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Health Insurers Targeting Growth in All Markets

Posted on: Tuesday, 31 October 2006, 15:01 CST

Health insurers are selectively targeting growth in all segments of the industry, according to Mark Farrah Associates (MFA). Commercial plans, focused on consumer-driven opportunities, are offering expanded HSA and HRA options for the private insurance market. Medicare program participants are rolling out flexible benefits while implementing consumer-driven features for Medicare Advantage and PDP offerings. Insurers are also refining Medicaid products to meet cost containment requirements and pursuing the uninsured market with both commercial and government products.

Based on MFA's current Health Insurer Insights reports, WellPoint, UnitedHealth, Aetna and Health Care Service Corporation are clearly the market leaders with respect to medical membership (risk-based plus ASO). The following excerpts are from reports published in October 2006.

Top Health Insurers

Market Position

Strategic Focus

Aetna

3 

Aetna is pursuing leadership in consumer-driven healthcare by enhancing and promoting transparency tools. Pitching transparency to Federal workers for 2007.

Assurant Health

Not yetavailable

Assurant is focused on growth in individual insurance markets. Partnered with Aetna to offer a joint PPO dental network.

CIGNA HealthCare

5 

CIGNA is investing to build consumer-driven options to catch up with industry leaders. Planned to invest $75 million in 2006.

Coventry Health Care

9 

Coventry is realigning operations to capitalize on opportunities in commercial; individual; government; and specialty segments.

Health Care Service Corporation

4 

HCSC is investing in facilities and expanding products to improve service.

Health Net

8 

Non-commercial business is an important focus for Health Net. Leadership has targeted TRICARE, Medicare and Medicaid for growth.

Humana

7 

Humana's investment in Medicare expansion has led to substantial market growth in 2006.

Kaiser Permanente

6 

Kaiser Permanente is working on product expansion to outgrow their image as a staff-model HMO.

UnitedHealth

2 

UnitedHealth has more aggressively pushed into the consumer-driven niche and projects CDHP growth of 50% for 2006.

WellPoint

1 

WellPoint is pursuing CDHP growth and will offer plans in 50 states for all segments in 2007.

Source: Health Insurer Insights

Health Insurer Insights, updated quarterly, presents the latest strategic insights including enrollment (risk-based and ASO), market share and current focus for top health insurers. Single company reports may be purchased for $100 each. MFA partnered with Knowledge Source, Inc. to launch this series in May 2006.

For more information, please visit our web site (www.markfarrah.com/products/healthinsurerinsights.asp) or call us at 207-985-8484.

About Mark Farrah Associates

Mark Farrah Associates, headquartered in Kennebunk, Maine, provides health insurance market data and analysis. The company's portfolio includes online data products, industry-focused market reports and research consulting services. Since 1997, Mark Farrah Associates has been recognized as a leader in analyzing market data and trends. Products include Health Insurer Insights, Health Plans USA and Medicare Business Online.

Source: Business Wire

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