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Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights: UnitedHealth, Humana, Cigna, Anthem and Centene
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For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – January 24, 2018 – Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses the Health Insurance, including UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH - Free Report) , Humana Inc. (HUM - Free Report) , Cigna Corp. (CI - Free Report) , Anthem Inc. and Centene Corp. (CNC - Free Report) .
Despite industry disruptions, health insurers have managed to keep on their feet over the past year of disruptions. Rising enrollment and top-line growth, development of ancillary business, product modifications, improved service, demographic changes, expansion of international operations, better claims handling, growth of new business units, mergers and acquisitions and a strong capital position have better armed insurers to fight industry woes and emerge as winners.
The same is evident from a strong stock market performance by the industry, as seen by the 54% gain in a year’s time compared with the S&P 500’s gain of 24%.
Let’s take a look at how insurers fared recently.
Decline in Uninsured Rates
Over the past six years, the nation’s uninsured rate has gone down, thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandates. According to a recent report from Gallup, the percentage of U.S. adults without health insurance was 12.2% in the fourth quarter of 2017.
It remains well below its peak of 18.0% measured in the third quarter of 2013, prior to the implementation of the ACA's healthcare exchanges and the requirement that most adults have health insurance or be subject to a fine, commonly known as the individual mandate.
Health insurers have capitalized on this surge in insured rates by raking in members, who added to their top-line growth. Most of the insurers have reported a secular rise in enrollment and revenues since 2010, confirming the fact.
Medicare Advantage, a Cash Cow
Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, which were introduced by the government some years ago to rein in rising costs of Medicare, the main government program for retirees, are administered by private insurance companies. The plan is rightly called Medicare Advantage, because of the extra frills provided in it by health insurers to make it more appealing (compared to the traditional Medicare) to customers.
Health insurers are reimbursed a certain amount per enrollee from the government in return for the care provided by the insurer. This reimbursement has been quite attractive, and insurers -- via their measures such as preventive healthcare and accountable care organizations -- have been able to maintain profitability in these plans. This business has proven to be a cash cow for the insurance industry.
Players’ attractiveness for MA business is increasing, fueled by demographic changes. With more baby boomers reaching retirement age, the number of people eligible for Medicare is projected to surpass 70 million individuals by 2024, up from 60 million at present, with gross spending for Medicare expected to reach $1.2 trillion by 2024, up from $770 billion projected for 2018.
Medicare Advantage continues to be a popular choice for approximately one-third of those enrolled in Medicare. Players have ample scope of growth as the Medicare Advantage market continues to expand and evolve.
While two public providers, UnitedHealth Group Inc. and Humana Inc., are the biggest players in this space, others are in the race to win Medicare Advantage market share. The fastest way of achieving this is by acquiring a company in the same business.
Players have been resorting to mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships in an effort to deepen their reach in the Medicare market. Some of the biggest deals in this space were the acquisitions of HealthSpring by Cigna Corp., XLHealth Corp. by UnitedHealth Group, and Health Net by Centene Corp. Recently, Anthem Inc. announced to buy Florida-based Medicare Advantage insurer HealthSun and America’s 1st Choice, a privately held Medicare Advantage plan.
International Markets Hold Attraction
Excessive competition and pressure on profit margins in the U.S. market have compelled U.S. health insurers to look to foreign markets for business diversification, sustained growth and profitability. International markets appear attractive, as these are less penetrated and more competitive. Notably, Asia and Europe represent the best near-term opportunities for U.S. health insurers.
Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit http://www.zacks.com/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
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Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights: UnitedHealth, Humana, Cigna, Anthem and Centene
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – January 24, 2018 – Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses the Health Insurance, including UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH - Free Report) , Humana Inc. (HUM - Free Report) , Cigna Corp. (CI - Free Report) , Anthem Inc. and Centene Corp. (CNC - Free Report) .
Industry: Health Insurance, Part 2
Link: https://www.zacks.com/commentary/146425/health-insurers-bask-under-rising-insured-medicare-business
Despite industry disruptions, health insurers have managed to keep on their feet over the past year of disruptions. Rising enrollment and top-line growth, development of ancillary business, product modifications, improved service, demographic changes, expansion of international operations, better claims handling, growth of new business units, mergers and acquisitions and a strong capital position have better armed insurers to fight industry woes and emerge as winners.
The same is evident from a strong stock market performance by the industry, as seen by the 54% gain in a year’s time compared with the S&P 500’s gain of 24%.
Let’s take a look at how insurers fared recently.
Decline in Uninsured Rates
Over the past six years, the nation’s uninsured rate has gone down, thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandates. According to a recent report from Gallup, the percentage of U.S. adults without health insurance was 12.2% in the fourth quarter of 2017.
It remains well below its peak of 18.0% measured in the third quarter of 2013, prior to the implementation of the ACA's healthcare exchanges and the requirement that most adults have health insurance or be subject to a fine, commonly known as the individual mandate.
Health insurers have capitalized on this surge in insured rates by raking in members, who added to their top-line growth. Most of the insurers have reported a secular rise in enrollment and revenues since 2010, confirming the fact.
Medicare Advantage, a Cash Cow
Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, which were introduced by the government some years ago to rein in rising costs of Medicare, the main government program for retirees, are administered by private insurance companies. The plan is rightly called Medicare Advantage, because of the extra frills provided in it by health insurers to make it more appealing (compared to the traditional Medicare) to customers.
Health insurers are reimbursed a certain amount per enrollee from the government in return for the care provided by the insurer. This reimbursement has been quite attractive, and insurers -- via their measures such as preventive healthcare and accountable care organizations -- have been able to maintain profitability in these plans. This business has proven to be a cash cow for the insurance industry.
Players’ attractiveness for MA business is increasing, fueled by demographic changes. With more baby boomers reaching retirement age, the number of people eligible for Medicare is projected to surpass 70 million individuals by 2024, up from 60 million at present, with gross spending for Medicare expected to reach $1.2 trillion by 2024, up from $770 billion projected for 2018.
Medicare Advantage continues to be a popular choice for approximately one-third of those enrolled in Medicare. Players have ample scope of growth as the Medicare Advantage market continues to expand and evolve.
While two public providers, UnitedHealth Group Inc. and Humana Inc., are the biggest players in this space, others are in the race to win Medicare Advantage market share. The fastest way of achieving this is by acquiring a company in the same business.
Players have been resorting to mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships in an effort to deepen their reach in the Medicare market. Some of the biggest deals in this space were the acquisitions of HealthSpring by Cigna Corp., XLHealth Corp. by UnitedHealth Group, and Health Net by Centene Corp. Recently, Anthem Inc. announced to buy Florida-based Medicare Advantage insurer HealthSun and America’s 1st Choice, a privately held Medicare Advantage plan.
International Markets Hold Attraction
Excessive competition and pressure on profit margins in the U.S. market have compelled U.S. health insurers to look to foreign markets for business diversification, sustained growth and profitability. International markets appear attractive, as these are less penetrated and more competitive. Notably, Asia and Europe represent the best near-term opportunities for U.S. health insurers.
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Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit http://www.zacks.com/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.