NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) reported third quarter results reflecting well-balanced growth and steady execution across its diverse businesses.

“Our growth indicators are positive as we conclude 2016, and we expect to be well positioned in 2017 to better serve consumers and deliver more value to the health system overall,” said Stephen J. Hemsley, chief executive officer of UnitedHealth Group.

The Company increased its outlook for 2016 GAAP net earnings to approximately $7.45 per share and adjusted net earnings to approximately $8.00 per share, from its previous range of $7.25 to $7.40 in GAAP net earnings per share and $7.80 to $7.95 in adjusted net earnings per share.

UnitedHealthcare provides health care benefits, serving individuals and employers ranging from sole proprietorships to large, multi-site and national and international organizations; delivers health and well-being benefits to Medicare beneficiaries and retirees; manages health care benefit programs on behalf of state Medicaid and community programs; and serves the nation’s military service members, retirees and their families through the TRICARE program.

• Over the past year UnitedHealthcare has grown to serve over 2 million more consumers in domestic medical benefits markets, including approximately 200,000 more people in the third quarter. This broad-based growth is reflected in UnitedHealthcare’s third quarter revenue growth of 13 percent, or $4.4 billion year-over-year, to $37.2 billion.
• Third quarter 2016 earnings from operations for UnitedHealthcare of $2.1 billion increased 13 percent year-over-year. UnitedHealthcare’s third quarter operating margin of 5.7 percent remained stable year-over-year.

UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual

• Third quarter 2016 UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual revenues of $13.3 billion grew $1.4 billion or 12 percent year-over-year, driven by growth in the number of consumers served and price increases for medical cost trends on risk-based products.
• UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual grew year-over-year to serve 955,000 more people at September 30, 2016. Growth from employer-sponsored groups offset decreases in individual benefit coverage during the third quarter, resulting in overall growth of 55,000 people served through risk-based commercial products. Year-to-date, the total number of consumers served through employer-sponsored benefits has grown by more than 450,000 people.

UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement

• Third quarter 2016 UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement revenues of $13.9 billion grew $1.7 billion or 14 percent year-over-year, driven by growth in services to seniors through both individual and employer-sponsored group medical products.
  • In Medicare Advantage, UnitedHealthcare grew to serve 375,000 more seniors year-over-year, a 12 percent increase, including 50,000 seniors in the third quarter.
  • Medicare Supplement products grew 6 percent to serve 235,000 more people year-over-year, including 30,000 seniors in the third quarter.
  • UnitedHealthcare’s stand-alone Medicare Part D program served 4.9 million people at September 30, 2016, consistent with the June 30, 2016 level.

UnitedHealthcare Community & State

• Third quarter 2016 UnitedHealthcare Community & State revenues of $8.3 billion grew $920 million or 12 percent year-over-year.
• In the past year, UnitedHealthcare grew to serve 485,000 more people in Medicaid, an increase of 9 percent, including 115,000 more people in third quarter 2016. UnitedHealthcare’s growing membership and increasing capabilities in serving people with complex conditions reflect a continued response to states’ needs for quality care and service for these beneficiaries.

Optum is a health services business serving the broad health care marketplace, including payers, care providers, employers, governments, life sciences companies and consumers. Using advanced data analytics and technology, Optum’s people help improve overall health system performance: optimizing care quality, reducing costs and improving the consumer experience and care provider performance.

• Third quarter 2016 Optum revenues of $21.1 billion grew $1.8 billion or 9 percent year-over-year. Optum earnings from operations grew 28 percent or $325 million year-over-year to nearly $1.5 billion, with double-digit percentage earnings growth and solid operating margins across all business segments.
• Each business grew revenues and earnings from operations sequentially and year-over-year, with strong performance in technology and pharmacy care services combining to lift Optum’s operating margin to 6.9 percent in the third quarter.
  • OptumHealth revenues of $4.3 billion grew $800 million or 23 percent year-over-year due to growth in health care delivery businesses and expansion of behavioral services into new Medicaid markets. OptumHealth served 81 million consumers at September 30, 2016, reflecting growth of 4 million people or 5 percent year-over-year.
  • OptumInsight revenues grew 15 percent year-over-year to $1.8 billion in the third quarter of 2016, driven by growth in revenue management, business process outsourcing and technology services and payer service offerings. OptumInsight’s revenue backlog grew to $12.6 billion at September 30, 2016, an increase of 24 percent year-over-year, led by growth in revenue management and payer service offerings.
  • OptumRx revenues of $15.2 billion grew 6 percent year-over-year. OptumRx grew script fulfillments by 12 percent to 252 million adjusted scripts in the third quarter of 2016.

About UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health and well-being company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and helping make the health system work better for everyone. UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which provides health care coverage and benefits services; and Optum, which provides information and technology-enabled health services. For more information, visit UnitedHealth Group at www.unitedhealthgroup.com or follow @UnitedHealthGrp on Twitter.