Managed Health Care

WellPoint, Inc. (NYSE: WLP) issued an 8-K on 12/7 disclosing that it expects to record a benefit to EPS in 4Q due to a change in its estimated margin for adverse deviation included in its medical claims payable balance, Deutsche Bank reports. “Historically, WLP would include a margin for adverse...

Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE: UNH) are lower on the session by 1.21%, trading at $36.84. Overall put volume is now running at 2.21x the daily average, with 14% of all puts traded being purchases on the offer. 16,959 contracts have traded on the session so far. UnitedHealth Group...

Shares of Aetna Inc (NYSE: AET) gained about 0.2% after the company announced its plans to purchase Medicity for $500 million. Aetna said, “Medicity offers a broad range of products and services that enable health systems, hospitals, physician practices and health information exchanges to securely...

Aetna (NYSE: AET) today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Medicity, a health information exchange technology company, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. The purchase price is approximately $500 million. Aetna expects to finance the acquisition with available resources....

Key Points: 3Q Earnings season effectively done -- 496 or 99.2% of S&P 500 reports in so far. Strong earnings season, with a median EPS surprise of 4.92%, and a 3.74 surprise ratio. While those numbers are down from earlier in the reporting season, they are still very good. Total of 355...

HealthSpring (NYSE: HS) is well-positioned to emerge as an MA leader post-reform, Jefferies reports. “HS' physician engagement model drives high compliance and quality (higher Stars),” Jefferies writes. “Member growth opportunities are attractive and the Bravo Health acquisition redoubles those...

Jefferies published its research report today on Cigna Corp. (NYSE: CI) in which it updates its EPS estimate on CI. In a note to clients, Jefferies writes, "With the lower cost debt issuance, and assuming substantial redemption of the 8.5% senior notes, we are increasing our '11 EPS forecast to $4....

Key Points: 3Q Earnings season effectively done -- 496 or 99.2% of S&P 500 reports in so far. Strong earnings season, with a median EPS surprise of 4.92%, and a 3.74 surprise ratio. While those numbers are down from earlier in the reporting season, they are still very good. Total of 355...

Aetna (NYSE: AET) is down 4 cents today despite having just announced it will be buying back $750 million worth of common stock. This adds to the $257 million it still has under a previous buyback program. Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving...

Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET) today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized the company to repurchase up to an additional $750 million of its common stock from time to time. This authorization is in addition to the approximately $257 million of repurchase authority remaining under Aetna's...

WellPoint Inc. (NYSE: WLP) is down significantly today, more than 2% after the comapny announced that two key executives will be leaving the company. In a filing with the SEC, WLP said Cynthia Miller, vice president and chief actuary, and Bradley Fluegel, the company's chief strategist and...

Health insurer CIGNA Corp. (CI) has announced the offering of $250 million of 4.375% senior notes due 2020. Interest on the notes is payable on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning June 15, 2011. CIGNA intends to use a portion of the net proceeds from the notes issue to buy back a...

Health insurer CIGNA Corp. (CI) has announced the offering of $250 million of 4.375% senior notes due 2020. Interest on the notes is payable on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning June 15, 2011. CIGNA intends to use a portion of the net proceeds from the notes issue to buy back a...

Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Humana Military Healthcare Services, was awarded two contracts to provide patient appointing services for military hospitals and clinics located in the greater Puget Sound, Washington, and Tidewater, Virginia areas. The...

Magellan Health Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: MGLN) today announced that it will release financial guidance for 2011 on Monday, December 13, 2010. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer René Lerer, M.D., President Karen S. Rohan, and Chief Financial Officer Jonathan Rubin will host a conference call to...