Optum drives UnitedHealth’s better-than-expected earnings

In a year when healthcare costs continued to increase, UnitedHealth Group reported better-than-expected results at the end of 2019. The company reported earnings of $19.68 billion in 2019, up 13 percent year-over-year. UnitedHealth saw improving margins in most of its business segments, with its Optum segment reporting double-digit growth across the board. The company also managed to grow its already large presence in the Medicare Advantage market, despite several new competitors. Overall, UnitedHealth Group’s revenues fell below expectations, at $242.15 billion, though they were still up 7 percent form 2018. As with previous years, the amount it collected in premiums has continued to creep up. In 2019, UnitedHealth Group collected $189.7 billion. The prior year, it collected $178.1 billion.