EX-5

EXHIBIT 5

LOGO

599 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10022-6069

+1.212.848.4000

November 30, 2018

CVS Health Corporation

One CVS Drive

Woonsocket, RI 02895

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as counsel for CVS Health Corporation (the “Company”) in connection with the preparation and filing by the Company of a registration statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with respect to 53,580,922 shares of common stock, par value $0.01, of the Company (the “Shares”) that may be delivered from time to time pursuant to the Aetna Inc. 2010 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) that was assumed by the Company in connection with its acquisition of Aetna Inc.

In connection with the foregoing, we have reviewed originals or copies identified to our satisfaction of the following documents:

(a)

The Registration Statement;

(b)

The certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the Company, in each case as amended to date; and

(c)

Originals or copies of such other corporate records of the Company, certificates of public officials and of officers of the Company, and agreements and other documents as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions expressed below.

In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents, certificates and instruments submitted to us as originals, and the conformity with originals of all documents submitted to us as copies.

Our opinion set forth below is based on the text of the Plan as referenced in the Exhibit Index to the Registration Statement.

Our opinion expressed below is limited to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other law.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing and having regard for such legal considerations as we have deemed relevant, we are of the opinion that authorized but not previously issued Shares which may be delivered under the Plan have been duly authorized by the Company and, when (a) issued and delivered by the Company in accordance with the terms of the Plan and (b) paid for in full in accordance with the terms of the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

This opinion letter speaks only as of the date hereof. We expressly disclaim any responsibility to advise you of any development or circumstance of any kind, including any change of law or fact that may occur after the date of this opinion letter that might affect the opinions expressed herein.

SHEARMAN.COM

Shearman & Sterling LLP is a limited liability partnership organized in the United States under the laws of the state of Delaware, which laws limit the personal liability of partners.