UnitedHealth Sees Growth in MA, Behavioral Health Utilization, But EPS Guidance Remains Intact

  • Jul 21, 2023

    UnitedHealth Group saw higher-than-expected utilization in the second quarter, driven by seniors and those seeking behavioral health care. However, the company kept its full-year adjusted earnings per share (EPS) guidance intact, indicating that it expects that it can offset the higher costs associated with increased utilization.

    For the quarter, UnitedHealth had a medical loss ratio (MLR) of 83.2%, up from 81.5% in last year’s second quarter and from 82.2% in this year’s first quarter. That was due primarily to an increase in the number of members who sought care during the quarter, particularly in seniors who had delayed outpatient orthopedic and cardiac surgeries during the coronavirus pandemic.

    John Rex, UnitedHealth’s Chief Financial Officer, told analysts during a July 14 conference call that the company filed its 2024 Medicare Advantage offerings with the assumption the elevated level of seniors seeking care will persist into next year.

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  • Tim Casey

    Tim has been a reporter and editor for newspapers, websites and magazines for more than 20 years, including 10 years covering health care business topics. He has a deep knowledge of the managed care industry and pharmacy benefit management. He also has experience covering medical conferences and clinical and legislative health care issues. In 2014, the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing selected Tim as one of 15 journalists to participate in a national symposium on the Affordable Care Act. Tim has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame and an M.B.A. from Georgetown University.

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