Humana Reports 3.5% Fourth-Quarter Drop In Profits
According the the health insurer, the slip was caused by more expensive claims during this year's flu season and high costs for new and existing Medicare customers.
The Associated Press/New York Times: A Bad Flu Season Lowers Humana's Profits
The health insurer Humana reported a 3.5 percent drop in its fourth-quarter net income on Monday as it absorbed higher claims payments driven by the flu outbreak, which offset continued growth in its lucrative Medicare Advantage membership (2/4).
The Wall Street Journal: Humana's Profit Slips On Higher Coverage
Humana's profits have declined in recent quarters partly due to high costs for both new and existing customers on Medicare plans. The company -- which is one of the biggest providers of privately run Medicare Advantage health plans for seniors in the U.S. -- has been buying stakes in doctor practices in an effort to push further into providing health services, and not just paying for them (Warner, 2/4).