- Business
- CVS Health Corporation is a diversified American healthcare company operating primarily in the United States and Puerto Rico. It offers a comprehensive portfolio of health solutions including retail pharmacy services through CVS Pharmacy; pharmacy benefits management under CVS Caremark, which encompasses mail order, specialty pharmacy, infusion services, and formulary management; health insurance products and services through Aetna, providing medical, dental, pharmacy, behavioral health plans, and health management services; and retail health care services via MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics offering diagnostic testing, vaccinations, and treatment for common illnesses. The company also provides long-term care pharmacy services and health information technology solutions. CVS Health operates approximately 9,900 retail locations and 1,100 walk-in clinics, serving millions of customers across different segments.
Founded in 1963 and headquartered in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, CVS Health has undergone significant strategic transformations in recent years. Notably, the company completed the acquisition of Oak Street Health in 2023 for approximately $10.6 billion, expanding its presence in primary care services. In 2024, CVS Health appointed David Joyner as CEO and undertook a major strategic realignment focusing on improving Medicare Advantage margins, cost-cutting initiatives targeting $2 billion in savings, and a reorientation toward enhancing digital health capabilities, including launching a new mobile app designed to streamline prescription management and introducing AI-powered pharmacy chatbots. The company has also been exploring structural options including potentially separating its retail pharmacy and insurance businesses to maximize strategic focus. CVS Health's ongoing expansions into home health care, digital innovation, and integration of health services underline its ambition to be a leading health solutions provider in the evolving healthcare landscape.
CVS Health’s main business segments include Health Care Benefits, Pharmacy Services, Retail/Long-Term Care pharmacy, and Corporate Services. Its target markets span individual consumers, employers, health plans, government programs, and long-term care providers. The company holds a significant market share in pharmacy retail, pharmacy benefits management, and health insurance sectors within the US. It leverages multiple brands and subsidiaries to deliver an integrated service model aimed at enhancing patient outcomes, managing costs, and improving access to care.
This comprehensive portfolio and strategic focus on innovation, integration of services, and digital transformation position CVS Health as the second-largest healthcare company in the world by revenue, behind UnitedHealth Group. Its ongoing initiatives in 2024 and 2025 reflect efforts to stabilize financial performance, broaden healthcare offerings, and align care delivery with contemporary consumer needs and regulatory environments.