NY -- Standard&Poor's CreditWire 5/28/98 -- Standard&Poor's today affirmed its single-'A'-plus issuer credit rating of United HealthCare and placed its triple-'B'-plus issuer credit rating and 'A-2' commercial paper rating of Humana Inc. on CreditWatch with positive implications. Additionally, Standard&Poor's placed its ratings of Humana's operating companies on CreditWatch with positive implications (see list below). The CreditWatch actions follow the announcement that the companies have signed a definitive agreement to merge in a pooling of interest $5.5 billion stock swap. Additionally, United HealthCare would assume approximately $850 million of Humana existing debt. This merger will create the largest managed care organization in the United States with total medical membership of greater than 19 million and
