Anthem Reports Third Quarter 2021 Results, Raises Full Year Outlook

Anthem, Inc. (NYSE: ANTM) reported third quarter 2021 results reflecting strong financial performance.

"Our deep connection to the communities we serve, commitment to advancing a digital platform for health and our differentiated approach to addressing the whole health of the people we serve has underpinned our strong performance despite the challenging environment due to COVID," said Gail Boudreaux, President and CEO. "The strong growth we saw across all of our benefits business in the third quarter demonstrates that our core offerings, as well as additional innovative products and services continue to resonate in the market. We believe the momentum we are seeing and our ability to deliver on our strategy will be further accelerated by recent changes in our leadership."

CONSOLIDATED HIGHLIGHTS

Earnings Per Share: GAAP net income was $6.13 per share in the third quarter, including net negative adjustment items of $0.66 per share. Adjusted net income was $6.79* per share.

Membership: Medical enrollment totaled approximately 45.1 million members at September 30, 2021, an increase of 2.4 million lives, or 5.7 percent from the prior year quarter. Government Business enrollment increased by 2.3 million lives compared to the prior year quarter, primarily driven by organic growth in the Medicaid business, aided by the temporary suspension of eligibility recertification efforts in our markets, the acquisition of MMM, the launch of HealthyBlue in North Carolina, and organic growth in our Medicare Advantage business. Commercial & Specialty Business enrollment increased by 162 thousand lives compared to the prior year quarter primarily driven by strong risk-based membership growth, partially offset by in-group attrition in the group fee-based business as a result of the economic environment.

During the third quarter of 2021, medical enrollment increased sequentially by 730 thousand lives, driven by the launch of HealthyBlue in North Carolina, incremental growth in the Medicaid business, and sales in excess of lapses in our Commercial risk-based businesses, partially offset by in-group attrition in the group fee-based business.

Operating Revenue: Operating revenue was $35.5 billion in the third quarter of 2021, an increase of $4.9 billion, or 16.0 percent, from the prior year quarter and 17.5 percent after adjusting for the repeal of the health insurance tax in 2021. The increase was driven by higher premium revenue due to growth in Medicaid and Medicare and growth in pharmacy product revenue related to IngenioRx, partially offset by the repeal of the health insurance tax.

Benefit Expense Ratio: The benefit expense ratio was 87.7 percent in the third quarter of 2021, an increase of 90 basis points versus the prior year quarter and a decrease of 50 basis points after adjusting for the repeal of the health insurance tax in 2021. Excluding the impact of the repeal of the health insurance tax, the decrease was primarily driven by unfavorable rate adjustments in our Medicaid business in the third quarter of 2020.

Medical claims reserves established at December 31, 2020 developed better than the Company’s expectations during the third quarter of 2021, with the majority offset by rebates, risk-corridors and other related mechanisms.

Days in Claims Payable: Days in Claims Payable was 46.8 days as of September 30, 2021, a decrease of 1.3 days from June 30, 2021 and an increase of 5.7 days as compared to September 30, 2020. The timing of the acquisitions of MMM and myNEXUS increased Days in Claims Payable at June 30, 2021. Normalizing for timing impacts associated with these acquisitions, Days in Claims payable would have increased by 0.2 days sequentially.

SG&A Expense Ratio: The SG&A expense ratio was 11.1 percent in the third quarter of 2021, a decrease of 620 basis points from 17.3 percent in the third quarter of 2020, primarily driven by the absence of charges related to business optimization and the BCBSA litigation settlement taken in the third quarter of 2020, growth in operating revenue, and the repeal of the health insurance tax in 2021, partially offset by increased spend to support growth.

Operating Cash Flow: Operating cash flow was $2.5 billion, or 1.7 times net income in the third quarter of 2021, an increase of $3.7 billion as compared to the prior year quarter. The year-on-year increase was primarily driven by outflows in the third quarter of 2020 which did not repeat in 2021, principally the payment of the health insurance tax as well as estimated Federal income tax payments which were deferred from the second quarter of 2020, as was permitted by the IRS.

Share Repurchase Program: During the third quarter of 2021, the Company repurchased 1.2 million shares of its common stock for $450 million, at a weighted average price of $378.85. As of September 30, 2021, the Company had approximately $4.7 billion of Board-approved share repurchase authorization remaining.

Cash Dividend: During the third quarter of 2021, the Company paid a quarterly dividend of $1.13 per share, representing a distribution of cash totaling $276 million.

On October 19, 2021, the Audit Committee declared a fourth quarter 2021 dividend to shareholders of $1.13 per share. On an annualized basis, this equates to a dividend of $4.52 per share. The fourth quarter dividend is payable on December 21, 2021 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 3, 2021.

Investment Portfolio & Capital Position: During the third quarter of 2021, the Company recorded net realized losses of $61 million. During the third quarter of 2020, the Company recorded net realized gains of $229 million. These amounts are excluded from adjusted earnings per share.

As of September 30, 2021, the Company’s net unrealized gain position in the investment portfolio was $878 million, consisting primarily of fixed maturity securities. As of September 30, 2021 cash and investments at the parent company totaled approximately $1.4 billion.

REPORTABLE SEGMENTS

Anthem, Inc. has four reportable segments: Commercial & Specialty Business (comprised of Individual, Group risk-based, Group fee-based, and BlueCard businesses); Government Business (comprised of the Medicaid, Medicare, and Federal Health Products & Services businesses); IngenioRx, and Other (comprised of the Diversified Business Group and corporate expenses not allocated to our other reportable segments).

Commercial & Specialty Business: Operating gain in the Commercial & Specialty Business segment totaled $620 million in the third quarter of 2021, an increase of $854 million from an operating loss of $234 million in the third quarter of 2020. The increase was primarily attributable to BCBSA litigation settlement and business optimization charges taken in the third quarter of 2020.

Government Business: Operating gain in the Government Business segment was $967 million in the third quarter of 2021, an increase of $721 million from $246 million in the third quarter of 2020. The increase was primarily attributable to the impact of negative rate adjustments in the Medicaid business in the third quarter of 2020 associated with COVID-19, BCBSA litigation settlement and business optimization charges taken in the third quarter of 2020, and membership growth in the Medicaid and Medicare businesses, including growth resulting from the acquisition of MMM.

IngenioRx: Operating gain was $445 million in the third quarter of 2021, an increase of $100 million, or 29.0 percent, from $345 million in the third quarter of 2020. The increase was driven by growth in integrated medical and pharmacy membership.

Other: The Company reported an operating gain of $27 million in the Other segment for the third quarter of 2021, compared with an operating loss of $156 million in the prior year quarter. The increase was primarily driven by business optimization charges taken in the third quarter of 2020 and a decline in unallocated corporate expenses.

OUTLOOK

Full Year 2021:

• GAAP net income is now expected to be greater than $24.70 per share, including approximately $1.15 per share of net unfavorable items. Excluding these items, adjusted net income is now expected to be greater than $25.85* per share.
• Operating cash flow is now expected to be greater than $6.0 billion.
• Investment income is now expected to be approximately $1.2 billion.

Basis of Presentation

1. Operating revenue and operating gain/loss are the key measures used by management to evaluate performance in each of its reporting segments, allocate resources, set incentive compensation targets and to forecast future operating performance. Operating gain/loss is calculated as total operating revenue less benefit expense, cost of products sold and selling, general and administrative expense. It does not include net investment income, net realized gains/losses on financial instruments, interest expense, amortization of other intangible assets, gains/losses on extinguishment of debt or income taxes, as these items are managed in a corporate shared service environment and are not the responsibility of operating segment management. Refer to the GAAP reconciliation tables.
2. Operating margin is defined as operating gain divided by operating revenue.

Conference Call and Webcast

Management will host a conference call and webcast today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (“EDT”) to discuss the company’s third quarter results and outlook. The conference call should be accessed at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call with the following numbers:

The access code for today's conference call is 3972058. The replay will be available from 11:30 a.m. EDT today, until the end of the day on November 19, 2021. The call will also be available through a live webcast at www.antheminc.com under the “Investors” link. A webcast replay will be available following the call.

About Anthem, Inc.

Anthem is a leading health benefits company dedicated to improving lives and communities, and making healthcare simpler. Through its affiliated companies, Anthem serves more than 117 million people, including more than 45 million within its family of health plans. We aim to be the most innovative, valuable and inclusive partner. For more information, please visit www.antheminc.com or follow @AnthemInc on Twitter.

Anthem, Inc.
GAAP Reconciliation
(Unaudited)

Anthem, Inc. has referenced “Adjusted Net Income” and “Adjusted Net Income Per Share,” which are non-GAAP measures, in this document. These non-GAAP measures are not intended to be alternatives to any measure calculated in accordance with GAAP. In addition to these non-GAAP measures, references are made to the measures “Operating Revenue” and “Operating Gain.” Each of these measures is provided to further aid investors in understanding and analyzing the company’s core operating results and comparing Anthem, Inc.’s financial results. A reconciliation of Operating Revenue to Total Revenue is set forth in the Consolidated Statements of Income herein. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable measures calculated in accordance with GAAP, together with a reconciliation of reportable segments operating gain to income before income tax expense, is reported below. Prior amounts may be grouped differently to conform to current presentation.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements reflect our views about future events and financial performance and are generally not historical facts. Words such as “expect,” “feel,” “believe,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project,” “forecast,” “plan” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to: financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions; statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations with respect to future operations, products and services; and statements regarding future performance. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward- looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof. You are also urged to carefully review and consider the various risks and other disclosures discussed in our reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, which attempt to advise interested parties of the factors that affect our business. Except to the extent otherwise required by federal securities laws, we do not undertake any obligation to republish revised forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the impact of large scale medical emergencies, such as public health epidemics and pandemics, including COVID-19, and catastrophes; trends in healthcare costs and utilization rates; our ability to secure sufficient premium rates, including regulatory approval for and implementation of such rates; the impact of federal and state regulation, including ongoing changes in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, as amended; changes in economic and market conditions, as well as regulations that may negatively affect our liquidity and investment portfolios; our ability to contract with providers on cost-effective and competitive terms; competitive pressures and our ability to adapt to changes in the industry and develop and implement strategic growth opportunities; reduced enrollment; unauthorized disclosure of member or employee sensitive or confidential information, including the impact and outcome of any investigations, inquiries, claims and litigation related thereto; risks and uncertainties regarding Medicare and Medicaid programs, including those related to non-compliance with the complex regulations imposed thereon; our ability to maintain and achieve improvement in Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Star ratings and other quality scores and funding risks with respect to revenue received from participation therein; a negative change in our healthcare product mix; costs and other liabilities associated with litigation, government investigations, audits or reviews; risks and uncertainties related to our pharmacy benefit management (“PBM”), business including non-compliance by any party with the PBM services agreement between us and CaremarkPCS Health, L.L.C.; medical malpractice or professional liability claims or other risks related to healthcare and PBM services provided by our subsidiaries; general risks associated with mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances; changes in U.S. tax laws; possible impairment of the value of our intangible assets if future results do not adequately support goodwill and other intangible assets; possible restrictions in the payment of dividends from our subsidiaries and increases in required minimum levels of capital; our ability to repurchase shares of our common stock and pay dividends on our common stock due to the adequacy of our cash flow and earnings and other considerations; the potential negative effect from our substantial amount of outstanding indebtedness; a downgrade in our financial strength ratings; the effects of any negative publicity related to the health benefits industry in general or us in particular; failure to effectively maintain and modernize our information systems; events that may negatively affect our licenses with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association; the impact of international laws and regulations; intense competition to attract and retain employees; and various laws and provisions in our governing documents that may prevent or discourage takeovers and business combinations.

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