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.

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