UnitedHealth Group’s Q3 earnings show impact of Change cyberattack

UnitedHealth Group’s third quarter earnings reflect the fallout of the Change ransomware attack from February, according to the Q3 earnings released Tuesday..

Earnings from operations of $8.7 billion for the three months ending September 30 include $0.3 billion in unfavorable cyberattack effects, UnitedHealth Group said. Adjusted earnings of $9 billion include impacts from the Change business disruption but exclude cyberattack direct response costs.

This compares to Q3 2023 earnings from operations of $8.5 billion.

Adjusted earnings of $7.15 per share include $.12 in business disruption impacts and excludes $.28 in direct response costs.

UnitedHealth Group’s stock price fell over 9% at one point Tuesday morning after the earnings report, according to Seeking Alpha.

WHY THIS MATTERS

The company said its adjusted net earnings outlook of $27.50 to $27.75 continues within the $27.50 to $28 range established nearly a year ago, even as it absorbs an estimated $0.75 per share of business disruption impacts for the affected Change Healthcare services, which have increased about $.10 per share from the estimate provided last quarter. 

The company’s full year 2024 net earnings outlook of $15.50 to $15.75 per share reflects the South America operations disposition activities reported in the first half of 2024 and Change Healthcare cyberattack impacts.

The medical cost ratio increased from 82.3% last year during the third quarter to 85.2% this year. Among the reasons for the increase is the Medicare funding reductions from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Days claims payable increased to 47.4 this year compared to 45.2 in 2023 due to more normal claims submission patterns from providers, UnitedHealth said.

The Q3 2024 results also reflect broad-based growth in the number of people served by Optum and UnitedHealthcare. 

The number of consumers in commercial offerings grew by 2.4 million.

Revenues of $100.8 billion grew $8.5 billion year-over-year.

“Our continued growth, which positions us well for the coming years, is rooted in the innovative products and responsive service of our people that are embraced each day across the full range of health care participants,” said CEO Andrew Witty, by statement.

THE LARGER TREND

Change Healthcare, which was bought by Optum two years ago, was hit by a ransomware attack on February 21 that disrupted claims payments for numerous hospitals and physician practices nationwide. 

As of April, UnitedHealth estimated Change expenses would exceed $1 billion this year.

In May, speaking before a House Committee, UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty confirmed that he made the decision to pay $22 million in bitcoin ransom to protect patient information. 

The HIMSS Healthcare Cybersecurity Forum is scheduled to take place October 31-November 1 in Washington, D.C. Learn more and register.

Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org