Summary
Centene Corporation (CNC) issued this 8-K filing on November 19, 2015, to provide an update following a competitor's announcement of significant reductions in their Health Insurance Marketplace (HIM) business performance. Centene reiterated its 2015 diluted earnings per share guidance of $2.84 to $2.90, excluding Health Net merger related costs, indicating its HIM business remains on track. The company emphasized that its HIM operations are primarily focused on individuals below 250% of the federal poverty level and are performing in line with expectations. The filing also detailed Centene's financial exposure related to its HIM business as of September 30, 2015, with $77 million in payables for risk adjustment, $31 million for risk corridors, and $14 million for minimum medical loss ratio. This disclosure appears intended to reassure investors that Centene's strategy and execution in this segment are distinct from those experiencing difficulties elsewhere in the market, particularly given the ongoing Health Net merger.
Key Highlights
- 1Centene reiterated its 2015 diluted EPS guidance of $2.84-$2.90, excluding Health Net merger costs.
- 2The company's Health Insurance Marketplace (HIM) business is performing in line with expectations.
- 3Centene's HIM focus is primarily on individuals below 250% of the federal poverty level.
- 4As of September 30, 2015, Centene had $77M in HIM risk adjustment payables.
- 5Additional HIM payables included $31M for risk corridors and $14M for minimum medical loss ratio.
- 6Centene maintained a consistent methodology for HIM pricing for 2016, similar to 2014 and 2015.
- 7The company continues to utilize a tailored network for its HIM products, focusing on subsidized individuals.