UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) reported third quarter 2024 results reflecting broad-based growth in the number of people served by Optum and UnitedHealthcare.

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UnitedHealth Group corporate headquarters (Photo: Business Wire)

“Our continued growth, which positions us well for the coming years, is rooted in the innovative products and responsive service of our people that are embraced each day across the full range of health care participants,” said Andrew Witty, chief executive officer of UnitedHealth Group.

The company’s full year 2024 net earnings outlook of $15.50 to $15.75 per share reflects the South America operations disposition activities reported in the first half of 2024 and Change Healthcare cyberattack impacts.

The company’s adjusted net earnings outlook of $27.50 to $27.75 continues within the $27.50 to $28.00 range established nearly a year ago, even as it absorbs an estimated $0.75 per share of business disruption impacts for the affected Change Healthcare services, which have increased ~$0.10 per share from the estimate provided last quarter.

• Third quarter 2024 revenues grew nearly $8.5 billion to $100.8 billion, led by strong expansion in people served at Optum and UnitedHealthcare. Third quarter earnings from operations were $8.7 billion, including $0.3 billion in unfavorable cyberattack effects. Adjusted earnings from operations of $9.0 billion include the Change Healthcare business disruption impacts and exclude the cyberattack direct response costs.
• The third quarter 2024 medical care ratio was 85.2% compared to 82.3% last year. Among factors contributing to the increase were the previously noted CMS Medicare funding reductions, medical reserve development effects and business and member mix. The company did not have any favorable earnings impacting medical reserve development in the quarter.
• Days claims payable of 47.4 compared to 45.2 in the second quarter of 2024 and 50.7 in the third quarter of 2023. The increase from the second quarter 2024 was due to a return to more normal claims submission patterns from care providers. The change from the year ago level reflected continued impact due to the accelerated claims payment timeframes.
• The third quarter of 2024 operating cost ratio of 13.2% compares to 13.3% in the second quarter of 2024 and 15.0% in the prior year, reflecting continued strong operating cost efficiency.
• Cash flows from operations from the third quarter of 2024 were $14.0 billion, or 2.2 times net income, in part reflecting the timing of cash receipts. The company returned over $9.6 billion to shareholders through the first nine months of 2024 through dividends and share repurchases. Return on equity of 26.3% in the quarter reflected the company’s consistent, broad-based earnings and efficient capital structure.

UnitedHealthcare provides health care benefits globally, serving individuals and employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to improving the value customers and consumers receive by improving health and wellness, enhancing the quality of care received, simplifying the health care experience, and reducing the total cost of care.

• UnitedHealthcare third quarter revenues of $74.9 billion increased $5 billion over the prior year, reflecting growth in the number of people served domestically. Operating earnings were $4.2 billion.
• Year to date, the number of consumers served domestically with the company’s commercial offerings grew by 2.4 million to 29.7 million, as UnitedHealthcare’s innovative and consumer-focused product portfolio continues to resonate with consumers and employers.
• UnitedHealthcare serves 9.4 million seniors and people with complex needs and the company’s 2025 Medicare Advantage plans will reach 96% of eligible Medicare beneficiaries. Recently released Stars scores by CMS for plan year 2026 are consistent with initial levels for plan year 2025 and company expectations.
• Total people served by the company’s state-based community offerings grew from the second quarter to 7.5 million, as the state-driven Medicaid eligibility redeterminations process concluded. The UnitedHealthcare team is continuing its comprehensive outreach to help families maintain, reinstate, or find other affordable coverage.

The Optum health services businesses serve the global health care marketplace, including payers, care providers, employers, governments, life sciences companies and consumers. Using market-leading information, analytics and technology to yield clinical insights, Optum helps improve overall health system performance by optimizing care quality, reducing care costs and improving the consumer experience.

• Optum third quarter revenues of $63.9 billion grew $7.2 billion over the prior year, with growth led by Optum Health and Optum Rx. Operating earnings were $4.5 billion and adjusted operating earnings were $4.8 billion. Adjusted operating earnings exclude costs to support the direct Change Healthcare response efforts. Operating earnings and adjusted operating earnings include $135 million in business disruption impacts at Change Healthcare.
• Optum Health revenue grew $2.1 billion to $25.9 billion, reflecting growth in the number of patients served under value-based care offerings and expansion of the types and level of care offered. Optum Health continued to advance and deepen its clinical support for patients across various sites of care, including in-home and clinic.
• Optum Insight operating earnings were approximately $800 million and adjusted operating earnings, which exclude direct response costs, were $1 billion. Operating earnings and adjusted operating earnings include the $135 million of business disruption impacts compared to $335 million in the second quarter. The revenue backlog grew by more than $1 billion over last year, largely due to new health system partnerships.
• Optum Rx revenue growth of $5.4 billion to $34.2 billion reflects new customers served, deepened relationships with existing clients and the expansion of its comprehensive pharmacy services offerings, including specialty and community-based pharmacies. Adjusted scripts grew to nearly 410 million, compared to 380 million last year.

About UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a health care and well-being company with a mission to help people live healthier lives and help make the health system work better for everyone through two distinct and complementary businesses. Optum delivers care aided by technology and data, empowering people, partners and providers with the guidance and tools they need to achieve better health. UnitedHealthcare offers a full range of health benefits, enabling affordable coverage, simplifying the health care experience and delivering access to high-quality care. Visit UnitedHealth Group at www.unitedhealthgroup.com and follow UnitedHealth Group on LinkedIn.

Earnings Conference Call

As previously announced, UnitedHealth Group will discuss the company’s results, strategy and future outlook on a conference call with investors at 8:45 a.m. Eastern Time today. UnitedHealth Group will host a live webcast of this conference call from the Investor Relations page of the company’s website (www.unitedhealthgroup.com). Following the call, a webcast replay will be on the Investor Relations page through October 29, 2024. This earnings release and the Form 8-K dated October 15, 2024, can also be accessed from the Investor Relations page of the company’s website.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

This news release presents non-GAAP financial information provided as a complement to the results provided in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial information to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is provided in the accompanying tables found at the end of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements, estimates, projections, guidance or outlook contained in this document include “forward-looking” statements which are intended to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions of the federal securities laws. The words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “plan,” “project,” “should” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These statements may contain information about financial prospects, economic conditions and trends and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those that management expects, depending on the outcome of certain factors including: our ability to effectively estimate, price for and manage medical costs; new or changes in existing health care laws or regulations, or their enforcement or application; cyberattacks, other privacy/data security incidents, or our failure to comply with related regulations; reductions in revenue or delays to cash flows received under government programs; changes in Medicare, the CMS star ratings program or the application of risk adjustment data validation audits; the DOJ’s legal action relating to the risk adjustment submission matter; our ability to maintain and achieve improvement in quality scores impacting revenue; failure to maintain effective and efficient information systems or if our technology products do not operate as intended; risks and uncertainties associated with our businesses providing pharmacy care services; competitive pressures, including our ability to maintain or increase our market share; changes in or challenges to our public sector contract awards; failure to achieve targeted operating cost productivity improvements; failure to develop and maintain satisfactory relationships with health care payers, physicians, hospitals and other service providers; the impact of potential changes in tax laws and regulations; increases in costs and other liabilities associated with litigation, government investigations, audits or reviews; failure to complete, manage or integrate strategic transactions; risk and uncertainties associated with the pending sale of operations in South America; risks associated with public health crises arising from large-scale medical emergencies, pandemics, natural disasters and other extreme events; failure to attract, develop, retain, and manage the succession of key employees and executives; our investment portfolio performance; impairment of our goodwill and intangible assets; failure to protect proprietary rights to our databases, software and related products; downgrades in our credit ratings; and our ability to obtain sufficient funds from our regulated subsidiaries or from external financings to fund our obligations, reinvest in our business, maintain our debt to total capital ratio at targeted levels, maintain our quarterly dividend payment cycle, or continue repurchasing shares of our common stock.

This above list is not exhaustive. We discuss these matters, and certain risks that may affect our business operations, financial condition and results of operations, more fully in our filings with the SEC, including our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. By their nature, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict or quantify. Actual results may vary materially from expectations expressed or implied in this document or any of our prior communications. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. We do not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

• Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
• Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
• Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
• Revenues by Business - Supplemental Financial Information
• Earnings by Business - Supplemental Financial Information
• People Served and Performance Metrics - Supplemental Financial Information
• Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

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