Form 10-K
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

 

þ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                     to                     

Commission file number 1-5975

HUMANA INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   61-0647538
(State of incorporation)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
500 West Main Street Louisville, Kentucky   40202
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (502) 580-1000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

 

Name of exchange on which registered

Common stock, $0.16 2/3 par value   New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  þ    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ¨    No  þ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  þ    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  þ    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  þ

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  þ    Accelerated filer  ¨    Non-accelerated filer  ¨    Smaller reporting company  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  þ

The aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of June 30, 2012 was $12,720,351,634 calculated using the average price on such date of $79.15.

The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant’s Common Stock as of January 31, 2013 was 158,356,929.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Parts II and III incorporate herein by reference portions of the Registrant’s Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A with respect to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders scheduled to be held April 25, 2013.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

HUMANA INC.

INDEX TO ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

For the Year Ended December 31, 2012

 

          Page  
   Part I   

Item 1.

   Business      3   

Item 1A.

   Risk Factors      17   

Item 1B.

   Unresolved Staff Comments      34   

Item 2.

   Properties      35   

Item 3.

   Legal Proceedings      36   

Item 4.

   Mine Safety Disclosures      36   
   Part II   

Item 5.

   Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities      37   

Item 6.

   Selected Financial Data      39   

Item 7.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations      41   

Item 7A.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk      83   

Item 8.

   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data      85   

Item 9.

   Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure      131   

Item 9A.

   Controls and Procedures      131   

Item 9B.

   Other Information      132   
   Part III   

Item 10.

   Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance      133   

Item 11.

   Executive Compensation      136   

Item 12.

   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters      136   

Item 13.

   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence      137   

Item 14.

   Principal Accounting Fees and Services      137   
   Part IV   

Item 15.

   Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules      138   
   Signatures and Certifications      150   


Table of Contents

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements under “Business,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and elsewhere in this report may contain forward-looking statements which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. These forward-looking statements are made within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and we are including this statement for purposes of complying with these safe harbor provisions. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events, trends and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the information discussed under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in this report. In making these statements, we are not undertaking to address or update them in future filings or communications regarding our business or results. Our business is highly complicated, regulated and competitive with many different factors affecting results.

PART I

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

General

Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries, referred to throughout this document as “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” or “Humana,” is a leading health care company that offers a wide range of insurance products and health and wellness services that incorporate an integrated approach to lifelong well-being. As of December 31, 2012, we had approximately 12.1 million members in our medical benefit plans, as well as approximately 8.1 million members in our specialty products. During 2012, 75% of our total premiums and services revenue were derived from contracts with the federal government, including 15% derived from our Medicare Advantage contracts in Florida with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, under which we provide health insurance coverage to approximately 384,200 members as of December 31, 2012.

Humana Inc. was organized as a Delaware corporation in 1964. Our principal executive offices are located at 500 West Main Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, the telephone number at that address is (502) 580-1000, and our website address is www.humana.com. We have made available free of charge through the Investor Relations section of our web site our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements, and, if applicable, amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission.

This Annual Report on Form 10-K, or 2012 Form 10-K, contains both historical and forward-looking information. See Item 1A. – Risk Factors in this 2012 Form 10-K for a description of a number of factors that may adversely affect our results or business.

Health Insurance Reform

In March 2010, the President signed into law The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (which we collectively refer to as the Health Insurance Reform Legislation) which enact significant reforms to various aspects of the U.S. health insurance industry. There are many provisions of the legislation that will require additional guidance and clarification in the form of regulations and interpretations in order to fully understand the impacts of the legislation on our overall business, which we expect to occur over the next several years.

Certain significant provisions of the Health Insurance Reform Legislation include, among others, mandated coverage requirements, rebates to policyholders based on minimum benefit ratios, adjustments to Medicare Advantage premiums, the establishment of federally facilitated or state-based exchanges coupled with programs

 

3


Table of Contents

designed to spread risk among insurers, an annual insurance industry premium-based assessment, and a three-year commercial reinsurance fee. Implementation dates of the Health Insurance Reform Legislation began in September 2010 and continue through 2018. The Health Insurance Reform Legislation is discussed more fully in Item 7. – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under the section titled “Health Insurance Reform.”

Business Segments

We manage our business with three reportable segments: Retail, Employer Group, and Health and Well-Being Services. In addition, the Other Businesses category includes businesses that are not individually reportable because they do not meet the quantitative thresholds required by generally accepted accounting principles. These segments are based on a combination of the type of health plan customer and adjacent businesses centered on well-being solutions for our health plans and other customers, as described below. These segment groupings are consistent with information used by our Chief Executive Officer to assess performance and allocate resources.

The Retail segment consists of Medicare and commercial fully-insured medical and specialty health insurance benefits, including dental, vision, and other supplemental health and financial protection products, marketed directly to individuals. The Employer Group segment consists of Medicare and commercial fully-insured medical and specialty health insurance benefits, including dental, vision, and other supplemental health and financial protection products, as well as administrative services only products marketed to employer groups. The Health and Well-Being Services segment includes services offered to our health plan members as well as to third parties that promote health and wellness, including provider services, pharmacy, integrated wellness, and home care services. The Other Businesses category consists of our military services, primarily our TRICARE South Region contract, Medicaid, and closed-block long-term care businesses as well as our contract with CMS to administer the Limited Income Newly Eligible Transition program, or the LI-NET program.

The results of each segment are measured by income before income taxes. Transactions between reportable segments consist of sales of services rendered by our Health and Well-Being Services segment, primarily pharmacy, behavioral health, and provider services, to our Retail and Employer Group customers. Intersegment sales and expenses are recorded at fair value and eliminated in consolidation. Members served by our segments often utilize the same provider networks, enabling us in some instances to obtain more favorable contract terms with providers. Our segments also share indirect costs and assets. As a result, the profitability of each segment is interdependent. We allocate most operating expenses to our segments. Assets and certain corporate income and expenses are not allocated to the segments, including the portion of investment income not supporting segment operations, interest expense on corporate debt, and certain other corporate expenses. These items are managed at the corporate level. These corporate amounts are reported separately from our reportable segments and included with intersegment eliminations.

Our Products

Our medical and specialty insurance products allow members to access health care services primarily through our networks of health care providers with whom we have contracted. These products may vary in the degree to which members have coverage. Health maintenance organizations, or HMOs, generally require a referral from the member’s primary care provider before seeing certain specialty physicians. Preferred provider organizations, or PPOs, provide members the freedom to choose a health care provider without requiring a referral. However PPOs generally require the member to pay a greater portion of the provider’s fee in the event the member chooses not to use a provider participating in the PPO’s network. Point of Service, or POS, plans combine the advantages of HMO plans with the flexibility of PPO plans. In general, POS plans allow members to choose, at the time medical services are needed, to seek care from a provider within the plan’s network or outside the network. In addition, we offer services to our health plan members as well as to third parties that promote health and wellness, including pharmacy, provider services, integrated wellness, and home care services. At the core of our strategy is our integrated care delivery model, which unites quality care, high member engagement,

 

4


Table of Contents

and sophisticated data analytics. Our approach to primary, physician-directed care for our members aims to provide quality care that is consistent, integrated, cost-effective, and member-focused. The model is designed to improve health outcomes and affordability for individuals and for the health system as a whole, while offering our members a simple, seamless healthcare experience. The discussion that follows describes the products offered by each of our segments.

Our Retail Segment Products

This segment is comprised of products sold on a retail basis to individuals including medical and supplemental benefit plans described in the discussion that follows. The following table presents our premiums and services revenue for the Retail segment by product for the year ended December 31, 2012:

 

     Retail Segment
Premiums and
Services Revenue
     Percent of
Consolidated
Premiums  and
Services Revenue
 
     
     
     
     (dollars in millions)  

Premiums:

     

Individual Medicare Advantage

   $ 20,788         53.7 

Individual Medicare stand-alone PDP

     2,587         6.7 
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total individual Medicare

     23,375         60.4 

Individual commercial

     1,004         2.6 

Individual specialty

     171         0.4 
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total premiums

     24,550         63.4 
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Services

     24         0.1 
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total premiums and services revenue

   $ 24,574         63.5 
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Individual Medicare

We have participated in the Medicare program for private health plans for over 25 years and have established a national presence, offering at least one type of Medicare plan in all 50 states. We have a geographically diverse membership base that we believe provides us with greater ability to expand our network of PPO and HMO providers. We employ strategies including health assessments and clinical guidance programs such as lifestyle and fitness programs for seniors to guide Medicare beneficiaries in making cost-effective decisions with respect to their health care. We believe these strategies result in cost savings that occur from making positive behavior changes.

Medicare is a federal program that provides persons age 65 and over and some disabled persons under the age of 65 certain hospital and medical insurance benefits. CMS, an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, administers the Medicare program. Hospitalization benefits are provided under Part A, without the payment of any premium, for up to 90 days per incident of illness plus a lifetime reserve aggregating 60 days. Eligible beneficiaries are required to pay an annually adjusted premium to the federal government to be eligible for physician care and other services under Part B. Beneficiaries eligible for Part A and Part B coverage under original Medicare are still required to pay out-of-pocket deductibles and coinsurance. Throughout this document this program is referred to as original Medicare. As an alternative to original Medicare, in geographic areas where a managed care organization has contracted with CMS pursuant to the Medicare Advantage program, Medicare beneficiaries may choose to receive benefits from a Medicare Advantage organization under Medicare Part C. Pursuant to Medicare Part C, Medicare Advantage organizations contract with CMS to offer Medicare Advantage plans to provide benefits at least comparable to those offered under original Medicare. Our Medicare Advantage plans are discussed more fully below. Prescription drug benefits are provided under Part D.

 

5


Table of Contents

Individual Medicare Advantage Products

We contract with CMS under the Medicare Advantage program to provide a comprehensive array of health insurance benefits, including wellness programs, to Medicare eligible persons under HMO, PPO, and Private Fee-For-Service, or PFFS, plans in exchange for contractual payments received from CMS, usually a fixed payment per member per month. With each of these products, the beneficiary receives benefits in excess of original Medicare, typically including reduced cost sharing, enhanced prescription drug benefits, care coordination, data analysis techniques to help identify member needs, complex case management, tools to guide members in their health care decisions, care management programs, wellness and prevention programs and, in some instances, a reduced monthly Part B premium. Most Medicare Advantage plans offer the prescription drug benefit under Part D as part of the basic plan, subject to cost sharing and other limitations. Accordingly, all of the provisions of the Medicare Part D program described in connection with our stand-alone prescription drug plans in the following section also are applicable to most of our Medicare Advantage plans. Medicare Advantage plans may charge beneficiaries monthly premiums and other copayments for Medicare-covered services or for certain extra benefits. Generally, Medicare-eligible individuals enroll in one of our plan choices between October 15 and December 7 for coverage that begins on the following January 1.

Our Medicare HMO and PPO plans, which cover Medicare-eligible individuals residing in certain counties, may eliminate or reduce coinsurance or the level of deductibles on many other medical services while seeking care from participating in-network providers or in emergency situations. Except in emergency situations or as specified by the plan, most HMO plans provide no out-of-network benefits. PPO plans carry an out-of network benefit that is subject to higher member cost-sharing. In some cases, these beneficiaries are required to pay a monthly premium to the HMO or PPO plan in addition to the monthly Part B premium they are required to pay the Medicare program.

On January 1, 2011, most of our members enrolled in PFFS plans transitioned to networked-based PPO type products due to a requirement that Medicare Advantage organizations establish adequate provider networks, except in geographic areas that CMS determines have fewer than two network-based Medicare Advantage plans. Our Medicare PFFS plans generally have no preferred network. Individuals in these plans pay us a monthly premium to receive typical Medicare Advantage benefits along with the freedom to choose any health care provider that accepts individuals at rates equivalent to original Medicare payment rates.

CMS uses monthly rates per person for each county to determine the fixed monthly payments per member to pay to health benefit plans. These rates are adjusted under CMS’s risk-adjustment model which uses health status indicators, or risk scores, to improve the accuracy of payment. The risk-adjustment model, which CMS implemented pursuant to the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA) and the Benefits and Improvement Protection Act of 2000 (BIPA), generally pays more for members with predictably higher costs and uses principal hospital inpatient diagnoses as well as diagnosis data from ambulatory treatment settings (hospital outpatient department and physician visits) to establish the risk-adjustment payments. Under the risk-adjustment methodology, all health benefit organizations must collect from providers and submit the necessary diagnosis code information to CMS within prescribed deadlines.

At December 31, 2012, we provided health insurance coverage under CMS contracts to approximately 1,927,600 individual Medicare Advantage members, including approximately 384,200 members in Florida. These Florida contracts accounted for premiums revenue of approximately $5.9 billion, which represented approximately 28% of our individual Medicare Advantage premiums revenue, or 15% of our consolidated premiums and services revenue for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Our HMO and PPO products covered under Medicare Advantage contracts with CMS are renewed generally for a calendar year term unless CMS notifies us of its decision not to renew by August 1 of the calendar year in which the contract would end, or we notify CMS of our decision not to renew by the first Monday in June of the calendar year in which the contract would end. All material contracts between Humana and CMS relating to our Medicare Advantage products have been renewed for 2013, and all of our product offerings filed with CMS for 2013 have been approved.

 

6


Table of Contents

Individual Medicare Stand-Alone Prescription Drug Products

We offer stand-alone prescription drug plans, or PDPs, under Medicare Part D, including a PDP plan co-branded with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., or the Humana-Walmart plan. Generally, Medicare-eligible individuals enroll in one of our plan choices between October 15 and December 7 for coverage that begins on the following January 1. Our stand-alone PDP offerings consist of plans offering basic coverage with benefits mandated by Congress, as well as plans providing enhanced coverage with varying degrees of out-of-pocket costs for premiums, deductibles, and co-insurance. Our revenues from CMS and the beneficiary are determined from our PDP bids submitted annually to CMS. These revenues also reflect the health status of the beneficiary and risk sharing provisions as more fully described in Item 7. – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under the section titled “Medicare Part D Provisions.” Our stand-alone PDP contracts with CMS are renewed generally for a calendar year term unless CMS notifies us of its decision not to renew by August 1 of the calendar year in which the contract would end, or we notify CMS of our decision not to renew by the first Monday in June of the calendar year in which the contract would end. All material contracts between Humana and CMS relating to our Medicare stand-alone PDP products have been renewed for 2013, and all of our product offerings filed with CMS for 2013 have been approved.

Medicare and Medicaid Dual Eligible

Medicare beneficiaries who also qualify for Medicaid due to low income or special needs are known as dual eligible beneficiaries, or dual eligibles. There were approximately 9 million dual eligible individuals in the United States in 2012. These dual eligibles may enroll in a privately-offered Medicare Advantage product, but may also receive assistance from Medicaid for Medicaid benefits, such as nursing home care and/or assistance with Medicare premiums and cost sharing. As of December 31, 2012, we served approximately 285,500 dual eligible members in our Medicare Advantage plans and approximately 697,300 dual eligible members in our stand-alone prescription drug plans. During 2012, we were successful in our bids for Medicaid business in Ohio, Illinois, and Kentucky, including dual eligible beneficiaries in both Ohio and Illinois. We partnered with CareSource Management Group Company to serve the Ohio and Kentucky individuals under a March 2012 strategic alliance agreement.

Individual Commercial Coverage

Our individual health plans, marketed under the HumanaOne® brand, include offerings designed to promote wellness and engage consumers. HumanaOne plans are designed specifically for self-employed entrepreneurs, small-business employees, part-time workers, students, and early retirees and include a broad spectrum of major medical benefits with multiple in-network coinsurance levels and annual deductible choices, as well as HumanaVitality®, our wellness and loyalty rewards program.

Our HumanaOne plans primarily are offered as PPO plans in select markets where we can generally underwrite risk and utilize our existing networks and distribution channels. This individual product includes provisions mandated by law to guarantee renewal of coverage for as long as the individual chooses.

The HumanaOne plans can be further customized with optional benefits such as dental, vision, life, and a broad portfolio of financial protection products.

 

7


Table of Contents

Our Employer Group Segment Products

This segment is comprised of products sold to employer groups including medical and supplemental benefit plans described in the discussion that follows. The following table presents our premiums and services revenue for the Employer Group segment by product for the year ended December 31, 2012:

 

     Employer  Group
Segment
Premiums and
Services Revenue
     Percent of
Consolidated
Premiums  and
Services Revenue
 
     
     
     
     (dollars in millions)  

Premiums:

     

Fully-insured commercial group

   $ 4,996         12.9 

Group Medicare Advantage

     4,064         10.5 

Group Medicare stand-alone PDP

     8         0.0 
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total group Medicare

     4,072         10.5 

Group specialty

     1,070         2.8 
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total premiums

     10,138         26.2 
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Services

     358         0.9 
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total premiums and services revenue

   $ 10,496         27.1 
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Employer Group Commercial Coverage

Our commercial products sold to employer groups include a broad spectrum of major medical benefits with multiple in-network coinsurance levels and annual deductible choices that employers of all sizes can offer to their employees on either a fully-insured, through HMO, PPO, or POS plans, or self-funded basis. Our plans integrate clinical programs, plan designs, communication tools, and spending accounts. We participate in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program, or FEHBP, primarily with our HMO offering in certain markets. FEHBP is the government’s health insurance program for Federal employees, retirees, former employees, family members, and spouses. As with our individual commercial products, the employer group offerings include HumanaVitality®, our wellness and loyalty reward program.

Our administrative services only, or ASO, products are offered to employers who self-insure their employee health plans. We receive fees to provide administrative services which generally include the processing of claims, offering access to our provider networks and clinical programs, and responding to customer service inquiries from members of self-funded employers. These products may include all of the same benefit and product design characteristics of our fully-insured HMO, PPO, or POS products described previously. Under ASO contracts, self-funded employers generally retain the risk of financing substantially all of the cost of health benefits. However, more than half of our ASO customers purchase stop loss insurance coverage from us to cover catastrophic claims or to limit aggregate annual costs.

As with individual commercial policies, employers can customize their offerings with optional benefits such as dental, vision, life, and a broad portfolio of financial protection products.

Group Medicare Advantage and Medicare stand-alone PDP

We offer products that enable employers that provide post-retirement health care benefits to replace Medicare wrap or Medicare supplement products with Medicare Advantage or stand-alone PDPs from Humana. These products offer the same types of benefits and services available to members in our individual Medicare plans discussed previously and can be tailored to closely match an employer’s post-retirement benefit structure.

 

8


Table of Contents

Our Health and Well-Being Services Segment Products

This segment is comprised of stand-alone businesses that promote health and well-being. These services are sold primarily to other Humana businesses, as well as external health plan members, external health plans, and other employers or individuals and are described in the discussion that follows. Our intersegment revenue is described in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8. – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. The following table presents our services revenue for the Health and Well-Being Services segment by line of business for the year ended December 31, 2012:

 

     Health and  Well-
Being Services Segment
Premiums and
Services Revenue
     Percent of
Consolidated
Premiums  and
Services Revenue
 
     
     
     
     (dollars in millions)  

Intersegment revenue:

     

Pharmacy solutions

   $ 11,352         n/a   

Provider services

     214         n/a   

Integrated wellness services

     219         n/a   

Home care services

     167         n/a   
  

 

 

    

Total intersegment revenue

   $ 11,952      
  

 

 

    

External services revenue:

     

Provider services

   $ 967         2.5 

Home care services

     40         0.1 

Pharmacy solutions

     16         0.0 

Integrated wellness services

     13         0.0 
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total external services revenue

   $ 1,036         2.6 
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

n/a – not applicable

Pharmacy solutions

Humana Pharmacy Solutions®, or HPS, manages traditional prescription drug coverage for both individuals and employer groups in addition to providing a broad array of pharmacy solutions. HPS also operates prescription mail order services for brand, generic, and specialty drugs and diabetic supplies through RightSourceRx®, as well as research services.

Provider services

Our subsidiary, Concentra Inc.®, acquired in December 2010, delivers primary care, occupational medicine, urgent care, physical therapy, and wellness services to employees and the general public through its operation of medical centers and worksite medical facilities.

Our CAC Medical Centers, or CAC, in South Florida operate full-service, multi-specialty medical centers staffed by primary care providers and medical specialists practicing cardiology, endocrinology, geriatric medicine, internal medicine, ophthalmology, neurology, and podiatry.

We acquired Metropolitan Health Networks, Inc., or Metropolitan, on December 21, 2012, and we acquired a noncontrolling equity interest in MCCI Holdings, LLC, or MCCI, on October 29, 2012. Metropolitan and MCCI are Medical Services Organizations, or MSOs, that coordinate medical care for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries and Medicaid recipients, primarily in Florida and Texas. The Metropolitan and MCCI transactions are expected to provide us with components of a successful integrated care delivery model that has demonstrated scalability to new markets. A substantial portion of the revenues for both Metropolitan and MCCI are derived from services provided to Humana Medicare Advantage members under capitation contracts with our health

 

9


Table of Contents

plans. In addition, Metropolitan and MCCI provide services to Medicare Advantage and Medicaid members under capitation contracts with third party health plans. Under these capitation agreements with Humana and third party health plans, Metropolitan and MCCI assume financial risk associated with these Medicare Advantage and Medicaid members.

Integrated wellness services

Corphealth, Inc. (d/b/a LifeSynch®), a Humana subsidiary, offers care management services through an innovative suite of integrated products, integrating behavioral health services with wellness programs, and employee assistance programs and work-life services. LifeSynch’s integrated wellness services include Hummingbird Coaching®, a wellness coaching company that offers a comprehensive turn-key coaching program, an enhancement to a medically based coaching protocol and a platform that makes coaching programs more efficient.

HumanaVitality, LLC, a joint venture with Discovery Holdings Ltd., provides our members with access to a science-based, actuarially driven wellness and loyalty program that features a wide range of well-being tools and rewards that are customized to an individual’s needs and wants. HumanaVitality® became available to certain of our members in mid-2011. A key element of the program includes a sophisticated health-behavior-change model supported by an actuarially sound incentive program.

Home care services

Home care services include the operations of SeniorBridge Family Companies, Inc., or SeniorBridge, acquired July 6, 2012, and Humana Cares®. As a chronic-care provider of in-home care for seniors, we provide innovative and holistic care coordination services for individuals living with multiple chronic conditions, individuals with disabilities, fragile and aging-in-place members and their care givers. We focus our deployment of these services in geographies, such as Florida, with a high concentration of members living with multiple chronic conditions.

Other Businesses

Products and services offered by our Other Businesses are described in the discussion that follows. The following table presents our premiums and services revenue for our Other Businesses for the year ended December 31, 2012:

 

     Other  Businesses
Premiums and
Services Revenue
     Percent of
Consolidated
Premiums  and
Services Revenue
 
     
     
     
     (dollars in millions)  

Premiums:

     

Military services

   $ 1,017         2.6

Medicaid

     1,003         2.6

LI-NET

     266         0.7

Closed-block long-term care

     35         0.1
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total premiums

     2,321         6.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Services

     308         0.8
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total premiums and services revenue

   $ 2,629         6.8
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Military Services

Under our TRICARE South Region contract with the United States Department of Defense, or DoD, we provide administrative services to arrange health care services for the dependents of active duty military

 

10


Table of Contents

personnel and for retired military personnel and their dependents. Currently, three health benefit options are available to TRICARE beneficiaries. In addition to a traditional indemnity option, participants may enroll in an HMO-like plan with a point-of-service option or take advantage of reduced copayments by using a network of preferred providers, similar to a PPO.

We have participated in the TRICARE program since 1996 under contracts with the DoD. On April 1, 2012, we began delivering services under a new TRICARE South Region contract that the Department of Defense TRICARE Management Activity, or TMA, awarded to us on February 25, 2011. Under the new contract, we provide administrative services, including offering access to our provider networks and clinical programs, claim processing, customer service, enrollment, and other services, while the federal government retains all of the risk of the cost of health benefits. Accordingly, we account for revenues under the new contract net of estimated health care costs similar to an administrative services fee only agreement. Our current TRICARE South Region contract covers approximately 3,123,900 eligible beneficiaries as of December 31, 2012 in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kentucky (the Fort Campbell area only). The South Region is one of the three regions in the United States as defined by the Department of Defense. We have subcontracted with third parties to provide selected administration and specialty services under the contract. The new 5-year South Region contract, which expires March 31, 2017, is subject to annual renewals on April 1 of each year during its term at the government’s option. The TMA has notified us of its intent to exercise its option to extend the TRICARE South Region contract through March 31, 2014.

Our previous TRICARE South Region contract that expired on March 31, 2012, provided a financial interest in the underlying health care cost; therefore, we reported revenues on a gross basis. We shared the risk with the federal government for the cost of health benefits incurred under our previous contract, earning more revenue or incurring additional cost based on the variance of actual health care costs from an annually negotiated target health care cost. The TRICARE South Region contract represented approximately 93% of total military services premiums and services revenue for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Medicaid

Medicaid is a federal program that is state-operated to facilitate the delivery of health care services primarily to low-income residents. Each electing state develops, through a state-specific regulatory agency, a Medicaid managed care initiative that must be approved by CMS. CMS requires that Medicaid managed care plans meet federal standards and cost no more than the amount that would have been spent on a comparable fee-for-service basis. States currently either use a formal proposal process in which they review many bidders before selecting one or award individual contracts to qualified bidders who apply for entry to the program. In either case, the contractual relationship with a state generally is for a one-year period. Under these contracts, we receive a fixed monthly payment from a government agency for which we are required to provide health insurance coverage to enrolled members. Due to the increased emphasis on state health care reform and budgetary constraints, more states are utilizing a managed care product in their Medicaid programs.

Our Medicaid business consists of contracts in Puerto Rico and Florida, with the vast majority in Puerto Rico.

LI-NET

In 2010, we began to administer CMS’s LI-NET program. This program allows individuals who receive Medicare’s low-income subsidy to also receive immediate prescription drug coverage at the point of sale if they are not already enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan. CMS temporarily enrolls newly identified individuals with both Medicare and Medicaid into the LI-NET program, and subsequently transitions each member into a Medicare Part D plan that may or may not be a Humana Medicare plan.

 

11


Table of Contents

Closed Block of Long-Term Care Insurance

We have a closed block of approximately 34,000 long-term care policies associated with our acquisition of KMG America Corporation in 2007. Long-term care policies are intended to protect the insured from the cost of long-term care services including those provided by nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and adult day care as well as home health care services. No new policies have been written since 2005 under this closed block.

Membership

The following table summarizes our total medical membership at December 31, 2012, by market and product:

 

    Retail Segment     Employer Group Segment                    
    (in thousands)  
    Individual
Medicare
Advantage
    Individual
Medicare
stand-
alone PDP
    Individual
Commercial
    Fully-
insured
commercial
Group
    Group
Medicare
Advantage
and stand-
alone PDP
    ASO     Other
Businesses
    Total     Percent
of Total
 

Texas

    153.4        223.6        77.0        289.5        53.2        122.2        0        918.9        7.6

Florida

    384.2        193.0        78.7        147.9        21.4        37.8        0        863.0        7.1

Kentucky

    44.6        55.2        22.1        98.6        34.0        507.7        0        762.2        6.3

Illinois

    70.9        101.8        40.5        153.3        5.9        131.7 (a)      0        504.1        4.2

Ohio

    53.3        103.9        6.3        50.0        141.6        146.5        0        501.6        4.1

Wisconsin

    50.8        57.9        14.0        98.0        12.5        138.7        0        371.9        3.1

California

    25.6        310.5        4.1        0.2        0.1        0        0        340.5        2.8

Georgia

    63.3        62.4        54.4        96.8        7.6        44.2        0        328.7        2.7

Missouri/Kansas

    79.5        147.0        14.4        44.2        5.3        8.0        0        298.4        2.5

Tennessee

    101.9        76.6        18.2        39.8        2.0        32.0        0        270.5        2.2

Louisiana

    105.9        35.9        16.4        44.1        7.7        29.7        0        239.7        2.0

North Carolina

    70.4        107.3        5.9        0.1        0.6        0        0        184.3        1.5

Michigan

    44.5        96.1        10.5        12.4        12.1        2.8        0        178.4        1.5

Indiana

    44.8        78.2        6.3        21.3        2.0        24.7        0        177.3        1.5

Virginia

    75.5        83.9        4.0        0        2.5        0        0        165.9        1.4

Arizona

    44.9        44.7        16.0        24.5        1.6        5.3        0        137.0        1.1

Colorado

    25.6        45.4        37.8        18.3        6.6        0.4        0        134.1        1.1

Military services

    0        0        0        0        0        0        3,123.9        3,123.9        25.8

Medicaid and other

    0        0        0        0        0        0        610.8        610.8        5.1

LI-NET

    0        0        0        0        0        0        67.1        67.1        0.6

Others

    488.5        1,162.2        94.8        72.8        58.5        33.7        0        1,910.5        15.8
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Totals

    1,927.6        2,985.6        521.4        1,211.8        375.2        1,265.4        3,801.8        12,088.8        100.0
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) Includes 27,700 Medicare Advantage ASO members.

Provider Arrangements

We provide our members with access to health care services through our networks of health care providers whom we own or with whom we have contracted, including hospitals and other independent facilities such as outpatient surgery centers, primary care providers, specialist physicians, dentists, and providers of ancillary health care services and facilities. These ancillary services and facilities include laboratories, ambulance services, medical equipment services, home health agencies, mental health providers, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes, optical services, and pharmacies. Our membership base and the ability to influence where our members seek care generally enable us to obtain contractual discounts with providers.

 

12


Table of Contents

We use a variety of techniques to provide access to effective and efficient use of health care services for our members. These techniques include the coordination of care for our members, product and benefit designs, hospital inpatient management systems, the use of sophisticated analytics, and enrolling members into various care management programs. The focal point for health care services in many of our HMO networks is the primary care provider who, under contract with us, provides services to our members, and may control utilization of appropriate services by directing or approving hospitalization and referrals to specialists and other providers. Some physicians may have arrangements under which they can earn bonuses when certain target goals relating to the provision of quality patient care are met. We have available care management programs related to complex chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease. We also have programs for prenatal and premature infant care, asthma related illness, end stage renal disease, diabetes, cancer, and certain other conditions.

We typically contract with hospitals on either (1) a per diem rate, which is an all-inclusive rate per day, (2) a case rate or diagnosis-related groups (DRG), which is an all-inclusive rate per admission, or (3) a discounted charge for inpatient hospital services. Outpatient hospital services generally are contracted at a flat rate by type of service, ambulatory payment classifications, or APCs, or at a discounted charge. APCs are similar to flat rates except multiple services and procedures may be aggregated into one fixed payment. These contracts are often multi-year agreements, with rates that are adjusted for inflation annually based on the consumer price index, other nationally recognized inflation indexes, or specific negotiations with the provider. Outpatient surgery centers and other ancillary providers typically are contracted at flat rates per service provided or are reimbursed based upon a nationally recognized fee schedule such as the Medicare allowable fee schedule.

Our contracts with physicians typically are renewed automatically each year, unless either party gives written notice, generally ranging from 90 to 120 days, to the other party of its intent to terminate the arrangement. Most of the physicians in our PPO networks and some of our physicians in our HMO networks are reimbursed based upon a fixed fee schedule, which typically provides for reimbursement based upon a percentage of the standard Medicare allowable fee schedule.

The terms of our contracts with hospitals and physicians may also vary between Medicare and commercial business. A significant portion of our Medicare network contracts, including those with both hospitals and physicians, are tied to Medicare reimbursement levels and methodologies.

The Budget Control Act of 2011 established a twelve-member joint committee of Congress known as the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to propose legislation to reduce the United States federal deficit by $1.5 trillion for fiscal years 2012-2021. The failure of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to achieve a targeted deficit reduction by December 23, 2011 triggered an automatic reduction, including aggregate reductions to Medicare payments to providers of up to 2 percent per fiscal year. Although these reductions are scheduled to take effect on March 1, 2013, at this time it is unclear how this automatic reduction may be applied to various Medicare healthcare programs or the timing of when such reductions may actually begin. We expect that if such reductions were to occur, there would be a corresponding substantial reduction in our obligations to providers. Due to the uncertainty around the timing or application of any such reductions, there can be no assurances that we could completely offset any reductions to the Medicare healthcare programs applied by the Budget Control Act of 2011.

Capitation

For some of our medical membership, we share risk with providers under capitation contracts where physicians and hospitals accept varying levels of financial risk for a defined set of membership, primarily HMO. Under the typical capitation arrangement, we prepay these providers a monthly fixed-fee per member, known as a capitation (per capita) payment, to cover all or a defined portion of the benefits provided to the capitated member.

 

13


Table of Contents

We believe these risk-based models represent a key element of our integrated care delivery model at the core of our strategy. Our health plan subsidiaries may enter into these risk-based contracts with third party providers or our owned provider subsidiaries, including Metropolitan, an MSO acquired December 21, 2012.

At December 31, 2012, approximately 1,131,700 members, or 9.4% of our medical membership, were covered under risk-based contracts, including 511,700 individual Medicare Advantage members, or 26.5% of our total individual Medicare Advantage membership.

Physicians under capitation arrangements typically have stop loss coverage so that a physician’s financial risk for any single member is limited to a maximum amount on an annual basis. We typically process all claims and monitor the financial performance and solvency of our capitated providers. However, we delegated claim processing functions under capitation arrangements covering approximately 124,500 HMO members, including 73,500 individual Medicare Advantage members, at December 31, 2012, with the provider assuming substantially all the risk of coordinating the members’ health care benefits. Capitation expense under delegated arrangements for which we have a limited view of the underlying claims experience was approximately $633 million, or 2.0% of total benefits expense, for the year ended December 31, 2012. We remain financially responsible for health care services to our members in the event our providers fail to provide such services.

Accreditation Assessment

Our accreditation assessment program consists of several internal programs, including those that credential providers and those designed to meet the audit standards of federal and state agencies, as well as external accreditation standards. We also offer quality and outcome measurement and improvement programs such as the Health Care Effectiveness Data and Information Sets, or HEDIS, which is used by employers, government purchasers and the National Committee for Quality Assurance, or NCQA, to evaluate health plans based on various criteria, including effectiveness of care and member satisfaction.

Providers participating in our networks must satisfy specific criteria, including licensing, patient access, office standards, after-hours coverage, and other factors. Most participating hospitals also meet accreditation criteria established by CMS and/or the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

Recredentialing of participating providers occurs every two to three years, depending on applicable state laws. Recredentialing of participating providers includes verification of their medical licenses; review of their malpractice liability claims histories; review of their board certifications, if applicable; and review of applicable quality information. A committee, composed of a peer group of providers, reviews the applications of providers being considered for credentialing and recredentialing.

We request accreditation for certain of our health plans and/or departments from NCQA, the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, and the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission, or URAC. Accreditation or external review by an approved organization is mandatory in the states of Florida and Kansas for licensure as an HMO. Certain commercial businesses, like those impacted by a third-party labor agreement or those where a request is made by the employer, may require or prefer accredited health plans.

NCQA performs reviews of our compliance with standards for quality improvement, credentialing, utilization management, member connections, and member rights and responsibilities. We have achieved and maintained NCQA accreditation in most of our commercial, Medicare and Medicaid HMO/POS markets with enough history and membership, except Puerto Rico, and for many of our PPO markets.

Sales and Marketing

We use various methods to market our products, including television, radio, the Internet, telemarketing, and direct mailings.

 

14


Table of Contents

At December 31, 2012, we employed approximately 1,700 sales representatives, as well as approximately 900 telemarketing representatives who assisted in the marketing of individual Medicare and individual commercial health insurance and specialty products in our Retail segment, including making appointments for sales representatives with prospective members. We also market our individual Medicare products via a strategic alliance with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., or Wal-Mart. This alliance includes stationing Humana representatives in certain Wal-Mart stores, SAM’S CLUB locations, and Neighborhood Markets across the country providing an opportunity to enroll Medicare eligible individuals in person. In addition, we market our individual Medicare and individual commercial health insurance and specialty products through licensed independent brokers and agents. For our Medicare products, commissions paid to employed sales representatives and independent brokers and agents are based on a per unit commission structure, regulated in structure and amount by CMS. For our individual commercial health insurance and specialty products, we generally pay brokers a commission based on premiums, with commissions varying by market and premium volume. In addition to a commission based directly on premium volume for sales to particular customers, we also have programs that pay brokers and agents based on other metrics. These include commission bonuses based on sales that attain certain levels or involve particular products. We also pay additional commissions based on aggregate volumes of sales involving multiple customers.

In our Employer Group segment, individuals may become members of our commercial HMOs and PPOs through their employers or other groups, which typically offer employees or members a selection of health insurance products, pay for all or part of the premiums, and make payroll deductions for any premiums payable by the employees. We attempt to become an employer’s or group’s exclusive source of health insurance benefits by offering a variety of HMO, PPO, and specialty products that provide cost-effective quality health care coverage consistent with the needs and expectations of their employees or members. We also sell group Medicare Advantage products through large employers. We use licensed independent brokers, independent agents, and employees to sell our group products. Many of our larger employer group customers are represented by insurance brokers and consultants who assist these groups in the design and purchase of health care products. We pay brokers and agents using the same commission structure described above for our individual commercial health insurance and specialty products.

Underwriting

Through the use of internally developed underwriting criteria, we determine the risk we are willing to assume and the amount of premium to charge for our commercial products. In most instances, employer and other groups must meet our underwriting standards in order to qualify to contract with us for coverage. Small group laws in some states have imposed regulations which provide for guaranteed issue of certain health insurance products and prescribe certain limitations on the variation in rates charged based upon assessment of health conditions. Beginning in 2014, the Health Insurance Reform Legislation requires all individual and group health plans to guarantee issuance and renew coverage without pre-existing condition exclusions or health-status rating adjustments.

Underwriting techniques are not employed in connection with our Medicare, military services, or Medicaid products because government regulations require us to accept all eligible applicants regardless of their health or prior medical history.

Competition

The health benefits industry is highly competitive. Our competitors vary by local market and include other managed care companies, national insurance companies, and other HMOs and PPOs, including HMOs and PPOs owned by Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans. Many of our competitors have larger memberships and/or greater financial resources than our health plans in the markets in which we compete. Our ability to sell our products and to retain customers may be influenced by such factors as those described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in this 2012 Form 10-K.

 

15


Table of Contents

Government Regulation

Diverse legislative and regulatory initiatives at both the federal and state levels continue to affect aspects of the nation’s health care system.

Our management works proactively to ensure compliance with all governmental laws and regulations affecting our business. We are unable to predict how existing federal or state laws and regulations may be changed or interpreted, what additional laws or regulations affecting our businesses may be enacted or proposed, when and which of the proposed laws will be adopted or what effect any such new laws and regulations will have on our results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.

For a description of certain material current activities in the federal and state legislative areas, see the section entitled “Risk Factors” in this 2012 Form 10-K.

Certain Other Services

Captive Insurance Company

We bear general business risks associated with operating our Company such as professional and general liability, employee workers’ compensation, and officer and director errors and omissions risks. Professional and general liability risks may include, for example, medical malpractice claims and disputes with members regarding benefit coverage. We retain certain of these risks through our wholly-owned, captive insurance subsidiary. We reduce exposure to these risks by insuring levels of coverage for losses in excess of our retained limits with a number of third-party insurance companies. We remain liable in the event these insurance companies are unable to pay their portion of the losses.

Centralized Management Services

We provide centralized management services to each of our health plans and to our business segments from our headquarters and service centers. These services include management information systems, product development and administration, finance, human resources, accounting, law, public relations, marketing, insurance, purchasing, risk management, internal audit, actuarial, underwriting, claims processing, billing/enrollment, and customer service.

Employees

As of December 31, 2012, we had approximately 43,400 employees and approximately 2,400 medical professionals working under management agreements between Concentra and affiliated physician-owned associations. We believe we have good relations with our employees and have not experienced any work stoppages.

 

16


Table of Contents
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

If we do not design and price our products properly and competitively, if the premiums we charge are insufficient to cover the cost of health care services delivered to our members, if we are unable to implement clinical initiatives to provide a better health care experience for our members, lower costs and appropriately document the risk profile of our members, or if our estimates of benefits expense are inadequate, our profitability may be materially adversely affected. We estimate the costs of our benefits expense payments, and design and price our products accordingly, using actuarial methods and assumptions based upon, among other relevant factors, claim payment patterns, medical cost inflation, and historical developments such as claim inventory levels and claim receipt patterns. These estimates, however involve extensive judgment, and have considerable inherent variability because they are extremely sensitive to changes in payment patterns and medical cost trends.

We use a substantial portion of our revenues to pay the costs of health care services delivered to our members. These costs include claims payments, capitation payments to providers (predetermined amounts paid to cover services), and various other costs incurred to provide health insurance coverage to our members. These costs also include estimates of future payments to hospitals and others for medical care provided to our members. Generally, premiums in the health care business are fixed for one-year periods. Accordingly, costs we incur in excess of our benefit cost projections generally are not recovered in the contract year through higher premiums. We estimate the costs of our future benefit claims and other expenses using actuarial methods and assumptions based upon claim payment patterns, medical inflation, historical developments, including claim inventory levels and claim receipt patterns, and other relevant factors. We also record benefits payable for future payments. We continually review estimates of future payments relating to benefit claims costs for services incurred in the current and prior periods and make necessary adjustments to our reserves. However, these estimates involve extensive judgment, and have considerable inherent variability that is sensitive to payment patterns and medical cost trends. Many factors may and often do cause actual health care costs to exceed what was estimated and used to set our premiums. These factors may include:

 

   

increased use of medical facilities and services, including prescription drugs;

 

   

increased cost of such services;

 

   

our membership mix;

 

   

variances in actual versus estimated levels of cost associated with new products, benefits or lines of business, product changes or benefit level changes;

 

   

changes in the demographic characteristics of an account or market;

 

   

changes or reductions of our utilization management functions such as preauthorization of services, concurrent review or requirements for physician referrals;

 

   

changes in our pharmacy volume rebates received from drug manufacturers;

 

   

catastrophes, including acts of terrorism, public health epidemics, or severe weather (e.g. hurricanes and earthquakes);

 

   

the introduction of new or costly treatments, including new technologies;

 

   

medical cost inflation; and

 

   

government mandated benefits or other regulatory changes, including any that result from Health Insurance Reform Legislation.

Key to our operational strategy is the implementation of clinical initiatives that we believe provide a better health care experience for our members, lower these costs, and appropriately document the risk profile of our members. Our profitability and competitiveness depend in large part on our ability to appropriately manage health care costs through, among other things, the application of medical management programs such as our chronic care management program.

 

17


Table of Contents

In addition, we also estimate costs associated with long-duration insurance policies including life insurance, annuities, health, and long-term care policies sold to individuals for which some of the premium received in the earlier years is intended to pay anticipated benefits to be incurred in future years. These future policy benefit reserves are recognized on a net level premium method based on interest rates, mortality, morbidity, withdrawal and maintenance expense assumptions from published actuarial tables, as modified based upon actual experience. The assumptions used to determine the liability for future policy benefits are established and locked in at the time each contract is acquired and would only change if our expected future experience deteriorated to the point that the level of the liability, together with the present value of future gross premiums, are not adequate to provide for future expected policy benefits. Future policy benefits payable include $1.1 billion at December 31, 2012 associated with a closed block of long-term care policies acquired in connection with the November 30, 2007 KMG America Corporation acquisition. Long-term care policies provide for long-duration coverage and, therefore, our actual claims experience will emerge many years after assumptions have been established. The risk of a deviation of the actual interest rates, morbidity rates, and mortality rates from those assumed in our reserves are particularly significant to our closed block of long-term care policies. We monitor the loss experience of these long-term care policies, and, when necessary, apply for premium rate increases through a regulatory filing and approval process in the jurisdictions in which such products were sold. However, to the extent premium rate increases or loss experience vary from our acquisition date assumptions, additional future adjustments to reserves could be required.

Failure to adequately price our products or estimate sufficient benefits payable or future policy benefits payable may result in a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

We are in a highly competitive industry. Some of our competitors are more established in the health care industry in terms of a larger market share and have greater financial resources than we do in some markets. In addition, other companies may enter our markets in the future, including emerging competitors in the Medicare program. We believe that barriers to entry in our markets are not substantial, so the addition of new competitors can occur relatively easily, and customers enjoy significant flexibility in moving between competitors. Contracts for the sale of commercial products are generally bid upon or renewed annually. While health plans compete on the basis of many factors, including service and the quality and depth of provider networks, we expect that price will continue to be a significant basis of competition. In addition to the challenge of controlling health care costs, we face intense competitive pressure to contain premium prices. Factors such as business consolidations, strategic alliances, legislative reform, and marketing practices create pressure to contain premium price increases, despite being faced with increasing medical costs.

Premium increases, introduction of new product designs, and our relationships with our providers in various markets, among other issues, could also affect our membership levels. Other actions that could affect membership levels include our possible exit from or entrance into Medicare or commercial markets, or the termination of a large contract.

If we do not compete effectively in our markets, if we set rates too high or too low in highly competitive markets to keep or increase our market share, if membership does not increase as we expect, if membership declines, or if we lose accounts with favorable medical cost experience while retaining or increasing membership in accounts with unfavorable medical cost experience, our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows may be materially adversely affected.

If we fail to effectively implement our operational and strategic initiatives, including our Medicare initiatives, our business may be materially adversely affected, which is of particular importance given the concentration of our revenues in Medicare products.

Our future performance depends in large part upon our management team’s ability to execute our strategy to position us for the future. This strategy includes opportunities created by the expansion of our Medicare programs, including our HMO and PPO products, as well as our stand-alone PDP products and the successful

 

18


Table of Contents

implementation of our integrated care delivery model. We have made substantial investments in the Medicare program to enhance our ability to participate in these programs. Over the last few years we have increased the size of our Medicare geographic reach through expanded Medicare product offerings. We are offering both the stand-alone Medicare prescription drug coverage and Medicare Advantage health plan with prescription drug coverage in addition to our other product offerings. We offer the Medicare prescription drug plan in 50 states as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.

The growth of our Medicare products is an important part of our business strategy. Any failure to achieve this growth may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, or cash flows. In addition, the expansion of our Medicare products in relation to our other businesses may intensify the risks to us inherent in Medicare products. There is significant concentration of our revenues in Medicare products, with approximately 72% of our total premiums and services revenue in 2012 generated from our Medicare products. These expansion efforts may result in less diversification of our revenue stream and increased risks associated with operating in a highly regulated industry, as discussed further below.

Recently enacted Health Insurance Reform Legislation created a federal Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office to serve dual eligibles. This Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office has initiated a series of state demonstration projects to experiment with better coordination of care between Medicare and Medicaid. Depending upon the results of those demonstration projects, CMS may change the way in which dual eligibles are serviced. If we are unable to implement our strategic initiatives to address the dual eligibles opportunity, or if our initiatives are not successful at attracting or retaining dual eligible members, our business may be materially adversely affected.

Additionally, our strategy includes the growth of our commercial products, such as ASO and individual products, introduction of new products and benefit designs, including HumanaVitality and other wellness products, expansion of our specialty products such as dental, vision and other supplemental products, the adoption of new technologies, development of adjacent businesses, and the integration of acquired businesses and contracts.

There can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully implement our operational and strategic initiatives, including outsourcing certain business functions and implementing our integrated care delivery model, that are intended to position us for future growth or that the products we design will be accepted or adopted in the time periods assumed. Failure to implement this strategy may result in a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

If we fail to properly maintain the integrity of our data, to strategically implement new information systems, to protect our proprietary rights to our systems, or to defend against cybersecurity attacks, our business may be materially adversely affected.

Our business depends significantly on effective information systems and the integrity and timeliness of the data we use to run our business. Our business strategy involves providing members and providers with easy to use products that leverage our information to meet their needs. Our ability to adequately price our products and services, provide effective and efficient service to our customers, and to timely and accurately report our financial results depends significantly on the integrity of the data in our information systems. As a result of our past and on-going acquisition activities, we have acquired additional information systems. We have reduced the number of systems we operate, have upgraded and expanded our information systems capabilities, and are gradually migrating existing business to fewer systems. Our information systems require an ongoing commitment of significant resources to maintain, protect, and enhance existing systems and develop new systems to keep pace with continuing changes in information processing technology, evolving industry and regulatory standards, and changing customer preferences. If the information we rely upon to run our businesses was found to be inaccurate or unreliable or if we fail to maintain effectively our information systems and data integrity, we could have operational disruptions, have problems in determining medical cost estimates and establishing appropriate

 

19


Table of Contents

pricing, have customer and physician and other health care provider disputes, have regulatory or other legal problems, have increases in operating expenses, lose existing customers, have difficulty in attracting new customers, or suffer other adverse consequences.

We depend on independent third parties for significant portions of our systems-related support, equipment, facilities, and certain data, including data center operations, data network, voice communication services and pharmacy data processing. This dependence makes our operations vulnerable to such third parties’ failure to perform adequately under the contract, due to internal or external factors. A change in service providers could result in a decline in service quality and effectiveness or less favorable contract terms which may adversely affect our operating results.

We rely on our agreements with customers, confidentiality agreements with employees, and our trade secrets and copyrights to protect our proprietary rights. These legal protections and precautions may not prevent misappropriation of our proprietary information. In addition, substantial litigation regarding intellectual property rights exists in the software industry, including litigation involving end users of software products. We expect software products to be increasingly subject to third-party infringement claims as the number of products and competitors in this area grows.

Our business plans also include becoming a quality e-business organization by enhancing interactions with customers, brokers, agents, providers and other stakeholders through web-enabled technology. Our strategy includes sales and distribution of health benefit products through the Internet, and implementation of advanced self-service capabilities, for internal and external stakeholders.

A cybersecurity attack that bypasses our information technology, or IT, security systems causing a security breach may lead to a material disruption of our IT business systems and/or the loss of business information. If a cybersecurity attack were to be successful, we could be materially adversely affected due to the theft, destruction, loss, misappropriation or release of confidential data or intellectual property, operational or business delays resulting from the disruption of our IT systems, or negative publicity resulting in reputation or brand damage with our customers, brokers, agents, providers, and other stakeholders.

There can be no assurance that our IT process will successfully improve existing systems, develop new systems to support our expanding operations, integrate new systems, protect our proprietary information, defend against cybersecurity attacks, or improve service levels. In addition, there can be no assurance that additional systems issues will not arise in the future. Failure to adequately protect and maintain the integrity of our information systems and data, or to defend against cybersecurity attacks, may result in a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

Our business may be materially adversely impacted by CMS’s adoption of the new coding set for diagnoses.

CMS has adopted a new coding set for diagnoses, commonly known as ICD-10, which significantly expands the number of codes utilized. We may be required to incur significant expenses in implementing the new coding set by the current compliance date of October 1, 2014. If we do not adequately implement the new coding set, our results of operations, financial position and cash flows may be materially adversely affected.

We are involved in various legal actions and governmental and internal investigations, any of which, if resolved unfavorably to us, could result in substantial monetary damages. Increased litigation and negative publicity could increase our cost of doing business.

We are or may become a party to a variety of legal actions that affect our business, including employment and employment discrimination-related suits, employee benefit claims, breach of contract actions, securities laws claims, and tort claims.

 

20


Table of Contents

In addition, because of the nature of the health care business, we are subject to a variety of legal actions relating to our business operations, including the design, management, and offering of products and services. These include and could include in the future:

 

   

claims relating to the methodologies for calculating premiums;

 

   

claims relating to the denial of health care benefit payments;

 

   

claims relating to the denial or rescission of insurance coverage;

 

   

challenges to the use of some software products used in administering claims;

 

   

claims relating to our administration of our Medicare Part D offerings;

 

   

medical malpractice actions based on our medical necessity decisions or brought against us on the theory that we are liable for providers’ alleged malpractice;

 

   

claims arising from any adverse medical consequences resulting from our recommendations about the appropriateness of providers’ proposed medical treatment plans for patients;

 

   

allegations of anti-competitive and unfair business activities;

 

   

provider disputes over compensation and termination of provider contracts;

 

   

disputes related to ASO business, including actions alleging claim administration errors;

 

   

qui tam litigation brought by individuals who seek to sue on behalf of the government, alleging that we, as a government contractor, submitted false claims to the government including, among other allegations, resulting from coding and review practices under the Medicare risk-adjustment model;

 

   

claims related to the failure to disclose some business practices;

 

   

claims relating to customer audits and contract performance;

 

   

claims relating to dispensing of drugs associated with our in-house mail-order pharmacy; and

 

   

professional liability claims arising out of the delivery of healthcare and related services to the public.

In some cases, substantial non-economic or punitive damages as well as treble damages under the federal False Claims Act, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and other statutes may be sought.

While we currently have insurance coverage for some of these potential liabilities, other potential liabilities may not be covered by insurance, insurers may dispute coverage, or the amount of our insurance may not be enough to cover the damages awarded. In addition, some types of damages, like punitive damages, may not be covered by insurance. In some jurisdictions, coverage of punitive damages is prohibited. Insurance coverage for all or some forms of liability may become unavailable or prohibitively expensive in the future.

The health benefits industry continues to receive significant negative publicity reflecting the public perception of the industry. This publicity and perception have been accompanied by increased litigation, including some large jury awards, legislative activity, regulation, and governmental review of industry practices. These factors may adversely affect our ability to market our products or services, may require us to change our products or services, may increase the regulatory burdens under which we operate, and may require us to pay large judgments or fines. Any combination of these factors could further increase our cost of doing business and adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

See “Legal Proceedings and Certain Regulatory Matters” in Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8. – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. We cannot predict the outcome of these matters with certainty.

 

21


Table of Contents

As a government contractor, we are exposed to risks that may materially adversely affect our business or our willingness or ability to participate in government health care programs.

A significant portion of our revenues relates to federal and state government health care coverage programs, including the Medicare, military, and Medicaid programs. These programs accounted for approximately 78% of our total premiums and services revenue for the year ended December 31, 2012. These programs involve various risks, as described further below.

 

   

At December 31, 2012, under our contracts with CMS we provided health insurance coverage to approximately 384,200 Medicare Advantage members in Florida. These contracts accounted for approximately 15% of our total premiums and services revenue for the year ended December 31, 2012. The loss of these and other CMS contracts or significant changes in the Medicare program as a result of legislative or regulatory action, including reductions in premium payments to us or increases in member benefits without corresponding increases in premium payments to us, may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

 

   

At December 31, 2012, our military services business primarily consisted of the TRICARE South Region contract which covers approximately 3,123,900 beneficiaries. For the year ended December 31, 2012, premiums and services revenue associated with the TRICARE South Region contract accounted for approximately 3% of our total premiums and services revenue. On April 1, 2012, we began delivering services under the new TRICARE South Region contract that the Department of Defense TRICARE Management Activity, or TMA, awarded to us on February 25, 2011. The new 5-year South Region contract, which expires March 31, 2017, is subject to annual renewals on April 1 of each year during its term at the government’s option. The TMA has notified us of its intent to exercise its option to extend the TRICARE South Region contract through March 31, 2014. The loss of the TRICARE South Region contract may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

 

   

At December 31, 2012, under our contracts with the Puerto Rico Health Insurance Administration, or PRHIA, we provided health insurance coverage to approximately 531,500 Medicaid members in Puerto Rico. These contracts accounted for approximately 2% of our total premiums and services revenue for the year ended December 31, 2012. Effective October 1, 2010, as amended in May 2011, the PRHIA awarded us three contracts for the East, Southeast, and Southwest regions for a three-year term through June 30, 2013. The loss of these contracts or significant changes in the Puerto Rico Medicaid program as a result of legislative action, including reductions in premium payments to us, or increases in member benefits without corresponding increases in premium payments to us may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

 

   

There is a possibility of temporary or permanent suspension from participating in government health care programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, if we are convicted of fraud or other criminal conduct in the performance of a health care program or if there is an adverse decision against us under the federal False Claims Act. As a government contractor, we may be subject to qui tam litigation brought by individuals who seek to sue on behalf of the government, alleging that the government contractor submitted false claims to the government. Litigation of this nature is filed under seal to allow the government an opportunity to investigate and to decide if it wishes to intervene and assume control of the litigation. If the government does not intervene, the lawsuit is unsealed, and the individual may continue to prosecute the action on his or her own.

 

   

CMS uses a risk-adjustment model which apportions premiums paid to Medicare Advantage, or MA, plans according to health severity. The risk-adjustment model pays more for enrollees with predictably higher costs. Under this model, rates paid to MA plans are based on actuarially determined bids, which include a process that bases our prospective payments on a comparison of our beneficiaries’ risk scores, derived from medical diagnoses, to those enrolled in the government’s original Medicare program. Under the risk-adjustment methodology, all MA plans must collect and submit the necessary diagnosis code information from hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, and physician providers to

 

22


Table of Contents
 

CMS within prescribed deadlines. The CMS risk-adjustment model uses this diagnosis data to calculate the risk-adjusted premium payment to MA plans. We generally rely on providers, including certain providers in our network who are our employees, to code their claim submissions with appropriate diagnoses, which we send to CMS as the basis for our payment received from CMS under the actuarial risk-adjustment model. We also rely on providers to appropriately document all medical data, including the diagnosis data submitted with claims.

CMS is continuing to perform audits of various companies’ selected MA contracts related to this risk adjustment diagnosis data. These audits are referred to herein as Risk-Adjustment Data Validation Audits, or RADV audits. RADV audits review medical records in an attempt to validate provider medical record documentation and coding practices which influence the calculation of premium payments to MA plans.

On February 24, 2012, CMS released a “Notice of Final Payment Error Calculation Methodology for Part C Medicare Advantage Risk Adjustment Data Validation (RADV) Contract-Level Audits”. The final payment error calculation methodology provides that, in calculating the economic impact of audit results for an MA contract, if any, the results of the audit sample will be extrapolated to the entire MA contract based upon a comparison to “benchmark” audit data in the government fee-for-service program. This comparison to the government program benchmark audit is necessary to determine the economic impact, if any, of audit results because the government program data set, including any attendant errors that are present in that data set, provides the basis for MA plans’ risk adjustment to payment rates.

The final methodology, including the first application of extrapolated audit results to determine audit settlements, is expected to be applied to the next round of RADV contract level audits to be conducted on 2011 premium payments. Selected MA contracts will be notified of an audit at some point after the close of the final reconciliation for the payment year being audited. The final reconciliation occurs in August of the calendar year following the payment year.

Estimated audit settlements are recorded as a reduction of premiums revenue in our consolidated statements of income, based upon available information. During 2012, we completed internal contract level audits of certain contracts based on the RADV audit methodology prescribed by CMS. Included in these internal contract level audits was an audit of our Private Fee-For-Service business which we used to represent a proxy of the benchmark audit data in the government fee-for-service program which has not yet been released. We based our accrual of estimated audit settlements for contract years 2011 (the first year that application of extrapolated audit results is applicable) and 2012 on the results of these internal contract level audits. Estimates derived from these results were not material to our results of operations, financial position, or cash flows. However, as indicated, we are awaiting additional guidance from CMS regarding the benchmark audit data in the government fee-for-service program and the identification of our specific MA contracts that will be selected for audit. Accordingly, we cannot determine whether such audits will have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.

 

   

Our CMS contracts which cover members’ prescription drugs under Medicare Part D contain provisions for risk sharing and certain payments for prescription drug costs for which we are not at risk. These provisions, certain of which are described below, affect our ultimate payments from CMS.

The premiums from CMS are subject to risk corridor provisions which compare costs targeted in our annual bids to actual prescription drug costs, limited to actual costs that would have been incurred under the standard coverage as defined by CMS. Variances exceeding certain thresholds may result in CMS making additional payments to us or require us to refund to CMS a portion of the premiums we received (known as a “risk corridor”). We estimate and recognize an adjustment to premiums revenue related to the risk corridor payment settlement based upon pharmacy claims experience. The estimate of the settlement associated with these risk corridor provisions requires us to consider factors that may not be certain, including member eligibility differences with CMS. Our estimate of the settlement associated with the Medicare Part D risk corridor provisions was a net payable of $356 million at December 31, 2012.

 

23


Table of Contents

Reinsurance and low-income cost subsidies represent payments from CMS in connection with the Medicare Part D program for which we assume no risk. Reinsurance subsidies represent payments for CMS’s portion of claims costs which exceed the member’s out-of-pocket threshold, or the catastrophic coverage level. Low-income cost subsidies represent payments from CMS for all or a portion of the deductible, the coinsurance and co-payment amounts above the out-of-pocket threshold for low-income beneficiaries. Monthly prospective payments from CMS for reinsurance and low-income cost subsidies are based on assumptions submitted with our annual bid. A reconciliation and settlement of CMS’s prospective subsidies against actual prescription drug costs we paid is made after the end of the year.

Settlement of the reinsurance and low-income cost subsidies as well as the risk corridor payment is based on a reconciliation made approximately 9 months after the close of each calendar year. This reconciliation process requires us to submit claims data necessary for CMS to administer the program. Our claims data may not pass CMS’s claims edit processes due to various reasons, including discrepancies in eligibility or classification of low-income members. To the extent our data does not pass CMS’s claim edit processes, we may bear the risk for all or a portion of the claim which otherwise may have been subject to the risk corridor provision or payment which we would have otherwise received as a low-income or reinsurance claim. In addition, in the event the settlement represents an amount CMS owes us, there is a negative impact on our cash flows and financial condition as a result of financing CMS’s share of the risk. The opposite is true in the event the settlement represents an amount we owe CMS.

 

   

The Budget Control Act of 2011, enacted on August 2, 2011, increased the United States debt ceiling conditioned on deficit reductions to be achieved over the next ten years. The Budget Control Act of 2011 also established a twelve-member joint committee of Congress known as the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to propose legislation to reduce the United States federal deficit by $1.5 trillion for fiscal years 2012-2021. The failure of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to achieve a targeted deficit reduction by December 23, 2011 triggered an automatic reduction, including aggregate reductions to Medicare payments to providers of up to 2 percent per fiscal year. Although these reductions are scheduled to take effect on March 1, 2013, at this time it is unclear how this automatic reduction may be applied to various Medicare healthcare programs or the timing of when such reductions may actually begin. We expect that if such reductions were to occur, there would be a corresponding substantial reduction in our obligations to providers. Due to the uncertainty around the timing or application of any such reductions, there can be no assurances that we could completely offset any reductions to the Medicare healthcare programs applied by the Budget Control Act of 2011.

 

   

We are also subject to various other governmental audits and investigations. Under state laws, our HMOs and health insurance companies are audited by state departments of insurance for financial and contractual compliance. Our HMOs are audited for compliance with health services by state departments of health. Audits and investigations are also conducted by state attorneys general, CMS, the Office of the Inspector General of Health and Human Services, the Office of Personnel Management, the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, and the Defense Contract Audit Agency. All of these activities could result in the loss of licensure or the right to participate in various programs, including a limitation on our ability to market or sell products, the imposition of fines, penalties and other civil and criminal sanctions, or changes in our business practices. The outcome of any current or future governmental or internal investigations cannot be accurately predicted, nor can we predict any resulting penalties, fines or other sanctions that may be imposed at the discretion of federal or state regulatory authorities. Nevertheless, it is reasonably possible that any such outcome of litigation, penalties, fines or other sanctions could be substantial, and the outcome of these matters may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows. Certain of these matters could also affect our reputation. In addition, disclosure of any adverse investigation or audit results or sanctions could negatively affect our industry or our reputation in various markets and make it more difficult for us to sell our products and services.

 

24


Table of Contents

Recently enacted health insurance reform, including The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, including restricting revenue, enrollment and premium growth in certain products and market segments, restricting our ability to expand into new markets, increasing our medical and operating costs by, among other things, requiring a minimum benefit ratio on insured products (and particularly how the ratio may apply to Medicare plans), lowering our Medicare payment rates and increasing our expenses associated with a non-deductible federal premium tax and other assessments; financial position, including our ability to maintain the value of our goodwill; and cash flows. In addition, if the new non-deductible federal premium tax and other assessments, including a three-year commercial reinsurance fee, were imposed as enacted, and if we are unable to adjust our business model to address these new taxes and assessments, such as through the reduction of our operating costs or adjustments to premium pricing or benefit design, there can be no assurance that the non-deductible federal premium tax and other assessments would not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

In March 2010, the President signed into law The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (which we collectively refer to as the Health Insurance Reform Legislation) which enact significant reforms to various aspects of the U.S. health insurance industry. While regulations and interpretive guidance on some provisions of the Health Insurance Reform Legislation have been issued to date by the Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, the Department of Labor, the Treasury Department, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, there are many provisions of the legislation that will require additional guidance and clarification in the form of regulations and interpretations in order to fully understand the impacts of the legislation on our overall business, which we expect to occur over the next several years.

The provisions of the Health Insurance Reform Legislation include, among others, imposing significant new non-deductible federal premium taxes and other assessments on health insurers, limiting Medicare Advantage payment rates, stipulating a prescribed minimum ratio for the amount of premiums revenue to be expended on medical costs for insured products (and particularly how the ratio may apply to Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans), additional mandated benefits and guarantee issuance associated with commercial medical insurance, requirements that limit the ability of health plans to vary premiums based on assessments of underlying risk, and heightened scrutiny by state and federal regulators of our business practices, including our Medicare bid and pricing practices. The Health Insurance Reform Legislation also specifies benefit design guidelines, limits rating and pricing practices, encourages additional competition (including potential incentives for new market entrants), establishes federally-facilitated or state-based exchanges for individuals and small employers (with up to 100 employees) coupled with programs designed to spread risk among insurers, and expands eligibility for Medicaid programs. In addition, the law will increase federal oversight of health plan premium rates and could adversely affect our ability to appropriately adjust health plan premiums on a timely basis. Financing for these reforms will come, in part, from material additional fees and taxes on us and other health plans and individuals beginning in 2014, as well as reductions in certain levels of payments to us and other health plans under Medicare. Implementation dates of the provisions of the Health Insurance Reform Legislation began in September 2010 and continue through 2018.

Implementing regulations and related interpretive guidance continue to be issued on several significant provisions of the Health Insurance Reform Legislation. Congress may also withhold the funding necessary to implement the Health Insurance Reform Legislation, or may attempt to replace the legislation with amended provisions. Given the breadth of possible changes and the uncertainties of interpretation, implementation, and timing of these changes, which we expect to occur over the next several years, the Health Insurance Reform Legislation will change the way we do business, potentially impacting our pricing, benefit design, product mix, geographic mix, and distribution channels. In particular, implementing regulations and related guidance are forthcoming on various aspects of the minimum benefit ratio requirement’s applicability to Medicare, including aggregation, credibility thresholds, and its application to prescription drug plans. The response of other companies to Health Insurance Reform Legislation and adjustments to their offerings, if any, could cause meaningful disruption in the local health care markets. It is reasonably possible that the Health Insurance Reform

 

25


Table of Contents

Legislation and related regulations, as well as future legislative changes, in the aggregate may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, including restricting revenue, enrollment and premium growth in certain products and market segments, restricting our ability to expand into new markets, increasing our medical and operating costs, lowering our Medicare payment rates and increasing our expenses associated with the non-deductible federal premium tax and other assessments; our financial position, including our ability to maintain the value of our goodwill; and our cash flows. If we fail to effectively implement our operational and strategic initiatives with respect to the implementation of the Health Insurance Reform Legislation, our business may be materially adversely affected. In addition, if the new non-deductible federal premium tax and other assessments, including a three-year commercial reinsurance fee, were imposed as enacted, and if we are unable to adjust our business model to address these new taxes and assessments, such as through the reduction of our operating costs or adjustments to premium pricing or benefit design, there can be no assurance that the non-deductible federal premium tax and other assessments would not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

Our business activities are subject to substantial government regulation. New laws or regulations, or changes in existing laws or regulations or their manner of application, including reductions in Medicare Advantage payment rates, could increase our cost of doing business and may adversely affect our business, profitability, financial condition, and cash flows.

In addition to the Health Insurance Reform Legislation, the health care industry in general and health insurance are subject to substantial federal and state government regulation:

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act)

The use of individually identifiable health data by our business is regulated at federal and state levels. These laws and rules are changed frequently by legislation or administrative interpretation. Various state laws address the use and maintenance of individually identifiable health data. Most are derived from the privacy provisions in the federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA. HIPAA includes administrative provisions directed at simplifying electronic data interchange through standardizing transactions, establishing uniform health care provider, payer, and employer identifiers, and seeking protections for confidentiality and security of patient data. The rules do not provide for complete federal preemption of state laws, but rather preempt all inconsistent state laws unless the state law is more stringent.

These regulations set standards for the security of electronic health information. Violations of these rules could subject us to significant criminal and civil penalties, including significant monetary penalties. Compliance with HIPAA regulations requires significant systems enhancements, training and administrative effort. HIPAA can also expose us to additional liability for violations by our business associates (e.g., entities that provide services to health plans).

The HITECH Act, one part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, significantly broadened the scope of the privacy and security regulations of HIPAA. Among other requirements, the HITECH Act mandates individual notification in the event of a breach of unsecured, individually identifiable health information, provides enhanced penalties for HIPAA violations, requires business associates to comply with certain provisions of the HIPAA privacy and security rule, and grants enforcement authority to states’ Attorneys General in addition to the HHS Office of Civil Rights. On January 17, 2013, HHS issued the omnibus final rule on HIPAA privacy, security, breach notification requirements and enforcement requirements under the HITECH Act, and a final regulation for required changes to the HIPAA Privacy Rule for the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, or GINA. The omnibus final rule becomes effective on March 26, 2013, with an applicable compliance date of September 23, 2013.

In addition, there are numerous federal and state laws and regulations addressing patient and consumer privacy concerns, including unauthorized access or theft of personal information. State statutes and regulations

 

26


Table of Contents

vary from state to state and could impose additional penalties. Violations of HIPAA or applicable federal or state laws or regulations could subject us to significant criminal or civil penalties, including significant monetary penalties. Compliance with HIPAA and other privacy regulations requires significant systems enhancements, training and administrative effort.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)

On February 17, 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, or ARRA, was enacted into law. In addition to including a temporary subsidy for health care continuation coverage issued pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA, ARRA also expands and strengthens the privacy and security provisions of HIPAA and imposes additional limits on the use and disclosure of protected health information, or PHI. Among other things, ARRA requires us and other covered entities to report any unauthorized release or use of or access to PHI to any impacted individuals and to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in those instances where the unauthorized activity poses a significant risk of financial, reputational or other harm to the individuals, and to notify the media in any states where 500 or more people are impacted by any unauthorized release or use of or access to PHI. ARRA also requires business associates to comply with certain HIPAA provisions. ARRA also establishes higher civil and criminal penalties for covered entities and business associates who fail to comply with HIPAA’s provisions and requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to issue regulations implementing its privacy and security enhancements.

Workers’ Compensation Laws and Regulations

In performing services for the workers’ compensation industry through our subsidiary Concentra Inc., we must comply with applicable state workers’ compensation laws. Workers’ compensation laws generally require employers to assume financial responsibility for medical costs, lost wages, and related legal costs of work-related illnesses and injuries. These laws generally establish the rights of workers to receive benefits and to appeal benefit denials, prohibit charging medical co-payments or deductibles to employees, may restrict employers’ rights to select healthcare providers or direct an injured employee to a specific provider to receive non-emergency workers’ compensation medical care, and may include special requirements for physicians providing non-emergency care for workers’ compensation patients, including requiring registration with the state agency governing workers’ compensation, as well as special continuing education and training, licensing and other regulatory requirements. To the extent that we are governed by these regulations, we may be subject to additional licensing requirements, financial oversight, and procedural standards for beneficiaries and providers.

Corporate Practice of Medicine and Other Laws

As a corporate entity, Humana Inc. is not licensed to practice medicine. Many states in which we operate through our subsidiaries limit the practice of medicine to licensed individuals or professional organizations comprised of licensed individuals, and business corporations generally may not exercise control over the medical decisions of physicians. Statutes and regulations relating to the practice of medicine, fee-splitting between physicians and referral sources, and similar issues vary widely from state to state. Under management agreements between Concentra and its affiliated physician-owned professional groups, these groups retain sole responsibility for all medical decisions, as well as for hiring and managing physicians and other licensed healthcare providers, developing operating policies and procedures, implementing professional standards and controls, and maintaining malpractice insurance. We believe that our health services operations comply with applicable state statutes regarding corporate practice of medicine, fee-splitting, and similar issues. However, any enforcement actions by governmental officials alleging non-compliance with these statutes, which could subject us to penalties or restructuring or reorganization of our business, may result in a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.

Anti-Kickback, Physician Self-Referral, and Other Fraud and Abuse Laws

A federal law commonly referred to as the “Anti-Kickback Statute” prohibits the offer, payment, solicitation, or receipt of any form of remuneration to induce, or in return for, the referral of Medicare or other

 

27


Table of Contents

governmental health program patients or patient care opportunities, or in return for the purchase, lease, or order of items or services that are covered by Medicare or other federal governmental health programs. Because the prohibitions contained in the Anti-Kickback Statute apply to the furnishing of items or services for which payment is made in “whole or in part,” the Anti-Kickback Statute could be implicated if any portion of an item or service we provide is covered by any of the state or federal health benefit programs described above. Violation of these provisions constitutes a felony criminal offense and applicable sanctions could include exclusion from the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Section 1877 of the Social Security Act, commonly known as the “Stark Law,” prohibits physicians, subject to certain exceptions described below, from referring Medicare or Medicaid patients to an entity providing “designated health services” in which the physician, or an immediate family member, has an ownership or investment interest or with which the physician, or an immediate family member, has entered into a compensation arrangement. These prohibitions, contained in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, commonly known as “Stark II,” amended prior federal physician self-referral legislation known as “Stark I” by expanding the list of designated health services to a total of 11 categories of health services. The professional groups with which we are affiliated provide one or more of these designated health services. Persons or entities found to be in violation of the Stark Law are subject to denial of payment for services furnished pursuant to an improper referral, civil monetary penalties, and exclusion from the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Many states also have enacted laws similar in scope and purpose to the Anti-Kickback Statute and, in more limited instances, the Stark Law, that are not limited to services for which Medicare or Medicaid payment is made. In addition, most states have statutes, regulations, or professional codes that restrict a physician from accepting various kinds of remuneration in exchange for making referrals. These laws vary from state to state and have seldom been interpreted by the courts or regulatory agencies. In states that have enacted these statutes, we believe that regulatory authorities and state courts interpreting these statutes may regard federal law under the Anti-Kickback Statute and the Stark Law as persuasive.

We believe that our operations comply with the Anti-Kickback Statute, the Stark Law, and similar federal or state laws addressing fraud and abuse. These laws are subject to modification and changes in interpretation, and are enforced by authorities vested with broad discretion. We continually monitor developments in this area. If these laws are interpreted in a manner contrary to our interpretation or are reinterpreted or amended, or if new legislation is enacted with respect to healthcare fraud and abuse, illegal remuneration, or similar issues, we may be required to restructure our affected operations to maintain compliance with applicable law. There can be no assurances that any such restructuring will be possible or, if possible, would not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.

Environmental

We are subject to various federal, state, and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and the environment. If an environmental regulatory agency finds any of our facilities to be in violation of environmental laws, penalties and fines may be imposed for each day of violation and the affected facility could be forced to cease operations. We could also incur other significant costs, such as cleanup costs or claims by third parties, as a result of violations of, or liabilities under, environmental laws. Although we believe that our environmental practices, including waste handling and disposal practices, are in material compliance with applicable laws, future claims or violations, or changes in environmental laws, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

State Regulation of Insurance-Related Products

Laws in each of the states (and Puerto Rico) in which we operate our HMOs, PPOs and other health insurance-related services regulate our operations including: licensing requirements, policy language describing benefits, mandated benefits and processes, entry, withdrawal or re-entry into a state or market, rate increases,

 

28


Table of Contents

delivery systems, utilization review procedures, quality assurance, complaint systems, enrollment requirements, claim payments, marketing, and advertising. The HMO, PPO, and other health insurance-related products we offer are sold under licenses issued by the applicable insurance regulators.

Our licensed subsidiaries are also subject to regulation under state insurance holding company and Puerto Rico regulations. These regulations generally require, among other things, prior approval and/or notice of new products, rates, benefit changes, and certain material transactions, including dividend payments, purchases or sales of assets, intercompany agreements, and the filing of various financial and operational reports.

Certain of our subsidiaries operate in states that regulate the payment of dividends, loans, or other cash transfers to Humana Inc., our parent company, and require minimum levels of equity as well as limit investments to approved securities. The amount of dividends that may be paid to Humana Inc. by these subsidiaries, without prior approval by state regulatory authorities, or ordinary dividends, is limited based on the entity’s level of statutory income and statutory capital and surplus. In most states, prior notification is provided before paying a dividend even if approval is not required. Actual dividends paid may vary due to consideration of excess statutory capital and surplus and expected future surplus requirements related to, for example, premium volume and product mix.

Although minimum required levels of equity are largely based on premium volume, product mix, and the quality of assets held, minimum requirements vary significantly at the state level. Our state regulated subsidiaries had aggregate statutory capital and surplus of approximately $5.1 billion and $4.7 billion as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, which exceeded aggregate minimum regulatory requirements. Excluding Puerto Rico subsidiaries, the amount of ordinary dividends that may be paid to our parent company in 2013 is approximately $911 million in the aggregate. This compares to ordinary dividends that were able to be paid in 2012 of approximately $860 million. We expect the amount of dividends to be paid to our parent company in 2013 to approximate the amount of ordinary dividends.

Any failure to manage operating costs could hamper profitability.

The level of our operating costs impacts our profitability. While we proactively attempt to effectively manage such expenses, increases or decreases in staff-related expenses, additional investment in new products (including our opportunities in the Medicare programs and expansion of clinical capabilities a part of our integrated care delivery model), greater emphasis on small group and individual health insurance products, investments in health and well-being product offerings, expansion into new specialty markets, acquisitions, new taxes and assessments, including the new non-deductible federal premium tax and other assessments under Health Insurance Reform Legislation, such as the three-year commercial reinsurance fee, and implementation of regulatory requirements may occur from time to time.

There can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully contain our operating costs in line with our membership and this may result in a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

Any failure by us to manage acquisitions and other significant transactions successfully may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

As part of our business strategy, we frequently engage in discussions with third parties regarding possible investments, acquisitions, strategic alliances, joint ventures, and outsourcing transactions and often enter into agreements relating to such transactions in order to further our business objectives. In order to pursue this strategy successfully, we must identify suitable candidates for and successfully complete transactions, some of which may be large and complex, and manage post-closing issues such as the integration of acquired companies or employees. Integration and other risks can be more pronounced for larger and more complicated transactions, transactions outside of our core business space, or if multiple transactions are pursued simultaneously. The

 

29


Table of Contents

failure to successfully integrate acquired entities and businesses or failure to produce results consistent with the financial model used in the analysis of our acquisitions may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows. If we fail to identify and complete successfully transactions that further our strategic objectives, we may be required to expend resources to develop products and technology internally. We may also be at a competitive disadvantage or we may be adversely affected by negative market perceptions, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

If we fail to develop and maintain satisfactory relationships with the providers of care to our members, our business may be adversely affected.

We own or contract with physicians, hospitals and other providers to deliver health care to our members. Our products encourage or require our customers to use these contracted providers. These providers may share medical cost risk with us or have financial incentives to deliver quality medical services in a cost-effective manner.

In any particular market, providers could refuse to contract with us, demand higher payments, or take other actions that could result in higher health care costs for us, less desirable products for customers and members or difficulty meeting regulatory or accreditation requirements. In some markets, some providers, particularly hospitals, physician specialty groups, physician/hospital organizations, or multi-specialty physician groups, may have significant market positions and negotiating power. In addition, physician or practice management companies, which aggregate physician practices for administrative efficiency and marketing leverage, may compete directly with us. If these providers refuse to contract with us, use their market position to negotiate favorable contracts or place us at a competitive disadvantage, our ability to market products or to be profitable in those areas may be adversely affected.

In some situations, we have contracts with individual or groups of primary care providers for an actuarially determined, fixed, per-member-per-month fee under which physicians are paid an amount to provide all required medical services to our members. This type of contract is referred to as a “capitation” contract. The inability of providers to properly manage costs under these capitation arrangements can result in the financial instability of these providers and the termination of their relationship with us. In addition, payment or other disputes between a primary care provider and specialists with whom the primary care provider contracts can result in a disruption in the provision of services to our members or a reduction in the services available to our members. The financial instability or failure of a primary care provider to pay other providers for services rendered could lead those other providers to demand payment from us even though we have made our regular fixed payments to the primary provider. There can be no assurance that providers with whom we contract will properly manage the costs of services, maintain financial solvency or avoid disputes with other providers. Any of these events may have a material adverse effect on the provision of services to our members and our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

Our pharmacy business is highly competitive and subjects us to regulations in addition to those we face with our core health benefits businesses.

Our pharmacy business competes with locally owned drugstores, retail drugstore chains, supermarkets, discount retailers, membership clubs, and Internet companies as well as other mail-order and long-term care pharmacies. Our pharmacy business also subjects us to extensive federal, state, and local regulation. The practice of pharmacy is generally regulated at the state level by state boards of pharmacy. Many of the states where we deliver pharmaceuticals, including controlled substances, have laws and regulations that require out-of-state mail-order pharmacies to register with that state’s board of pharmacy. In addition, some states have proposed laws to regulate online pharmacies, and we may be subject to this legislation if it is passed. Federal agencies further regulate our pharmacy operations. Pharmacies must register with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and individual state controlled substance authorities in order to dispense controlled substances. In

 

30


Table of Contents

addition, the FDA inspects facilities in connection with procedures to effect recalls of prescription drugs. The Federal Trade Commission also has requirements for mail-order sellers of goods. The U.S. Postal Service, or USPS, has statutory authority to restrict the transmission of drugs and medicines through the mail to a degree that may have an adverse effect on our mail-order operations. The USPS historically has exercised this statutory authority only with respect to controlled substances. If the USPS restricts our ability to deliver drugs through the mail, alternative means of delivery are available to us. However, alternative means of delivery could be significantly more expensive. The Department of Transportation has regulatory authority to impose restrictions on drugs inserted in the stream of commerce. These regulations generally do not apply to the USPS and its operations. In addition, we are subject to CMS rules regarding the administration of our PDP plans and intercompany pricing between our PDP plans and our pharmacy business.

We are also subject to risks inherent in the packaging and distribution of pharmaceuticals and other health care products, and the application of state laws related to the operation of internet and mail-order pharmacies. The failure to adhere to these laws and regulations may expose us to civil and criminal penalties.

Changes in the prescription drug industry pricing benchmarks may adversely affect our financial performance.

Contracts in the prescription drug industry generally use certain published benchmarks to establish pricing for prescription drugs. These benchmarks include average wholesale price, which is referred to as “AWP,” average selling price, which is referred to as “ASP,” and wholesale acquisition cost. Recent events have raised uncertainties as to whether payors, pharmacy providers, pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, and others in the prescription drug industry will continue to utilize AWP as it has previously been calculated, or whether other pricing benchmarks will be adopted for establishing prices within the industry. Legislation may lead to changes in the pricing for Medicare and Medicaid programs. Regulators have conducted investigations into the use of AWP for federal program payment, and whether the use of AWP has inflated drug expenditures by the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Federal and state proposals have sought to change the basis for calculating payment of certain drugs by the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Adoption of ASP in lieu of AWP as the measure for determining payment by Medicare or Medicaid programs for the drugs sold in our mail-order pharmacy business may reduce the revenues and gross margins of this business which may result in a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

If we do not continue to earn and retain purchase discounts and volume rebates from pharmaceutical manufacturers at current levels, our gross margins may decline.

We have contractual relationships with pharmaceutical manufacturers or wholesalers that provide us with purchase discounts and volume rebates on certain prescription drugs dispensed through our mail-order and specialty pharmacies. These discounts and volume rebates are generally passed on to clients in the form of steeper price discounts. Changes in existing federal or state laws or regulations or in their interpretation by courts and agencies or the adoption of new laws or regulations relating to patent term extensions, and purchase discount and volume rebate arrangements with pharmaceutical manufacturers, may reduce the discounts or volume rebates we receive and materially adversely impact our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

Our ability to obtain funds from our subsidiaries is restricted.

Because we operate as a holding company, we are dependent upon dividends and administrative expense reimbursements from our subsidiaries to fund the obligations of Humana Inc., our parent company. These subsidiaries generally are regulated by states’ Departments of Insurance. We are also required by law to maintain specific prescribed minimum amounts of capital in these subsidiaries. The levels of capitalization required depend primarily upon the volume of premium generated. A significant increase in premium volume will require additional capitalization from our parent company. In most states, we are required to seek prior approval by these state regulatory authorities before we transfer money or pay dividends from these subsidiaries that exceed

 

31


Table of Contents

specified amounts, or, in some states, any amount. In addition, we normally notify the state Departments of Insurance prior to making payments that do not require approval. In the event that we are unable to provide sufficient capital to fund the obligations of Humana Inc., our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows may be materially adversely affected.

Downgrades in our debt ratings, should they occur, may adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

Claims paying ability, financial strength, and debt ratings by recognized rating organizations are an increasingly important factor in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies. Ratings information is broadly disseminated and generally used throughout the industry. We believe our claims paying ability and financial strength ratings are an important factor in marketing our products to certain of our customers. Our 7.20%, 8.15%, 3.15%, and 4.625% senior notes contain a change of control provision that may require us to purchase the notes under certain circumstances. Our 7.20% and 8.15% senior notes are subject to an interest rate adjustment if the debt ratings assigned to the notes are downgraded (or subsequently upgraded). In addition, our debt ratings impact both the cost and availability of future borrowings. Each of the rating agencies reviews its ratings periodically and there can be no assurance that current ratings will be maintained in the future. Our ratings reflect each rating agency’s opinion of our financial strength, operating performance, and ability to meet our debt obligations or obligations to policyholders, but are not evaluations directed toward the protection of investors in our common stock and should not be relied upon as such.

Historically, rating agencies take action to lower ratings due to, among other things, perceived concerns about liquidity or solvency, the competitive environment in the insurance industry, the inherent uncertainty in determining reserves for future claims, the outcome of pending litigation and regulatory investigations, and possible changes in the methodology or criteria applied by the rating agencies. In addition, rating agencies have come under recent regulatory and public scrutiny over the ratings assigned to various fixed-income products. As a result, rating agencies may (i) become more conservative in their methodology and criteria, (ii) increase the frequency or scope of their credit reviews, (iii) request additional information from the companies that they rate, or (iv) adjust upward the capital and other requirements employed in the rating agency models for maintenance of certain ratings levels.

We believe that some of our customers place importance on our credit ratings, and we may lose customers and compete less successfully if our ratings were to be downgraded. In addition, our credit ratings affect our ability to obtain investment capital on favorable terms. If our credit ratings were to be lowered, our cost of borrowing likely would increase, our sales and earnings could decrease, and our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows may be materially adversely affected.

Changes in economic conditions may adversely affect our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

The U.S. economy continues to experience a period of slow economic growth and high unemployment. We have closely monitored the impact that this volatile economy is having on our operations. Workforce reductions have caused corresponding membership losses in our fully-insured commercial group business. Continued weakness in the U.S. economy, and any continued high unemployment, may materially adversely affect our medical membership, results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

Additionally, the continued weakness of the U.S. economy has adversely affected the budget of individual states and of the federal government. This could result in attempts to reduce payments in our federal and state government health care coverage programs, including the Medicare, military services, and Medicaid programs, and could result in an increase in taxes and assessments on our activities. Although we could attempt to mitigate or cover our exposure from such increased costs through, among other things, increases in premiums, there can be no assurance that we will be able to mitigate or cover all of such costs which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

 

32


Table of Contents

In addition, general inflationary pressures may affect the costs of medical and other care, increasing the costs of claims expenses submitted to us.

The securities and credit markets may experience volatility and disruption, which may adversely affect our business.

Volatility or disruption in the securities and credit markets could impact our investment portfolio. We evaluate our investment securities for impairment on a quarterly basis. This review is subjective and requires a high degree of judgment. For the purpose of determining gross realized gains and losses, the cost of investment securities sold is based upon specific identification. For debt securities held, we recognize an impairment loss in income when the fair value of the debt security is less than the carrying value and we have the intent to sell the debt security or it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the debt security before recovery of our amortized cost basis, or if a credit loss has occurred. When we do not intend to sell a security in an unrealized loss position, potential other-than-temporary impairments are considered using variety of factors, including the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than cost; adverse conditions specifically related to the industry, geographic area or financial condition of the issuer or underlying collateral of a security; payment structure of the security; changes in credit rating of the security by the rating agencies; the volatility of the fair value changes; and changes in fair value of the security after the balance sheet date. For debt securities, we take into account expectations of relevant market and economic data. We continuously review our investment portfolios and there is a continuing risk that declines in fair value may occur and additional material realized losses from sales or other-than-temporary impairments may be recorded in future periods.

Certain European Union member states have total fiscal obligations greater than their respective gross domestic products. This imbalance has caused investor concern over such countries’ ability to continue to service their debt and foster economic growth. Currently, the European debt crisis has caused credit spreads to widen and liquidity to tighten in the fixed income debt markets. A weaker European economy may transcend Europe, cause investors to lose confidence in the safety and soundness of European financial institutions and the stability of European member economies, and likewise adversely affect U.S.-based financial institutions, the stability of the global financial markets, and the U.S. economy. We have no direct exposure to sovereign issuances of Spain, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, or Greece.

We believe our cash balances, investment securities, operating cash flows, and funds available under our credit agreement or from other public or private financing sources, taken together, provide adequate resources to fund ongoing operating and regulatory requirements, acquisitions, future expansion opportunities, and capital expenditures for at least the next twelve months, as well as to refinance or repay debt, and repurchase shares. However, continuing adverse securities and credit market conditions may significantly affect the availability of credit. While there is no assurance in the current economic environment, we have no reason to believe the lenders participating in our credit agreement will not be willing and able to provide financing in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

Our access to additional credit will depend on a variety of factors such as market conditions, the general availability of credit, both to the overall market and our industry, our credit ratings and debt capacity, as well as the possibility that customers or lenders could develop a negative perception of our long or short-term financial prospects. Similarly, our access to funds could be limited if regulatory authorities or rating agencies were to take negative actions against us. If a combination of these factors were to occur, we may not be able to successfully obtain additional financing on favorable terms or at all.

Given the current economic climate, our stock and the stocks of other companies in the insurance industry may be increasingly subject to stock price and trading volume volatility.

Over the past three years, the stock markets have experienced significant price and trading volume volatility. Company-specific issues and market developments generally in the insurance industry and in the

 

33


Table of Contents

regulatory environment may have contributed to this volatility. Our stock price has fluctuated and may continue to materially fluctuate in response to a number of events and factors, including:

 

   

the enactment of, and the potential for additional, health insurance reform;

 

   

general economic conditions;

 

   

quarterly variations in operating results;

 

   

natural disasters, terrorist attacks and epidemics;

 

   

changes in financial estimates and recommendations by securities analysts;

 

   

operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors may deem comparable;

 

   

press releases or negative publicity relating to our competitors or us or relating to trends in our markets;

 

   

regulatory changes and adverse outcomes from litigation and government or regulatory investigations;

 

   

sales of stock by insiders;

 

   

changes in our credit ratings;

 

   

limitations on premium levels or the ability to raise premiums on existing policies;

 

   

increases in minimum capital, reserves, and other financial strength requirements; and

 

   

limitations on our ability to repurchase our common stock.

These factors could materially reduce our stock price. In addition, broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance.

 

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

 

34


Table of Contents
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

Our principal executive office is located in the Humana Building, 500 West Main Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202. In addition to this property, our other principal operating facilities are located in Louisville, Kentucky; Green Bay, Wisconsin; Tampa Bay, Florida; Cincinnati, Ohio; and San Juan, Puerto Rico, all of which are used for customer service, enrollment, and claims processing. Our Louisville and Green Bay facilities also house other corporate functions.

We own or lease these principal operating facilities in addition to other administrative market offices and medical centers. The following table lists the location of properties we owned or leased, including our principal operating facilities, at December 31, 2012:

 

     Medical
Centers
     Administrative
Offices
        
     Owned      Leased      Owned      Leased      Total  

Florida

     8         91         4         97         200   

Texas

     5         49         3         39         96   

California

     —           24         —           19         43   

Georgia

     1         22         —           16         39   

Kentucky

     2         10         9         10         31   

Colorado

     —           22         —           8         30   

Illinois

     —           19         —           11         30   

Ohio

     —           9         —           17         26   

Michigan

     —           22         —           3         25   

New Jersey

     —           14         —           11         25   

Arizona

     1         12         —           11         24   

Tennessee

     —           11         —           13         24   

Louisiana

     —           10         —           12         22   

Pennsylvania

     —           16         —           6         22   

Missouri

     —           14         —           6         20   

Virginia

     —           12         —           8         20   

South Carolina

     —           2         8         9         19   

New York

     —           4         —           13         17   

North Carolina

     —           7         —           10         17   

Wisconsin

     —           9         1         7         17   

Indiana

     —           8         —           7         15   

Nevada

     —           10         —           5         15   

Maryland

     —           10         —           4         14   

Connecticut

     —           10         —           3         13   

Oklahoma

     —           7         —           6         13   

Puerto Rico

     —           —           —           13         13   

Others

     —           50         —           56         106   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     17         474         25         420         936   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Of the medical centers included in the table above, we no longer operate approximately 45 of these facilities but rather lease or sublease them to their provider operators.

 

35


Table of Contents
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are party to a variety of legal actions in the ordinary course of business, certain of which may be styled as class-action lawsuits, including employment matters, claims of medical malpractice, bad faith, nonacceptance or termination of providers, anticompetitive practices, improper rate setting, failure to disclose network discounts and various other provider arrangements, general contractual matters, intellectual property matters, and challenges to subrogation practices. See “Legal Proceedings and Certain Regulatory Matters” in Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8. – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. We cannot predict the outcome of these suits with certainty.

 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

 

36


Table of Contents

PART II

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Market Information

Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol HUM. The following table shows the range of high and low closing sales prices as reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Price for each quarter in the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011:

 

     High      Low  

Year Ended December 31, 2012

     

First quarter

   $ 95.50       $ 85.15   

Second quarter

   $ 91.85       $ 74.53   

Third quarter

   $ 77.03       $ 61.60   

Fourth quarter

   $ 76.20       $ 64.39   

Year Ended December 31, 2011

     

First quarter

   $ 69.94       $ 55.04   

Second quarter

   $ 82.55       $ 69.35   

Third quarter

   $ 83.55       $ 65.65   

Fourth quarter

   $ 89.83       $ 68.43   

Holders of our Capital Stock

As of January 31, 2013, there were approximately 4,000 holders of record of our common stock and approximately 41,500 beneficial holders of our common stock.

Dividends

In April 2011, our Board of Directors approved the initiation of a quarterly cash dividend policy. Declaration and payment of future quarterly dividends is at the discretion of the Board and may be adjusted as business needs or market conditions change.

The following table provides details of dividend payments in 2011 and 2012:

 

Record

Date

 

Payment

Date

 

Amount

per Share

 

Total

Amount

            (in millions)
2011 payments            

6/30/2011

  7/28/2011   $0.25   $41

9/30/2011

  10/28/2011   $0.25   $41
2012 payments            

12/30/2011

  1/31/2012   $0.25   $41

3/30/2012

  4/27/2012   $0.25   $41

6/29/2012

  7/27/2012   $0.26   $42

9/28/2012

  10/26/2012   $0.26   $41

In October 2012, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.26 per share that was paid on January 25, 2013, for an aggregate amount of $42 million, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 31, 2012.

 

37


Table of Contents

Stock Total Return Performance

The following graph compares our total return to stockholders with the returns of the Standard & Poor’s Composite 500 Index (“S&P 500”) and the Morgan Stanley Health Care Payer Index (“Peer Group”) for the five years ended December 31, 2012. The graph assumes an investment of $100 in each of our common stock, the S&P 500, and the Peer Group on December 31, 2007, and that dividends were reinvested when paid.

 

LOGO

 

     12/31/07      12/31/08      12/31/09      12/31/10      12/31/11      12/31/12  

HUM

   $ 100       $ 50       $ 58       $ 73       $ 117       $ 93   

S&P 500

   $ 100       $ 63       $ 80       $ 92       $ 94       $ 109   

Peer Group

   $ 100       $ 45       $ 69       $ 80       $ 108       $ 120   

The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

In April 2012, the Board of Directors replaced its previously approved share repurchase authorization of up to $1 billion (of which $461 million remained unused) with the current authorization for repurchases of up to $1 billion of our common shares exclusive of shares repurchased in connection with employee stock plans, expiring on June 30, 2014. Under this share repurchase authorization, shares could be purchased from time to time at prevailing prices in the open market, by block purchases, or in privately-negotiated transactions, subject to certain regulatory restrictions on volume, pricing, and timing. During 2012, we repurchased 1.15 million shares in open market transactions for $100 million at an average price of $86.95 under a previously approved share repurchase authorization and we repurchased 5.1 million shares in open market transactions for $360 million at an average price of $70.66 under the current authorization. During 2011, we repurchased 6.8 million shares in open market transactions for $492 million at an average price of $72.75 under previously approved share repurchase authorizations. During 2010, we repurchased 1.99 million shares for $100 million at an average price of $50.17 under previously approved share repurchase authorizations. As of February 1, 2013, the remaining authorized amount under the current authorization totaled $640 million.

In connection with employee stock plans, we acquired 0.7 million common shares for $58 million in 2012, 0.8 million common shares for $49 million in 2011, and 0.2 million common shares for $8 million in 2010.

 

38


Table of Contents
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

    2012 (a)     2011 (b)     2010 (c)     2009     2008 (d)  
    (dollars in millions, except per common share results)  

Summary of Operating Results:

         

Revenues:

         

Premiums

  $ 37,009      $ 35,106      $ 32,712      $ 29,927      $ 28,065   

Services

    1,726        1,360        555        520        468   

Investment income

    391        366        329        296        220   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

    39,126        36,832        33,596        30,743        28,753   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

         

Benefits

    30,985        28,823        27,117        24,784        23,730   

Operating costs

    5,830        5,395        4,380        4,014        3,740   

Depreciation and amortization

    295        270        245        237        210   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

    37,110        34,488        31,742        29,035        27,680   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from operations

    2,016        2,344        1,854        1,708        1,073   

Interest expense

    105        109        105        106        80   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

    1,911        2,235        1,749        1,602        993   

Provision for income taxes

    689        816        650        562        346   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

  $ 1,222      $ 1,419      $ 1,099      $ 1,040      $ 647   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic earnings per common share

  $ 7.56      $ 8.58      $ 6.55      $ 6.21      $ 3.87   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per common share

  $ 7.47      $ 8.46      $ 6.47      $ 6.15      $ 3.83   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends declared per common share

  $ 1.03      $ 0.75      $ 0.00      $ 0.00      $ 0.00   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financial Position:

         

Cash and investments

  $ 11,153      $ 10,830      $ 10,046      $ 9,111      $ 7,186   

Total assets

    19,979        17,708        16,103        14,153        13,042   

Benefits payable

    3,779        3,754        3,469        3,222        3,206   

Debt

    2,611        1,659        1,669        1,678        1,937   

Stockholders’ equity

    8,847        8,063        6,924        5,776        4,457   

Cash flows from operations

  $ 1,923      $ 2,079      $ 2,242      $ 1,422      $ 982   

Key Financial Indicators:

         

Benefit ratio

    83.7     82.1     82.9     82.8     84.6

Operating cost ratio

    15.1     14.8     13.2     13.2     13.1

Membership by Segment:

         

Retail segment:

         

Medical membership

    5,434,600        4,673,900        3,542,200        3,729,400        4,764,900   

Specialty membership

    948,700        782,500        510,000        297,300        324,600   

Employer Group segment:

         

Medical membership

    2,852,400        2,794,900        3,009,500        3,117,800        3,358,400   

Specialty membership

    7,136,200        6,532,600        6,517,500        6,761,900        6,244,100   

Other Businesses:

         

Medical membership

    3,801,800        3,715,800        3,734,900        3,486,800        3,488,900   

Consolidated:

         

Total medical membership

    12,088,800        11,184,600        10,286,600        10,334,000        11,612,200   

Total specialty membership

    8,084,900        7,315,100        7,027,500        7,059,200        6,568,700   

 

(a)

Includes the acquired operations of Arcadian Management Services, Inc. from March 31, 2012, SeniorBridge Family Companies, Inc. from July 6, 2012, and Metropolitan Health Networks, Inc. from

 

39


Table of Contents
  December 21, 2012. Also includes benefits expense of approximately $46 million ($29 million after tax, $0.18 per diluted common share) for a litigation settlement associated with our military services business.
(b) Includes the acquired operations of Anvita, Inc. from December 6, 2011.
(c) Includes the acquired operations of Concentra Inc. from December 21, 2010. Also includes operating costs of $147 million ($93 million after tax, or $0.55 per diluted common share) for the write-down of deferred acquisition costs associated with our individual commercial medical policies and benefits expense of $139 million ($88 million after tax, or $0.52 per diluted common share) associated with reserve strengthening for our closed block of long-term care policies acquired in connection with the 2007 acquisition of KMG America Corporation.
(d) Includes the acquired operations of UnitedHealth Group’s Las Vegas, Nevada individual SecureHorizons Medicare Advantage HMO business from April 30, 2008, the acquired operations of OSF Health Plans, Inc. from May 22, 2008, the acquired operations of Metcare Health Plans, Inc. from August 29, 2008, and the acquired operations of PHP Companies, Inc. (d/b/a Cariten Healthcare) from October 31, 2008.

 

40


Table of Contents
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Executive Overview

General

Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Humana is a leading health care company that offers a wide range of insurance products and health and wellness services that incorporate an integrated approach to lifelong well-being. By leveraging the strengths of our core businesses, we believe that we can better explore opportunities for existing and emerging adjacencies in health care that can further enhance wellness opportunities for the millions of people across the nation with whom we have relationships.

Our industry relies on two key statistics to measure performance. The benefit ratio, which is computed by taking total benefits expense as a percentage of premiums revenue, represents a statistic used to measure underwriting profitability. The operating cost ratio, which is computed by taking total operating costs as a percentage of total revenue less investment income, represents a statistic used to measure administrative spending efficiency.

Business Segments

We manage our business with three reportable segments: Retail, Employer Group, and Health and Well-Being Services. In addition, the Other Businesses category includes businesses that are not individually reportable because they do not meet the quantitative thresholds required by generally accepted accounting principles. These segments are based on a combination of the type of health plan customer and adjacent businesses centered on well-being solutions for our health plans and other customers, as described below. These segment groupings are consistent with information used by our Chief Executive Officer to assess performance and allocate resources.

The Retail segment consists of Medicare and commercial fully-insured medical and specialty health insurance benefits, including dental, vision, and other supplemental health and financial protection products, marketed directly to individuals. The Employer Group segment consists of Medicare and commercial fully-insured medical and specialty health insurance benefits, including dental, vision, and other supplemental health and financial protection products, as well as administrative services only products marketed to employer groups. The Health and Well-Being Services segment includes services offered to our health plan members as well as to third parties that promote health and wellness, including provider services, pharmacy, integrated wellness, and home care services. The Other Businesses category consists of our military services, primarily our TRICARE South Region contract, Medicaid, and closed-block long-term care businesses as well as our contract with CMS to administer the Limited Income Newly Eligible Transition program, or the LI-NET program.

The results of each segment are measured by income before income taxes. Transactions between reportable segments consist of sales of services rendered by our Health and Well-Being Services segment, primarily pharmacy, behavioral health, and provider services, to our Retail and Employer Group customers. Intersegment sales and expenses are recorded at fair value and eliminated in consolidation. Members served by our segments often utilize the same provider networks, enabling us in some instances to obtain more favorable contract terms with providers. Our segments also share indirect costs and assets. As a result, the profitability of each segment is interdependent. We allocate most operating expenses to our segments. Assets and certain corporate income and expenses are not allocated to the segments, including the portion of investment income not supporting segment operations, interest expense on corporate debt, and certain other corporate expenses. These items are managed at the corporate level. These corporate amounts are reported separately from our reportable segments and included with intersegment eliminations.

 

41


Table of Contents

Seasonality

One of the product offerings of our Retail segment is Medicare stand-alone prescription drug plans, or PDPs, under the Medicare Part D program. These plans provide varying degrees of coverage. Our quarterly Retail segment earnings and operating cash flows are impacted by the Medicare Part D benefit design and changes in the composition of our membership. The Medicare Part D benefit design results in coverage that varies as a member’s cumulative out-of-pocket costs pass through successive stages of a member’s plan period which begins annually on January 1 for renewals. These plan designs generally result in us sharing a greater portion of the responsibility for total prescription drug costs in the early stages and less in the latter stages. As a result, the PDP benefit ratio generally decreases as the year progresses. In addition, the number of low-income senior members as well as year-over-year changes in the mix of membership in our stand-alone PDP products affects the quarterly benefit ratio pattern.

Our Employer Group segment also experiences seasonality in the benefit ratio pattern. However, the effect is opposite of the Retail segment, with the Employer Group’s benefit ratio increasing as fully-insured members progress through their annual deductible and maximum out-of-pocket expenses.

2012 Highlights

Consolidated

 

   

Our 2012 results reflect the continued implementation of our strategy to offer our members affordable health care combined with a positive consumer experience in growing markets. At the core of this strategy is our integrated care delivery model, which unites quality care, high member engagement, and sophisticated data analytics. Our approach to primary, physician-directed care for our members aims to provide quality care that is consistent, integrated, cost-effective, and member-focused. The model is designed to improve health outcomes and affordability for individuals and for the health system as a whole, while offering our members a simple, seamless healthcare experience. We believe this strategy is positioning us for continued sustainable growth in both membership and earnings. At December 31, 2012, approximately 511,700 members, or 26.5%, of our individual Medicare Advantage membership were in risk arrangements under our integrated care delivery model. We expect that number to grow in 2013.

 

   

During 2012, we issued $1 billion of senior notes, repurchased 6.25 million shares in open market transactions for $460 million, and declared dividends to stockholders of $1.03 per share for an aggregate amount of $166 million.

 

   

Our results for the year ended December 31, 2012, were significantly impacted by a higher benefit ratio. The consolidated benefit ratio increased 160 basis points to 83.7% for the year ended December 31, 2012 compared to 82.1% for the year ended December 31, 2011. The increase primarily was due to an increase in the Retail segment benefit ratio primarily associated with our individual Medicare Advantage products discussed in our Retail segment highlights that follow.

 

   

Comparisons to our 2012 consolidated benefit ratio and operating cost ratio are impacted by the transition to the new TRICARE South Region contract on April 1, 2012, which is accounted for similar to an administrative services fee only agreement as described in our Other Businesses highlights that follow. Our previous contract was accounted for similar to our fully-insured products.

 

   

As more fully described herein under the section titled “Benefits Expense Recognition” actuarial standards require the use of assumptions based on moderately adverse experience, which generally results in favorable reserve development, or reserves that are considered redundant. We experienced favorable medical claims reserve development related to prior fiscal years of $257 million in 2012, $372 million in 2011, and $434 million in 2010. Year-over-year comparisons of the benefit ratio were negatively impacted by the $115 million decline in favorable prior-period medical claims reserve development from 2011 to 2012.

 

42


Table of Contents

Retail Segment

 

   

On February 15, 2013, CMS issued its Advance Notice for methodological changes for 2014 Medicare Advantage capitation rates and Part C and Part D payment policies. We believe the Advance Notice indicates a mid-single-digit decline in the benchmark payment rates from CMS for 2014. This excludes the impact of the industry premium tax, county rebasing, and risk factor recalibration, which are anticipated to be discussed in the final rate notice. However, the Advance Notice is subject to comment, and the final rates will not be published until April 1, 2013. We are closely analyzing all operational avenues available to address these preliminary rates and the related impact on our ability to grow both our Medicare membership and our earnings for 2014. We are committed to providing quality care and service to our members through the Medicare Advantage program. We will be drawing upon our program expertise to comment on the impact of these preliminary rate changes upon beneficiaries as we provide comments to CMS. Nonetheless, there can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully execute operational and strategic initiatives with respect to changes in the Medicare Advantage program. Failure to execute these strategies may result in a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

 

   

As discussed in the detailed Retail segment results of operations discussion that follows, we experienced a significant increase in the benefit ratio in the Retail segment, with the segment’s benefit ratio increasing 290 basis points to 84.1% for the year ended December 31, 2012. The increase primarily was due to a planned increase in the target benefit ratio associated with positioning for Health Insurance Reform Legislation funding changes and minimum benefit ratio requirements and a higher individual Medicare Advantage benefit ratio experienced on new membership than the assumptions used in our 2012 Medicare bids.

 

   

Individual Medicare Advantage membership of 1,927,600 at December 31, 2012 increased 287,300 members, or 17.5%, from 1,640,300 at December 31, 2011 primarily due to the 2012 enrollment season, as well as age-in enrollment throughout the year. We acquired approximately 62,600 members with Arcadian Management Services, Inc., or Arcadian, effective March 31, 2012. As discussed below, we divested approximately 12,600 members acquired with Arcadian effective January 1, 2013 in accordance with our agreement with the United States Department of Justice. January 2013 individual Medicare Advantage membership of approximately 2,011,000 increased more than 83,000 members, or approximately 4%, from December 31, 2012, reflecting net membership additions for the 2013 enrollment season and the Arcadian related divestitures discussed below. In addition, we significantly expanded our Health Maintenance Organization, or HMO, offerings in 2013, which we believe allow our integrated care delivery model to work more effectively for our members than any other plan option. The percentage of individual Medicare Advantage members who chose an HMO offering during the 2013 enrollment period reached approximately 48%.

 

   

Individual Medicare stand-alone PDP membership of 2,985,600 at December 31, 2012 increased 445,200 members, or 17.5%, from 2,540,400 at December 31, 2011 primarily from higher gross sales during the 2012 enrollment season, particularly for our national stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan co-branded with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., or the Humana-Walmart plan, supplemented by dual-eligible and age-in enrollments throughout the year. January 2013 individual Medicare stand-alone PDP membership grew to approximately 3,113,000, increasing approximately 127,000 members, or 4%, from December 31, 2012, reflecting net membership additions for the 2013 enrollment season.

 

43


Table of Contents
   

Effective March 31, 2012, we acquired Arcadian, a Medicare Advantage HMO serving members in 15 U.S. states, increasing our Medicare membership by approximately 62,600 members and expanding our Medicare footprint and future growth opportunities. To obtain antitrust approval in connection with the Arcadian acquisition, we entered into a consent agreement with the United States Department of Justice that required divestiture of overlapping Medicare Advantage health plan business in eight areas within Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. Accordingly, we divested 12,600 members effective January 1, 2013.

 

   

During 2012, we were successful in our bids for Medicaid business in Ohio, Illinois, and Kentucky, including individuals dually eligible for both the federal Medicare program and the state-based Medicaid program in both Ohio and Illinois. We partnered with CareSource Management Group Company to serve the Ohio and Kentucky individuals under a March 2012 strategic alliance agreement.

Employer Group Segment

 

   

Fully-insured group Medicare Advantage membership of 370,800 at December 31, 2012 increased 80,200 members, or 27.6%, from 290,600 at December 31, 2011 primarily due to the January 2012 addition of a new large group retiree account.

Health and Well-Being Services Segment

 

   

On December 21, 2012, we acquired Metropolitan Health Networks, Inc., or Metropolitan, a Medical Services Organization, or MSO, that coordinates medical care for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries and Medicaid recipients, primarily in Florida. We paid $11.25 per share in cash to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Metropolitan and repaid all outstanding debt of Metropolitan for a transaction value of $851 million, plus transaction expenses.

On October 29, 2012, we acquired a noncontrolling equity interest in MCCI Holdings, LLC, or MCCI, a privately held MSO headquartered in Miami, Florida that coordinates medical care for Medicare Advantage and Medicaid beneficiaries primarily in Florida and Texas.

The Metropolitan and MCCI transactions are expected to provide us with components of a successful integrated care delivery model that has demonstrated scalability to new markets. A substantial portion of the revenues for both Metropolitan and MCCI are derived from services provided to Humana Medicare Advantage members under capitation contracts with our health plans. In addition, Metropolitan and MCCI provide services to Medicare Advantage and Medicaid members under capitation contracts with third party health plans. Under these capitation agreements with Humana and third party health plans, Metropolitan and MCCI assume financial risk associated with these Medicare Advantage and Medicaid members.

 

   

On July 6, 2012, we acquired SeniorBridge Family Companies, Inc., or SeniorBridge, a chronic-care provider of in-home care for seniors, expanding our existing clinical and home health capabilities and strengthening our offerings for members with complex chronic-care needs.

Other Businesses

 

   

On April 1, 2012, we began delivering services under the new TRICARE South Region contract that the Department of Defense TRICARE Management Activity, or TMA, awarded to us on February 25, 2011. The new 5-year South Region contract, which expires March 31, 2017, is subject to annual renewals on April 1 of each year during its term at the government’s option. The TMA has notified us of its intent to exercise its option to extend the TRICARE South Region contract through March 31, 2014. We account for revenues under the new contract net of estimated health care costs similar to an administrative services fee only agreement. Our previous contract was accounted for similar to our fully-insured products.

 

44


Table of Contents
   

Year-over-year comparisons within Other Businesses are impacted by the transition to the new TRICARE South Region contract on April 1, 2012, including a change in profitability under the new contract in connection with our bid strategy, benefits expense of approximately $46 million incurred related to the settlement of litigation associated with our military services business during 2012, and benefits expense of $29 million for reserve strengthening associated with our closed-block of long-term care policies during 2012 as discussed in Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8. – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Health Insurance Reform

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (which we collectively refer to as the Health Insurance Reform Legislation) enacted significant reforms to various aspects of the U.S. health insurance industry. While regulations and interpretive guidance on some provisions of the Health Insurance Reform Legislation have been issued to date by the Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, the Department of Labor, the Treasury Department, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, there are many provisions of the legislation that will require additional guidance and clarification in the form of regulations and interpretations in order to fully understand the impacts of the legislation on our overall business, which we expect to occur over the next several years.

Implementation dates of the Health Insurance Reform Legislation began in September 2010 and continue through 2018. The following outlines certain provisions of the Health Insurance Reform Legislation:

 

   

Many changes are already effective and have been implemented by the Company, including: elimination of pre-existing condition limits for enrollees under age 19, elimination of certain annual and lifetime caps on the dollar value of benefits, expansion of dependent coverage to include adult children until age 26, a requirement to provide coverage for prescribed preventive services without cost to members, new claim appeal requirements, and the establishment of an interim high risk program for those unable to obtain coverage due to a pre-existing condition or health status.

 

   

Effective January 1, 2011, minimum benefit ratios were mandated for all commercial fully-insured medical plans in the large group (85%), small group (80%), and individual (80%) markets, with annual rebates to policyholders if the actual benefit ratios, calculated in a manner prescribed by HHS, do not meet these minimums. We began accruing for rebates in 2011, based on the manner prescribed by HHS, with initial rebate payments made in July 2012. Our benefit ratios reported herein, calculated from financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, differ from the benefit ratios calculated as prescribed by HHS under the Health Insurance Reform Legislation. The more noteworthy differences include the fact that the benefit ratio calculations prescribed by HHS are calculated separately by state and legal entity; independently for individual, small group, and large group fully-insured products; reflect actuarial adjustments where the membership levels are not large enough to create credible size; exclude some of our health insurance products; include taxes and fees as reductions of premium; treat changes in reserves differently than GAAP; and classify rebate amounts as additions to incurred claims as opposed to adjustments to premiums for GAAP reporting.

 

   

Medicare Advantage payment benchmarks for 2011 were frozen at 2010 levels and in 2012, additional cuts to Medicare Advantage plan payments began to take effect (with plan payment benchmarks ultimately ranging from 95% in high-cost areas to 115% in low-cost areas of Medicare fee-for-service rates), with changes being phased-in over two to six years, depending on the level of payment reduction in a county. In addition, beginning in 2011 the gap in coverage for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage is incrementally closing.

 

   

Beginning in 2014, the Health Insurance Reform Legislation requires: all individual and group health plans to guarantee issuance and renew coverage without pre-existing condition exclusions or health-status rating adjustments; the elimination of annual limits on coverage on certain plans; the

 

45


Table of Contents
 

establishment of federally facilitated or state-based exchanges for individuals and small employers (with up to 100 employees) coupled with programs designed to spread risk among insurers; the introduction of plan designs based on set actuarial values; the establishment of a minimum benefit ratio of 85% for Medicare plans; and insurance industry assessments, including an annual premium-based assessment and a three-year $25 billion commercial reinsurance fee. The annual premium-based assessment levied on the insurance industry is $8 billion in 2014 with increasing annual amounts thereafter, growing to $14 billion by 2017, and is not deductible for income tax purposes, which will significantly increase our effective income tax rate in 2014. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners, or NAIC, is continuing discussions regarding the accounting for the insurance industry premium-based assessment and may require accrual and associated subsidiary funding consideration for the first two years of the assessment in 2014 followed by annual accruals thereafter. The NAIC guidance is contradictory to final GAAP guidance issued by the FASB in July 2011, which requires annual accrual of the insurance industry premium-based assessment in the year in which it is payable.

The Health Insurance Reform Legislation also specifies benefit design guidelines, limits rating and pricing practices, encourages additional competition (including potential incentives for new market entrants) and expands eligibility for Medicaid programs. In addition, the law will increase federal oversight of health plan premium rates and could adversely affect our ability to appropriately adjust health plan premiums on a timely basis. Financing for these reforms will come, in part, from material additional fees and taxes on us and other health plans and individuals beginning in 2014, as well as reductions in certain levels of payments to us and other health plans under Medicare as described herein.

In addition, certain provisions in the Health Insurance Reform Legislation tie Medicare Advantage premiums to the achievement of certain quality performance measures (Star Ratings). Beginning in 2012, Medicare Advantage plans with an overall Star Rating of three or more stars (out of five) were eligible for a quality bonus in their basic premium rates. Initially quality bonuses were limited to the few plans that achieved four or more stars as an overall rating, but CMS has expanded the quality bonus to three Star plans for a three year period through 2014. Star Ratings issued by CMS in October 2012 indicated that 99% of our Medicare Advantage members are now in plans that will qualify for quality bonus payments in 2014, up from 98% in 2013. Further, the percentage of our Medicare Advantage members in plans with an overall Star Rating of four or more stars, including one five star plan, increased to 40%. Plans that earn an overall Star Rating of five are immediately eligible to enroll members year round. Beginning in 2015, plans must have a Star Rating of four or higher to qualify for bonus money. Notwithstanding successful historical efforts to improve our Star Ratings and other quality measures for 2012 and 2013 and the continuation of such efforts, there can be no assurances that we will be successful in maintaining or improving our Star Ratings in future years. Accordingly, our plans may not be eligible for full level quality bonuses, which could adversely affect the benefits such plans can offer, reduce membership, and/or reduce profit margins.

As discussed above, implementing regulations and related interpretive guidance continue to be issued on several significant provisions of the Health Insurance Reform Legislation. Congress may also withhold the funding necessary to implement the Health Insurance Reform Legislation, or may attempt to replace the legislation with amended provisions. Given the breadth of possible changes and the uncertainties of interpretation, implementation, and timing of these changes, which we expect to occur over the next several years, the Health Insurance Reform Legislation will change the way we do business, potentially impacting our pricing, benefit design, product mix, geographic mix, and distribution channels. In particular, implementing regulations and related guidance are forthcoming on various aspects of the minimum benefit ratio requirement’s applicability to Medicare, including aggregation, credibility thresholds, and its application to prescription drug plans. The response of other companies to the Health Insurance Reform Legislation and adjustments to their offerings, if any, could cause meaningful disruption in the local health care markets. It is reasonably possible that the Health Insurance Reform Legislation and related regulations, as well as future legislative changes, in the aggregate may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, including restricting revenue, enrollment and premium growth in certain products and market segments, restricting our

 

46


Table of Contents

ability to expand into new markets, increasing our medical and operating costs, lowering our Medicare payment rates and increasing our expenses associated with the non-deductible federal premium tax and other assessments; our financial position, including our ability to maintain the value of our goodwill; and our cash flows. If the new non-deductible federal premium tax and other assessments, including a three-year commercial reinsurance fee, were imposed as enacted, and if we are unable to adjust our business model to address these new taxes and assessments, such as through the reduction of our operating costs or adjustments to premium pricing or benefit design, there can be no assurance that the non-deductible federal premium tax and other assessments would not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

We intend for the discussion of our financial condition and results of operations that follows to assist in the understanding of our financial statements and related changes in certain key items in those financial statements from year to year, including the primary factors that accounted for those changes. Transactions between reportable segments consist of sales of services rendered by our Health and Well-Being Services segment, primarily pharmacy, behavioral health, and provider services, to our Retail and Employer Group customers and are described in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8. – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

 

47


Table of Contents

Comparison of Results of Operations for 2012 and 2011

Certain financial data on a consolidated basis and for our segments was as follows for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011:

Consolidated

 

           Change  
     2012     2011     Dollars     Percentage  
     (dollars in millions, except per
common share results)
       

Revenues:

        

Premiums:

        

Retail

   $ 24,550      $ 21,402      $ 3,148        14.7

Employer Group

     10,138        8,877        1,261        14.2

Other Businesses

     2,321        4,827        (2,506     (51.9 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total premiums

     37,009        35,106        1,903        5.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Services:

        

Retail

     24        16        8        50.0

Employer Group

     358        356        2        0.6

Health and Well-Being Services

     1,036        903        133        14.7

Other Businesses

     308        85        223        262.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total services

     1,726        1,360        366        26.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investment income

     391        366        25        6.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     39,126        36,832        2,294        6.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

        

Benefits

     30,985        28,823        2,162        7.5

Operating costs

     5,830        5,395        435        8.1

Depreciation and amortization

     295        270        25        9.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     37,110        34,488        2,622        7.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from operations

     2,016        2,344        (328     (14.0 )% 

Interest expense

     105        109        (4     (3.7 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     1,911        2,235        (324     (14.5 )% 

Provision for income taxes

     689        816        (127     (15.6 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 1,222      $ 1,419      $ (197     (13.9 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per common share

   $ 7.47      $ 8.46      $ (0.99     (11.7 )% 

Benefit ratio (a)

     83.7     82.1       1.6

Operating cost ratio (b)

     15.1     14.8       0.3

Effective tax rate

     36.1     36.5       (0.4 )% 

 

(a) Represents total benefits expense as a percentage of premiums revenue.
(b) Represents total operating costs as a percentage of total revenues less investment income.

Summary

Net income was $1.2 billion, or $7.47 per diluted common share, in 2012 compared to $1.4 billion, or $8.46 per diluted common share, in 2011 primarily due to lower operating results in the Retail segment, partially offset by improved operating performance in the Health and Well-Being Services segment. During 2012, we experienced a significant increase in the Retail segment benefit ratio primarily associated with our individual

 

48


Table of Contents

Medicare Advantage products primarily due to a planned increase in the target benefit ratio associated with positioning for Health Insurance Reform Legislation funding changes and minimum benefit ratio requirements and a higher benefit ratio experienced on new membership than the assumptions used in our 2012 Medicare bids. Our diluted earnings per common share for 2012 included $0.18 per diluted common share for benefits expense related to the settlement of a litigation matter associated with our military services business, as well as $0.11 per diluted common share for benefits expense associated with reserve strengthening associated with our closed block of long-term care policies in our Other Businesses as discussed in Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8. – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Premiums Revenue

Consolidated premiums increased $1.9 billion, or 5.4%, from 2011 to $37.0 billion for 2012 primarily due to increases in both Retail and Employer Group segment premiums mainly driven by higher average individual and group Medicare Advantage membership, partially offset by lower premiums for our Other Businesses due to the transition to the new TRICARE South Region contract. As discussed previously, on April 1, 2012, we began delivering services under the new TRICARE South Region contract that the TMA awarded to us on February 25, 2011. We account for revenues under the new contract net of estimated healthcare costs similar to an administrative services fee only agreement, and as such there are no premiums recognized under the new contract. Our previous contract was accounted for similar to our fully-insured products and as such we recognized premiums under the previous contract. Average membership is calculated by summing the ending membership for each month in a period and dividing the result by the number of months in a period. Premiums revenue reflects changes in membership and average per member premiums. Items impacting average per member premiums include changes in premium rates as well as changes in the geographic mix of membership, the mix of product offerings, and the mix of benefit plans selected by our membership.

Services Revenue

Consolidated services revenue increased $366 million, or 26.9%, from 2011 to $1.7 billion for 2012, primarily due to an increase in service revenue for our Other Businesses due to the transition to the new TRICARE South Region contract on April 1, 2012, and an increase in services revenue in our Health and Well-Being Services segment from growth in our Concentra operations and the acquisition of SeniorBridge on July 6, 2012.

Investment Income

Investment income totaled $391 million for 2012, an increase of $25 million from 2011, primarily reflecting net capital gains realized in 2012 as a result of ordinary portfolio management during the year.

Benefits Expense

Consolidated benefits expense was $31.0 billion for 2012, an increase of $2.2 billion, or 7.5%, from 2011 primarily due to a year-over-year increase in Retail and Employer Group segment benefits expense in 2012, primarily driven by an increase in the average number of Medicare members, partially offset by a decrease in benefits expense for Other Businesses primarily due to the transition to the new administrative services only TRICARE South Region contract on April 1, 2012. We do not record benefits expense under the new contract. Our previous contract was accounted for similar to our fully-insured products and as such we recorded benefits expense under the previous contract. Retail segment benefits expense increased $3.3 billion, or 18.8%, from 2011 to 2012 and Employer Group segment benefits expense increased $1.2 billion, or 16.5%, from 2011 to 2012. We experienced favorable medical claims reserve development related to prior fiscal years of $257 million in 2012 and $372 million in 2011.

The consolidated benefit ratio for 2012 was 83.7%, increasing 160 basis points from the 2011 benefit ratio of 82.1%, primarily driven by increases in both the Retail and Employer Group segments benefit ratios as

 

49


Table of Contents

described further in our segment results discussion that follows. The $115 million decline in favorable prior-period medical claims reserve development from 2011 to 2012 negatively impacted year-over-year comparisons of the benefit ratio. Year-over-year comparisons of the consolidated benefit ratio were favorably impacted by 20 basis points due to the continued growth of our Health & Well-Being Services segment and the related savings realized on a consolidated basis from providing these services directly to our members at fair market value rather than through a third party.

Operating Costs

Our segments incur both direct and shared indirect operating costs. We allocate the indirect costs shared by the segments primarily as a function of revenues. As a result, the profitability of each segment is interdependent.

Consolidated operating costs increased $435 million, or 8.1%, during 2012 compared to 2011, primarily due an increase in operating costs in our Retail Segment as a result of Medicare Advantage growth.

The consolidated operating cost ratio for 2012 was 15.1%, increasing 30 basis points from the 2011 operating cost ratio of 14.8% as the negative impact of the new TRICARE South Region contract being accounted for as an administrative services fee only arrangement was partially offset by improved operating leverage.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization for 2012 totaled $295 million, an increase of $25 million, or 9.3%, from 2011, primarily reflecting depreciation and amortization expense associated with the acquisitions of Anvita in the fourth quarter of 2011, Arcadian in the first quarter of 2012, SeniorBridge in the third quarter of 2012, and other health and wellness businesses during 2012.

Interest Expense

Interest expense was $105 million for 2012, compared to $109 million for 2011, a decrease of $4 million, or 3.7%. In March 2012, we repaid $36 million of junior subordinated debt that carried a higher interest rate than our senior notes. In December 2012, we issued $600 million of 3.15% senior notes due December 1, 2022 and $400 million of 4.625% senior notes due December 1, 2042.

Income Taxes

Our effective tax rate during 2012 was 36.1% compared to the effective tax rate of 36.5% in 2011. See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8. – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for a complete reconciliation of the federal statutory rate to the effective tax rate.

Retail Segment

 

            Change  
     2012      2011      Members      Percentage  

Membership:

           

Medical membership:

           

Individual Medicare Advantage

     1,927,600         1,640,300         287,300         17.5

Individual Medicare stand-alone PDP

     2,985,600         2,540,400         445,200         17.5
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total individual Medicare

     4,913,200         4,180,700         732,500         17.5

Individual commercial

     521,400         493,200         28,200         5.7
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total individual medical members

     5,434,600         4,673,900         760,700         16.3
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Individual specialty membership (a)

     948,700         782,500         166,200         21.2
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

50


Table of Contents

 

(a) Specialty products include dental, vision, and other supplemental health and financial protection products. Members included in these products may not be unique to each product since members have the ability to enroll in multiple products.

 

           Change  
     2012     2011     Dollars     Percentage  
     (in millions)        

Premiums and Services Revenue:

        

Premiums:

        

Individual Medicare Advantage

   $ 20,788      $ 18,100      $ 2,688        14.9

Individual Medicare stand-alone PDP

     2,587        2,317        270        11.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total individual Medicare

     23,375        20,417        2,958        14.5

Individual commercial

     1,004        861        143        16.6

Individual specialty

     171        124        47        37.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total premiums

     24,550        21,402        3,148        14.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Services

     24        16        8        50.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total premiums and services revenue

   $ 24,574      $ 21,418      $ 3,156        14.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

   $ 1,162      $ 1,587      $ (425     (26.8 )% 

Benefit ratio

     84.1     81.2       2.9

Operating cost ratio

     11.0     11.2       (0.2 )% 

Pretax Results

 

   

Retail segment pretax income was $1.2 billion in 2012, a decrease of $425 million, or 26.8%, from $1.6 billion in 2011, primarily driven by a year-over-year increase in the benefit ratio partially offset by improvement in the operating cost ratio as described below.

Enrollment

 

   

Individual Medicare Advantage membership increased 287,300 members, or 17.5%, from December 31, 2011 to December 31, 2012 primarily due to the 2012 enrollment season, as well as age-in enrollment throughout the year. We acquired approximately 62,600 members with Arcadian effective March 31, 2012. As discussed previously, we divested approximately 12,600 members acquired with Arcadian effective January 1, 2013 in accordance with our agreement with the United States Department of Justice.

 

   

Individual Medicare stand-alone PDP membership increased 445,200 members, or 17.5%, from December 31, 2011 to December 31, 2012 primarily from higher gross sales during the 2012 enrollment season, particularly for our Humana-Walmart plan offering, supplemented by dual-eligible and age-in enrollments throughout the year.

 

   

Individual specialty membership increased 166,200, or 21.2%, from December 31, 2011 to December 31, 2012 primarily driven by increased membership in dental offerings.

Premiums revenue

 

   

Retail segment premiums increased $3.1 billion, or 14.7%, from 2011 to 2012 primarily due to a 17.6% increase in average individual Medicare Advantage membership. Individual Medicare Advantage per member premiums decreased approximately 2% in 2012 compared to 2011, primarily driven by a higher percentage of members that aged-in that generally carry a lower risk score than other members and accordingly a lower premium per member as well as lower per member premiums for members

 

51


Table of Contents
 

acquired in connection with the Arcadian acquisition effective March 31, 2012. Individual Medicare stand-alone PDP premiums revenue increased $270 million, or 11.7%, in 2012 compared to 2011 primarily due to a 20.0% increase in average individual PDP membership, partially offset by a decrease in individual Medicare stand-alone PDP per member premiums. This was primarily a result of sales of our Humana-Walmart plan that we began offering for the 2011 plan year.

Benefits expense

 

   

The Retail segment benefit ratio increased 290 basis points from 81.2% in 2011 to 84.1% in 2012. During 2012, we experienced a significant increase in the benefit ratio for our individual Medicare Advantage products primarily due to a planned increase in the target benefit ratio associated with positioning for Health Insurance Reform Legislation funding changes and minimum benefit ratio requirements, a higher benefit ratio experienced on new membership than the assumptions used in our 2012 Medicare bids, and increased outpatient utilization for both new and existing members. In addition, year-over-year comparisons of the benefit ratio were negatively impacted by lower favorable prior-period medical claims reserve development in 2012 than in 2011 and a year-over-year increase in clinicians and other health care quality expenditures given our continuing growth in membership. The Retail segment’s pretax income for 2012 included the beneficial effect of $192 million in favorable prior-period medical claims reserve development versus $245 million in 2011. This favorable prior-period medical claims reserve development decreased the Retail segment benefit ratio by approximately 80 basis points in 2012 versus approximately 110 basis points in 2011.

Operating costs

 

   

The Retail segment operating cost ratio of 11.0% for 2012 decreased 20 basis points from 11.2% for 2011 primarily due to scale efficiencies associated with servicing higher year-over-year membership together with our continued focus on operating cost efficiencies, partially offset by higher year-over-year clinical, provider, and technological infrastructure spending.

Employer Group Segment

 

            Change  
     2012      2011      Members     Percentage  

Membership:

          

Medical membership:

          

Fully-insured commercial group

     1,211,800         1,180,200         31,600        2.7

ASO

     1,237,700         1,292,300         (54,600     (4.2 )% 

Group Medicare Advantage

     370,800         290,600         80,200        27.6

Medicare Advantage ASO

     27,700         27,600         100        0.4
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total group Medicare Advantage

     398,500         318,200         80,300        25.2
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Group Medicare stand-alone PDP

     4,400         4,200         200        4.8
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total group Medicare

     402,900         322,400         80,500        25.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total group medical members

     2,852,400         2,794,900         57,500        2.1
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Group specialty membership (a)

     7,136,200         6,532,600         603,600        9.2
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) Specialty products include dental, vision, and other supplemental health and financial protection products. Members included in these products may not be unique to each product since members have the ability to enroll in multiple products.

 

52


Table of Contents
           Change  
     2012     2011     Dollars      Percentage  
     (in millions)         

Premiums and Services Revenue:

         

Premiums:

         

Fully-insured commercial group

   $ 4,996      $ 4,782      $ 214         4.5

Group Medicare Advantage

     4,064        3,152        912         28.9

Group Medicare stand-alone PDP

     8        8        0         0.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total group Medicare

     4,072        3,160        912         28.9

Group specialty

     1,070        935        135         14.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total premiums

     10,138        8,877        1,261         14.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Services

     358        356        2         0.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total premiums and services revenue

   $ 10,496      $ 9,233      $ 1,263         13.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

   $ 253      $ 242      $ 11         4.5

Benefit ratio

     84.1     82.4        1.7

Operating cost ratio

     16.1     17.8        (1.7 )% 

Pretax Results

 

   

Employer Group segment pretax income increased $11 million, or 4.5%, to $253 million in 2012 primarily due to improvement in the operating cost ratio partially offset by an increase in the benefit ratio as described below.

Enrollment

 

   

Fully-insured commercial group medical membership increased 31,600 members, or 2.7%, from December 31, 2011 to December 31, 2012 primarily due to growth in small group membership partially offset by declines in large group business. Approximately 59% of our fully-insured commercial group medical membership was in small group accounts at December 31, 2012 compared to 56% at December 31, 2011.

 

   

Fully-insured group Medicare Advantage membership increased 80,200 members, or 27.6%, from December 31, 2011 to December 31, 2012 primarily due to the January 2012 addition of a new large group retiree account.

 

   

Group ASO commercial medical membership decreased 54,600 members, or 4.2%, from December 31, 2011 to December 31, 2012 primarily due to continued pricing discipline in a highly competitive environment for self-funded accounts.

 

   

Group specialty membership increased 603,600 members, or 9.2%, from December 31, 2011 to December 31, 2012 primarily due to increased cross-selling of our specialty products to our medical membership and growth in stand-alone specialty product sales.

Premiums revenue

 

   

Employer Group segment premiums increased by $1.3 billion, or 14.2%, from 2011 to $10.1 billion for 2012 primarily due to higher average group Medicare Advantage and fully-insured commercial group medical membership. In addition, 2012 included the beneficial effect of approximately $25 million associated with revising estimates regarding calculations of 2011 premium rebates payable associated with minimum benefit ratios required under the Health Insurance Reform Legislation. This change in estimate was attributable to the refinement of the state-level calculations based on the run out of claims during 2012.

 

53


Table of Contents

Benefits expense

 

   

The Employer Group segment benefit ratio of 84.1% for 2012 increased 170 basis points from 82.4% in 2011 primarily due to higher membership in our group Medicare Advantage products which generally carry a higher benefit ratio than our fully-insured commercial group products. In addition, year-over-year comparisons of the benefit ratio were negatively impacted by lower favorable prior-period medical claims reserve development in 2012 than in 2011. These increases were partially offset by the beneficial effect on the benefit ratio in 2012 of a reduction in prior-year premium rebate estimates discussed above. Fully-insured group Medicare Advantage members represented 13.0% of total Employer Group segment medical membership at December 31, 2012 compared to 10.4% at December 31, 2011. The Employer Group segment’s pretax income for 2012 included the beneficial effect of $48 million in favorable prior-period medical claims reserve development versus $114 million in 2011. This favorable prior-period medical claims reserve development decreased the Employer Group segment benefit ratio by approximately 50 basis points in 2012 versus approximately 130 basis points in 2011.

Operating costs

 

   

The Employer Group segment operating cost ratio of 16.1% for 2012 improved 170 basis points from 17.8% for 2011 primarily reflecting growth in our group Medicare Advantage products which generally carry a lower operating cost ratio than our fully-insured commercial group products and continued savings as a result of our operating cost reduction initiatives.

Health and Well-Being Services Segment

 

           Change  
     2012     2011     Dollars      Percentage  
     (in millions)         

Revenues:

         

Services:

         

Provider services

   $ 967      $ 880      $ 87         9.9

Home care services

     40        0        40         100.0

Pharmacy solutions

     16        11        5         45.5

Integrated wellness services

     13        12        1         8.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total services revenues

     1,036        903        133         14.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Intersegment revenues:

         

Pharmacy solutions

     11,352        9,886        1,466         14.8

Provider services

     214        185        29         15.7

Integrated wellness services

     219        175        44         25.1

Home care services

     167        84        83         98.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total intersegment revenues

     11,952        10,330        1,622         15.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total services and intersegment revenues

   $ 12,988      $ 11,233      $ 1,755         15.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

   $ 486      $ 353      $ 133         37.7

Operating cost ratio

     95.5     96.1        (0.6 )% 

Pretax results

 

   

Health and Well-Being Services segment pretax income increased $133 million, or 37.7%, from 2011 to $486 million in 2012 primarily due to growth in our pharmacy solutions business, including higher utilization of our mail-order pharmacy by our members.

 

54


Table of Contents

Script Volume

 

   

Script volumes for the Retail and Employer Group segment membership increased to approximately 238 million in 2012, up approximately 15.5% versus scripts of approximately 206 million in 2011. The year-over-year increase primarily reflects growth associated with higher average medical membership together with an increase in mail order penetration for our Retail segment medical membership in 2012 than in 2011.

Services revenue

 

   

Provider services revenue increased $87 million from 2011 to $967 million in 2012 primarily due to growth in our Concentra operations and the acquisition of SeniorBridge in July 2012.

Intersegment revenues

 

   

Intersegment revenues increased $1.6 billion, or 15.7%, from 2011 to $12.0 billion for 2012 primarily due to growth in our pharmacy solutions business, including our mail-order pharmacy, as it serves our growing membership, particularly Medicare stand-alone PDP.

Operating costs

 

   

The Health and Well-Being Services segment operating cost ratio improved 60 basis points from 2011 to 95.5% for 2012 reflecting scale efficiencies associated with growth in our pharmacy solutions business, including higher script volumes in our mail-order pharmacy business.

Other Businesses

Pretax loss for our Other Businesses of $19 million for 2012 compared to pretax income of $84 million for 2011. The year-over-year decline primarily reflects the combined effect of costs in connection with a litigation settlement associated with our military services business in 2012, reserve strengthening for our closed block of long-term care policies in 2012, and a change in profitability under the new TRICARE South Region contract in connection with our bid strategy.

 

55


Table of Contents

Comparison of Results of Operations for 2011 and 2010

Certain financial data on a consolidated basis and for our segments was as follows for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:

Consolidated

 

           Change  
         2011             2010             Dollars         Percentage  
     (dollars in millions, except per common share results)        

Revenues:

        

Premiums:

        

Retail

   $ 21,402      $ 19,052      $ 2,350        12.3

Employer Group

     8,877        9,080        (203     (2.2 )% 

Other Businesses

     4,827        4,580        247        5.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total premiums

     35,106        32,712        2,394        7.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Services:

        

Retail

     16        11        5        45.5

Employer Group

     356        395        (39     (9.9 )% 

Health and Well-Being Services

     903        34        869        nm   

Other Businesses

     85        115        (30     (26.1 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total services

     1,360        555        805        145.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investment income

     366        329        37        11.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     36,832        33,596        3,236        9.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

        

Benefits

     28,823        27,117        1,706        6.3

Operating costs

     5,395        4,380        1,015        23.2

Depreciation and amortization

     270        245        25        10.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     34,488        31,742        2,746        8.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from operations

     2,344        1,854        490        26.4

Interest expense

     109        105        4        3.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     2,235        1,749        486        27.8

Provision for income taxes

     816        650        166        25.5
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 1,419      $ 1,099      $ 320        29.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per common share

   $ 8.46      $ 6.47      $ 1.99        30.8

Benefit ratio (a)

     82.1     82.9       (0.8 )% 

Operating cost ratio (b)

     14.8     13.2       1.6

Effective tax rate

     36.5     37.2       (0.7 )% 

 

(a) Represents total benefits expense as a percentage of premiums revenue.
(b) Represents total operating costs as a percentage of total revenues less investment income.

nm – not meaningful

Summary

Net income was $1.4 billion, or $8.46 per diluted common share, in 2011 compared to $1.1 billion, or $6.47 per diluted common share, in 2010 primarily due to improved operating performance in the Retail and Health and Well-Being Services segments and the negative impact of certain charges described below on 2010 results that did not recur in 2011. Share repurchase activity also contributed to the year-over-year increase in diluted

 

56


Table of Contents

earnings per common share. Net income for 2010 included the negative impact of a $147 million ($0.55 per diluted common share) write-down of deferred acquisition costs associated with our individual commercial medical policies in our Retail Segment, and a net charge of $139 million ($0.52 per diluted common share) for reserve strengthening associated with our closed block of long-term care policies in our Other Businesses as discussed in Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8. – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Premiums Revenue

Consolidated premiums increased $2.4 billion, or 7.3%, from 2010 to $35.1 billion for 2011, primarily due to an increase in Retail segment premiums, partially offset by a decline in Employer Group segment premiums. The increase in Retail segment premiums primarily resulted from higher average individual Medicare Advantage membership. The decrease in Employer Group segment premiums primarily resulted from lower average fully-insured commercial group medical membership.

Services Revenue

Consolidated services revenue increased $805 million, or 145.0%, from 2010 to $1.4 billion for 2011, primarily due to an increase in provider services revenue in our Health and Well-Being Services segment, primarily as a result of the acquisition of Concentra on December 21, 2010.

Investment Income

Investment income totaled $366 million for 2011, an increase of $37 million from 2010, primarily reflecting higher interest rates as well as higher average invested balances as a result of the reinvestment of operating cash flows.

Benefits Expense

Consolidated benefits expense was $28.8 billion for 2011, an increase of $1.7 billion, or 6.3%, from 2010. The increases were primarily due to a $1.8 billion, or 11.3%, year-over-year increase in Retail segment benefits expense in 2011, primarily driven by an increase in the average number of Medicare members, partially offset by a decline in Employer Group segment benefits expense. We experienced favorable medical claims reserve development related to prior fiscal years of $372 million in 2011 and $434 million in 2010.

The consolidated benefit ratio for 2011 was 82.1%, declining 80 basis points from the 2010 benefit ratio of 82.9%, primarily driven by a decline in the Retail segment benefit ratio and a net charge for reserve strengthening associated with our closed block of long-term care policies in our Other Businesses in 2010 that did not recur in 2011. Year-over-year comparisons of the benefit ratio were negatively impacted by the $62 million decline in favorable prior-period medical claims reserve development from 2010 to 2011.

Operating Costs

Our segments incur both direct and shared indirect operating costs. We allocate the indirect costs shared by the segments primarily as a function of revenues. As a result, the profitability of each segment is interdependent.

Consolidated operating costs increased $1.0 billion, or 23.2%, during 2011 compared to 2010, primarily due to an increase in operating costs in our Health and Well-Being Segment as a result of the acquisition of Concentra on December 21, 2010, as well as an increase in operating costs in our Retail segment as a result of increased expenses associated with servicing higher average Medicare Advantage membership. Operating costs for 2010 include $147 million for the write-down of deferred acquisition costs associated with our individual commercial medical policies in our Retail Segment.

 

57


Table of Contents

The consolidated operating cost ratio for 2011 was 14.8%, increasing 160 basis points from the 2010 operating cost ratio of 13.2%. The $147 million write-down of deferred acquisition costs in 2010 increased the operating cost ratio 50 basis points for 2010. Excluding the impact of the write-down of deferred acquisition costs in 2010, the increase primarily reflects the greater percentage of our revenues derived from Concentra, acquired December 21, 2010, in our Health and Well-Being Services segment, which carries a higher operating cost ratio on external revenues than our other segments, as well as an increase in the Retail and Employer Group segment operating cost ratios.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization for 2011 totaled $270 million, an increase of $25 million, or 10.2%, from 2010, primarily reflecting depreciation and amortization expense associated with our Concentra operations, acquired on December 21, 2010.

Interest Expense

Interest expense was $109 million for 2011, compared to $105 million for 2010, an increase of $4 million, or 3.8%.

Income Taxes

Our effective tax rate during 2011 was 36.5% compared to the effective tax rate of 37.2% in 2010. The higher tax rate for 2010 primarily was due to the cumulative adjustment associated with estimating the retrospective aspect of new limitations on the deductibility of annual compensation in excess of $500,000 per employee as mandated by the Health Insurance Reform Legislation. See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8. – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for a complete reconciliation of the federal statutory rate to the effective tax rate.

Retail Segment

 

            Change  
     2011      2010      Members      Percentage  

Membership:

           

Medical membership:

           

Individual Medicare Advantage

     1,640,300         1,460,700         179,600         12.3

Individual Medicare stand-alone PDP

     2,540,400         1,670,300         870,100         52.1
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total individual Medicare

     4,180,700         3,131,000         1,049,700         33.5

Individual commercial

     493,200         411,200         82,000         19.9
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total individual medical members

     4,673,900         3,542,200         1,131,700         31.9
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Individual specialty membership (a)

     782,500         510,000         272,500         53.4
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) Specialty products include dental, vision, and other supplemental health and financial protection products. Members included in these products may not be unique to each product since members have the ability to enroll in multiple products.

 

58


Table of Contents
           Change  
     2011     2010     Dollars      Percentage  
     (in millions)         

Premiums and Services Revenue:

         

Premiums:

         

Individual Medicare Advantage

   $ 18,100      $ 16,265      $ 1,835         11.3

Individual Medicare stand-alone PDP

     2,317        1,959        358         18.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total individual Medicare

     20,417        18,224        2,193         12.0

Individual commercial

     861        746        115         15.4

Individual specialty

     124        82        42         51.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total premiums

     21,402        19,052        2,350         12.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Services

     16        11        5         45.5
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total premiums and services revenue

   $ 21,418      $ 19,063      $ 2,355         12.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

   $ 1,587      $ 1,289      $ 298         23.1

Benefit ratio

     81.2     82.0        (0.8 )% 

Operating cost ratio

     11.2     11.1        0.1

Pretax Results

 

   

Retail segment pretax income was $1.6 billion in 2011, an increase of $298 million, or 23.1%, from $1.3 billion in 2010, primarily driven by higher average individual Medicare membership and a lower benefit ratio, partially offset by a higher operating cost ratio, discussed below. Pretax income for 2010 included the negative impact of a $147 million write-down of deferred acquisition costs associated with our individual commercial medical policies.

Enrollment

 

   

Individual Medicare Advantage membership increased 179,600 members, or 12.3%, from December 31, 2010 to December 31, 2011 due to the 2011 enrollment season as well as age-in enrollment throughout the year. Individual Medicare Advantage membership at December 31, 2011 included approximately 12,100 members acquired with an acquisition effective December 30, 2011.

 

   

Individual Medicare stand-alone PDP membership increased 870,100 members, or 52.1%, from December 31, 2010 to December 31, 2011 primarily from higher gross sales year-over-year, particularly due to our Humana-Walmart plan that we began offering for the 2011 plan year, supplemented by dual eligible and age-in enrollments throughout the year.

 

   

Individual specialty membership increased 272,500, or 53.4%, from December 31, 2010 to December 31, 2011 primarily driven by increased sales in dental offerings.

Premiums revenue

 

   

Retail segment premiums increased $2.4 billion, or 12.3%, from 2010 to 2011 primarily due to a 10.3% increase in average individual Medicare Advantage membership. Individual Medicare stand-alone PDP premiums revenue increased $358 million, or 18.3%, in 2011 compared to 2010 primarily due to a 41.9% increase in average individual PDP membership, partially offset by a decrease in individual Medicare stand-alone PDP per member premiums. This was primarily a result of sales of our Humana-Walmart plan that we began offering for the 2011 plan year.

Benefits expense

 

   

The Retail segment benefit ratio decreased 80 basis points from 82.0% in 2010 to 81.2% in 2011. The decline primarily reflects a lower Medicare Advantage benefit ratio due to lower cost trends arising out of our cost-reduction and outcome-enhancing strategies, including care coordination and care

 

59


Table of Contents
 

management, as well as a significant increase in our individual Medicare stand-alone PDP membership in 2011 that carries a lower benefit ratio, partially offset by lower favorable prior-period medical claims reserve development in 2011 than in 2010. The Retail segment’s pretax income for 2011 included the beneficial effect of $245 million in favorable prior-period medical claims reserve development versus $343 million in 2010. This favorable prior-period medical claims reserve development decreased the Retail segment benefit ratio by approximately 110 basis points in 2011 versus approximately 180 basis points in 2010.

Operating costs

 

   

The Retail segment operating cost ratio of 11.2% for 2011 increased 10 basis points from 11.1% for 2010. The $147 million write-down of deferred acquisition costs in 2010 increased the operating cost ratio 80 basis points in 2010. Excluding the impact of the write-down of deferred acquisition costs, the increase in the operating cost ratio year-over-year primarily reflects increased expenses associated with the Medicare sales season for 2012 offerings which began a month earlier than in the prior year and staffing necessary to service anticipated Medicare membership additions. Further, a higher percentage of membership in individual Medicare stand-alone PDP products contributed to the higher operating cost ratio, in light of the Humana-Walmart plan, first offered in 2011, which carries a higher operating cost ratio than other Medicare products.

Employer Group Segment

 

            Change  
     2011      2010      Members     Percentage  

Membership:

          

Medical membership:

          

Fully-insured commercial group

     1,180,200         1,252,200         (72,000     (5.7 )% 

ASO

     1,292,300         1,453,600         (161,300     (11.1 )% 

Group Medicare Advantage

     290,600         273,100         17,500        6.4

Medicare Advantage ASO

     27,600         28,200         (600     (2.1 )% 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total group Medicare Advantage

     318,200         301,300         16,900        5.6
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Group Medicare stand-alone PDP

     4,200         2,400         1,800        75.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total group Medicare

     322,400         303,700         18,700        6.2
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total group medical members

     2,794,900         3,009,500         (214,600     (7.1 )% 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Group specialty membership (a)

     6,532,600         6,517,500         15,100        0.2
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) Specialty products include dental, vision, and other supplemental health and financial protection products. Members included in these products may not be unique to each product since members have the ability to enroll in multiple products.

 

60


Table of Contents
           Change  
     2011     2010     Dollars     Percentage  
     (in millions)        

Premiums and Services Revenue:

        

Premiums:

        

Fully-insured commercial group

   $ 4,782      $ 5,169      $ (387     (7.5 )% 

Group Medicare Advantage

     3,152        3,021        131        4.3

Group Medicare stand-alone PDP

     8        5        3        60.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total group Medicare

     3,160        3,026        134        4.4

Group specialty

     935        885        50        5.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total premiums

     8,877        9,080        (203     (2.2 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Services

     356        395        (39     (9.9 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total premiums and services revenue

   $ 9,233      $ 9,475      $ (242     (2.6 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

   $ 242      $ 288      $ (46     (16.0 )% 

Benefit ratio

     82.4     82.4       0.0

Operating cost ratio

     17.8     17.5       0.3

Pretax Results

 

   

Employer Group segment pretax income decreased $46 million, or 16%, to $242 million in 2011 primarily due to the impact of minimum benefit ratios required under the Health Insurance Reform Legislation which became effective in 2011.

Enrollment

 

   

Fully-insured commercial group medical membership decreased 72,000 members, or 5.7%, from December 31, 2010 to December 31, 2011 primarily due to continued pricing discipline in a highly competitive environment for large group business partially offset by small group business membership gains.

 

   

Group ASO commercial medical membership decreased 161,300 members, or 11.1%, from December 31, 2010 to December 31, 2011 primarily due to continued pricing discipline in a highly competitive environment for self-funded accounts.

Premiums revenue

 

   

Employer Group segment premiums decreased by $203 million, or 2.2%, from 2010 to $8.9 billion for 2011 primarily due to lower average commercial group medical membership year-over-year and rebates associated with minimum benefit ratios required under the Health Insurance Reform Legislation which became effective in 2011, partially offset by an increase in group Medicare Advantage membership. Rebates result in the recognition of lower premiums revenue, as amounts are set aside for payments to commercial customers during the following year.

Benefits expense

 

   

The Employer Group segment benefit ratio of 82.4% for 2011 was unchanged from 2010 due to offsetting factors. Factors increasing the 2011 ratio compared to the 2010 ratio include growth in our group Medicare Advantage products which generally carry a higher benefit ratio than our fully-insured commercial group products and the effect of rebates accrued in 2011 associated with the minimum benefit ratios required under the Health Insurance Reform Legislation. Factors decreasing the 2011 ratio compared to the 2010 ratio include the beneficial effect of higher favorable prior-period medical claims reserve development in 2011 versus 2010 and lower utilization of benefits in our commercial group

 

61


Table of Contents
 

products in 2011. Fully-insured group Medicare Advantage members represented 10.4% of total Employer Group segment medical membership at December 31, 2011 compared to 9.1% at December 31, 2010. The Employer Group segment’s pretax income for 2011 included the beneficial effect of $114 million in favorable prior-period medical claims reserve development versus $73 million in 2010. This favorable prior-period medical claims reserve development decreased the Employer Group segment benefit ratio by approximately 130 basis points in 2011 versus approximately 80 basis points in 2010.

Operating costs

 

   

The Employer Group segment operating cost ratio of 17.8% for 2011 increased 30 basis points from 17.5% for 2010 primarily reflecting the impact of lower premiums revenue due to the minimum benefit ratio regulatory requirements which became effective in 2011.

Health and Well-Being Services Segment

 

           Change  
     2011     2010     Dollars     Percentage  
     (in millions)        

Revenues:

        

Services:

        

Provider services

   $ 880      $ 21      $ 859        nm   

Integrated wellness services

     12        13        (1     (7.7 )% 

Pharmacy solutions

     11        0        11        100.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total services revenues

     903        34        869        nm   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Intersegment revenues:

        

Pharmacy solutions

     9,886        8,410        1,476        17.6

Provider services

     185        170        15        8.8

Integrated wellness services

     175        167        8        4.8

Home care services

     84        39        45        115.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total intersegment revenues

     10,330        8,786        1,544        17.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total services and intersegment revenues

   $ 11,233      $ 8,820      $ 2,413        27.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

   $ 353      $ 219      $ 134        61.2

Operating cost ratio

     96.1     97.2       (1.1 )% 

nm – not meaningful

Pretax results

 

   

Health and Well-Being Services segment pretax income increased $134 million, or 61.2%, from 2010 to $353 million in 2011 primarily due to growth in our pharmacy solutions business together with the addition of the Concentra business, acquired on December 21, 2010.

Services revenue

 

   

Provider services revenue increased $859 million from 2010 to $880 million in 2011 primarily due to the acquisition of Concentra on December 21, 2010.

Intersegment revenues

 

   

Intersegment revenues increased $1.5 billion, or 17.6%, from 2010 to $10.3 billion for 2011 primarily due to growth in our pharmacy solutions business as it serves our growing membership, particularly Medicare stand-alone PDP.

 

62


Table of Contents

Operating costs

 

   

The Health and Well-Being Services segment operating cost ratio decreased 110 basis points from 2010 to 96.1% for 2011 reflecting scale efficiencies associated with growth in our pharmacy solutions business together with the addition of our acquired Concentra operations which carry a lower operating cost ratio than other lines of business in this segment.

Other Businesses

Pretax income for our Other Businesses of $84 million for 2011 compared to pretax losses of $2 million for 2010. Pretax losses for 2010 include the impact of a net charge of $139 million associated with reserve strengthening for our closed block of long-term care policies. Excluding this charge, the year-over-year decline primarily reflects a decrease in pretax income associated with our contract with CMS to administer the LI-NET program.

Liquidity

Our primary sources of cash include receipts of premiums, services revenue, and investment and other income, as well as proceeds from the sale or maturity of our investment securities and borrowings. Our primary uses of cash include disbursements for claims payments, operating costs, interest on borrowings, taxes, purchases of investment securities, acquisitions, capital expenditures, repayments on borrowings, dividends, and share repurchases. Because premiums generally are collected in advance of claim payments by a period of up to several months, our business normally should produce positive cash flows during periods of increasing premiums and enrollment. Conversely, cash flows would be negatively impacted during periods of decreasing premiums and enrollment. From period to period, our cash flows may also be affected by the timing of working capital items. The use of operating cash flows may be limited by regulatory requirements which require, among other items, that our regulated subsidiaries maintain minimum levels of capital and seek approval before paying dividends from the subsidiaries to the parent.

Cash and cash equivalents decreased to $1.3 billion at December 31, 2012 from $1.4 billion at December 31, 2011. The change in cash and cash equivalents for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 is summarized as follows:

 

     2012     2011     2010  
     (in millions)  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 1,923      $ 2,079      $ 2,242   

Net cash used in investing activities

     (1,965     (1,358     (1,811

Net cash used in financing activities

     (29     (1,017     (371
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

   $ (71   $ (296   $ 60   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash Flow from Operating Activities

The change in operating cash flows over the three year period primarily results from the corresponding change in earnings, enrollment activity, and changes in working capital items as discussed below. Cash flows were positively impacted by Medicare enrollment gains in 2012, 2011, and 2010 because premiums generally are collected in advance of claim payments by a period of up to several months.

Comparisons of our operating cash flows also are impacted by other changes in our working capital. The most significant drivers of changes in our working capital are typically the timing of receipts for premiums and payments of benefits expense. We illustrate these changes with the following summaries of receivables and benefits payable.

 

63


Table of Contents

The detail of total net receivables was as follows at December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010:

 

                       Change  
     2012     2011     2010     2012      2011      2010  
     (in millions)  

Medicare

   $ 422      $ 336      $ 216      $ 86       $ 120       $ (22

Commercial and other

     346        315        368        31         (53      185   

Military services

     59        468        427        (409      41         (26

Allowance for doubtful accounts

     (94     (85     (52     (9      (33      (1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net receivables

   $ 733      $ 1,034      $ 959        (301      75         136   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

         

Reconciliation to cash flow statement:

              

Provision for doubtful accounts

           26         31         19   

Receivables from acquisition

           (51      0         (109
        

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Change in receivables per cash flow statement resulting in cash from operations

         $ (326    $ 106       $ 46   
        

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Medicare receivables are impacted by revenue growth associated with growth in individual and group Medicare membership and the timing of accruals and related collections associated with the CMS risk-adjustment model.

Military services receivables at December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 primarily consisted of estimated claims owed from the federal government for health care services provided to beneficiaries and underwriting fees under our previous TRICARE South Region contract that expired on March 31, 2012. The claim reimbursement component of military services base receivables is generally collected over a three to four month period. The timing of claim reimbursements resulted in the $41 million increase in base receivables for 2011 as compared to 2010 and the $26 million decrease in base receivables for 2010 as compared to 2009. The $409 million decrease in military services receivables from December 31, 2011 to December 31, 2012 primarily resulted from the transition to our new TRICARE South Region contract which we account for similar to an administrative services fee only agreement. As such, beginning April 1, 2012, payments of the federal government’s claims and related reimbursements for the new TRICARE South Region contract are classified with receipts (withdrawals) from contract deposits as a financing item in our consolidated statements of cash flows. Military services receivables at December 31, 2012 primarily consist of administrative services only fees owed from the federal government for administrative services provided under our new TRICARE South Region contract.

Commercial and other receivables for 2012, 2011, and 2010 include $166 million, $144 million, and $109 million, respectively, of patient services receivables acquired with the acquisition of Concentra in December 2010. In addition, the allowance for doubtful accounts increased $33 million from 2010 to 2011. The increase in Concentra receivables in 2010 and the related allowance in 2011 result from the requirement to record acquired balances at fair value at the acquisition date. Excluding the receivables acquired with Concentra, commercial and other receivables reflect the timing of reimbursements from the Puerto Rico Health Insurance Administration for our Medicaid business.

 

64


Table of Contents

The detail of benefits payable was as follows at December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010:

 

                          Change  
     2012      2011      2010      2012     2011     2010  
     (in millions)  

IBNR (1)

   $ 2,552       $ 2,056       $ 2,051       $ 496      $ 5      $ 148   

Reported claims in process (2)

     315         376         137         (61     239