Coventry Health Care Reports Fourth Quarter Earnings

Announces 2012 EPS Guidance Range of $3.10 - $3.30

BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Coventry Health Care, Inc. (NYSE: CVH) today reported consolidated operating results for the quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. Operating revenues totaled $3.1 billion for the quarter with net earnings of $85.7 million, or $0.60 earnings per diluted share (EPS). These results include a favorable impact from the Medicare Advantage Private Fee-for-Service (MA-PFFS) product of $0.02 EPS. Excluding the impact of MA-PFFS results⁽¹⁾, core earnings for the quarter were $82.1 million, or $0.58 EPS.

For the year ended December 31, 2011, total operating revenues were $12.2 billion with net earnings of $543.1 million, or $3.70 EPS. These results include EPS of $0.15 from the MA-PFFS product and EPS of $0.68 related to the definitive settlement agreement associated with the provider class action litigation in Louisiana which was approved by the court during the second quarter. Excluding the impact of MA-PFFS results⁽¹⁾ and the provider class action litigation adjustment⁽²⁾, core earnings for the year were $419.5 million, or $2.87 EPS.

“We spent much of 2011 focused on seizing growth opportunities for 2012 and beyond, and I am very pleased with the strong growth in Medicaid and Medicare as we enter the first quarter of 2012,” said Allen F. Wise, chairman and chief executive officer of Coventry. “As we wrap up 2011, we turn our focus towards 2012 with a forecast of double digit revenue growth coupled with operating earnings and EPS growth. We are hard at work to deliver on 2012 commitments while laying the foundation to seize opportunities for the future.”

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2011 Consolidated Highlights

• Implemented a Medicaid contract with the Commonwealth of Kentucky effective November 1, 2011
  • Providing services to approximately 221,000 new members at year-end
• Closed the acquisition of Children’s Mercy’s Family Health Partners effective January 1, 2012, adding approximately 210,000 Medicaid members
• Successful execution during the 2012 Annual Enrollment Period resulting in enrollment gains of approximately 28,000, or 13%, in Medicare-CCP and just under 300,000, or 25%, in Medicare Part D
• Reduced selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expense as a percentage of revenue from 16.9% in 2010 to 16.5% in 2011
• Repurchased 3.2 million shares for $100.0 million during the fourth quarter and 10.7 million shares for $327.7 million for the full year
  • Increased the share repurchase authorization by 14.4 million shares in the fourth quarter, with authorization remaining at year-end of 16.5 million shares
• Approximately $900 million of deployable free cash at the parent at January 31, 2012
• Entered into a new $750 million, five-year unsecured revolving credit facility during the second quarter of 2011 which remains undrawn at year-end

Selected Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2011 Highlights

• Commercial Risk⁽³⁾. As of December 31, 2011, commercial risk membership was 1,635,000, a decrease of 6,000 members from the prior year-end as approximately 18,000 members associated with the State of Illinois account moved to ASO during 2011. The commercial risk medical loss ratio (MLR) was 83.7% in the quarter and 81.6% for the full year.
• Medicare Advantage. As of December 31, 2011, Medicare Advantage Coordinated Care Plan (MA-CCP) membership was 222,000, an increase of 2,000 members from the prior quarter. The MA-CCP MLR was 82.3% in the quarter, a decrease of 180 bps from the prior year quarter, and 82.9% for the full year. During the fourth quarter, the run-out of the MA-PFFS product line contributed $0.02 EPS and has now contributed $0.15 EPS for the full year. As previously announced, the Company did not renew this product line effective January 1, 2010.
• Medicare Part D. As of December 31, 2011, Medicare Part D membership was 1,143,000, a decrease of 5,000 members from the prior quarter. The Medicare Part D MLR was 60.5% in the quarter, a decrease of 420 bps from the prior year quarter. The Medicare Part D MLR was 81.7% for the full year, a decrease of 200 bps from the prior full year.
• Medicaid. As of December 31, 2011, Medicaid membership was 692,000, an increase of 224,000 members from the prior year-end. Coventry commenced operations in Kentucky during the fourth quarter which contributed approximately 221,000 new members. The Medicaid MLR was 94.4% in the quarter and 89.4% for the full year.

2012 FULL YEAR GUIDANCE

• Risk revenue of $12.75 billion to $12.90 billion
• Management services revenue of $1.11 billion to $1.15 billion
• Consolidated revenue of $13.86 billion to $14.05 billion
• Consolidated MLR of 83.1% to 83.9%
• Cost of sales expense of $231.0 million to $237.0 million
• SG&A expense of $2.13 billion to $2.16 billion
• Depreciation and amortization expense of $136.0 million to $140.0 million
• Other income of $77.0 million to $83.0 million
• Interest expense of $98.0 million to $99.0 million
• Tax rate of 36.7% to 37.3%
• Diluted share count of 138.0 million to 142.0 million
• EPS of $3.10 to $3.30

2011 EPS RECONCILIATION TABLE
	2011 Actual	Previous Guidance
EPS from core businesses	$2.87	$2.82 - $2.87
Impact from non-recurring MA-PFFS^(1)	$0.15	$0.13
EPS including MA-PFFS	$3.02	$2.95 - $3.00
Impact from Q2 2011 litigation adjustment^(2)	$0.68	$0.68
GAAP EPS	$3.70	$3.63 - $3.68

Mr. Allen F. Wise, chairman and chief executive officer of Coventry, will host a conference call at 8:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. To listen to the call, dial toll-free at [phone] or, for international callers, [phone]. Callers will be asked to identify themselves and their affiliations. The conference call will also be webcast from Coventry’s Investor Relations site at www.coventryhealthcare.com. Coventry asks participants on both the call and webcast to review and be familiar with its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A replay of the call will be available for one week at [phone] or, for international callers, [phone]. The access code is 4441852.

This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are defined as statements that are not historical facts and include those statements relating to future events or future financial performance, including the guidance herein. Actual performance may be significantly impacted by certain risks and uncertainties including those described in Coventry’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, and Coventry’s subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Among the risk factors that may materially affect Coventry’s business, operations or financial condition are the ability to accurately estimate and control future health care costs; the ability to increase premiums to offset increases in the Company’s health care costs; general economic conditions and disruptions in the financial markets; changes in legal requirements from recently enacted federal or state laws or regulations, court decisions, or government investigations or proceedings; guaranty fund assessments under state insurance guaranty association law; changes in government funding and various other risks associated with our participation in Medicare and Medicaid programs; a reduction in the number of members in the Company’s health plans; the Company’s ability to acquire additional managed care businesses and the Company’s ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses into its operations; an ability to attract new members or to increase or maintain premium rates; the non-renewal or termination of the Company’s government contracts, unsuccessful bids for business with government agencies or renewal of government contracts on less than favorable terms; failure of independent agents and brokers to continue to market the Company’s products to employers; a failure to obtain cost-effective agreements with a sufficient number of providers that could result in higher medical costs and a decrease in membership; negative publicity regarding the managed health care industry generally or the Company in particular; a failure to effectively protect, maintain, and develop our information technology systems; compromises of the Company’s data security; periodic reviews, audits and investigations under the Company’s contracts with federal and state government agencies; litigation, including litigation based on new or evolving legal theories; volatility in the Company’s stock price and trading volume; the Company’s indebtedness, which imposes certain restrictions on its business and operations; an inability to generate sufficient cash to service the Company’s indebtedness; the Company’s ability to receive cash from its regulated subsidiaries; the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Delaware law, which could delay, discourage or prevent a change in control of the Company that its stockholders may consider favorable; and an impairment of the Company’s intangible assets. Coventry undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Coventry Health Care (www.coventryhealthcare.com) is a diversified national managed healthcare company based in Bethesda, Maryland, operating health plans, insurance companies, network rental and workers’ compensation services companies. Coventry provides a full range of risk and fee-based managed care products and services to a broad cross section of individuals, employer and government-funded groups, government agencies, and other insurance carriers and administrators.

COVENTRY HEALTH CARE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
	Quarters Ended				Years Ended
	December 31,				December 31,
	2011		2010		2011		2010
Operating revenues:	(unaudited)		(unaudited)		(unaudited)
Managed care premiums	$	2,841,976	$	2,730,377	$	11,014,950	$	10,414,640
Management services		287,180		294,639		1,171,733		1,173,276
Total operating revenues		3,129,156		3,025,016		12,186,683		11,587,916
Operating expenses:
Medical costs		2,331,881		2,156,033		9,041,402		8,265,947
Cost of sales		73,941		64,152		283,544		252,052
Selling, general, and administrative		539,717		531,442		2,016,042		1,961,947
Provider class action		-		-		(159,300)		278,000
Depreciation and amortization		34,674		36,343		136,865		140,685
Total operating expenses		2,980,213		2,787,970		11,318,553		10,898,631
Operating earnings		148,943		237,046		868,130		689,285
Operating earnings percentage of total revenues		4.8%		7.8%		7.1%		5.9%
Interest expense		28,219		19,705		99,062		80,418
Other income, net		22,833		18,505		89,033		77,667
Earnings before income taxes		143,557		235,846		858,101		686,534
Provision for income taxes		57,861		85,520		314,996		247,918
Net earnings	$	85,696	$	150,326	$	543,105	$	438,616
Net earnings per share:
Basic earnings per share	$	0.61	$	1.02	$	3.75	$	3.00
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.60	$	1.01	$	3.70	$	2.97
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic		141,196		146,775		144,775		146,169
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted		142,858		148,430		146,741		147,579

COVENTRY HEALTH CARE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands)
	December 31,		September 30,		December 31,
	2011		2011		2010
	(unaudited)		(unaudited)
Assets:
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,579,003	$	1,986,323	$	1,853,988
Short-term investments		116,205		222,631		16,849
Accounts receivable, net		270,263		257,720		276,694
Other receivables, net		717,736		496,631		515,882
Other current assets		286,301		262,903		371,528
Total current assets		2,969,508		3,226,208		3,034,941
Long-term investments		2,635,309		2,553,792		2,184,606
Property and equipment, net		255,485		262,432		262,282
Goodwill		2,548,834		2,559,605		2,550,570
Other intangible assets, net		367,533		383,582		431,886
Other long-term assets		36,863		38,277		31,300
Total assets	$	8,813,532	$	9,023,896	$	8,495,585
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:
Current liabilities:
Medical liabilities	$	1,308,507	$	1,224,216	$	1,237,690
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		695,235		637,245		942,226
Deferred revenue		114,510		398,756		103,082
Current portion of long-term debt		233,903		233,903		-
Total current liabilities		2,352,155		2,494,120		2,282,998
Long-term debt		1,584,700		1,584,578		1,599,396
Other long-term liabilities		365,686		432,603		414,025
Total liabilities		4,302,541		4,511,301		4,296,419
Stockholders’ equity		4,510,991		4,512,595		4,199,166
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	8,813,532	$	9,023,896	$	8,495,585

COVENTRY HEALTH CARE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in thousands)
(unaudited)
	Quarter Ended		Year Ended
	December 31, 2011		December 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$	85,696	$	543,105
Adjustments to earnings:
Depreciation and amortization		34,674		136,865
Amortization of stock compensation		10,566		40,530
Provider class action – release		---		(159,300)
Provider class action – deferred tax adjustment		---		58,145
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Provider class action – settlement		---		(150,500)
Accounts receivable, net		(12,543)		7,287
Other receivables		(218,780)		(198,479)
Medical liabilities		84,291		68,272
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities		63,417		68,605
Deferred revenue		(284,246)		11,510
Other operating activities		(32,656)		(24,881)
Net cash flows from operating activities		(269,581)		401,159
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures, net		(8,190)		(62,085)
Payments for investments, net of sales and maturities		(1,738)		(532,305)
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(3,500)		(7,616)
Net cash flows from investing activities		(13,428)		(602,006)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of stock		2,533		44,624
Payments for repurchase of stock		(126,614)		(336,219)
Proceeds from issuance of debt, net		---		589,867
Repayment of debt		---		(380,029)
Excess tax benefit from stock compensation		(230)		7,619
Net cash flows from financing activities		(124,311)		(74,138)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents for current period		(407,320)		(274,985)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		1,986,323		1,853,988
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	1,579,003	$	1,579,003
Cash and Investments:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,579,003	$	1,579,003
Short-term investments		116,205		116,205
Long-term investments		2,635,309		2,635,309
Total cash and investments	$	4,330,517	$	4,330,517

COVENTRY HEALTH CARE, INC.
SELECTED OPERATING STATISTICS
(Unaudited)
	Total										Total
	2011		Q4 2011		Q3 2011		Q2 2011		Q1 2011		2010
Membership by Product (000s)
Commercial Risk				1,635		1,636		1,648		1,636		1,641
Health Plan Commercial ASO				700		710		689		688		698
Medicare Advantage CCP				222		220		219		219		224
Medicaid Risk				692		467		467		468		468
Health Plan Total				3,249		3,033		3,023		3,011		3,031
Other National ASO				373		376		379		383		459
Total Medical Membership				3,622		3,409		3,402		3,394		3,490
Medicare Part D				1,143		1,148		1,150		1,159		1,628
Total Membership				4,765		4,557		4,552		4,553		5,118
Revenues by Product Type (000s)
Commercial Risk	$	6,009,848	$	1,510,768	$	1,497,133	$	1,510,849	$	1,491,099	$	5,540,470
Commercial Management Services		302,522		71,049		79,615		74,016		77,842		327,084
Medicare Advantage		2,382,330		598,796		591,051		601,240		591,242		2,114,205
Medicaid Risk		1,381,706		448,597		316,255		305,788		311,066		1,133,353
Total Health Plan and Medical Services Businesses		10,076,406		2,629,210		2,484,054		2,491,893		2,471,249		9,115,112
Medicare Part D		1,226,734		280,146		271,947		316,196		358,445		1,604,198
Other Premiums		105,597		26,132		26,341		26,709		26,415		100,130
Other Management Services		879,707		219,281		218,393		223,892		218,141		856,072
Total Specialized Managed Care Businesses		2,212,038		525,559		516,681		566,797		603,001		2,560,400
Total Premiums		11,106,215		2,864,439		2,702,727		2,760,782		2,778,267		10,492,356
Total Management Services		1,182,229		290,330		298,008		297,908		295,983		1,183,156
Other/Eliminations		(101,761)		(25,613)		(25,192)		(25,644)		(25,312)		(87,596)
Total Revenue	$	12,186,683	$	3,129,156	$	2,975,543	$	3,033,046	$	3,048,938	$	11,587,916
Consolidated Coventry
Operating Income % of Revenues		7.1%		4.8%		6.5%		11.7%		5.6%		5.9%
SGA % of Revenues		16.5%		17.2%		16.6%		16.0%		16.4%		16.9%
Total Health Plan Medical Liabilities (000s)^(4)			$	1,106,174	$	1,088,989	$	1,094,021	$	1,087,137	$	1,021,667
Health Plan Days in Claims Payable (DCP)^(4)				50.45		50.52		50.48		50.40		48.62
Total Debt (millions)			$	1,818.6	$	1,818.5	$	1,818.4	$	1,599.5	$	1,599.4
Total Capital (millions)			$	6,329.6	$	6,331.1	$	6,313.2	$	5,869.3	$	5,798.6
Debt to Capital				28.7%		28.7%		28.8%		27.3%		27.6%

COVENTRY HEALTH CARE, INC.
SELECTED REVENUE AND MEDICAL COST STATISTICS
(Unaudited)
	Total					Total
	2011	Q4 2011	Q3 2011	Q2 2011	Q1 2011	2010
Revenue PMPM
Commercial Risk^(3)	$303.69	$305.70	$303.33	$304.19	$301.54	$298.62
Medicare Advantage	$895.54	$896.77	$893.22	$909.10	$883.09	$876.67
Medicare Part D^(5)	$ 92.41	$ 90.95	$ 94.10	$ 93.72	$ 90.86	$ 87.96
Medicaid	$228.85	$244.71	$226.39	$218.28	$221.16	$218.98
MLR%
Consolidated Total	82.1%	82.1%	81.5%	82.1%	82.6%	79.4%
Commercial Risk^(3)	81.6%	83.7%	82.1%	80.7%	80.0%	78.4%
Medicare Advantage	82.9%	82.3%	82.0%	82.9%	84.2%	82.0%
Medicare Part D	81.7%	60.5%	76.8%	88.8%	95.8%	83.7%
Medicaid	89.4%	94.4%	88.1%	86.9%	86.0%	85.7%

(1)	The Company did not renew the MA-PFFS product line effective January 1, 2010 and is in the process of paying claims liabilities related to prior dates of service. The Company believes that disclosing adjusted earnings, which exclude the 2011 impact of the MA-PFFS results, provides a more meaningful measure of its operating results for comparison to future periods and previously announced guidance.
(2)	On May 31, 2011, the Company announced that it will record a non-recurring pre-tax adjustment to earnings in the second quarter of 2011 in the amount of $159.3 million, or $0.68 per diluted share related to such litigation. The Company believes that disclosing adjusted earnings figures which exclude the impact of this litigation provides a more meaningful measure of its operating results for comparison to future periods and previously announced guidance.
(3)	"Commercial Risk" includes the results for all commercial risk business including Individual, Small Group, and Large Group members. Previously, certain metrics reflected the commercial group business only.
(4)	“Total Health Plan Medical Liabilities” and “Health Plan Days in Claims Payable” are calculated consistent with prior disclosures to exclude MA-PFFS for all periods presented due to the Company’s non-renewal of this product line effective January 1, 2010. These statistics exclude the effect of the Kentucky Medicaid business for the fourth quarter of 2011 due to the timing of the contract implementation (November 1, 2011).
(5)	Revenue PMPM excludes the impact of CMS risk-share premium adjustments and revenue ceded to external parties.