UnitedHealth stock tumbles as profit outlook slashed on care increase| STAT

Bob Herman covers health insurance, government programs, hospitals, physicians, and other providers — reporting on how money influences those businesses and shapes what we all pay for care. He is also the author of the Health Care Inc. newsletter. You can reach Bob on Signal at bobjherman.09.

Tara Bannow covers hospitals, providers, and insurers. You can reach Tara on Signal at tarabannow.70.

UnitedHealth Group on Thursday slashed its profit outlook for this year after the health care conglomerate said its Medicare Advantage members continued to seek more medical care than it anticipated, sending its stock tumbling.

The company now expects earnings per share to be around $24.90, a 12% cut from the original goal of $28.40. That translates into more than $3 billion in lower expected profits.

Executives didn’t downplay the company’s dismal results. On Thursday’s earnings call, UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty called them “unusual and unacceptable,” and CFO John Rex said he was “extremely disappointed” in the company’s lower 2025 outlook. 

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