Humana: higher prices for elderly customers will help it meet its 2009 profit forecast

[Fireweed247]

Humana Inc., the second-biggest provider of U.S.-funded health insurance, beat analysts’ estimates for fourth-quarter revenue and said higher prices for elderly customers will help it meet its 2009 profit forecast.

Revenue climbed 18 percent from a year earlier to $7.49 billion because of higher enrollment in health plans, the Louisville, Kentucky-based company said today in a statement. That compares with an average $7.35 billion in a Bloomberg survey of a dozen analysts.

Humana said it expects to earn $5.90 to $6.10 a share this year, helped by a 64 percent increase in average premiums for its biggest U.S. Medicare-backed drug plans for the elderly. In 2008, drug plans derailed Humana’s profit goals because a larger number of sicker people joined the plans and generated higher-than- anticipated claims. The company raised premiums, a move that Humana says may drive away 1.2 million expensive customers.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aXgruAj1gIkU&refer=news

[nightrain]

1. this crap is why we need a single payer health care system!

Support John Conyer's bill HR676--"Medicare for all".

[madaboutharry]

3. Absolutely agree.

The American people get shitty healthcare because corporations like this see a person's illness as a means of making money.

[Triana]

2. PROFIT should NOT be part of healthcare.

PERIOD.

[DarleenMB]

17. which is EXACTLY why

the feds need to LOCKDOWN full bore restraints (i.e. regulations) on the insurance industry.

First of all it should NOT be a for=profit "industry."

And that goes double for health care.

I've said it before, I'll say it again. We do not need "single payer health insurance." We need to get the FOR PROFITS OUT OF THE HEALTH CARE FIELD.

[Cleita]

4. The Medicare advantage programs need to be stopped. They only

deplete the Medicare health care dollars for private health care organization's profit. I tried to warn some seniors away from Humana and Medicare advantage programs altogether, but I guess they will learn the hard way.

[Autumn]

5. What a fucking disgrace

this infuriates me. May they fucking rot in hell along with any of our politician that let them get away with this.

[Romulox]

6. As long as we have a system that rations healthcare based on ability to pay

then profit is going to be central to health-care providers' decisions...

[bunnies]

7. Sweet!

Whats best for Humana is best for everyone! Yay for profitcare!
:sarcasm:

[Fireweed247]

14. profitcare

:rofl:

[sinkingfeeling]

8. "Humana" the worst-named business in the world. One might think they gave a rat's ass about human

beings, but one would be completely wrong since they only care about profit.

[Fireweed247]

10. perfect name

for the Orwellian world we are living in these days.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

16. Lawyers call it "Inhumana".

That's accurate.

[Fireweed247]

9. It is unbelievable that they would be so obviously greedy and heartless

so self absorbed they don't even realize what they are saying and who they are hurting?
(and people wonder why the poor hate the rich?)

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

11. Michael McCallister ceo of Humana

3.33 million yearly compensation

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/12/AG0Q.html

[Fireweed247]

15. wow

:wow:

[Vinca]

12. Overtly screwing the elderly. It makes me sick. nt

[bobbolink]

13. Sacrifice Elders For Increased Profits. Why don't the headlines tell the honest truth?

That's what this is.

SACRIFICE of those who can't fight back.

But, where's the outrage?

Younger people don't care... doesn't affect them.

This is why I keep trying to get people to see that preferring one group over another NEVER works to our betterment.

"We need to focus on Vets"

"We need to focus on the children"

etc etc etc....

THIS IS WHAT IT LEADS TO!

[Fireweed247]

18. thanks for the recs

:kick: