Humana eyes acquisitions in complementary areas-WSJ

Nov 23 (Reuters) - Health insurer Humana Inc (HUM.N) is looking for acquisitions in complementary areas to adapt to changing healthcare need, its Chief Executive Mike McCallister told the Wall Street Journal in an interview.

The company is targeting areas such as managing expenditure on expensive specialty drugs and chronic diseases.

"If you look at the future in terms of where drug spending is going to be, specialty drugs are going to get very large," McCallister told the paper. "It's important for the company to have the right positioning on that, whether it's inside or outside."

Humana set off a political storm in September when it sent letters to its Medicare Advantage health insurance plan customers warning them about pending health reform legislation. [ID:nN21320651] (Reporting by Deepti Govind in Bangalore; Editing by Valerie Lee) ((deepti.govind@thomsonreuters.com; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780; outside U.S. +91 80 4135 5800; Reuters Messaging: deepti.govind.reuters.com@reuters.net))