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Forbes
Forbes
Technology
Bruce Japsen, Contributor

Anthem Profits Hit $1.8 Billion On Medicaid, Medicare Growth

Anthem’s first quarter profits reached $1.8 billion thanks to strong enrollment in its Medicaid and Medicare Advantage plans, the company reported April 20, 2022. Signage is displayed on the exterior of an Anthem Inc. Blue Cross Blue Shield office building in Wallingford, Connecticut, U.S., on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016. Photographer: Michael Nagle/bloomberg © 2016 Bloomberg Finance LP

Anthem’s first quarter profits reached $1.8 billion thanks to strong enrollment in its Medicaid and Medicare Advantage plans.

Anthem, which operates an array of government and commercial health insurance including Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in 14 states, Wednesday reported first quarter profits rose 8.4% to $1.8 billion, or $7.39 per share, compared to $1.67 billion, or $6.71 per share, in the year ago quarter. Revenue rose nearly 17.6% to $38 billion compared to $32,4 billion a year ago.

Anthem’s membership grew by 3.3 million, or 7.5%, to 46.8 million as of March 31, 2022 compared to a year ago.

A big chunk of the health plan growth came from Anthem’s government business enrollment, which increased by 2.1 million enrollees driven in part by the Medicaid business. Health insurers like Anthem enroll low income Americans into private Medicaid plans via contracts with states.

Anthem also saw big growth in sales of Medicare Advantage plans, which offer seniors more benefits than traditional Medicare and are administered by Anthem and an array of other private health insurers. Anthem’s Medicare Advantage enrollment was up nearly 25% to 1.9 million in the first quarter compared to the year-ago period.

Anthem’s profits, along with lower-than-expected medical expenses, contributed to the company’s decision to raise its financial outlook for the rest of 2021 with adjusted net income expected to be “greater than $28.40 per share.” That compares to an earlier forecast of greater than $28.25.

"Our strong momentum across all our businesses is evidence that our transformation to become a lifetime, trusted health partner continues to drive our growth and accelerate our capabilities focused on whole person health," Anthem chief executive Gail Boudreaux said.

Anthem is in the process of rebranding the company to become Elevance Health to focus the health insurance company on “whole health” of customers and patients. The change is expected to be approved at the company’s annual shareholders meeting next month.

“We are continuing on our journey to transform from a traditional health benefits organization to become a lifetime, trusted health partner, and our proposed name change to Elevance Health marks an important milestone,” Boudreaux told analysts Wednesday morning on a call to discuss earnings. “Bringing together the ideas of ‘elevate and advance,’ Elevance Health will reflect our position as a health leader committed to elevating the importance of whole health and advancing health beyond healthcare for our consumers, their families, and communities.”

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