UnitedHealth Group Inc. will give investors and analysts an initial look at how 2013 is developing for health insurers when it reports first-quarter results on Thursday.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Big hospital chains like HCA Holdings Inc. and Health Management Associates Inc. recently reported sluggish admissions in the first quarter, and while that's bad for hospital stocks, it may help the performance of health insurers who wind up with fewer claims to pay.
Insurers have benefited from slower-than-expected growth in health care use, which can ultimately help their profitability. Analysts have said in recent quarters that they see signs of use picking up, but no consensus has emerged on where the trend is heading or what is driving it.
Investors will be looking for an update on that trend from UnitedHealth. The Minnetonka, Minn., insurer said in last year's first quarter that medical costs, its largest expense, jumped 6 percent, but that was driven mostly by price hikes, not a use increase.
Complete your profile to continue reading and get FREE access to BenefitsPRO, part of your ALM digital membership.
Your access to unlimited BenefitsPRO content isn’t changing.
Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:
- Critical BenefitsPRO information including cutting edge post-reform success strategies, access to educational webcasts and videos, resources from industry leaders, and informative Newsletters.
- Exclusive discounts on ALM, BenefitsPRO magazine and BenefitsPRO.com events
- Access to other award-winning ALM websites including ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com
Already have an account? Sign In
© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
