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	<title>Stock Blog Hub &#187; Unitedhealth Group</title>
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		<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>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<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>
		</item>
		<item>
		<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>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/07/cvh-coventry-health-care-beats-the-street-raises-outlook/58310/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<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>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/03/moh-molina-healthcare-outshines-street-estimates/56861/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(CI) CIGNA Quarterly Earnings Beat Estimates</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/03/ci-cigna-quarterly-earnings-beat-estimates/57458</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/03/ci-cigna-quarterly-earnings-beat-estimates/57458#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:14:14 +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[Coventry Health Care Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVH]]></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=57458</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[CIGNA Corp.’s (CI) third quarter earnings of $1.10 per share were ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.06. The insurer earned $1.13 per share last year. Better-than-expected results came in due to improved contribution from Health Care, Disability &#38; Life and International segments. CIGNA’s net income declined 6.7% year over year to $307 million, due to $44 million of losses incurred on its run-off business operations – Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefits and Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefits. The fourth-largest commercial health insurer reported total revenue of $5.3 billion, ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.2 billion. It was also up 18% from $4.5 billion in the prior-year quarter, driven by higher business retention coupled with new account sales. Consolidated premiums and fees increased 15% to $4.6 billion, led by ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/03/ci-cigna-quarterly-earnings-beat-estimates/57458/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(AEP) Company News for October 19, 2010 &#8211; Corporate Summary</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/10/20/aep-company-news-for-october-19-2010-corporate-summary/55682</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/10/20/aep-company-news-for-october-19-2010-corporate-summary/55682#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:33:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Electric Utilities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Utilities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AEP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American Electric Power Company Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BAC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bank of America Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Goldman Sachs Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Harley-Davidson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HOG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JNJ]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Johnson & Johnson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[KO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LMT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lockheed Martin Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[State Street Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[STT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Coca-Cola Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=55682</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[• Johnson &#38; Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) reported earnings of $1.23, versus Zacks estimates of $1.15, as revenues dropped 0.7% to $14.98 and missed estimates of $15.22 billion • Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) posted third quarter results of $1.55, versus Zacks estimates of $1.58, on revenues that advanced 5.6% to $11.38 billion, but missed Zacks estimates of $11.58 billion • State Street (NYSE:STT) topped third quarter consensus projections with earnings of $0.86, a $0.03 beat, on revenues of $2.31 billion, above Zacks estimates of $2.23 billion • Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) reported third quarter interims of $0.92, above Zacks estimates of $0.89, as revenues rose 4.7% YoY to $8.43 billion, ahead of Zacks estimates of $8.25 billion • Harley-Davidson (NYSE:HOG) reported third quarter earnings of $0.40, in-line with Zacks estimates, as revenues fell 1.9% YoY to $1.09 billion, slightly below ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/10/20/aep-company-news-for-october-19-2010-corporate-summary/55682/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(UNH) Health Care Review and Outlook &#8211; September 2010 &#8211; Industry Outlook</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/09/17/unh-health-care-review-and-outlook-september-2010-industry-outlook/52020</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/09/17/unh-health-care-review-and-outlook-september-2010-industry-outlook/52020#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:11:33 +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[UAM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Universal American Corp]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=52020</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The health care industry is currently undergoing a period of tremendous uncertainty due to the implications of the recent Health Care Reform Act &#8212; named the PPACA &#8212; after it becomes fully effective. Why was the reform enacted? Health care costs, which have risen rapidly in real terms in the last few decades, have strained state and federal budgets. The entire health care sector accounts for roughly 17% of the U.S. GDP, up from 5.2% in 1960. Further growth in health care costs remains a  key risk to the long-term fiscal health of the state and federal governments. This legislation attempts to address this issue. An increasing number of people were falling out of the health insurance coverage due to rising premium prices, limiting access to health care. The legislation, ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/09/17/unh-health-care-review-and-outlook-september-2010-industry-outlook/52020/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(HNT) Health Net Second Quarter 2010 Earnings Pass Estimates</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/08/06/hnt-health-net-second-quarter-2010-earnings-pass-estimates/46738</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/08/06/hnt-health-net-second-quarter-2010-earnings-pass-estimates/46738#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:20:39 +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[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=46738</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Health Net Inc. (HNT) reported second quarter earnings per share (EPS) of 45 cents compared to earnings of 38 cents in the first quarter of 2009. The reported quarter included $24.9 million in charges arising from cost cuts and other expenses, partially offset by a net benefit of $3.2 million arising from various business operations. Excluding these items, the company’s operating EPS came in at 61 cents, modestly surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 55 cents. Health Net reported a 14.2% year over year decline in revenues to $3.4 billion. The primary reason for the decline was a reduction in membership. The company earns revenues in the form of health plan service premiums, government contracts, northeast administrative services fees, net investment income and administrative services, fees and other income. Health ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/08/06/hnt-health-net-second-quarter-2010-earnings-pass-estimates/46738/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(CVH) Coventry Health Care Earnings Report Raises Forward Outlook</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/08/02/cvh-coventry-health-care-earnings-report-raises-forward-outlook/45591</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/08/02/cvh-coventry-health-care-earnings-report-raises-forward-outlook/45591#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:52:55 +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[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=45591</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On July 30, 2010, Coventry Health Care Inc. (CVH) reported second-quarter income from continuing operations of $149.2 million or $1.01 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 57 cents. This also compares favorably with income of $67.7 million or 46 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 18 cents per share impact of the Medicare Advantage Private Fee-for-Service (MA-PFFS) product and an unfavorable impact of $1.18 per share associated with the class action litigation in Louisiana announced on July 2. The Medicare offering stands discontinued from January 1, 2010. Including the impact of these items, Coventry reported net income of $1.0 million or 1 cent per share. Net income ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/08/02/cvh-coventry-health-care-earnings-report-raises-forward-outlook/45591/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(WLP) WellPoint Earnings Beat &#8211; Raises Outlook</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/07/28/wlp-wellpoint-earnings-beat-raises-outlook/45097</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/07/28/wlp-wellpoint-earnings-beat-raises-outlook/45097#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:56:41 +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[DCP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DynCorp International Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts 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=45097</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On July 28, 2010, WellPoint Inc. (WLP) reported its second-quarter income from continuing operations of $702.8 million or $1.67 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.56. This also compares favorably with the income of $731.5 million or earnings of $1.50 in the year-ago quarter. The improved showing was attributable to higher-than-expected favorable reserve development and continued strong performance in capital management. WellPoint’s income from continuing operations excludes net investment gains of $19.6 million after-tax, or $0.04 per share in the reported quarter and net investment losses of $38.0 million after-tax or $0.07 per share in the prior-year quarter. Including these one-time items, WellPoint reported a net income of $722.4 million or $1.71 per share as opposed to $693.5 million or $1.43 per share. Behind the Headlines Total operating ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/07/28/wlp-wellpoint-earnings-beat-raises-outlook/45097/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(HNT) Health Net&#8217;s Quarterly Earnings Beats Target &#8211; Raises Guidance</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/05/06/hnt-health-nets-quarterly-earnings-beats-target-raises-guidance/36412</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/05/06/hnt-health-nets-quarterly-earnings-beats-target-raises-guidance/36412#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 06 May 2010 20:05:46 +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[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=36412</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Health Net (HNT) reported first quarter fiscal 2010 earnings per share (EPS) of 16 cents compared to earnings of 21 cents in the first quarter of 2009. The reported quarter included $37.7 million in pretax losses related to the divestment of the Northeast business to UnitedHealth (UNH) in December 2009 and $14.5 million in pretax losses arising from cost cuts and other expenses. Excluding these items, the company’s EPS came in at 47 cents, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny. Health Net reported a 13.1% year-over-year decline in revenues to $3.4 billion. The primary reason for the decline was reduced membership. The company earns revenues in the form of health plan service premiums, government contracts, northeast administrative services fees, net investment income and administrative services, fees and other ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/05/06/hnt-health-nets-quarterly-earnings-beats-target-raises-guidance/36412/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(UNH) UnitedHealth Group &#8211; First Quarter Revenue Rises</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/04/27/unh-unitedhealth-group-first-quarter-revenue-rises/35223</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/04/27/unh-unitedhealth-group-first-quarter-revenue-rises/35223#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:21:54 +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]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=35223</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[UnitedHealth Group (UNH) recently reported first quarter results that surprised on the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 51.5%. The health insurer, however, is out of favor with investors, trading at just 9.3x forward earnings. UnitedHealth provides health insurance to 75 million individuals through different channels including to individuals directly, through small and medium-sized businesses and by providing coverage to large global companies. The company has several divisions Incorporatedluding Ovations which is a partnership with the AARP for people over 50, AmeriChoice, which serves low-income families through Medicaid, OptumHealth, Ingenix and Prescription Solutions, which manages pharmacy benefits. First Quarter Revenue Rises On Apr 20, UnitedHealth Group reported first quarter earnings of $1.03 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus by 35 cents. Revenue rose 5% to $23.2 billion from $22 billion in the ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/04/27/unh-unitedhealth-group-first-quarter-revenue-rises/35223/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(LH) Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings Misses by a Penny</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/04/22/lh-laboratory-corporation-of-america-holdings-misses-by-a-penny/34617</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/04/22/lh-laboratory-corporation-of-america-holdings-misses-by-a-penny/34617#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:10:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Medical Laboratories & Research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=34617</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LH) reported first quarter fiscal 2010 earnings per share (EPS) of $1.25 compared to earnings of $1.22 reported in the year-ago period. However, after considering restructuring and other special charges, the company’s EPS came in at $1.30, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny. Revenues recorded a 3.3% year-over-year increase to $1.19 billion. During the reported quarter, there was a 3% decline in testing volume (measured by accessions) while revenue per requisition increased 6.4%. However, excluding the consolidation of Quest’s Canada unit, revenues would have increased 2.2%, testing volume would have declined 3.3% while revenue per requisition would have recorded a growth of 5.7%. During the quarter, bad weather conditions had an adverse impact on the company. It reduced volume by 1.3%, revenues by ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/04/22/lh-laboratory-corporation-of-america-holdings-misses-by-a-penny/34617/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(UNH) UnitedHealth Reports Above Consensus &#8211; 2010 Outlook Raised</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/04/21/unh-unitedhealth-reports-above-consensus-2010-outlook-raised/34437</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/04/21/unh-unitedhealth-reports-above-consensus-2010-outlook-raised/34437#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Apr 2010 22:23:13 +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]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=34437</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[UnitedHealth Group’s (UNH) first quarter 2010 earnings of $1.03 per share far exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 68 cents. This was also ahead of last year’s earnings of 81 cents. The strong showing was driven by better-than-expected membership and services growth. Total revenue for the reported quarter climbed to $23.19 billion from $22 billion in the year-ago quarter. The increase was primarily driven by an increase in premium revenues in the Health Benefits segment. Health Benefits revenues climbed 5 % year over year to $21.6 billion. The increase was primarily driven by the growth of a million members across the public and senior markets in the past year and rate increases reflecting underlying medical cost trends. The rise was partially offset by the 900,000 members decline in the commercial ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/04/21/unh-unitedhealth-reports-above-consensus-2010-outlook-raised/34437/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(AET) Aetna Gets Notice From Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/04/14/aet-aetna-gets-notice-from-centers-for-medicare-medicaid-services/33671</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/04/14/aet-aetna-gets-notice-from-centers-for-medicare-medicaid-services/33671#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Apr 2010 21:28:17 +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[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=33671</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently, Aetna Inc (AET) announced that it has been informed by the Centers for Medicare &#38; Medicaid Services (CMS) of its intention to suspend the enrollment of new members into Aetna’s Medicare Advantage and Standalone Prescription Drug Plan Contracts. The suspension also stops Aetna from marketing the plans to new members. The action against the health insurer was taken due to the non-compliance of certain Medicare Part D requirements. The suspension is effective from April 21, 2010. The suspension affects Aetna&#8217;s Medicare Advantage and Standalone Prescription Drug Plans. However, it has no bearing on the company’s current Medicare enrollees. Medicare Advantage plans are privately run versions of the government&#8217;s Medicare program, under which the elderly and disabled are provided with health coverage. According to the CMS, Aetna did not comply ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/04/14/aet-aetna-gets-notice-from-centers-for-medicare-medicaid-services/33671/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(WLP) Health Care Outlook &amp; Stock Review &#8211; Industry Outlook</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/03/04/wlp-health-care-outlook-stock-review-industry-outlook/29684</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/03/04/wlp-health-care-outlook-stock-review-industry-outlook/29684#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:44:05 +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[BIOS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BioScrip Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Net Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HNT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MOH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Molina Healthcare Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ZOLL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Zoll Medical Corporation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=29684</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[OVERVIEW The healthcare sector comprises different industries, ranging from managed care organizations, healthcare facilities providers and medical devices manufacturers to biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Consequently, we believe that investors in this sector should be mindful of the different drivers and appropriate metrics associated with the various sub-sectors. In the present scenario, investor sentiment in healthcare continues to be driven by decisions in the Congress related to government funding and the state of the broader economy. In view of the ongoing healthcare reform debate in the Congress, healthcare policy changes remain an important indicator to investing in the sector. The Health Bill intends to cover nearly all Americans by providing government subsidies to help pay premiums irrespective of health or income. President Obama has made a last-ditch effort to revive the ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/03/04/wlp-health-care-outlook-stock-review-industry-outlook/29684/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(IRM) Iron Mountain Incorporated Acquires Mimosa Systems</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/23/irm-iron-mountain-incorporated-acquires-mimosa-systems/28610</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/23/irm-iron-mountain-incorporated-acquires-mimosa-systems/28610#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:31:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[EMC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[EMC Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FLEX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flextronics International Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[IRM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iron Mountain Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NetApp]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NTAP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Symantec Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SYMC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=28610</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A data storage and information management company, Iron Mountain Incorporated (IRM) announced that it has acquired Mimosa Systems Inc. for approximately $112 million in cash. Based in Santa Clara, California, Mimosa is a leader in enterprise-class content archiving solutions. It is also a leading provider of on-site digital storage services. The acquisition will provide Iron Mountain with an integrated archive for email, SharePoint data and files, and will enable the company to offer an on-premises archiving option to complement its existing cloud-based archives. Mimosa will be incorporated into Iron Mountain’s Total Email Management Suite. The acquisition will enhance Iron Mountain’s data storage and management technologies and services for customers. The combination of on-premises archive by Mimosa and cloud-based offerings will help Iron Mountain clients store, recover and discover digital content ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/23/irm-iron-mountain-incorporated-acquires-mimosa-systems/28610/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(HNT) Health Net Beats Expectations Marginally</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/04/hnt-health-net-tops-marginally-analyst-blog/27021</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/04/hnt-health-net-tops-marginally-analyst-blog/27021#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:15:16 +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[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=27021</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Health Net (HNT) reported fourth quarter earnings per share (EPS) of 69 cents, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 67 cents and the year-ago quarter’s 61 cents. For the full year 2009, EPS came in at $2.25 compared to $1.85 of 2008. This is excluding $137.3 million in charges associated with the sale of its Northeast business operations to UnitedHealth (UNH) in Dec 2009. Taking into account these charges, the company reported a fourth quarter net loss of 43 cents per share compared with EPS of 34 cents reported in the year-ago period. Health Net reported $3.8 billion (1.8% down year-over-year) and $15.7 billion (2.2% decline) in revenues for the fourth quarter and full year, respectively. The primary reason for the decline was reduced membership due to a rise in ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/04/hnt-health-net-tops-marginally-analyst-blog/27021/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(UNH) UnitedHealth Group Beats Estimates</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/01/21/unh-unitedhealth-group-beats-estimates/25670</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/01/21/unh-unitedhealth-group-beats-estimates/25670#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 22 Jan 2010 01:23:11 +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]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=25670</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[UnitedHealth Group’s (UNH) fourth quarter earnings of 81 cents per share were well ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 73 cents. Results were also ahead of the prior-year period’s earnings of 60 cents. The better-than-expected results reflected strong contributions from the health services businesses and the public and senior health benefits program. For the full year, revenue rose to $87.14 billion from $81.19 billion in the prior year. Earnings per share came in at $3.24, ahead of the management’s guidance of $3.15. Total revenues during the quarter increased 6.5% year-over-year to $21.8 billion. The increase was primarily driven by an increase in premium revenues in the Health Care Services segment due to strong organic growth in risk-based offerings in public and senior markets businesses and premium rate increases in ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/01/21/unh-unitedhealth-group-beats-estimates/25670/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(UNH) UnitedHealth Group to Retire Debt</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/01/08/unh-unitedhealth-group-to-retire-debt/24468</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/01/08/unh-unitedhealth-group-to-retire-debt/24468#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:16:21 +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]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=24468</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Yesterday, UnitedHealth Group (UNH) announced the commencement of its cash tender offer to purchase $200 million of short-term notes and $550 million of intermediate-term notes. The offer will expire on Feb 3, 2010. The buyback, which will be funded by cash in hand and proceeds from the sale of commercial paper, will be made through a modified Dutch auction. The notes buyback will reduce the company’s interest burden, thereby strengthening the balance sheet. UnitedHealth has been active in managing its debt. Following a significant increase in debt issuance in 2007 and 2008 and a decline in operating performance, the company&#8217;s debt-to-EBITDA increased to over 2X in 2008. Through the first three quarters of 2009, the company&#8217;s annualized debt-to-EBITDA has improved to 1.5x. During this time, the company reduced its debt ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/01/08/unh-unitedhealth-group-to-retire-debt/24468/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(HUM) Humana Inks Long-term Agreement</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/22/hum-humana-inks-long-term-agreement/23444</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/22/hum-humana-inks-long-term-agreement/23444#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:44:09 +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[Polypore International Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PPO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=23444</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Humana Inc. (HUM) recently entered into a long-term agreement with New West Physicians, a primary-care group practice in the Denver area with approximately 250,000 patients. The deal will see New West Physicians provide health care services to individuals and families enrolled in a commercial health plan with Humana. The financial conditions of the transaction were not disclosed. The contract will allow the enrollees of Humana commercial health plans access to New West Physicians’ 13 office locations, 49 physicians and 12 nurse practitioners. The deal is applicable only to Humana commercial policy members. The benefits cannot be availed by Medicare Advantage members. We believe that this move by the company will provide its commercial health plan members with increased access to healthcare related facilities which will enable them to monitor their ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/22/hum-humana-inks-long-term-agreement/23444/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(UNH) Healthcare Stock Review &#8211; December 2009 &#8211; Industry Outlook</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/17/unh-healthcare-stock-review-dec-2009-industry-outlook/23150</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/17/unh-healthcare-stock-review-dec-2009-industry-outlook/23150#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:58:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Amgen Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AMGN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BIOS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BioScrip Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Boston Scientific Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BSX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Glaxosmithkline plc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GSK]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hologic Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HOLX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LMNX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Luminex Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MDT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Medtronic Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Merck & Company Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MOH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Molina Healthcare Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MRK]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Perrigo Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pfizer Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Polypore International Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PPO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRGO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stryker Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SYK]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ZOLL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Zoll Medical Corporation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=23150</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[OVERVIEW The healthcare sector comprises different industries, ranging from managed care organizations, healthcare facilities providers and medical devices manufacturers to biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Consequently, we believe that investors in this sector should be mindful of the different drivers and appropriate metrics associated with the various sub-sectors. In the present scenario, investor sentiment in healthcare continues to be driven by decisions in Congress related to government funding and the state of the broader economy. In view of the ongoing healthcare reform debate in Congress, healthcare policy changes remain an important indicator to investing in the sector. Even though legislation &#8212; which aims to cover nearly all Americans by providing government subsidies to help pay premiums irrespective of health or income &#8212; was passed in the House of Representatives, it is ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/17/unh-healthcare-stock-review-dec-2009-industry-outlook/23150/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(PFE) The Winners and Losers from a New U.S. Healthcare Reform Bill</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/16/pfe-the-winners-and-losers-from-a-new-u-s-healthcare-reform-bill/23025</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/16/pfe-the-winners-and-losers-from-a-new-u-s-healthcare-reform-bill/23025#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:20:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>InvestmentU</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Manufacturers - Major]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Athenahealth Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ATHN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CERN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cerner Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MCK]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[McKesson Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Merck & Company Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MRK]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pfizer Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=23025</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[by Marc Lichtenfeld, Healthcare Expert Wednesday, December 16, 2009: Issue #1159 According to a Thomson Reuters poll, 59.9% of Americans would like to see a public option in any healthcare reform bill, versus just 40% who don’t. If this were an election, it would be a landslide victory. But despite the fact that Main Street actually wants it, the Senate killed the public option in its version of a healthcare reform bill. Business as usual in Washington. But regardless of the current bruhaha in Congress, or the pundits blowing enough hot air to affect the global climate, healthcare reform is most likely coming. Whether or not it will eventually contain a public option remains to be seen. However, Wall Street will likely react negatively to any changes to the system, ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/16/pfe-the-winners-and-losers-from-a-new-u-s-healthcare-reform-bill/23025/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(UNH) UnitedHealth Completes Acquisition of Health Net Operations</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/15/unh-unitedhealth-completes-acquisition-of-health-net-operations/22832</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/15/unh-unitedhealth-completes-acquisition-of-health-net-operations/22832#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:50:15 +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[Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=22832</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On Friday, UnitedHealthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group (UNH), announced that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of northeast U.S. operations of Health Net Inc. (HNT) HMO (health maintenance organization) entities in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey and membership renewal rights for the Health Net Life health care business in the Northeast. The transaction, which has received all the regulatory approvals, is valued at approximately $510 million. The acquisition will enhance UnitedHealth Group’s market share in the New York metropolitan area by adding of Health Net’s 578,000 members in the Tri-State Area. UnitedHealth already has a strong market presence in this region. UnitedHealth, the large-cap national insurer, currently has a network of 79,000 healthcare professionals, 200 hospitals and 61,000 pharmacies in the three states. The acquisition is expected ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/15/unh-unitedhealth-completes-acquisition-of-health-net-operations/22832/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(UNH) UnitedHealth Completes Acquisition of Health Net</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/14/unh-unitedhealth-completes-acquisition-of-health-net/22776</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/14/unh-unitedhealth-completes-acquisition-of-health-net/22776#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:31:29 +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[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=22776</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On Friday, UnitedHealthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group (UNH), announced that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of northeast U.S. operations of Health Net Inc. (HNT) HMO (health maintenance organization) entities in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey and membership renewal rights for the Health Net Life health care business in the Northeast. The transaction, which has received all the regulatory approvals, is valued at approximately $510 million. The acquisition will enhance UnitedHealth Group’s market share in the New York metropolitan area by adding of Health Net’s 578,000 members in the Tri-State Area. UnitedHealth already has a strong market presence in this region. UnitedHealth, the large-cap national insurer, currently has a network of 79,000 healthcare professionals, 200 hospitals and 61,000 pharmacies in the three states. The acquisition is expected ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/14/unh-unitedhealth-completes-acquisition-of-health-net/22776/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(HNT) Health Net Issues Strong Outlook for 2010</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/11/hnt-health-net-issues-strong-outlook-for-2010/22647</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/11/hnt-health-net-issues-strong-outlook-for-2010/22647#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 Dec 2009 22:24:46 +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[Health Net Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HNT]]></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=22647</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Health Net (HNT) provided a strong outlook for 2010. The company expects earnings per share in the range of $2.30 to $2.40, higher than ours as well as the Street’s expectations. The guidance is based on the expectation that the pending sale of its Northeast businesses will close before year-end 2009. Following the better than expected earnings guidance for next year, Health Net’s shares touched a 52-week high of $23.79. Based on a flat membership growth compared to 2009, Health Net expects revenues in the range of $13- $13.5 billion. We are pleased with the strong guidance, especially in a situation when high medical costs have forced Health Net to lower its 2009 outlook post third quarter results. The company now expects 2009 earnings per share in the range of ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/11/hnt-health-net-issues-strong-outlook-for-2010/22647/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(WLP) WellPoint Sells NextRx Units to Express Scripts</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/03/wlp-wellpoint-sells-nextrx-units-to-express-scripts/21846</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/03/wlp-wellpoint-sells-nextrx-units-to-express-scripts/21846#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:49:12 +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[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=21846</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently, WellPoint, Inc. (WLP) announced that its NextRx subsidiaries have been purchased by Express Scripts, Inc. (ESRX) for $4.675 billion, which includes the consideration for the value of a future tax benefit for the acquirer based on the transaction structure. The deal provides for a 10-year agreement under which Express Scripts will provide the members of the health plans of WellPoint with pharmacy benefit management services Incorporatedluding home delivery and specialty pharmacy services. Both companies intend to leverage integrated medical and pharmacy data to drive innovation in the development and implementation of integrated health benefits. The deal should improve health outcomes for members and bring down healthcare costs. Through this deal, WellPoint will look to improve the efficacy of its clinical competencies through the success of Consumerology, Express Scripts&#8217; application ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/03/wlp-wellpoint-sells-nextrx-units-to-express-scripts/21846/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>($AET) Aetna Costs Costs by Slashing Jobs</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/11/19/aet-aetna-costs-costs-by-slashing-jobs/20937</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/11/19/aet-aetna-costs-costs-by-slashing-jobs/20937#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:13:43 +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[AIZ]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Assurant Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Employment]]></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=20937</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In a bid to become more efficient, the health insurer Aetna Inc. (AET) announced on Wednesday its intention to shed a total of 1,250 jobs or about 3.5% of its total workforce by the first quarter of 2010. Management intends to do so in two phases, by slashing 625 jobs now and the remaining early next year. The company expects to record after-tax restructuring charges of $40 million in fourth quarter 2009. Last December, the company cut 1,000 jobs, which was 3% of its total workforce. The company plans to slash majority of the jobs at its headquarters in Connecticut . Aetna with a total head count of 35,500 is eliminating jobs to cope with the difficult economic environment and potential impact that the health care reform might cast on ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/11/19/aet-aetna-costs-costs-by-slashing-jobs/20937/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>($HNT) Health Net Beats Earnings Estimates</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/11/09/hnt-health-net-beats-earnings-estimates/20048</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/11/09/hnt-health-net-beats-earnings-estimates/20048#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:44:10 +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[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=20048</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Health Net’s (HNT) third-quarter earnings per share came in at 67 cents, well above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 61 cents and the year-ago earnings of 35 cents. The company reported revenues of $4 billion, an increase of 3.9% compared to the corresponding quarter of last year. The company receives revenues in the form of health plan service premiums, government contracts, net investment income and administrative services, fees and other income. Health plan services premium, accounting for approximately 80% of total revenues during the quarter increased 3% year over year to $3.17 million. While revenues from government contracts increased 4.7% to $758 million, sequentially, it came down by 8.8%. We believe revenues from government contracts will decline further with the loss of contract in July with the Department of Defense ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/11/09/hnt-health-net-beats-earnings-estimates/20048/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(CVH) Coventry Healthcare Tops Estimates</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/11/01/cvh-coventry-healthcare-tops-estimates/19307</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/11/01/cvh-coventry-healthcare-tops-estimates/19307#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:16:04 +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=19307</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Coventry Health Care, Inc. (CVH) reported third quarter earnings of 66 cents per share, which was above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 54 cents. The company earned 73 cents in the year-ago quarter. Total operating revenues for the reported quarter increased 17.8% to $3.44 billion from the previous year&#8217;s $2.92 billion.  Revenues from managed care premiums rose 20% to $3.15 billion, while revenues from management services decreased to $290.9 million from $298.4 million a year earlier. Due to reduced commercial risk and commercial management membership, total enrollment in Coventry plans increased 0.55% to 5.24 million members, mainly on gains in the Medicare D prescription drug program. The membership in that program increased 81,000 from the prior quarter. Total operating expenses for the quarter came in at $3.29 billion, up 18.6% ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/11/01/cvh-coventry-healthcare-tops-estimates/19307/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(UNH) UnitedHealth Group Reports Ahead of Estimates</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/10/20/unh-unitedhealth-group-reports-ahead-of-estimates/18270</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/10/20/unh-unitedhealth-group-reports-ahead-of-estimates/18270#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:22:20 +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]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=18270</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH) third quarter earnings came in at 89 cents per share, ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 76 cents. The earnings showed an improvement over the prior year EPS of 75 cents per share mainly due to an uptick in net earnings. As reported by the company, earnings from operations (EBIT) were $1.5 billion and net earnings were $1.0 billion, an increase from $1.4 billion and $0.9 billion, respectively, in the prior-year quarters. Operating margin of 7.7% remained stable on a year over year basis. Operating costs increased to $20.0 billion from $18.6 billion last year. The consolidated medical care ratio remained within the range of management expectations at 82.0%, up 30 basis points year over year. The increase includes the mix effect of an increased ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/10/20/unh-unitedhealth-group-reports-ahead-of-estimates/18270/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(HUM) Humana Creates New Health Benefit</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/10/13/hum-humana-creates-new-health-benefit/17460</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/10/13/hum-humana-creates-new-health-benefit/17460#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:34:27 +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]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=17460</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently, Humana Military Healthcare Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Humana Inc. (HUM), announced the availability of an additional benefit for the beneficiaries of the TRICARE program (a medical program under the Department of Defense) in the South Region. Humana Military Healthcare Services offers health insurance coverage under the TRICARE program to the dependents of active duty military personnel and retired military personnel coupled with their dependents. Humana Military has been a contractor of the Department of Defense for the administration of the TRICARE program since Jul 1, 1996. The new benefit provides the families of soldiers enrolled in the TRICARE program access to a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Management Program. They will be able to call a dedicated registered nurse and receive education and coaching on how to ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/10/13/hum-humana-creates-new-health-benefit/17460/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(HUM) Humana Expands Medicare Coverage in California</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/10/09/hum-humana-expands-medicare-coverage-in-california/17319</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/10/09/hum-humana-expands-medicare-coverage-in-california/17319#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:42:03 +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[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=17319</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently Humana Inc. (HUM) announced that its Medicare coverage in 3 California countries is expanding. Members eligible for Medicare in Fresno , San Bernardino and Riverside can enroll in a Humana Gold Plus health maintenance organization (HMO) plan. Coverage would be effective from Jan. 1, 2010. The expansion has been approved by the Centers for Medicare &#38; Medicaid Services (CMS). The gold plus plan acts as a supplemental coverage to Medicare. Members can choose a primary care physician in the plan network. The other benefits of the plan include no or low monthly plan premiums, low co-payments for visits to doctors and annual routine physicals, coverage for most annual screenings at no charge, and worldwide emergency coverage. The persons opting for this plan will enjoy discounts on vision and hearing ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/10/09/hum-humana-expands-medicare-coverage-in-california/17319/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(CVH) Coventry Health Care in Expansion Mode</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/10/06/cvh-coventry-health-care-in-expansion-mode/16704</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/10/06/cvh-coventry-health-care-in-expansion-mode/16704#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:34:17 +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[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=16704</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Early this morning, Coventry Health Care Inc. (CVH) announced that it has agreed to acquire Preferred Health Systems, Inc. (commonly referred to as PHS), the wholly-owned health insurance subsidiary of Via Christi Health System, Inc. PHS is based in Wichita, Kansas. It is a commercial health plan whose beneficiaries include more than 100,000 members for whom it assumes full insurance risk, and 20,000 members for whom PHS provides administrative services. The acquisition of PHS will further widen the customer base of the diversified national managed healthcare company in the Midwestern United States. The transaction, expected to close in the next 90 to 120 days, will not affect Coventry ’s earnings in the first year. PHS was incorporated in 1993 following strong support and encouragement from area physicians, St. Francis Regional ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/10/06/cvh-coventry-health-care-in-expansion-mode/16704/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(COF) Over 1 Million Bankruptcies in 2009</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/10/03/cof-over-1-million-bankruptcies-in-2009/16549</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/10/03/cof-over-1-million-bankruptcies-in-2009/16549#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 03 Oct 2009 21:24:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Credit Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American Express Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AXP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Capital One Financial Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=16549</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[According to a report released today by the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI), there have now been 1.046 million personal bankruptcies since the start of the year. This is the highest since the first nine months of 2005 when people were rushing to file before the draconian new bankruptcy act of 2005 took effect (still better than the Victorian days of debtor prisons, but not much). The institute expects to see the total for the year top 1.4 million. I think they are being conservative, especially given the rise in the unemployed, particularly the long-term unemployed. In September, there were 124,709 consumer bankruptcies, up 41% from a year ago. The graph below (from http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/) shows the history of bankruptcy filings since 1996 by quarter. The third quarter numbers come from the ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/10/03/cof-over-1-million-bankruptcies-in-2009/16549/feed</wfw:commentRss>
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		<item>
		<title>(XLV) Healthcare Debate &#8211; Some Potential Stock Winners</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/08/21/xlv-healthcare-debate-some-potential-stock-winners/13059</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/08/21/xlv-healthcare-debate-some-potential-stock-winners/13059#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:10:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[ETF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Amgen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AMGN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BMY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bristol-Myers Squibb Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GENZ]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Genzyme Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GOOG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Google Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care Select Sector SPDR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hewlett-Packard Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HPQ]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[IBM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[International Business Machine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life Time Fitness Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LTM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Microsoft Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MSFT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nike Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NKE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Weight Watcher's International]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WTW]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[XLV]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=13059</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The ongoing debate about health care has become more focused on ideological lines than on what realistically can and should be done. Though not surprising, it is unfortunate. It would be wonderful if the conversation shifted to what changes can realistically be made and what changes should be made to prevent a worsening crisis. Here are some ideas, along with potential investment plays. Big Pharma Is Not Going Away Regardless of what you think about the drug companies, they are not going anywhere. The pharmaceutical lobby has made certain that it has a seat at the table and it seems probable that any new laws will benefit them. Even though some concessions will be made, the Obama Administration has quietly signaled a willingness not to pursue the most beneficial cost-saving ]]></description>
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