Earnings Preview: Humana To Post 3Q Earnings

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Health insurer Humana Inc., whose robust government business has helped produced healthy profits, reports third-quarter results on Monday. Here are key developments related to that period.

OVERVIEW: Much of the attention from health insurers, and their investors, has focused on Washington, D.C., and the efforts to overhaul the country's health care system. Health insurers have watched nervously as Congress considers a provision for a government-sponsored insurance plan that would compete with them.

Humana's profits have been fueled by its strong government business, led by Medicare Advantage offerings, while its commercial segment has endured sluggishness linked to a badly weakened economy.

The company based in Louisville, Ky., has about 1.4 million Medicare Advantage enrollees, and the program accounts for about half the company's revenue. Medicare Advantage plans are government-sponsored, privately run programs for seniors that offer comprehensive health coverage.

Membership in Humana's stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans has fallen in the past year, due mainly to low-income seniors joining other plans as well as some members switching to Medicare Advantage plans.