Earnings Preview: WellPoint To Post 3Q Results

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — WellPoint Inc., the nation's largest insurer as measured by enrollment, reports its third-quarter results Wednesday before the market opens. The following is a summary of key developments and analyst opinion related to the period.

OVERVIEW: Sliding enrollment over the past couple quarters has been a growing concern for investors and analysts who follow big managed care companies. This includes WellPoint, which operates Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in 14 states.

The recession has hurt health insurers because employers have cut jobs and reduced the number of people covered by employer-sponsored group health insurance. Some companies, especially small businesses, have dropped health coverage entirely.

WellPoint competitor UnitedHealth Group Inc. said last week enrollment in plans sold to employers fell 6 percent for the second-straight quarter.

In the second quarter, WellPoint said its total medical enrollment fell 3 percent, or by 1.1 million people. That total included individual insurance and Medicaid plans, aside from just employer-sponsored business.

WellPoint said in July it expects medical enrollment to fall 4 percent, to 33.6 million members by the end of the year.