CVS Health Corporation (the “Company,” “our,”
“us” or “we”) is filing this Current Report on Form 8-K to provide an update to the information related
to trends affecting our businesses that previously was disclosed in Item 7 (Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations) of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.
As a novel strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”) continues
to spread and severely impact the economy of the United States and other countries around the world, the Company has put preparedness
plans in place at our facilities to maintain continuity of our operations, while also taking steps to keep our colleagues healthy
and safe. In line with recommendations to reduce large gatherings and increase social distancing, the Company has transitioned
many office-based colleagues to a remote work environment.
Federal, state and local governmental policies and initiatives designed
to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 have resulted in, among other things, the cancelation of elective medical procedures
in certain jurisdictions, our customers being ordered to close or severely curtail their operations and the adoption of work-from-home
policies, all of which have an impact on our businesses. The legislative and regulatory environment governing our businesses is
dynamic and changing frequently, including increases to the medical costs we must cover without a corresponding increase in the
premiums we receive in our insured Health Care Benefits products. Among other impacts of these initiatives, we expect an adverse
impact on our medical membership due to customer reductions in force and an adverse impact on the timing and collectability of
payments to us from customers, clients, government payers and members as a result of the impact of COVID-19 on them.
The various initiatives we have implemented to slow and/or reduce
the impact of COVID-19, such as colleagues working remotely, and the COVID-19-related support programs we have put in place for
our members, customers and colleagues have increased our operating expenses and reduced the efficiency of our operations. In addition,
the significant deterioration of the U.S. and global economies is having a significant adverse impact on our net investment income
and the value of our investment portfolio.
The COVID-19 pandemic is developing rapidly. We believe COVID-19’s
adverse impact on our businesses, operating results, cash flows and/or financial condition primarily will be driven by the severity
and duration of the pandemic, the pandemic’s impact on the U.S. and global economies and the timing, scope and effectiveness
of federal, state and local governmental responses to the pandemic. Those primary drivers are beyond our knowledge and control,
and as a result, at this time we cannot reasonably estimate the adverse impact COVID-19 will have on our businesses, operating
results, cash flows and/or financial condition, but the adverse impact could be material.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Reform
Act”) provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of CVS Health Corporation (“CVS Health”).
This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Reform Act. You can generally identify
forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,”
“continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “evaluate,” “expect,” “explore,”
“forecast,” “guidance,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “might,”
“outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “probable,” “project,”
“seek,” “should,” “view,” or “will,” or the negative thereof or other variations
thereon or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and
uncertainties, many of which are beyond CVS Health’s control.
Statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K that are forward-looking,
including the projected impact of COVID-19 on CVS Health’s businesses, operating results, cash flows and/or financial condition,
are based on management’s estimates, assumptions and projections, and are subject to significant uncertainties and other
factors, many of which are beyond CVS Health’s control. Important risk factors could cause actual future results and other
future events to differ materially from those currently estimated by management, including, but not limited to: the severity and
duration of the COVID-19 pandemic; the pandemic’s impact on the U.S. and global economies; and federal, state and local governmental
responses to the pandemic.
These forward-looking statements also involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, some of which may
not be presently known to CVS Health or that CVS Health currently believes to be immaterial, that also may cause CVS Health’s
actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements and adversely impact CVS Health’s
businesses, operating results, cash flows and/or financial condition. Should any risks and uncertainties develop into actual events,
these developments could have a material adverse impact on CVS Health. Additional information concerning these risks, uncertainties
and assumptions can be found in CVS Health’s filings with the SEC, including the risk factors discussed in “Item 1A.
Risk Factors” in CVS Health’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 as updated by
CVS Health’s subsequent filings with the SEC.
You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on CVS Health’s
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are and will be based upon management’s then current views and
assumptions regarding future events and operating performance, and are applicable only as of the dates of such statements. CVS
Health does not assume any duty to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise, as of any future date.