces their premium revenue, which is one of their largest income streams. Competitors include UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, and BCBS.

hard

I pledge to switch my employer-sponsored or individual health insurance away from humana

If your employer offers multiple insurer options, selecting a non-Humana plan at open enrollment withdraws your premium contribution from Humana's revenue base.

hard

I pledge to cancel my humana pharmacy or mail-order prescription service

Humana operates pharmacy benefit and mail-order prescription services. Switching to an independent pharmacy or a competitor like CVS Caremark or Express Scripts removes recurring pharmacy revenue from Humana.

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