UnitedHealth Group Reports 2021 Results

• Revenues of $287.6 Billion Grew 12% Year-Over-Year, with Double-Digit Growth at both Optum and UnitedHealthcare
• Cash Flows from Operations were $22.3 Billion or 1.3x Net Income
• Full Year and Fourth Quarter Net Earnings were $18.08 and $4.26 Per Share
• Full Year and Fourth Quarter Adjusted Net Earnings were $19.02 and $4.48 Per Share

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) reported full year and fourth quarter 2021 results led by continued broad-based growth across the enterprise.

“Our strong 2021 performance and confident growth outlook for 2022 and beyond reflect the accelerating innovation and expanding capabilities across Optum and UnitedHealthcare,” said Andrew Witty, chief executive officer of UnitedHealth Group.

UnitedHealth Group affirmed the 2022 growth and performance objectives established at its November 30, 2021 Investor Conference, including revenues of $317 billion to $320 billion, net earnings of $20.20 to $20.70 per share, adjusted net earnings of $21.10 to $21.60 per share and cash flows from operations of $23 billion to $24 billion. The Company confirmed the 2022 growth forecast elements provided at its Investor Conference, including for people served through Medicare Advantage.

• UnitedHealth Group’s full year 2021 revenues grew $30.5 billion or 11.8% to $287.6 billion year-over-year, with broad-based growth across the Optum and UnitedHealthcare businesses.

• Full year 2021 earnings from operations were $24.0 billion, with the Optum businesses comprising over half of the total. Full year adjusted net earnings grew 13% to $19.02 per share.

• The full year 2021 medical care ratio of 82.6% compared to 79.1% in the previous year, with the increase due to higher COVID-19 costs and the repeal of the health insurance tax. The fourth quarter 2021 medical care ratio was 83.7%. Favorable medical reserve development was $440 million in the quarter compared to $850 million last year. Days claims payable of 46.8 days compared to 47.8 days at year end 2020 and 50.4 days in the third quarter 2021. The sequential difference reflects timing factors which will normalize in the first quarter 2022.

• The full year 2021 operating cost ratio of 14.8% decreased from 16.2% in 2021 due to the repeal of the health insurance tax, COVID-19 effects and continued productivity advances, offset by business mix and continued investments for future growth.

• Growth in investment and other income reflects the impact of the Company’s continued collaborative growth and innovation efforts with Optum Ventures.

• Cash flows from operations for the full year 2021 were $22.3 billion or 1.3x times net income. In 2021 the Company returned $5.3 billion to shareholders via dividends, an increase of 15% from a year ago, and repurchased 12.8 million shares for $5.0 billion. Return on equity of 25.2% in 2021 reflected strong overall performance and the efficient capital structure of the enterprise.

UnitedHealthcare provides health care benefits globally, serving individuals and employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to improving the value customers and consumers receive by improving health and wellness, enhancing the quality of care received, simplifying the health care experience and reducing the total cost of care.

• UnitedHealthcare full year revenues of $222.9 billion grew $22.0 billion or 11.0% year over year reflecting strong broad-based growth.
• Total people served by UnitedHealthcare grew by 2.2 million in 2021, led by continued strong growth in Medicare Advantage and Dual Special Needs Plans and expansion in the broader Medicaid market. Including Dual Special Needs Plans, Medicare Advantage membership grew to serve more than 900,000 additional people in 2021 with strong gains in both individual and group offerings. New regions served in Indiana, Kentucky and North Carolina contributed to broader Medicaid growth this past year and new Medicaid contracts were awarded in Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio and Tennessee with expansion in Missouri. Commercial benefits served 360,000 more consumers across its growing portfolio of innovative new products.
• Full year operating earnings were $12.0 billion compared to $12.4 billion last year, reflecting strong membership expansion and effective medical and operating cost management, offset by negative COVID-19 effects.

Optum’s health services businesses serve the global health care marketplace, including payers, care providers, employers, governments, life sciences companies and consumers. Using market-leading information, data analytics, technology and clinical insights, Optum helps improve overall health system performance: optimizing care quality, reducing health care costs and improving the consumer experience.

• Optum full year revenues of $155.6 billion grew $19.3 billion or 14.1% year-over-year, while full year operating earnings of $12.0 billion increased $1.9 billion or 19.4% compared to the previous year.

• Optum Health served 100 million people at year end 2021, compared to 98 million a year ago. Revenue per consumer served for the full year increased 33% driven by further expansion of people served in value-based care arrangements and the continued build-out of care delivery capabilities, including in-home physical and digital offerings complementing its growing clinic-based and outpatient services.

• Optum Insight’s revenue backlog increased by $2.2 billion in 2021 to $22.4 billion, driven by growth in comprehensive managed services. Significant new health system partnerships in 2021 and the breadth of services offered by Optum Insight continued to advance in areas such as payment integrity, digital modernization and care coordination.

• Optum Rx continued to advance the scope of its pharmacy care services offerings during 2021, with further expansion in community-based behavioral pharmacies and across e-commerce, infusion and specialty pharmacy services. Optum Rx fulfilled 1.37 billion adjusted scripts in 2021, growth of 58 million or 4.4% over the prior year, through new and existing client relationships.

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