Earnings Preview: Cigna To Report 3Q Earnings

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Managed care provider Cigna Corp. reports results for the third quarter on Thursday. Here are some key developments and analyst opinions related to that period.

OVERVIEW: Philadelphia-based Cigna's main national competitors have managed to top Wall Street expectations for the most part during the third quarter. But they've also been hurt by sliding enrollment in employer-based health insurance and growing flu-related costs.

Enrollment losses are expected to last into next year, as employers continue to cut jobs and reduce the number of people covered under their health insurance plans.

Cigna saw an enrollment loss in the second quarter, driving down premiums and fees from its health care segment, the largest portion of its business. Cigna operates health care, group disability and life and international business segments.

The insurer has estimated that its enrollment will fall between 5 percent and 5.5 percent for the year. The company had about 11.7 million members at the start of 2009.

Improving equity markets helped Cigna in the second quarter with its discontinued guaranteed minimum income benefits and variable annuity death benefits businesses. Charges from those businesses had hurt Cigna in recent quarters.