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	<title>Stock Blog Hub &#187; Health Care Plans</title>
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		<title>(HUM) Attention Shifts to Jobs &#8211; Earnings Preview</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/04/28/hum-attention-shifts-to-jobs-earnings-preview/99859</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/04/28/hum-attention-shifts-to-jobs-earnings-preview/99859#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 Apr 2012 20:04:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ADM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ADP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American Greetings Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American International Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Archer-Daniels-Midland Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Automatic Data Processing Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Avon Products Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AVP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cablevision Systems Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CBS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CBS Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CMCSA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Comcast Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[EL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Estee Lauder Companies Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[KFT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kraft Foods Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[L]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Loews Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mastercard Incorporated]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nyse Euronext Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NYX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pfizer Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sara Lee Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SLE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Time Warner Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TWX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[V]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[VIAB]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Viacom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visa Inc]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=99859</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Earnings Preview – Week of April 30th The focus this week will be on the labor market, with the April non-farm payroll report coming out on Friday. Many will be hoping that this report will provide confirmation that last month’s disappointment was just a one-off event and the positive trend line of the preceding months is still in place. Jobs aside, we are still in the midst of the first quarter 2012 reporting season, though we have crossed the mid-point of the cycle with about 60% of the results already in. With another 124 S&#38;P 500 companies reporting results in the coming week, we will have results from roughly 84% of the companies by the end of this week. The first quarter earnings season has turned out to be much ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/04/28/hum-attention-shifts-to-jobs-earnings-preview/99859/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(UNH) UnitedHealth Group &#8211; Bull of the Day</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/04/26/unh-unitedhealth-group-bull-of-the-day-4/99626</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/04/26/unh-unitedhealth-group-bull-of-the-day-4/99626#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:08:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=99626</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[UnitedHealth Group&#8217;s (UNH) first quarter earnings came in significantly ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimates on the back of strong revenue growth at UnitedHealthcare as well as Optum businesses and strong enrollment growth. We are bullish about the company&#8217;s long-term growth prospects. UnitedHealth has strengthened its key capabilities to respond to the emerging growth opportunities. These initiatives have been taken to expand its Medicaid and Medicare business, growing the health service business and expanding international operations. Though certain headwinds remain, we believe the company will beat the odds given its diversified business model with leading market share positions in the Commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid markets. Our six-month target price of $70.00 equates to about 14.1x our earnings estimate for 2012. We view the $0.65 per common share annual dividend as ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(UNH) Health Insurance Stock Outlook &#8211; April 2012 &#8211; Industry Outlook</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/04/20/unh-health-insurance-stock-outlook-april-2012-industry-outlook/99299</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/04/20/unh-health-insurance-stock-outlook-april-2012-industry-outlook/99299#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:15:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AGP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AMERIGROUP Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Centene Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coventry Health Care Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gartner Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Genworth Financial Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GNW]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Net Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HIT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hitachi Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HNT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[IT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mastercard Incorporated]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Miller Industries Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MLR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MOH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Molina Healthcare Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=99299</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Though the U.S. Health insurance industry continues to be relatively immune to economic difficulties, it has been still grappling with fundamental changes and consequent growth pangs. The industry has been facing its share of problems related to a sluggish economic recovery, uncertainty surrounding the health care reform law and increased regulatory control. Despite the odds, the industry remains profitable, with the top six players &#8212; UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH), CIGNA Corp. (CI), WellPoint Inc. (WLP), Aetna Inc. (AET), Humana Inc. (HUM), Coventry Health Care Inc. (CVH) &#8212; reporting year-over-year earnings growth in FY11. About the Industry The U.S. Health and Medical Insurance industry is an integral part of the U.S. economy. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. health expenditures account for about 18% of the country’s ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/04/20/unh-health-insurance-stock-outlook-april-2012-industry-outlook/99299/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
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		<title>(WLP) These Healthcare Insurance Stocks Are Ready to Rise</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/01/31/wlp-these-healthcare-insurance-stocks-are-ready-to-rise/28975</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/01/31/wlp-these-healthcare-insurance-stocks-are-ready-to-rise/28975#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:47:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>InvestmentU</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AEE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ameren Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coventry Health Care Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HealthSpring Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PCG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PEG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PG & E Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Service Enterprise Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UAM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Universal American Corp]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=28975</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[by Marc Lichtenfeld, Healthcare Expert Wednesday, February 24, 2010: Issue #1203 Healthcare Reform 2.0 is here – this time without as much pork. Good thing, too. Pork is loaded with cholesterol, which increases heart disease, healthcare costs and… well, you get the idea. The President released his revised plan for healthcare reform earlier this week. And while the new proposal is similar to the Senate’s on Christmas Eve, it eliminates some of the pork to Nebraska and other special interests. I’m not going to politicize, though. I’ll leave that to the wackos on talk radio and cable “news” programs. I’ll just focus on what the plan means to health insurers – and investors. Stemming the Tide of Health Insurance Premium Hikes Obama has stated that his proposal is an opening ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/01/31/wlp-these-healthcare-insurance-stocks-are-ready-to-rise/28975/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(UNH) UnitedHealth Group &#8211; Bull of the Day</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/01/25/unh-unitedhealth-group-bull-of-the-day-3/90754</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/01/25/unh-unitedhealth-group-bull-of-the-day-3/90754#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:02:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=90754</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[UnitedHealth Group&#8217;s (UNH) fourth-quarter 2011 earnings came in substantially ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate, led by strong revenue growth from the UnitedHealthcare and Optum businesses, partially offset by higher medical costs. The company ended the year 2011 with better performances in virtually every meaningful metric: membership, revenues, MLR, operating margins and cash flow. The company strengthened its key capabilities to respond to the emerging growth opportunities. These initiatives has been taken to expand its Medicaid and Medicare business and for growing the health service business. Though certain headwinds such as high unemployment, growing medical cost, pressure from Health Care overhaul, etc. remains, we believe the company will beat the odds given its diversified business model with leading market share positions in the Commercial, Medicare and Medicaid markets. A solid ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/01/25/unh-unitedhealth-group-bull-of-the-day-3/90754/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(UNH) UnitedHealth Group &#8211; Bull of the Day</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/01/23/unh-unitedhealth-group-bull-of-the-day-2/90632</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/01/23/unh-unitedhealth-group-bull-of-the-day-2/90632#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:30:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=90632</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[UnitedHealth Group&#8217;s (UNH) fourth-quarter 2011 earnings came in substantially ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate, led by strong revenue growth from the UnitedHealthcare and Optum businesses, partially offset by higher medical costs. The company ended the year 2011 with better performances in virtually every meaningful metric: membership, revenues, MLR, operating margins and cash flow. The company strengthened its key capabilities to respond to the emerging growth opportunities. These initiatives has been taken to expand its Medicaid and Medicare business and for growing the health service business. Though certain headwinds such as high unemployment, growing medical cost, pressure from Health Care overhaul, etc. remains, we believe the company will beat the odds given its diversified business model with leading market share positions in the Commercial, Medicare and Medicaid markets. A solid ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/01/23/unh-unitedhealth-group-bull-of-the-day-2/90632/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(HS) HealthSpring Shareholders Approve CIGNA Merger</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/01/22/hs-healthspring-shareholders-approve-cigna-merger/90396</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/01/22/hs-healthspring-shareholders-approve-cigna-merger/90396#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:55:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HealthSpring Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=90396</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The acquisition of HealthSpring Inc. (HS) by CIGNA Corp. (CI) has received the approval of the former company&#8217;s shareholders. The approval came from approximately 83% of the shareholders, at a special meeting held on January 12, 2012. The acquisition was announced by Cigna in October last year. HealthSpring’s vast Medicare business with a trusted brand name made it the best fit for Cigna, which intends to foray into the rapidly growing Medicare Advantage business. With this acquisition, valued at approximately $3.8 billion, Cigna will get access to 800,000 Medicare prescription customers and 340,000 Medicare advantage customers. Cigna, the fourth largest health insurer in U.S., had been historically biased towards commercial business (primarily self funded) and averse to government businesses (Medicare and Medicaid). But it is now targeting the government businesses. This shift ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/01/22/hs-healthspring-shareholders-approve-cigna-merger/90396/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(AET) Health Insurance Stock Review &#8211; December 2011 &#8211; Industry Outlook</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/12/15/aet-health-insurance-stock-review-dec-2011-industry-outlook/88751</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/12/15/aet-health-insurance-stock-review-dec-2011-industry-outlook/88751#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:01:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AGP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AMERIGROUP Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Centene Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coventry Health Care Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Genworth Financial Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GNW]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Net Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HNT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Miller Industries Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MLR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MOH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Molina Healthcare Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=88751</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Health and Medical Insurance industry is an integral part of the U.S. economy. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. health expenditures account for about 18% of U.S. GDP. Money spent per person on healthcare in the United States is more than in any other nation in the world, according to the World Health Organization. Despite rapidly growing spending on healthcare over the past few decades, health insurance industry has been characterized by growing premium, limited policy choice and lack of transparency. Over the past 10 years, health insurance premiums have persistently increased, outpacing the growth of wages and cost of living. The surge in premiums &#8212; due mostly to complex connections among health insurance companies, health care providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers and the medical technology industry ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/12/15/aet-health-insurance-stock-review-dec-2011-industry-outlook/88751/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(CI) Cigna Rating Affirmed by A.M. Best</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/12/07/ci-cigna-rating-affirmed-by-a-m-best/88173</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/12/07/ci-cigna-rating-affirmed-by-a-m-best/88173#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:51:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AirShares EU Carbon Allowances]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ASO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Miller Industries Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MLR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=88173</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As a part of its annual rating review process, rating agency A.M. Best undertook its rating action on CIGNA Corp. (CI). The action resulted in affirmation of the company’s issuer credit rating (ICR) of “bbb” and financial strength rating of “A”, with a stable outlook. The rating agency acknowledged Cigna’s solid operating performance due to lower medical utilization, favorable prior year reserve release and strong specialty earnings. The rating agency is also positive on Cigna’s differentiated product segment – 11% commercial fully insured (11%), experience rated members (8%) and administrative services only (ASO) (81%). Cigna’s vast exposure to the ASO business increases its prominence amongst its peers, as this line of business is growing tremendously. Additionally, the company is expected to see continued increase in demand for ASO products as ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/12/07/ci-cigna-rating-affirmed-by-a-m-best/88173/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(WLP) Health Insurers Cut Third Quarter Lobbying Costs</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/12/06/wlp-health-insurers-cut-third-quarter-lobbying-costs/88069</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/12/06/wlp-health-insurers-cut-third-quarter-lobbying-costs/88069#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Dec 2011 19:37:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Miller Industries Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MLR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=88069</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Most of the leading health insurance companies reduced their lobbying costs in the third quarter of 2011, compared with the second quarter, although many recorded a year-over-year increase. WellPoint Inc. (WLP), the largest health insurer based on membership, spent $870,000 on lobbying in the third quarter, up 9% from the prior-year quarter. However, the cost was down by a substantial 34% from the second quarter of 2011. The second-largest health insurer based on membership and largest in terms of total revenue, UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH), also recorded a significant 18% year-over-year hike to $650,000, while it witnessed a sizeable 24% decline from the prior quarter. Meanwhile, CIGNA Corporation (CI), the fourth largest health insurer on the basis of membership, bucked the trend by reducing its lobbying cost by a considerable ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/12/06/wlp-health-insurers-cut-third-quarter-lobbying-costs/88069/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(HUM) Humana to Buy SeniorBridge</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/12/01/hum-humana-to-buy-seniorbridge/87805</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/12/01/hum-humana-to-buy-seniorbridge/87805#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:15:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American Shared Hospital Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AMS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=87805</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Yesterday, Humana Inc. (HUM) announced an agreement to acquire chronic-care provider SeniorBridge for an undisclosed amount. However, the purchase is subject to state and federal regulatory approvals. SeniorBridge is an 11-year old New York-based healthcare provider, which offers in-home care to seniors with chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and congestive heart failure. It has a network of 1,500 care managers in the U.S. SeniorBridge’s projected revenue for 2011 is $72 million. However, the deal is not likely to have any material impact on the 2011 earnings of Humana as it is expected to culminate in the first half of 2012. Further, the acquisition will expand Humana’s Health and Well Being segment, which provides primary care, pharmacy, integrated wellness, and home care services. While SeniorBridge currently concentrates on ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/12/01/hum-humana-to-buy-seniorbridge/87805/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(UNH) UnitedHealth Group Provides 2012 Guidance</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/30/unh-unitedhealth-group-provides-2012-guidance/87734</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/30/unh-unitedhealth-group-provides-2012-guidance/87734#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:28:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=87734</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On Monday, through a brief press release, health insurer UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH) announced its earnings outlook for the full year 2012. The company expects the earnings to be in the range of $4.55 to $4.75. It also affirmed its 2011 full year guidance of $4.52 to $4.57. While the upper range of UnitedHealth’s 2012 earnings guidance is in tune with the Zacks Consensus Estimate, its 2011 guidance is meeting the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.55, at the midpoint range. UnitedHealth, the largest insurer on the basis of revenue, also expects its 2012 revenues in the range of $107.0 billion to $108.0 billion, up approximately 6.5% from the 2011 revenue guidance of more than $101 billion. The 2012 EPS guidance reflects a 2.2% of year-over-year increase (calculated at the mid-point ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/30/unh-unitedhealth-group-provides-2012-guidance/87734/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(UNH) UnitedHealth Group Acquires Medicare Advantage Business</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/28/unh-unitedhealth-group-acquires-medicare-advantage-business/87571</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/28/unh-unitedhealth-group-acquires-medicare-advantage-business/87571#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:12:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HealthSpring Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mastercard Incorporated]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=87571</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On Tuesday, UnitedHealthcare, a division of UnitedHealth Group (UNH), announced its plan to acquire XLHealth Corp, a sponsor of Medicare Advantage health plans. With this acquisition, the company is expected to remain a step ahead of its competitors including WellPoint Inc. (WLP)and Aetna Inc. (AET) in acquiring Medicare Advantage (MA) business. Also, as the MA business is expected to grow considerably over the next five years, the latest acquisition will be a big advantage for the company to strengthen its financials. The all-cash deal, which is valued at approximately $2 billion, is expected to close in the first half of 2012. Immediately after the closure, the deal will be accretive to UnitedHealth Group’s earnings. UnitedHealth currently enjoys the leading position in the MA market with 18.4% market share, followed by ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/28/unh-unitedhealth-group-acquires-medicare-advantage-business/87571/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(UNH) UnitedHealth Group &#8211; Bull of the Day</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/10/18/unh-unitedhealth-group-bull-of-the-day/85273</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/10/18/unh-unitedhealth-group-bull-of-the-day/85273#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 Oct 2011 17:09:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=85273</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We are upgrading our recommendation on UnitedHealth Group (UNH) to Outperform from Neutral as we believe the company will beat consensus estimates helped by lower medical utilization since both Medicare and Commercial cost trends remain at historical lows. The company&#8217;s health benefits business UnitedHealthcare is performing strongly with its reputable service, value and innovation of affordable benefit products, combined with balanced and trusted local market engagements. The unit has recorded increased memberships even amid a soft employment scenario. The company is also gearing itself to increase its earnings from the Health Services business and has made a number of acquisitions in this segment. Our six-month target price of $57.00 equates to about 13.2x our earnings estimate for 2011. We view the $0.65 per common share annual dividend as secure, implying ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/10/18/unh-unitedhealth-group-bull-of-the-day/85273/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(CI) CIGNA Gets Customer-centric</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/21/ci-cigna-gets-customer-centric/83707</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/21/ci-cigna-gets-customer-centric/83707#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Sep 2011 18:07:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=83707</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In a bid to provide specialized customer service, health insurer CIGNA Corp. (CI) has announced a national brand campaign, with the theme “GO YOU”.  The campaign chiefly focuses on providing user-friendly programs along with delivering unique customer service. The advertisement kicked off yesterday on print, television and the web and is expected to grab instant attention. Though the company has not yet disclosed the cost of the campaign, we expect it to be one of the most significant in the company’s history. For customer convenience, Cigna has put up a worldwide customers service arrangement which will be available 24/7 throughout the year. Customers will also be able to use their mobile phones with the application “Cigna Mobile” that will help them to locate physicians, hospitals, urgent care facilities, dentists, and ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/21/ci-cigna-gets-customer-centric/83707/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(HUM) Humana Incorporated &#8211; Bull of the Day</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/21/hum-humana-incorporated-bull-of-the-day-4/83712</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/21/hum-humana-incorporated-bull-of-the-day-4/83712#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:14:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=83712</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Humana, Inc.&#8217;s (HUM) second-quarter earnings modestly beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate, owing to improved consolidated premiums and ASO fees that also drove the benefit ratio along with improvement in medical and specialty memberships. Humana benefits from the new rule in health care reform, which led to an efficient deployment of capital. The upcoming AMS acquisition is further expected to enhance the company&#8217;s Medicare coverage. Overall, we expect an upside to Humana shares on the basis of higher membership, surplus cash flows generation, favorable prior-period claims development, and higher projected segment earnings. Our six-month target price of $89.00 equates to 11.6x our earnings estimate for 2011. Combined with the $1.00 per share annual dividend, this target price implies an expected total return of 20.7% over that period. This is consistent with ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/21/hum-humana-incorporated-bull-of-the-day-4/83712/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(HUM) Humana Incorporated &#8211; Bull of the Day</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/11/hum-humana-incorporated-bull-of-the-day-3/82688</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/11/hum-humana-incorporated-bull-of-the-day-3/82688#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 11 Sep 2011 19:52:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=82688</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Humana, Inc.&#8217;s (HUM) second-quarter earnings modestly beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate, owing to improved consolidated premiums and ASO fees that also drove the benefit ratio along with improvement in medical and specialty memberships. Humana benefits from the new rule in health care reform, which led to an efficient deployment of capital. The upcoming AMS acquisition is further expected to enhance the company&#8217;s Medicare coverage. Overall, we expect an upside to Humana shares on the basis of higher membership, surplus cash flows generation, favorable prior-period claims development, and higher projected segment earnings. Our six-month target price of $89.00 equates to 11.6x our earnings estimate for 2011. Combined with the $1.00 per share annual dividend, this target price implies an expected total return of 20.7% over that period. This is consistent with ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/11/hum-humana-incorporated-bull-of-the-day-3/82688/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(CI) CIGNA Corporation &#8211; Bull of the Day</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/08/16/ci-cigna-corporation-bull-of-the-day-3/81382</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/08/16/ci-cigna-corporation-bull-of-the-day-3/81382#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:07:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=81382</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[CIGNA Corp&#8217;s (CI) second quarter core earnings were fairly ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate, as well as the year-ago quarter&#8217;s earnings. Better-than-expected results were aided by strong earnings from across the board. EPS also benefited from a lower share count compared with the year-ago quarter. The company is aggressively expanding its international operations, which will likely drive future growth. Moreover, CIGNA has lower exposure to reform risks than other insurers, and thus has an edge with respect to the Healthcare Reform Act. A strong balance sheet and adequate liquidity will further lead to continued share buybacks, thereby contributing to the bottom line. Our six-month target price of $49.00 equates to about 9.2x our earnings estimate for 2011. We view $0.16 per common share annual dividend as secure, implying an ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/08/16/ci-cigna-corporation-bull-of-the-day-3/81382/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(CI) CIGNA Analyst Reiterates Shares at Outperform</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/08/15/ci-cigna-analyst-reiterates-shares-at-outperform/81319</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/08/15/ci-cigna-analyst-reiterates-shares-at-outperform/81319#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:16:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=81319</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We are reiterating our Outperform recommendation on the shares of CIGNA Corp. (CI) following the company&#8217;s second quarter results. Earnings of $1.53 per share outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.29 as well as earnings of $1.38 per share reported in the comparable period last year. Better-than-expected results were aided by strong earnings from across the board, along with lower share count compared with the year-ago quarter. CIGNA has witnessed year-to-date membership growth of 1.3%, adjusting for the planned non-strategic exits. For the past one and a half years, CIGNA has been recording a continued uptick in demand for ASO products as well as incentive and engagement-based programs, and it expects the trend to continue growing in 2012. Management anticipates the medical membership growth for full-year 2011 to be approximately ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/08/15/ci-cigna-analyst-reiterates-shares-at-outperform/81319/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(CI) CIGNA Headquarters Shifted to Connecticut</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/15/ci-cigna-headquarters-shifted-to-connecticut/79096</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/15/ci-cigna-headquarters-shifted-to-connecticut/79096#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:51:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=79096</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Health insurer CIGNA Corp. (CI) recently revealed plans shift to its headquarters to Bloomfield, Connecticut after it was nominated to receive economic benefits from the state government in exchange for new job creations. The CIGNA base will move from Philadelphia, where it has been stationed since 1982. CIGNA would be the first to receive $50 million of economic benefits from Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy under the “First Five” program, a job creation initiative, passed by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community in June 2011. The salient feature of the “First Five” program is that it would offer a variety of tax credits and other economic incentives to the first five businesses each year that create at least 200 new jobs within two years or invest at least $25 ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/15/ci-cigna-headquarters-shifted-to-connecticut/79096/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(UNH) UnitedHealth Group Spends More on Lobbying</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/05/unh-unitedhealth-group-spends-more-on-lobbying/78261</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/05/unh-unitedhealth-group-spends-more-on-lobbying/78261#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:04:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=78261</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In a bid to lobby the Federal Government, Minnesota-based health insurer UnitedHealth Group (UNH) spent $660,000 during the first quarter of 2011, which was in line with the comparable period last year but up 14% sequentially. Lobbying is an activity usually paid by an interest group to promote its position to legislatures by influencing opinion leaders, thereby creating a climate for the change they desire. UnitedHealth lobbied on the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the health care overhaul and Medicare issues. Apart from Congress and the White House, UnitedHealth, the largest publicly traded health insurer based on revenue, also lobbied the departments of Health and Human Services and Labor, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Federal Reserve System. One of UnitedHealth’s peers, Cigna ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/05/unh-unitedhealth-group-spends-more-on-lobbying/78261/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(CI) CIGNA Cuts Lobbying Costs</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/30/ci-cigna-cuts-lobbying-costs/78045</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/30/ci-cigna-cuts-lobbying-costs/78045#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Jun 2011 21:08:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=78045</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Philadelphia-based managed care company CIGNA Corp.(CI) has reportedly spent $280,000 on lobbying the Federal Government during the first quarter of 2011. However, lobbying expenses in the reported quarter marked a decline of 30% from the previous-year quarter and 18% from the previous quarter. Lobbying is an activity usually paid by an interest group to promote its position to legislatures by influencing opinion leaders, thereby creating a climate for the change they desire. CIGNA,  the fourth largest health insurer (on the basis of membership), lobbied during the first quarter for defending the Medicare Advantage, a form of Medicare delivered by private insurance companies that President Barack Obama has reduced reimbursements to. The company also lobbied on Part D prescription drug programs, the Open Access to Courts Act of 2009, and the ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/30/ci-cigna-cuts-lobbying-costs/78045/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(AET) Aetna Takes Over Prodigy Health Group</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/30/aet-aetna-takes-over-prodigy-health-group/78042</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/30/aet-aetna-takes-over-prodigy-health-group/78042#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Jun 2011 20:37:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FSR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=78042</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Aetna Inc. (AET) has recently revealed that it has completed the acquisition of Prodigy Health Group, which was announced back in April. New York-based Prodigy sells self funded plans to employers that employ about 100-5000 individuals. The acquisition, valued at $600 million, will add Prodigy’s self funded market to Aetna’s domain. Self-funded plans are the ones in which employers assumes the risk and pay the claims, and the job of the insurer is limited to administering the whole process. Prodigy’s market spans across 15 states in the U.S. Through this market, Aetna plans to strengthen its position in the small-to-mid-sized segment by offering Administrative Services Only plans, which have become popular of late with higher premium levels charged by insurance companies. During January, Aetna completed the purchase of Medicity, a ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/30/aet-aetna-takes-over-prodigy-health-group/78042/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(UNH) UnitedHealth Group Takes Department of Defense to Court</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/29/unh-unitedhealth-group-takes-department-of-defense-to-court/77643</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/29/unh-unitedhealth-group-takes-department-of-defense-to-court/77643#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:05:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=77643</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[UnitedHealthcare, a division of UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH) sued the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims after it lost the $23.5 billion 5-year Tricare South contract to Humana Inc. (HUM). The Tricare South contract covers 3 million military members and their families in 11 southern states. In July 2009, UnitedHealth won the contract form Humana. But after continuous protests by Humana, DoD reviewed its decision and awarded the $23.5 billion 5-year contract to Humana in February 2011. Updating the TRICARE West Region contract, earlier, in April 2011, DoD invited fresh bids for TRICARE West Region contract after UnitedHealthcare’s Military &#38; Veterans business raised an objection. As such, UnitedHealth will get another chance to win a $17 billion contract to provide health benefits to soldiers ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/29/unh-unitedhealth-group-takes-department-of-defense-to-court/77643/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(AET) Aetna Gets Approval From Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/16/aet-aetna-gets-approval-from-centers-for-medicare-medicaid-services/76576</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/16/aet-aetna-gets-approval-from-centers-for-medicare-medicaid-services/76576#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jun 2011 21:59:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CMS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CMS Energy Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Polypore International Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PPO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=76576</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Aetna Inc. (AET) has recently revealed that it has finally got green signal from the Centers for Medicare &#38; Medicaid Services (CMS), to market its Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan products. In April 2010, the company was banned from offering these products to new members as some of the Medicare prescription drug plans offered between 2009 and 2010 had failed to comply with the regulatory requirements. Aetna’s Medicare products are regulated by the CMS. In April last year, the CMS had granted the company a limited waiver of these sanctions to allow it to continue enrolling eligible members into existing, contracted group Aetna Medicare Advantage Plans and Standalone PDPs through March 31, 2011. Consequently, the company’s 2011 Medicare membership was adversely affected because it did not participate in the 2010 ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/16/aet-aetna-gets-approval-from-centers-for-medicare-medicaid-services/76576/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(CVH) Coventry Health Care Sells Senior Notes</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/12/cvh-coventry-health-care-sells-senior-notes/75846</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/12/cvh-coventry-health-care-sells-senior-notes/75846#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jun 2011 17:14:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BAC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bank of America Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[C]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Citigroup Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coventry Health Care Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JPM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JPMorgan Chase & Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=75846</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Coventry Health Care, Inc. (CVH) has completed a $600 million public offering of 5.45% Senior Notes due 2021, which was announced on June 2. Coventry had sold the senior unsecured notes with a 5.45% coupon at a price of $99.80 to yield 5.476% and offered a risk premium of 245 basis points over Treasury. Additionally, Coventry’s offering also included a provision named change-of-control provision, to safeguard investors against event risks such as acquisition through leveraged buyout or due to some fundamental corporate change. The covenant is triggered at a premium price of $101. Further, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, a unit of Bank of America Corporation (BAC), Citigroup Inc. (C) and J.P. Morgan Chase &#38; Co. (JPM) acted as active bookrunners for the offering. Coventry will utilize the net proceeds ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/12/cvh-coventry-health-care-sells-senior-notes/75846/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(CI) CIGNA Corporation &#8211; Bull of the Day</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/12/ci-cigna-corporation-bull-of-the-day-2/75960</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/12/ci-cigna-corporation-bull-of-the-day-2/75960#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jun 2011 17:00:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=75960</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We are upgrading our recommendation on the shares of CIGNA Corp. (CI) to Outperform from Neutral on the back of improving enrollment expectations, expanding international business. Its first quarter core earning was fairly ahead of Zacks Consensus Estimates well as year ago earnings. Better-than-expected results stemmed from strong earnings from across the board. EPS was also higher due to lower number of shares in the quarter compared with last year&#8217;s quarter. We believe the recent acquisition of Vanberda International will improve the company&#8217;s already thriving international operations, which is a key to future growth. Moreover, CIGNA has lower exposure to reform risks than other insurers and thus have an edge with respect to health care reform. A strong balance sheet and adequate liquidity will further lead to continued share buybacks ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/12/ci-cigna-corporation-bull-of-the-day-2/75960/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(CVH) Moody&#8217;s Might Raise Coventry Ratings</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/05/cvh-moodys-might-raise-coventry-ratings/74217</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/05/cvh-moodys-might-raise-coventry-ratings/74217#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Jun 2011 04:11:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coventry Health Care Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FSR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=74217</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Following the impressive first-quarter earnings results and improved 2011 earnings outlook of Coventry Health Care Inc. (CVH), the rating agency Moody&#8217;s Investors Service has kept its debt ratings under review. According to Moody’s, it will seek Coventry&#8217;s ability to sustain and grow its profit margins and membership for an upgradation of its rating. Currently, Coventry&#8217;s senior unsecured debt, senior unsecured credit facility and corporate family debt, which are currently rated &#8220;Ba1,&#8221; including approximately $1.6 billion in debt, are under review. In addition, Moody&#8217;s is reviewing ratings on Coventry health care plans HealthAssurance Pennsylvania Inc., HealthAmerica Pennsylvania Inc. and Group Health Plan Inc., which are currently rated as &#8220;Baa1.&#8221; Coventry posted strong first-quarter adjusted earnings of 66 cents per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 53 cents and excluding the ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/05/cvh-moodys-might-raise-coventry-ratings/74217/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(CVH) Coventry Health Care Performance Makes Moody&#8217;s Maintain Ratings</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/30/cvh-coventry-health-care-performance-makes-moodys-maintain-ratings/74302</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/30/cvh-coventry-health-care-performance-makes-moodys-maintain-ratings/74302#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 May 2011 17:43:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coventry Health Care Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FSR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=74302</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Following the impressive first-quarter earnings results and improved 2011 earnings outlook of Coventry Health Care Inc. (CVH), the rating agency Moody&#8217;s Investors Service has kept its debt ratings under review. According to Moody’s, it will seek Coventry&#8217;s ability to sustain and grow its profit margins and membership for an upgradation of its rating. Currently, Coventry&#8217;s senior unsecured debt, senior unsecured credit facility and corporate family debt, which are currently rated &#8220;Ba1,&#8221; including approximately $1.6 billion in debt, are under review. In addition, Moody&#8217;s is reviewing ratings on Coventry health care plans HealthAssurance Pennsylvania Inc., HealthAmerica Pennsylvania Inc. and Group Health Plan Inc., which are currently rated as &#8220;Baa1.&#8221; Coventry posted strong first-quarter adjusted earnings of 66 cents per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 53 cents and excluding the ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/30/cvh-coventry-health-care-performance-makes-moodys-maintain-ratings/74302/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(HUM) Humana Incorporated &#8211; Bull of the Day</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/24/hum-humana-incorporated-bull-of-the-day-2/74769</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/24/hum-humana-incorporated-bull-of-the-day-2/74769#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 May 2011 18:21:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=74769</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Humana Inc. (HUM) posted strong first quarter earnings, beating both the Zacks Consensus Estimate and the prior-year earnings, owing to improved performance in the Employer Group and Health and Well-Being Services business segments. Humana benefited from the new rule of the health care reform, which led to an increase in the share repurchase authorization and Humana&#8217;s 2011 outlook. Humana also initiated a cash dividend to its shareholders on the strong outlook. The company&#8217;s medical and specialty membership hiked on better-than-expected sales at the end of the quarter. Overall, we believe that the increase reflects surplus cash flows generation, favorable prior-period claims development, and higher projected earnings for the company&#8217;s segments. We retain our Outperform recommendation on Humana shares. HUMANA INC NEW (HUM): Free Stock Analysis Report Zacks Investment Research]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/24/hum-humana-incorporated-bull-of-the-day-2/74769/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(HNT) Health Net First Quarter Report Beats Top Line</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/05/hnt-health-net-first-quarter-report-beats-top-line/73292</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/05/hnt-health-net-first-quarter-report-beats-top-line/73292#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 May 2011 15:48:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CMS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CMS Energy Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Net Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HNT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MCR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MFS Charter Income Trust]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=73292</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Health Net Inc. (HNT) reported first-quarter loss of $108.2 million or a loss per share of $1.16 compared to a net income of $16.1 million or 16 cents in the prior-year quarter. The reported quarter included a $177.2 million pretax or $157.9 million after tax, charge related to the AmCareco litigation and $11.0 million in pretax expenses related to the company’s administrative cost reduction efforts. Health Net&#8217;s Western Region Operations and Government Contracts segments produced combined net earnings of $57.4 million or 61 cents in the reported quarter as opposed to $47.9 million or 47 cents in the prior-year quarter. The improved results were supported by strong commercial and Government Contracts performance, which led to a strong buyback of shares from January 1 through April 29. Health Net reported a ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/05/hnt-health-net-first-quarter-report-beats-top-line/73292/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(WLP) WellPoint Quarterly Earnings Outshine &#8211; Company Increases Outlook</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/03/wlp-wellpoint-quarterly-earnings-outshine-company-increases-outlook/72615</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/03/wlp-wellpoint-quarterly-earnings-outshine-company-increases-outlook/72615#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 May 2011 19:07:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=72615</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc. (WLP) reported its first-quarter income from continuing operations of $891.0 million or $2.35 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.87. This also compares favorably with the income of $871.9 million or earnings of $1.95 in the year-ago quarter. The improved showing was attributable to higher operating cash flows and the implementation of organizational changes in health care. Besides, the jump in medical enrollment also contributed to the increase. WellPoint’s income from continuing operations excludes net investment gains of $35.6 million after-tax, or 9 cents per share in the first quarter of 2011; while net operating income in the first quarter of 2010 excludes net investment gains of $18.6 million after-tax or 4 cents per share, which was partially offset by an intangible asset impairment charge of ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/03/wlp-wellpoint-quarterly-earnings-outshine-company-increases-outlook/72615/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(HUM) Humana to Pay Dividend &#8211; Raises Outlook</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/29/hum-humana-to-pay-dividend-raises-outlook/72777</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/29/hum-humana-to-pay-dividend-raises-outlook/72777#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 29 Apr 2011 13:56:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Polypore International Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PPO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=72777</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As a result of the health care sector&#8217;s latest restrictions, Humana Inc. (HUM) plans to offer a quarterly dividend, besides raising the fiscal year 2011 forecast. Accordingly, Humana’s Board has initiated a quarterly cash dividend of 25 cents per share, payable on July 28 to shareholders of record on June 30. On an annual basis, the payout will represent a yield of nearly 1.4% based on April 25&#8242;s closing stock price. Humana is expected to spend about $42.5 million per quarter on its new dividend. Moreover, Humana has also decided to replace its share repurchase authorization of up to $250 million with an authorization for repurchases of up to $1 billion by June 30, 2013. In addition to the dividend declaration and the increase of the stock buyback plan, Humana ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/29/hum-humana-to-pay-dividend-raises-outlook/72777/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(UNH) UnitedHealth Group Plans Acquisition</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/13/unh-unitedhealth-group-plans-acquisition/71488</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/13/unh-unitedhealth-group-plans-acquisition/71488#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 Apr 2011 02:26:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=71488</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[OptumHealth, a part of  UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH) will acquire Logistics Health Inc., a La Crosse-based health care solutions provider, as reported by The Business Journal. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2011, pending antitrust review by the federal government. OptumHealth serves approximately 60 million individuals with its diversified offering of health, financial and ancillary benefit services and products that assist consumers in navigating the health care system and accessing services, support their emotional health, provide ancillary insurance benefits and facilitate the financing of health care services through account-based programs. The segment contributed 6% to the total revenue in 2010. Logistics Health, which provides health care support services such as medical readiness exams, occupational health services and secure data management, compliments services provided by OptumHealth. ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/13/unh-unitedhealth-group-plans-acquisition/71488/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(UNH) UnitedHealth Contests DoD TRICARE West Region Contract</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/12/unh-unitedhealth-contests-dod-tricare-west-region-contract/71211</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/12/unh-unitedhealth-contests-dod-tricare-west-region-contract/71211#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 21:03:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=71211</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) will invite fresh bids for the TRICARE West Region contract after UnitedHealthcare’s Military &#38; Veterans business raised an objection. UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH) will get another chance to win the  $17 billion contract to provide health benefits to soldiers in 21 western states, including Minnesota. In 2009, UnitedHealth lost the six-year contract to Triwest Alliance. Lately, in March, UnitedHealth raised an objection over the Tricare contract it had initially won but was later awarded to its competitor Humana Inc (HUM). Initially, UnitedHealth won the Tricare contract in July 2009. But after continuous protests by Humana, the DoD reviewed their decision and awarded the $23.5 billion 5-year contract to Humana. The two contracts combined would are worth more than $40 billion over six years, including ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/12/unh-unitedhealth-contests-dod-tricare-west-region-contract/71211/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(HUM) Humana Analyst Increases Shares to Outperform</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/03/hum-humana-analyst-increases-shares-to-outperform/70429</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/03/hum-humana-analyst-increases-shares-to-outperform/70429#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 03 Apr 2011 18:28:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Polypore International Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PPO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wal-Mart Stores Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMT]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=70429</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On the back of strong fourth quarter results, we recently upgraded Humana, Inc. (HUM) to Outperform. The company reported a strong fourth quarter on the heels of improved performance in its operations, lower commercial medical cost trends and surplus cash flow generation in 2010, which also resulted in share buybacks. Results outshone the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 85 cents. Humana recently completed the acquisition of Concentra Inc. for $790 million in cash on December 22, 2010. Consequently, Humana expects an increase in its consolidated revenue for 2011. Concentra produces approximately $800 million of revenues annually from 240 workplace health-care facilities and more than 300 medical centers in 42 states. Moreover, the acquisition will provide access to Humana’s medical members in certain geographical areas. With the closure of the acquisition of Concentra, ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/03/hum-humana-analyst-increases-shares-to-outperform/70429/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(AGP) Company News for March 23, 2011 &#8211; Corporate Summary</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/03/25/agp-company-news-for-march-23-2011-corporate-summary/69552</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/03/25/agp-company-news-for-march-23-2011-corporate-summary/69552#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:11:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Actuant Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AGP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALEX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alexander & Baldwin Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AMERIGROUP Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ATU]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[B&G Foods Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BGS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[C]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Celanese Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Citigroup Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[EXPD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Expeditors International of Washington Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Goldman Sachs Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hormel Foods Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HRL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JPM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JPMorgan Chase & Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Morgan Stanley]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Research In Motion Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RIMM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TowerStream Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TWER]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wells Fargo & Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WFC]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=69552</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[• Research In Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM) announced the launch of its highly anticipated BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, which will be available at more than 20,000 stores in the U.S. and Canada at a base price of $499 • Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) analysts downgraded shares of AMERIGROUP Corp. (NYSE:AGP) to “Sell” from  “Neutral” rating • Wells Fargo &#38; Co. (NYSE:WFC) analysts downgraded shares of Alexander &#38; Baldwin, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALEX) to “Underperform” from  “Market Perform” rating • Barclays Capital analysts downgraded shares of B&#38;G Foods, Inc. (NYSE:BGS) to “Equal Weight” from “Overweight” rating with a target price of $17.00 • RBC Capital analysts downgraded shares of Expeditors International (NASDAQ:EXPD) to  “Sector Perform”  from “Outperform” rating with a target price of  $53.00 from $55.00 • Analysts of Davenport downgraded shares of Hormel Foods Co. (NYSE:HRL) to “Neutral” from “Buy” rating • JPMorgan ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/03/25/agp-company-news-for-march-23-2011-corporate-summary/69552/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(WLP) WellPoint Provides 2011 Guidance</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/03/04/wlp-wellpoint-provides-2011-guidance/67661</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/03/04/wlp-wellpoint-provides-2011-guidance/67661#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 05 Mar 2011 00:43:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=67661</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc. (WLP), at its investor conference provided its guidance for full year 2011. The company reaffirmed its expectation of delivering net income of least $6.30 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimates for 2011 is in line with the company’s guidance. The company also expects to achieve earnings per share growth of at least 10% over a longer term. WellPoint expects operating revenue to be $59.5 million in 2011, up 3% year over year. The company also expects Medical enrollment growth in the National, State Sponsored, Senior and Federal Employee Plan businesses, partially offset by attrition in Local Group and Individual. Selling, General and Administrative (SG&#38;A) expenses are likely to decrease $400 million or 4.5%, and the SG&#38;A Expense Ratio is projected to be 14.2%, a decrease of 110 basis ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/03/04/wlp-wellpoint-provides-2011-guidance/67661/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(HUM) Humana Incorporated &#8211; Bull of the Day</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/03/04/hum-humana-incorporated-bull-of-the-day/68061</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/03/04/hum-humana-incorporated-bull-of-the-day/68061#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 04 Mar 2011 19:00:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=68061</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We are upgrading our recommendation on Humana, Inc. (HUM) from Neutral to Outperform owing to higher Medicare Advantage membership on better-than-expected sales at the end of 2010. This also led to increase in Humana&#8217;s 2011 outlook, coupled with the stand-alone Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) offerings during the recently completed 2011 open enrollment period. Humana posted impressive fourth quarter earnings, surpassing both the Zacks Consensus Estimate and the prior-year earnings, on the back of improved performance in the company&#8217;s operations, lower commercial medical cost trends and surplus cash flows generation in 2010, which also resulted in share buybacks. Further, the launch of Humana Walmart-PDP enhanced the company&#8217;s membership in prescription coverage plans and mail-order drug business. Our six-month target price of $76.00 equates to 12.1x our earnings estimate for 2011. This ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/03/04/hum-humana-incorporated-bull-of-the-day/68061/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(AET) Aetna Beats Earnings Expectations &#8211; Raises Dividend</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/02/08/aet-aetna-beats-earnings-expectations-raises-dividend/66430</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/02/08/aet-aetna-beats-earnings-expectations-raises-dividend/66430#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Feb 2011 01:26:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=66430</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.’s (AET) fourth quarter earnings of 63 cents per share came in a couple of pennies ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The company had earned 40 cents in the prior-year quarter. Better-than-expected results stemmed from higher commercial underwriting margin due to lower utilization, partially offset by lower Commercial Insured membership. Results were also buoyed by lower share count due to share repurchase activity. However, including net realized capital gains and other items, earnings came in at 53 cents per share, up a whopping 39% year over year. The third largest commercial health insurer reported total revenue of $8.5 billion in the fourth quarter, ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.3 billion, but dropped 2% on a year-over-year basis. This was primarily due to a decline in Health ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/02/08/aet-aetna-beats-earnings-expectations-raises-dividend/66430/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(UNH) Health Insurance Industry Outlook &#8211; Febuary 2011 &#8211; Industry Outlook</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/02/08/unh-health-insurance-industry-outlook-febuary-2011-industry-outlook/66583</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/02/08/unh-health-insurance-industry-outlook-febuary-2011-industry-outlook/66583#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Feb 2011 01:22:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Miller Industries Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MLR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=66583</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Health insurance companies finished 2010 strongly gaining from a drop in medical utilization by members, driven primarily by the extremely weak labor market. Bad weather also kept them indoors during the final quarter of the year. We believe utilization will remain soft in 2011, which will act as a tailwind for the industry. Looking at past trends when unemployment increased rapidly in 2008, utilization factor did not see a proportionate drop, indicating that it typically lags the former. Thus, even as the employment scenario improves in 2011, we do not expect an increase in utilization activity until 2012. Insurers are also buoyed by low flu claims in 2010, but 2011 is predicted to witness normal flu activity, which might increase medical utilization. For health insurers high flu activity translates to ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/02/08/unh-health-insurance-industry-outlook-febuary-2011-industry-outlook/66583/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(HUM) Humana Quarterly Earnings Report Outshines Expectations</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/02/08/hum-humana-quarterly-earnings-report-outshines-expectations/66496</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/02/08/hum-humana-quarterly-earnings-report-outshines-expectations/66496#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Feb 2011 18:03:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wal-Mart Stores Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMT]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=66496</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Humana Inc. (HUM) reported its fourth-quarter operating earnings (excluding special items) of $1.65 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 80 cents. This also compares favorably with earnings of $1.48 in the year-ago quarter. The operating earnings exclude the incremental expenses of $1.02 per share in the fourth quarter, partially offset by improved year-over-year performance in the company’s operations. The incremental expenses in the reported quarter includes reserves strengthening for Humana’s closed block of long-term care business, incremental spending associated with the change in Medicare Advantage enrollment periods, the launch of the Humana Walmart-Preferred Rx Plan with Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT), a contribution to The Humana Foundation, and transaction costs associated with the company’s acquisition of Concentra Inc. In fiscal 2010, operating earnings were $7.18 per share, exceeding the ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/02/08/hum-humana-quarterly-earnings-report-outshines-expectations/66496/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(AET) Stock Market News for Feb 07, 2011 &#8211; Market News</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/02/07/aet-stock-market-news-for-feb-07-2011-market-news/66470</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/02/07/aet-stock-market-news-for-feb-07-2011-market-news/66470#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 Feb 2011 20:21:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coinstar Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CSTR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JDS Uniphase Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JDSU]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Power-One Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PWER]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SIRO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sirona Dental Systems Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TSN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tyson Foods Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=66470</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Markets edged past concerns arising out of mixed employment data and closed with modest gains. The S&#38;P 500 recorded its best week for the past 9 weeks and markets closed at their best in 2 months. A moderately improving economy and modest corporate earnings inspired the indices. But lower volumes, lesser advancing shares and Egyptian concerns continued to weigh on the minds of investors. Jobs data brought little cheer but investors remained unaffected by the tepid report. According to the Labor Department, the unemployment rate fell to 9% in January from December’s 9.4%. This is the lowest rate since April 2009 and below economists’ expectation of a rise to 9.5%. Further, with only 36,000 new jobs added during the period, job creation touched a 4 month-low. On Friday, the Dow ended ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/02/07/aet-stock-market-news-for-feb-07-2011-market-news/66470/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(HUM) Humana to Diversify &#8211; Agrees to Aquire Concentra</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/23/hum-humana-to-diversify-agrees-to-aquire-concentra/60309</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/23/hum-humana-to-diversify-agrees-to-aquire-concentra/60309#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Nov 2010 20:49:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wal-Mart Stores Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMT]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=60309</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Amidst the concerns regarding funding cuts and the impact of the U.S. health care reform, Humana Inc. (HUM) has agreed to acquire Concentra, Inc. for $790 million in cash, to diversify and expand its footprint into medical services nationwide. Concentra is a private health care company based in Addison, Texas, which provides occupational medicine, urgent care, physical therapy and wellness services. Further, it produces approximately $800 million of revenues annually from 240 workplace health-care facilities and more than 300 medical centers in 42 states. The deal is expected to close in December, 2010 and add slightly to Humana’s earnings by the end of December 31, 2011, though the regulatory approval is still pending. Humana believes that the acquisition of Concentra will increase Humana’s focus on its core businesses as a ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/23/hum-humana-to-diversify-agrees-to-aquire-concentra/60309/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(HUM) Humana See Rise in Doctor Visits Causing Earnings Drop in 2011</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/19/hum-humana-see-rise-in-doctor-visits-causing-earnings-drop-in-2011/60052</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/19/hum-humana-see-rise-in-doctor-visits-causing-earnings-drop-in-2011/60052#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 20 Nov 2010 01:14:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wal-Mart Stores Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMT]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=60052</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On the expectation of the rise in doctor visits and medical procedures, Humana Inc. (HUM) lowered its 2011 earnings forecast to $5.35-$5.55 per share, down from the 2010 expectation of $6.40-$6.50. During the third-quarter, Humana increased its 2010 earnings outlook to $6.40 &#8211; $6.50 per share, from its previous guidance of $5.65 &#8211; $5.75, which reflected improved operating performance and the expectation of a Tricare contract extension from April 1, 2011 through March 31, 2012. However, Humana does not expect to win the Tricare South Region contract in early 2012, which would surely impact the projected 2011 earnings. Besides for 2011, Humana predicts an increase in the Medicare membership and medical costs to incline towards higher levels in its Commercial segment. Moreover, Humana targets a 5% pretax operating margin for ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/19/hum-humana-see-rise-in-doctor-visits-causing-earnings-drop-in-2011/60052/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(HNT) Health Net Beats Quarterly Earnings Expectations &#8211; Raises Outlook</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/17/hnt-health-net-beats-quarterly-earnings-expectations-raises-outlook/58466</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/17/hnt-health-net-beats-quarterly-earnings-expectations-raises-outlook/58466#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 18 Nov 2010 04:41:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Net Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HNT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MCR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MFS Charter Income Trust]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=58466</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Health Net Inc. (HNT) reported third-quarter earnings per share (EPS) of 64 cents compared to a loss of 66 cents in the prior-year quarter. The reported quarter included $8.6 million in expenses primarily related to severance costs. Excluding these items, the company’s operating EPS came in at 72 cents, modestly surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 71 cents. Health Net&#8217;s Western Region Operations and Government Contracts segments produced combined net earnings of 74 cents in the reported quarter as opposed to 75 cents in the prior-year quarter. Health Net reported a 14.5% year over year decline in total revenues to $3.4 billion. The primary reason for the decline was the sale of its Northeast businesses in December 2009 and a reduction in membership. Health Net’s health plan services premium revenues ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/17/hnt-health-net-beats-quarterly-earnings-expectations-raises-outlook/58466/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(CI) CIGNA Faces Standard &amp; Poor&#8217;s Rating Action</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/15/ci-cigna-faces-standard-poors-rating-action/59443</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/15/ci-cigna-faces-standard-poors-rating-action/59443#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Nov 2010 04:51:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=59443</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Late last week, health insurance company CIGNA Corp. (CI) received a rating revision from Standard &#38; Poor&#8217;s Ratings Services. The rating agency revised CIGNA’s financial rating outlook to “stable” from “negative,” taking into account the company’s ability to insulate its results from losses in its run-off reinsurance business over the past twenty months. CIGNA’s Run-off Reinsurance Segment, which accounted for 2% of revenues in the year 2009, has been discontinued. The segment went into the run-off mode following the sale of the U.S. individual life, group life and accidental death reinsurance business in 2000. Although the run-off reinsurance losses from the year 2009 have been abated by a market rebound over the past few months, market volatility and returns, interest rate fluctuations and annuitant behavior will likely weigh on the ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/15/ci-cigna-faces-standard-poors-rating-action/59443/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(WLP) WellPoint Earnings Reports Outshines &#8211; Forecast Raised</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/07/wlp-wellpoint-earnings-reports-outshines-forecast-raised/57978</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/07/wlp-wellpoint-earnings-reports-outshines-forecast-raised/57978#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Nov 2010 20:26:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=57978</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc. (WLP) reported its third-quarter income from continuing operations of $701.2 million or $1.74 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.58. However, this compares unfavorably with the income of $850.5 million or earnings of $1.78 in the year-ago quarter. The improved showing was attributable to higher-than-expected favorable reserve development and continued strong performance in administrative expense management. WellPoint’s income from continuing operations excludes net investment gains of $37.9 million after-tax, or approximately 10 cents per share in the reported quarter, while it excludes net investment gains of $14.1 million after-tax or 3 cents per share and an impairment charge of $134.4 million after-tax, or 28 cents per share in the prior year quarter. Including these one-time items, WellPoint reported a net income of $739.1 million or $1.84 ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/07/wlp-wellpoint-earnings-reports-outshines-forecast-raised/57978/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(CVH) Coventry Health Care Beats The Street &#8211; Raises Outlook</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/07/cvh-coventry-health-care-beats-the-street-raises-outlook/58310</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/07/cvh-coventry-health-care-beats-the-street-raises-outlook/58310#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Nov 2010 20:17:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coventry Health Care Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=58310</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Coventry Health Care Inc. (CVH) reported its third-quarter income from continuing operations of $183.2 million or $1.24 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 67 cents. This also compares favorably with income of $100.4 million or 68 cents in the year-ago quarter. The improved showing was due to a continued emphasis on cost containment throughout the organization. Coventry&#8217;s income from continuing operations excludes the 5 cents per share favorable impact of the Medicare Advantage Private Fee-for-Service (MA-PFFS) product. The Medicare offering stands discontinued from January 1, 2010. Including the impact of this item, Coventry reported net income of $189.9 million or $1.29 per share. Net income in the prior-year quarter was $70.6 million or 48 cents per share, which included loss from discontinuing operations of $29.8 million or 20 ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(MOH) Molina Healthcare Outshines Street Estimates</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/03/moh-molina-healthcare-outshines-street-estimates/56861</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/03/moh-molina-healthcare-outshines-street-estimates/56861#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:41:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coventry Health Care Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MOH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Molina Healthcare Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UIS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unisys Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=56861</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Molina Healthcare Inc. (MOH) reported its third quarter income from continuing operations of $16.2 million or 57 cents per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 49 cents. The better-than-expected results in the quarter were driven by higher operating revenues coupled with ramped-up enrollment and increased focus on medical costs. Also, Molina’s reported results were much higher than the income of $8.6 million or earnings of 33 cents in the year-ago quarter. Quarterly Results Total operating revenues in the reported quarter climbed 13.4% year over year to $1.04 billion, which exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.03 billion. Molina’s investment income also surged to $1.8 million from $1.7 million a year ago. Premium revenues of Molina in the third quarter of 2010 increased 9.9% to $1.01 billion. The rise was ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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