Results Center

Total revenues increased 3.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the prior year driven by growth across all segments.

Operating income and adjusted operating income increased 3.4% and 2.2%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the prior year. The increase in both operating income and adjusted operating income was primarily due to growth in the Pharmacy Services and Health Care Benefits segments, partially offset by declines in the Retail/LTC segment.

Interest expense decreased 10.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the prior year primarily due to lower debt in the three months ended March 31, 2021.

The effective income tax rate was 25.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to 27.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The decrease in the effective income tax rate was primarily due to the repeal of the non-deductible health insurer fee (“HIF”) for 2021.

Total revenues increased 3.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the prior year primarily driven by net new business, growth in specialty pharmacy, product mix and brand inflation, partially offset by continued price compression and a weak cough, cold and flu season.

Adjusted operating income increased 27.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the prior year primarily driven by improved purchasing economics and growth in specialty pharmacy, partially offset by continued price compression.

Total pharmacy claims processed decreased 1.0% on a 30-day equivalent basis for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the prior year primarily driven by a weak cough, cold and flu season, partially offset by net new business in the three months ended March 31, 2021.

Total revenues increased 2.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the prior year primarily driven by increased COVID-19 diagnostic testing and vaccinations and brand inflation. These increases were partially offset by lower front store revenues, primarily due to the acceleration of demand in March 2020 as consumers prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic and a weak cough, cold and flu season; continued reimbursement pressure and the impact of recent generic introductions.

Adjusted operating income decreased 26.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the prior year primarily driven by continued reimbursement pressure and the lower front store volume described above. These decreases were partially offset by increased COVID-19 diagnostic testing in the three months ended March 31, 2021.

Prescriptions filled remained relatively consistent on a 30-day equivalent basis for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the prior year, with COVID-19 vaccinations and the continued adoption of patient care programs largely offset by the impact of a weak cough, cold and flu season, the acceleration of demand in March 2020 as consumers prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic and decreased long-term care prescription volume.

Total revenues increased 6.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the prior year primarily driven by growth in the Government Services business, partially offset by the unfavorable impact of the repeal of the HIF for 2021.

Adjusted operating income increased 19.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the prior year. The increase in adjusted operating income was primarily driven by improved performance in the Government Services business and the impact of cost savings initiatives.

The MBR increased 80 basis points for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the prior year primarily driven by the repeal of the HIF for 2021 and lower Medicare risk adjustment revenue. These increases were partially offset by improved performance in the Company’s Medicaid products and favorable development of prior-years’ health care cost estimates.

Medical membership as of March 31, 2021 of 23.6 million increased 214,000 members compared with December 31, 2020, primarily reflecting increases in Medicare and Medicaid products, partially offset by a decline in Commercial products. The segment experienced favorable development of prior-years’ health care cost estimates in its Commercial and Government Services businesses during the three months ended March 31, 2021, primarily attributable to fourth quarter 2020 performance.

Prior years’ health care costs payable estimates developed favorably by $652 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021. This development is reported on a basis consistent with the prior years’ development reported in the health care costs payable table in the Company’s annual audited financial statements and does not directly correspond to an increase in 2021 operating results.

The Company raised its full year 2021 GAAP diluted EPS guidance range to $6.24 to $6.36 from $6.06 to $6.22 and its full year 2021 Adjusted EPS guidance range to $7.56 to $7.68 from $7.39 to $7.55 and confirmed its full year 2021 cash flow from operations guidance range of $12.0 billion to $12.5 billion.

The adjustments between GAAP diluted EPS and Adjusted EPS include, as applicable, adding back amortization of intangible assets, as well as integration costs related to the Company’s acquisition (the “Aetna Acquisition”) of Aetna Inc. (“Aetna”).