10-K 1 d10k.htm FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED 12/31/2005 For the Fiscal Year Ended 12/31/2005
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 


 

(Mark One)

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2005

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Commission file number: 1-10864

 


 

UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INCORPORATED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

MINNESOTA   41-1321939

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

UNITEDHEALTH GROUP CENTER

9900 BREN ROAD EAST

MINNETONKA, MINNESOTA

  55343
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (952) 936-1300

 


 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

COMMON STOCK, $.01 PAR VALUE   NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, INC.
(Title of each class)   (Name of each exchange on which registered)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: NONE

 


 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  þ    No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ¨    No  þ

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  þ    No  ¨

 

Indicate by checkmark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  þ

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer  þ

  Accelerated filer  ¨   Non-accelerated filer  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  þ

 

The aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2005, was approximately $65,178,318,867 (based on the last reported sale price of $52.14 per share on June 30, 2005, on the New York Stock Exchange).*

 

As of February 15, 2006, there were 1,356,292,073 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, $.01 par value per share, issued and outstanding.

 

Note that in Part III of this report on Form 10-K, we “incorporate by reference” certain information from our Definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 2, 2006. This document will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) within the time period permitted by the SEC. The SEC allows us to disclose important information by referring to it in that manner. Please refer to such information.

 

* Only shares of voting stock held beneficially by directors, executive officers and subsidiaries of the company have been excluded in determining this number.

 



Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page

    PART I     

Item 1.

  Business    1
   

Introduction

   1
   

Description of Business Segments

   3
   

Government Regulation

   11
   

Competition

   12
   

Employees

   12
   

Executive Officers of the Registrant

   13

Item 1A.

  Risk Factors    15

Item 1B.

  Unresolved Staff Comments    15

Item 2.

  Properties    15

Item 3.

  Legal Proceedings    15

Item 4.

  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    15
    PART II     

Item 5.

  Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities    15

Item 6.

  Selected Financial Data    17

Item 7.

  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    18

Item 7A.

  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk    41

Item 8.

  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data    42

Item 9.

  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure    67

Item 9A.

  Controls and Procedures    67

Item 9B.

  Other Information    71
    PART III     

Item 10.

  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant    71

Item 11.

  Executive Compensation    72

Item 12.

  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters    72

Item 13.

  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions    72

Item 14.

  Principal Accountant Fees and Services    72
    PART IV     

Item 15.

  Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules    73

Signatures

   77

Exhibit Index

   78


Table of Contents

PART I

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

 

INTRODUCTION

 

UnitedHealth Group is a diversified health and well-being company, serving approximately 65 million Americans. We are focused on improving the American health care system and how it works for multiple, distinct constituencies. We provide individuals with access to quality, cost-effective health care services and resources through more than 500,000 physicians and other care providers and 4,600 hospitals across the United States. During 2005, we managed approximately $68 billion in aggregate annual health care spending on behalf of the constituents and consumers we served. Our primary focus is on improving health care systems by simplifying the administrative components of health care delivery, promoting evidence-based medicine as the standard for care, and providing relevant, actionable data that physicians, health care providers, consumers, employers and other participants in health care can use to make better, more informed decisions. Through our diversified family of businesses, we leverage core competencies in advanced technology-based transactional capabilities; health care data, knowledge and information; and health care resource organization and care facilitation to improve access to health and well-being services, simplify the health care experience, promote quality and make health care more affordable.

 

Our revenues are derived from premium revenues on risk-based products; fees from management, administrative, technology and consulting services; sales of a wide variety of products and services related to the broad health and well-being industry; and, investment and other income. We conduct our business primarily through operating divisions in the following business segments:

 

    Uniprise;

 

    Health Care Services, which includes our UnitedHealthcare, Ovations and AmeriChoice businesses;

 

    Specialized Care Services; and

 

    Ingenix.

 

For a discussion of our financial results by segment see Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

On December 20, 2005 we acquired PacifiCare Health Systems, Inc. PacifiCare offers managed care and other health insurance products to employer groups, individuals and Medicare beneficiaries, with approximately 3.1 million health plan members, including 2.4 million commercial members and 750,000 senior members, and approximately 12 million specialty plan members nationwide. PacifiCare’s commercial and senior plans are primarily offered in the Western United States and are designed to deliver quality health care and customer service cost effectively. PacifiCare operates one of the largest Medicare Advantage programs in the United States as measured by membership under its Secure Horizons brand. PacifiCare’s specialty plan operations include behavioral health, dental, vision and complete pharmacy benefit management (PBM) services, through its subsidiary Prescription Solutions.

 

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is a Minnesota corporation incorporated in January 1977. The terms “we,” “our” or the “company” refer to UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and our subsidiaries. Our executive offices are located at UnitedHealth Group Center, 9900 Bren Road East, Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343; our telephone number is (952) 936-1300. You can access our Web site at www.unitedhealthgroup.com to learn more about our company. From that site, you can download and print copies of our annual reports to shareholders, annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K, along with amendments to

 

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those reports. You can also download from our Web site our Articles of Incorporation, bylaws and corporate governance policies, including our Principles of Governance, Board of Directors Committee Charters, and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. We make periodic reports and amendments available, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after we file or furnish these reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). We will also provide a copy of any of our corporate governance policies published on our Web site free of charge, upon request. To request a copy of any of these documents, please submit your request to: UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, 9900 Bren Road East, Minnetonka, MN 55343, Attn: Corporate Secretary.

 

Our transfer agent, Wells Fargo, can help you with a variety of shareholder-related services, including change of address, lost stock certificates, transfer of stock to another person and other administrative services. You can write to our transfer agent at: Wells Fargo Shareowner Services, P.O. Box 64854, St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0854, email stocktransfer@wellsfargo.com, or telephone (800) 468-9716 or (651) 450-4064.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS SEGMENTS

 

UNIPRISE

 

Uniprise delivers health care and well-being services nationwide to large national employers, individual consumers and other health care organizations through three related business units: Uniprise Strategic Solutions (USS), Definity Health and Exante Financial Services (Exante). Each business unit works with other UnitedHealth Group businesses to deliver a complementary and integrated array of services. USS delivers strategic health and well-being solutions to large national employers. Definity Health provides consumer-driven health plans and services to employers and their employees. As of December 31, 2005, USS and Definity Health served approximately 10.5 million individuals. Exante delivers health-care-focused financial services for consumers, employers and providers. Most Uniprise products and services are delivered through its affiliates. Uniprise provides administrative and customer care services for certain other businesses of UnitedHealth Group. Uniprise also offers transactional processing services to various intermediaries and health care entities.

 

Uniprise specializes in large-volume transaction management, large-scale benefit design and innovative technology solutions that simplify complex administrative processes and promote improved health outcomes. Uniprise processes approximately 240 million medical benefit claims each year and responds to approximately 50 million service calls annually. Uniprise provides comprehensive operational services for independent health plans and third-party administrators, as well as the majority of the commercial health plan consumers served by UnitedHealthcare. Uniprise maintains Internet-based administrative and financial applications for physician inquiries and transactions, customer-specific data analysis for employers, and consumer access to personal health care information and services.

 

USS

 

USS provides comprehensive and customized administrative, benefits and service solutions for large employers and other organizations with more than 5,000 employees in multiple locations. USS customers generally retain the risk of financing the medical benefits of their employees and their dependents and USS provides coordination and facilitation of medical services; transaction processing; consumer and care provider services; and access to contracted networks of physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals for a fixed service fee per individual served. As of December 31, 2005, USS served approximately 380 employers, including approximately 160 of the Fortune 500 companies.

 

Definity Health

 

Definity Health provides innovative consumer health care solutions that enable consumers to take ownership and control of their health care benefits. Definity Health’s products include high-deductible consumer-driven benefit plans coupled with health reimbursement accounts (HRAs) or health savings accounts (HSAs), and discount cards for services generally not covered by high-deductible health plans. Definity Health is a national leader in consumer-driven health benefit programs. As of December 31, 2005, Definity Health provided health benefits to 83 employers, including 23 of the Fortune 500, under self-funded benefit plan arrangements.

 

Exante

 

Exante Financial Services provides health-based financial services for consumers, employers and providers. These financial services are delivered through Exante Bank, a Utah-chartered industrial bank. These financial services include HSAs that consumers can access using a debit card. Exante’s health benefit card programs

 

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include electronic systems for verification of benefit coverage and eligibility and administration of Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and HRAs. Exante also provides extensive electronic payment and statement services for health care providers and payers.

 

HEALTH CARE SERVICES

 

Our Health Care Services segment consists of our UnitedHealthcare, Ovations and AmeriChoice businesses.

 

UnitedHealthcare

 

UnitedHealthcare offers a comprehensive array of consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for small and mid-sized employers, and individuals nationwide. UnitedHealthcare provides health care services on behalf of more than 14 million Americans as of December 31, 2005. With its risk-based product offerings, UnitedHealthcare assumes the risk of both medical and administrative costs for its customers in return for a monthly premium, which is typically at a fixed rate for a one-year period. UnitedHealthcare also provides administrative and other management services to customers that self-insure the medical costs of their employees and their dependents, for which UnitedHealthcare receives a fixed service fee per individual served. These customers retain the risk of financing medical benefits for their employees and their dependents, while UnitedHealthcare provides coordination and facilitation of medical services, customer and care provider services and access to a contracted network of physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals. Small employer groups are more likely to purchase risk-based products because they are generally unable or unwilling to bear a greater potential liability for health care expenditures.

 

UnitedHealthcare offers its products through affiliates that are usually licensed as insurance companies or as health maintenance organizations, depending upon a variety of factors, including state regulations. UnitedHealthcare’s product strategy centers on several fundamentals: consumer choice, broad access to health professionals, actionable information, better outcomes, quality service and greater affordability. Integrated wellness programs and services help individuals make informed decisions, maintain a healthy lifestyle and optimize health outcomes by coordinating access to care services and providing personalized, targeted education and information services.

 

UnitedHealthcare arranges for discounted access to care through more than 500,000 physicians and other care providers, and 4,600 hospitals across the United States. The consolidated purchasing capacity represented by the individuals UnitedHealth Group serves makes it possible for UnitedHealthcare to contract for cost-effective access to a large number of conveniently located care providers. Directly or through UnitedHealth Group’s family of companies, UnitedHealthcare offers:

 

    A broad range of benefit plans integrating medical, ancillary and alternative care products so customers can choose benefits that are right for them;

 

    Affordability through a broad product line from basic benefit plans to full benefit plans, all of which offer access to our broad-based proprietary network with economic benefits reflective of the aggregate purchasing capacity of tens of millions of people;

 

    Access to broad and diverse numbers of physicians and other care providers;

 

    Innovative clinical outreach programs—built around an extensive longitudinal clinical data set and the principles of evidence-based medicine—that promote care quality and patient safety and provide incentives for physicians who demonstrate consistency of clinical care against best practice standards;

 

    Access to quality and cost information for physicians and hospitals in a variety of specialties through the UnitedHealth Premium program;

 

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    Care facilitation services that use proprietary predictive technology to identify individuals with significant gaps in care and unmet needs or risk for potential health problems and then facilitate timely and appropriate interventions;

 

    Unique disease and condition management programs to help individuals address significant, complex disease states;

 

    Convenient self-service for customer transactions, pharmacy services and health information; and

 

    Clinical information that physicians can use to better serve their patients as well as improve their practices.

 

UnitedHealthcare’s regional and national access to broad, affordable and quality networks of care has advanced significantly in the past 24 months with acquisitions and/or expansions enhancing services throughout the United States, including California, Oregon, Washington, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Indiana, Florida, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. UnitedHealthcare has also organized health care alliances with select regional not-for-profit health plans to facilitate greater customer access and affordability.

 

We believe that UnitedHealthcare’s innovation distinguishes its product offerings from the competition. Its consumer-oriented health benefits and services value individual choice and control in accessing health care. UnitedHealthcare has programs that provide health education, admission counseling before hospital stays, care advocacy to help avoid delays in patients’ stays in the hospital, support for individuals at risk of needing intensive treatment and coordination of care for people with chronic conditions. UnitedHealthcare offers comprehensive and integrated pharmaceutical management services that achieve lower costs by using formulary programs that drive better unit costs for drugs, benefit designs that encourage consumers to use drugs that offer the best value and outcomes, and physician and consumer programs that support the appropriate use of drugs based on clinical evidence.

 

UnitedHealthcare’s distribution system consists primarily of insurance producers in the small employer group market and producers and other consultant-based or direct sales for large employer and public sector groups. UnitedHealthcare’s direct distribution operations are relatively limited and apply only in the Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia markets, as well as to portions of the large employer commercial market (which is generally self-funded) and to cross-selling of specialty products to existing customers. UnitedHealthcare’s external distribution network includes national benefits consultants and local insurance producers.

 

Ovations

 

Ovations provides health and well-being services for individuals age 50 and older, addressing their unique needs for preventative and acute health care services as well as for services dealing with chronic disease and other specialized issues for older individuals. Ovations is one of few enterprises fully dedicated to this market segment, providing products and services in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands through affiliates. Ovations’ wide array of products and services includes Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage health benefit coverage, and stand-alone prescription drug coverage and prescription drug discount cards, as well as disease management and chronic care programs.

 

Ovations has extensive capabilities and experience with distribution, including direct marketing to consumers on behalf of its key clients—AARP, state and U.S. government agencies and employer groups. Ovations also has distinct marketing, pricing, underwriting and clinical program management, and marketing capabilities dedicated to senior and geriatric risk-based health products and services.

 

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Medicare Reform Legislation

 

The Medicare Modernization Act represents a significant change to the Medicare program. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is overseeing a multiyear implementation of these changes, including the recent introduction of a prescription drug benefit (Part D) and a greater diversity in Medicare’s product offerings. We believe that these changes create and expand opportunities for well-organized and focused companies to better serve older Americans. We believe that Ovations is well-positioned to respond to these opportunities.

 

In November 2005, Ovations began enrollment into its Medicare Part D program, in preparation for offering prescription drug coverage to Medicare beneficiaries nationwide. Ovations provides the only Medicare prescription drug coverage plan branded by AARP, the nation’s largest membership organization dedicated to the needs of people age 50 and over. Ovations is also offering Part D drug coverage through its Medicare Advantage program and Special Needs Plans.

 

Ovations participates nationally in the Medicare program across the broad spectrum of Medicare products—offering Medigap products that supplement traditional fee-for-service coverage, more traditional health plan-type programs under Medicare Advantage, prescription drug coverage and discount card offerings, and special offerings for chronically ill and Medicare and Medicaid dual-eligible beneficiaries. Ovations will continue to explore new market opportunities in a disciplined manner.

 

Ovations Insurance Solutions

 

Ovations offers a range of health insurance products and services to AARP members, and has expanded the scope of services and programs offered over the past several years. Ovations operates the nation’s largest Medicare Supplement business, providing Medicare supplement and hospital indemnity insurance from its insurance company affiliates to approximately 3.8 million AARP members. Additional Ovations’ services include an expanded AARP Nurse Healthline service, which provides 24-hour access to health information from nurses for certain lines of business. Ovations also developed a lower cost Medicare Supplement offering that provides consumers with a hospital network and 24-hour access to health care information. Ovations also offers an AARP-branded health insurance program focused on persons between 50 and 64 years of age.

 

Ovations Pharmacy Solutions

 

Ovations Pharmacy Solutions addresses one of the most significant cost problems facing older Americans—prescription drug costs. With approximately 1.9 million users on December 31, 2005, Ovations’ discount card and pharmacy services programs provide access to discounted retail and mail order pharmacy services, and a complimentary health and well-being catalog offering. Ovations also offers three different Medicare-endorsed discount drug cards under the Medicare Modernization Act. These cards offer cost savings for retail and mail order prescription drugs. The Medicare endorsed card programs end on May 15, 2006.

 

In November 2005, Ovations began enrollment into its Medicare Part D program. As of December 31, 2005, including PacifiCare, Ovations had enrolled 3.9 million members in the Part D program, including 2.8 million in the stand-alone prescription drug plans and 1.1 million in Medicare Advantage plans incorporating Part D coverage.

 

Prescription Solutions®

 

Prescription Solutions, a subsidiary of PacifiCare, offers integrated PBM services (including mail order pharmacy services) to approximately 6.0 million people, including approximately 800,000 seniors, as of December 31, 2005. Prescription Solutions offers a broad range of innovative programs, products and services designed to enhance clinical outcomes with appropriate financial results for employers and members. The fulfillment capabilities of Prescription Solutions are an important strategic component in serving PacifiCare’s legacy commercial and senior business, as well as PacifiCare’s Part D enrollees.

 

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Ovations Secure Horizons

 

The Ovations Secure Horizons division provides health care coverage for the seniors market primarily through the Medicare Advantage program administered by CMS. Ovations offers Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, Special Needs Plans and Private-Fee-for-Service plans. Under the Medicare Advantage programs, Ovations provides health insurance coverage to eligible Medicare beneficiaries in exchange for a fixed monthly premium per member from CMS that varies based on the geographic areas in which members reside. Products are offered under the Secure Horizons and UnitedHealthcare Medicare Complete brand names. In 2005, Ovations Secure Horizons expanded its program to 16 new regional markets and offered Medicare Advantage in 35 markets nationwide. In addition, Ovations Secure Horizons offers Private-Fee-for-Service plans in 24 states. As of December 31, 2005, Ovations had more than 1.1 million enrolled individuals in its Medicare Advantage products. Beginning January 1, 2006, Secure Horizons will offer a regional PPO in 3 markets.

 

Evercare

 

Through its Evercare division, Ovations is one of the nation’s leaders in offering complete, individualized care planning and care benefits for aging, disabled and chronically ill individuals. Evercare serves approximately 80,000 people across the nation in long-term care settings including nursing homes, community-based settings and private homes, as well as through hospice and palliative care. Evercare offers services through innovative care management and clinical programs. In 2005, Evercare expanded its programs and now offers services in 23 states.

 

Evercare offers a variety of federally sponsored products that provide enhanced medical coverage to frail, elderly and chronically ill populations in both nursing homes and community settings. These services are provided primarily through nurse practitioners, nurses and care managers. Evercare also offers a Medicaid long-term health care product for elderly, physically disabled and other vulnerable individuals in five states. Evercare Connections is a comprehensive eldercare service program providing service coordination, consultation, claim management and information resources nationwide. Proprietary, automated medical record software enables Evercare geriatric care teams to capture and track patient data and clinical encounters in nursing home, hospital and home care settings. Evercare has begun extending its complex care management services to end-of-life situations and now offers community-based hospice programs in four states.

 

AmeriChoice

 

AmeriChoice provides network-based health and well-being services to beneficiaries of state Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP), and other government-sponsored health care programs through its affiliates. AmeriChoice provides health insurance coverage to eligible Medicaid beneficiaries in exchange for a fixed monthly premium per member from the applicable state. AmeriChoice provides services to nearly 1.3 million individuals in 13 states across the country. The individuals AmeriChoice serves generally live in areas that are medically underserved and where a consistent relationship with the medical community or a care provider is less likely. The population served by AmeriChoice also tends to face significant social and economic challenges. AmeriChoice offers government agencies a broad menu of separate management services—including clinical care, consulting and management, pharmacy benefit services and administrative and technology services—to help them effectively administer their distinct health care delivery systems for individuals in these programs.

 

AmeriChoice’s approach is grounded in its belief that health care cannot be provided effectively without consideration of all of the factors—social, economic and environmental, as well as physical—that affect a person’s life. AmeriChoice coordinates resources among family members, physicians, other health care providers and government and community-based agencies and organizations to provide continuous and effective care. For members, this means that the AmeriChoice Personal Care Model offers them a holistic approach to health care, emphasizing practical programs to improve their living circumstances as well as quality medical care and treatment in accessible, culturally sensitive, community-oriented settings. AmeriChoice’s disease management and outreach programs focus on high-prevalence and debilitating illnesses such as hypertension and

 

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cardiovascular disease, asthma, sickle cell disease, diabetes, cancer and high-risk pregnancy. Several of these programs have been developed by AmeriChoice with the help of leading researchers and clinicians at academic medical centers and medical schools.

 

For physicians, the AmeriChoice Personal Care Model means assistance with coordination of their patients’ care. AmeriChoice utilizes sophisticated technology to monitor preventive care interventions and evidence-based treatment protocols to support care management. AmeriChoice uses state-of-the-art telemedicine tools that enable nurses and physicians to monitor vital signs, check medication use, assess patient status and facilitate overall care. AmeriChoice utilizes advanced and unique pharmacy services—including benefit design, generic drug incentive programs, drug utilization review and preferred drug list development—to help optimize the use of pharmaceuticals and concurrently contain pharmacy expenditures to levels appropriate to the specific clinical situations. For state customers, the AmeriChoice Personal Care Model means increased access to care and improved quality, in a measurable system that reduces their administrative burden and lowers their costs.

 

AmeriChoice considers a variety of factors in determining in which state programs to participate, including the state’s experience and consistency of support for its Medicaid program in terms of service innovation and funding, the population base in the state, the willingness of the physician/provider community to participate with the AmeriChoice Personal Care Model, and the presence of community-based organizations that can partner with AmeriChoice to meet the needs of its members. Using these criteria, AmeriChoice entered one new market in 2005, signed an agreement to enter another new market in 2006, and is examining several others. Conversely, during the past three years, AmeriChoice has exited several markets because of reimbursement issues or lack of consistent direction and support from the sponsoring states.

 

SPECIALIZED CARE SERVICES

 

The Specialized Care Services (SCS) companies offer a comprehensive platform of specialty health and wellness and ancillary benefits, services and resources to specific customer markets nationwide. These products and services include employee benefit offerings, provider networks and related resources focusing on behavioral health and substance abuse, dental, vision, disease management, complex and chronic illness and care facilitation. The SCS companies also offer solutions in the areas of complementary and alternative care, employee assistance, short-term and long term disability, life insurance, work/life balance and health-related information. These services are designed to simplify the consumer health care experience and facilitate efficient health care delivery.

 

Specialized Care Services’ products are marketed under several different brands to employers, government programs, health insurers and other intermediaries, and individual consumers, and through affiliates such as Ovations, UnitedHealthcare, AmeriChoice and Uniprise. SCS also distributes products on a private-label basis, allowing unaffiliated health plans, insurance companies, third-party administrators and similar institutions to deliver products and services to their customers under their brands. Specialized Care Services offers its products both on an administrative fee basis, where it manages and administers benefit claims for self-insured customers in exchange for a fixed service fee per individual served, and a risk-based basis, where Specialized Care Services assumes responsibility for health care and income replacement costs in exchange for a fixed monthly premium per individual served. Specialized Care Services’ simple, modular service designs can be easily integrated to meet varying health plan, employer and consumer needs at a wide range of price points. Approximately 55% of consumers served by Specialized Care Services receive their major medical health benefits from a source other than a UnitedHealth Group affiliate.

 

The SCS companies are divided into three operating groups: Specialized Health Solutions; Dental and Vision; and Group Insurance Services.

 

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Specialized Health Solutions

 

The Specialized Health Solutions operating group provides services and products for benefits commonly found in comprehensive medical benefit plans, as well as a continuum of individualized specialty health and wellness solutions from health information to case and disease management for complex, chronic and rare medical conditions.

 

United Behavioral Health (UBH) and its subsidiaries provide behavioral health care, substance abuse programs and psychiatric disability benefit management services. UBH’s customers buy its care management services and access its large national network of 77,000 clinicians and counselors. UBH serves 29 million individuals.

 

LifeEra offers employee assistance, work life and other products to assist individuals in managing personal issues while seeking to increase employee productivity. LifeEra serves nearly 16 million consumers through programs developed in consultation with employers, government agencies and other affinity plans.

 

ACN Group (ACN) and its affiliates provide benefit administration, and clinical and network management for chiropractic, physical therapy, occupational therapy and other complementary and alternative care services. ACN’s national networks of contracted health professionals serves more than 22 million consumers.

 

Through Optum, Specialized Care Services delivers personalized care and condition management, health assessments, longitudinal care management, disease management, and health information assistance, support and related services including wellness services. Utilizing evidence-based medicine, technology and specially trained nurses, Optum facilitates effective and efficient health care delivery by helping its 28 million consumers address daily living concerns, make informed health care decisions, and become more effective health care purchasers.

 

United Resource Networks (URN) provides support services and access to “Centers of Excellence” networks for individuals in need of organ transplantation and those diagnosed with complex cancer, congenital heart disease, kidney disease, infertility and neonatal care issues. URN provides these services to approximately 48 million individuals through more than 3,000 payers. United Resource Networks negotiates competitive rates with medical centers that have been designated as “Centers of Excellence” based on satisfaction of clinical standards, including patient volumes and outcomes, medical team credentials and experience, and support services.

 

Dental and Vision

 

Spectera and its affiliates administer vision benefits for 11 million people enrolled in employer-sponsored benefit plans. Spectera works to build productive relationships with vision care professionals, retailers, employer groups and benefit consultants. Spectera’s national network includes approximately 31,000 vision professionals.

 

UnitedHealth Dental (UHD) and its affiliates provide dental benefit management and related services to 6 million individuals through a network of approximately 90,000 dentists. UHD’s products are distributed to commercial and government markets, both directly and through unaffiliated insurers and its UnitedHealth Group affiliates.

 

Group Insurance Services

 

Group Insurance Services distributes life, critical illness, and short-term and long-term disability insurance, along with cost management products and services for health plans and employers through its affiliates. Unimerica Workplace Benefits provides integrated short-term disability, critical illness and group life insurance products to employers’ benefit programs. National Benefit Resources (NBR) distributes and administers medical stop-loss insurance covering self-funded employer benefit plans. Through a network of third-party administrators, brokers and consultants, NBR markets stop-loss insurance throughout the United States. NBR also distributes products and services on behalf of its SCS affiliates, URN and Optum.

 

INGENIX

 

Ingenix offers database and data management services, software products, publications, consulting services, outsourced services and pharmaceutical development and consulting services on a nationwide and international

 

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basis. Ingenix’s customers include more than 3,000 hospitals, 250,000 physicians, 2,000 payers and intermediaries, more than 150 Fortune 500 companies, and more than 180 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as other UnitedHealth Group businesses. Ingenix is engaged in the simplification of health care administration by providing products and services that help customers accurately and efficiently document, code and bill for reimbursement for the delivery of care services. Ingenix is a leader in contract research services, medical education services, publications, and pharmacoeconomics, outcomes, safety and epidemiology research through its i3 businesses.

 

Ingenix’s products and services are sold primarily through a direct sales force focused on specific customers and market segments across the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, employer, government, hospital, physician and payer market segments. Ingenix’s products are also supported and distributed through an array of alliance and business partnerships with other technology vendors, who integrate and interface its products with their applications.

 

The Ingenix companies are divided into two operating groups: information services and pharmaceutical services.

 

Information Services

 

Ingenix’s diverse product offerings help clients strengthen health care administration and advance health care outcomes. These products include health care utilization reporting and analytics, physician clinical performance benchmarking, clinical data warehousing, analysis and management responses for medical cost trends, decision-support portals for evaluation of health benefits and treatment options and claims management tools for administrative error and cost reduction. Ingenix uses proprietary software applications that manage clinical and administrative data across diverse information technology environments. Ingenix also uses proprietary predictive algorithmic applications to help clients detect and act on repetitive health care patterns in large data sets.

 

Ingenix provides other services on an outsourced basis, such as physician credentialing, provider directories, HEDIS reporting, and fraud and abuse detection and prevention services. Ingenix also offers consulting services, including actuarial and financial advisory work through its Reden & Anders division, as well as product development, provider contracting and medical policy management. Ingenix publishes print and electronic media products that provide customers with information regarding medical claims coding, reimbursement, billing and compliance issues.

 

Pharmaceutical Services

 

Ingenix’s i3 division helps to coordinate and manage clinical trials for pharmaceutical products in development for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device manufacturers. Ingenix’s focus is to help pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers effectively and efficiently get drug and medical device data to appropriate regulatory bodies and to improve health outcomes through integrated information, analysis and technology. Ingenix capabilities and efforts focus on the entire range of product assessment, through commercialization of life-cycle management services—pipeline assessment, market access and product positioning, clinical trials, economic, epidemiology, safety and outcomes research, and medical education. Ingenix services include global contract research services, protocol development, investigator identification and training, regulatory assistance, project management, data management, biostatistical analysis, quality assurance, medical writing and staffing resource services. Ingenix’s pharmaceutical contract research operations are in 45 countries and are therapeutically focused on oncology, the central nervous system, and respiratory and infectious diseases. Ingenix uses comprehensive, science-based evaluation and analysis and benchmarking services to support pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device development. Ingenix has developed an advanced drug registry tool, i3 Aperio, that utilizes Ingenix’s proprietary research database to assist pharmaceutical manufacturers and regulatory agencies in detecting potential safety issues from newly marketed drugs earlier than other available surveillance methods. Ingenix also helps educate providers about pharmaceutical products through medical symposia, product communications and scientific publications.

 

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GOVERNMENT REGULATION

 

Most of our health and well-being services are regulated. This regulation can vary significantly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Federal and state regulatory agencies generally have discretion to issue regulations and interpret and enforce laws and rules. Changes in applicable laws and regulations are continually being considered, and the interpretation of existing laws and rules also may change periodically.

 

Federal Regulation

 

Our Health Care Services segment, which includes UnitedHealthcare, Ovations and AmeriChoice, is subject to federal regulation. Ovations’ Medicare business is regulated by CMS. CMS has the right to audit performance to determine compliance with CMS contracts and regulations and the quality of care being given to Medicare beneficiaries. Our Health Care Services segment also has Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program contracts that are subject to federal and state regulations regarding services to be provided to Medicaid enrollees, payment for those services, and other aspects of these programs. There are many regulations surrounding Medicare and Medicaid compliance. In addition, because a portion of Ingenix’s business includes clinical research, it is subject to regulation by the Food and Drug Administration. We believe we are in compliance in all material respects with the applicable laws and regulations.

 

State Regulation

 

All of the states in which our subsidiaries offer insurance and health maintenance organization products regulate those products and operations. These states require periodic financial reports and establish minimum capital or restricted cash reserve requirements. Health plans and insurance companies are regulated under state insurance holding company regulations. Such regulations generally require registration with applicable state Departments of Insurance and the filing of reports that describe capital structure, ownership, financial condition, certain inter-company transactions and general business operations. Some state insurance holding company laws and regulations require prior regulatory approval of acquisitions and material intercompany transfers of assets, as well as transactions between the regulated companies and their parent holding companies or affiliates. In addition, some of our business and related activities may be subject to preferred provider organization (PPO), managed care organization (MCO) or third-party administrator-related regulations and licensure requirements. These regulations differ from state to state, but may contain network, contracting, product and rate, financial and reporting requirements. There are laws and regulations that set specific standards for delivery of services, payment of claims, fraud prevention, protection of consumer health information and covered benefits and services. We believe we are in compliance in all material respects with the applicable laws and regulations.

 

As typically occurs in connection with a transaction of this size, in connection with the PacifiCare transaction, certain of our subsidiaries entered into various commitments with state regulatory departments, principally in California. We believe that none of these commitments will materially affect our operations.

 

HIPAA

 

The administrative simplification provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended (HIPAA), apply to both the group and individual health insurance markets, including self-funded employee benefit plans. Federal regulations promulgated pursuant to HIPAA include minimum standards for electronic transactions and code sets, and for the privacy and security of protected health information. We believe that we are in compliance in all material respects with these regulations. New standards for national provider and employer identifiers are currently being implemented by regulators. We have been and intend to remain in compliance in all material respects with these regulations. Additionally, different approaches to HIPAA’s provisions and varying enforcement philosophies in the different states may adversely affect our ability to standardize our products and services across state lines.

 

ERISA

 

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), regulates how goods and services are provided to or through certain types of employer-sponsored health benefit plans. ERISA is a set of laws and

 

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regulations subject to periodic interpretation by the United States Department of Labor as well as the federal courts. ERISA places controls on how our business units may do business with employers who sponsor employee benefit health plans, particularly those that maintain self-funded plans. We believe that we are in compliance in all material respects with applicable ERISA regulations.

 

Audits and Investigations

 

We typically have and are currently involved in various governmental investigations, audits and reviews. These include routine, regular and special investigations, audits, and reviews by CMS, state insurance and health and welfare departments, state attorneys general, the Office of the Inspector General, the Office of Personnel Management, the Office of Civil Rights, the Department of Justice and U.S. Attorneys. Such government actions can result in assessment of damages, civil or criminal fines or penalties, or other sanctions, including loss of licensure or exclusion from participation in government programs. We do not believe the results of any of the current investigations, audits or reviews, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

International Regulation

 

Some of our business units have limited international operations. These international operations are subject to different legal and regulatory requirements in different jurisdictions, including various tax, tariff and trade regulations, as well as employment, intellectual property and investment rules and laws. We believe we are in compliance in all material respects with applicable laws.

 

COMPETITION

 

As a diversified health and well-being services company we operate in highly competitive markets. Our competitors include managed health care companies, insurance companies, third-party administrators and business services outsourcing companies, health care providers that have formed networks to directly contract with employers, specialty benefit providers, government entities, and various health information and consulting companies. For our Uniprise and Health Care Services businesses, competitors include Aetna Inc., Cigna Corporation, Coventry Health Care, Inc., Humana Inc., and WellPoint, Inc., numerous for-profit and not-for-profit organizations operating under licenses from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and other enterprises concentrated in more limited geographic areas. Our Specialized Care Services and Ingenix business segments also compete with a number of other businesses. New entrants into the markets in which we compete, as well as consolidation within these markets, also contribute to a competitive environment. We believe the principal competitive factors that can impact our businesses relate to the sales and pricing of our products and services; product innovation; consumer satisfaction; the level and quality of products and services; care delivery; network capabilities; market share; product distribution systems; efficiency of administration operations; financial strength and marketplace reputation.

 

EMPLOYEES

 

As of December 31, 2005, we employed approximately 55,000 individuals. We believe our employee relations are positive.

 

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

 

Name


   Age

   Position

  

First Elected as

Executive Officer


William W. McGuire, M.D.

   57    Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer    1988

Stephen J. Hemsley

   53    President, Chief Operating Officer and Director    1997

Patrick J. Erlandson

   46    Chief Financial Officer    2001

David J. Lubben

   54    General Counsel and Secretary    1996

Richard H. Anderson

   50    Executive Vice President, UnitedHealth Group and
Chief Executive Officer, Ingenix
   2005

Tracy L. Bahl

   43    Chief Executive Officer, Uniprise    2004

William A. Munsell

   54    Chief Executive Officer, Specialized Care Services    2004

Lois E. Quam

   44    Chief Executive Officer, Ovations    1998

Robert J. Sheehy

   48    Chief Executive Officer, UnitedHealthcare    2001

David S. Wichmann

   43    President and Chief Operating Officer,
UnitedHealthcare, and Senior Vice President,
UnitedHealth Group
   2004

 

Our Board of Directors elects executive officers annually. Our executive officers serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

 

Dr. McGuire is the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of UnitedHealth Group. Dr. McGuire joined UnitedHealth Group as Executive Vice President in November 1988 and became its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 1991. Dr. McGuire also served as UnitedHealth Group’s Chief Operating Officer from May 1989 to June 1995 and as its President from November 1989 until May 1999.

 

Mr. Hemsley is the President and Chief Operating Officer of UnitedHealth Group and has been a member of the Board of Directors since February 2000. Mr. Hemsley joined UnitedHealth Group in May 1997 as Senior Executive Vice President. He became Chief Operating Officer in September 1998 and was named President in May 1999.

 

Mr. Erlandson joined UnitedHealth Group in 1997 as Vice President of Process, Planning and Information Channels. He became Controller and Chief Accounting Officer in September 1998 and was named Chief Financial Officer in January 2001.

 

Mr. Lubben joined UnitedHealth Group in October 1996 as General Counsel and Secretary. Prior to joining UnitedHealth Group, he was a partner in the law firm of Dorsey & Whitney LLP.

 

Mr. Anderson joined UnitedHealth Group in November 2004 as Executive Vice President and was named Chief Executive Officer, Ingenix in January 2005. From April 2001 until November 2004, Mr. Anderson served as the Chief Executive Officer of Northwest Airlines Corporation. Mr. Anderson served in various other capacities at Northwest Airlines from 1990 until April 2001.

 

Mr. Bahl joined UnitedHealth Group in August 1998 and was named Chief Executive Officer, Uniprise in March 2004. From January 2003 until March 2004, Mr. Bahl was UnitedHealth Group’s Chief Marketing Officer, and from August 1998 until December 2002, he was the President of Uniprise Strategic Solutions.

 

Mr. Munsell joined UnitedHealth Group in 1997 and was named Chief Executive Officer, Specialized Care Services in November 2004. From February 2003 to June 2004, Mr. Munsell served as the Chief Administrative Officer, UnitedHealthcare, after serving as Chief Operating Officer, UnitedHealthcare since February 2000. From August 1997 to January 2000, Mr. Munsell served as Chief Financial Officer, UnitedHealthcare.

 

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Ms. Quam joined UnitedHealth Group in 1989 and became the Chief Executive Officer of Ovations in April 1998. Prior to April 1998, Ms. Quam served in various capacities with UnitedHealth Group.

 

Mr. Sheehy joined UnitedHealth Group in 1992 and became Chief Executive Officer of UnitedHealthcare in January 2001. From April 1998 to December 2000, he was President of UnitedHealthcare. Prior to April 1998, Mr. Sheehy served in various capacities with UnitedHealth Group.

 

Mr. Wichmann joined UnitedHealth Group in 1998 and became President and Chief Operating Officer, UnitedHealthcare in July 2004. From June 2003 to July 2004, Mr. Wichmann served as the Chief Executive Officer, Specialized Care Services. From 2001 to June 2003, he was President and Chief Operating Officer, Specialized Care Services. From March 1998 to July 2004, Mr. Wichmann also served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development.

 

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

See Item 7—“Cautionary Statements,” which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 

None.

 

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

 

As of December 31, 2005, we leased approximately 10.1 million aggregate square feet of space and owned approximately 1.9 million aggregate square feet of space in the United States and Europe. Our leases expire at various dates through May 31, 2025. Our various segments use this space exclusively for their respective business purposes and we believe these current facilities are suitable for their respective uses and are adequate for our anticipated future needs.

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

See Item 7—“Legal Matters” and Item 8—Note 12 “Commitments and Contingencies”— “Government Regulation,” which are incorporated by reference herein.

 

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

None.

 

PART II

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

Market Prices

 

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol UNH. On February 15, 2006, there were 14,741 registered holders of record of our common stock. The high and low common stock prices per share were as follows:

 

     High

   Low

2006

             

First quarter (through 2/15/06)

   $ 62.93    $ 56.00

2005

             

First quarter

   $ 48.33    $ 42.63

Second quarter

   $ 53.64    $ 44.30

Third quarter

   $ 56.66    $ 47.75

Fourth quarter

   $ 64.61    $ 53.84

2004

             

First quarter

   $ 32.25    $ 27.73

Second quarter

   $ 34.25    $ 29.31

Third quarter

   $ 37.38    $ 29.67

Fourth quarter

   $ 44.38    $ 32.31

 

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Dividend Policy

 

Our Board of Directors established our dividend policy in August 1990. Pursuant to our dividend policy, the Board reviews our financial statements following the end of each fiscal year and decides whether to declare a dividend on the outstanding shares of common stock. Shareholders of record on April 1, 2005 received an annual dividend for 2005 of $0.015 per share and shareholders of record on April 1, 2004 received an annual dividend for 2004 of $0.008 per share. On January 31, 2006, the Board approved an annual dividend of $0.03 per share, which will be paid on April 17, 2006 to shareholders of record on April 3, 2006.

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities (1)

Fourth Quarter 2005

 

For the Month Ended


  

Total Number of

Shares Purchased


  

Average Price

Paid per Share


  

Total Number

of Shares

Purchased as Part

of Publicly

Announced Plans

or Programs


  

Maximum

Number of Shares

that may yet be

purchased under the

plans or programs


October 31, 2005

   250,000    $ 56.50    250,000    59,545,100

November 30, 2005

   200,000    $ 60.40    200,000    59,345,100

December 31, 2005

   3,800,000    $ 63.31    3,800,000    55,545,100
    
         
    

TOTAL

   4,250,000    $ 62.77    4,250,000     
    
         
    

(1) In November 1997, the company’s Board of Directors adopted a share repurchase program, which the Board evaluates periodically and renews as necessary. The company announced renewals of the program on November 5, 1998, October 27, 1999, February 14, 2002, October 25, 2002, July 30, 2003, and November 4, 2004. On November 4, 2004, the Board renewed the share repurchase program and authorized the company to repurchase up to 65 million shares of the Company’s common stock at prevailing market prices. There is no established expiration date for the program. During the year ended December 31, 2005, the company did not repurchase any shares other than through this publicly announced program.

 

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

Financial Highlights

 

     For the Year Ended December 31,

 

(in millions, except per share data)


   20051

    20041

    2003

    2002

    2001

 

Consolidated Operating Results

                                        

Revenues

   $ 45,365     $ 37,218     $ 28,823     $ 25,020     $ 23,454  

Earnings From Operations

   $ 5,373     $ 4,101     $ 2,935     $ 2,186     $ 1,566  

Net Earnings

   $ 3,300     $ 2,587     $ 1,825     $ 1,352     $ 913  

Return on Shareholders’ Equity

     27.2 %     31.4 %     39.0 %     33.0 %     24.5 %

Basic Net Earnings per Common Share2

   $ 2.61     $ 2.07     $ 1.55     $ 1.12     $ 0.73  

Diluted Net Earnings per Common Share2

   $ 2.48     $ 1.97     $ 1.48     $ 1.06     $ 0.70  

Common Stock Dividends per Share2

   $ 0.015     $ 0.015     $ 0.008     $ 0.008     $ 0.008  

Consolidated Cash Flows From (Used For)

                                        

Operating Activities

   $ 4,326     $ 4,135     $ 3,003     $ 2,423     $ 1,844  

Investing Activities

   $ (3,489 )   $ (1,644 )   $ (745 )   $ (1,391 )   $ (1,138 )

Financing Activities

   $ 593     $ (762 )   $ (1,126 )   $ (1,442 )   $ (585 )

Consolidated Financial Condition

                                        

(As of December 31)

                                        

Cash and Investments

   $ 14,982     $ 12,253     $ 9,477     $ 6,329     $ 5,698  

Total Assets

   $ 41,374     $ 27,879     $ 17,634     $ 14,164     $ 12,486  

Debt

   $ 7,111     $ 4,023     $ 1,979     $ 1,761     $ 1,584  

Shareholders’ Equity

   $ 17,733     $ 10,717     $ 5,128     $ 4,428     $ 3,891  

Debt-to-Total-Capital Ratio

     28.6 %     27.3 %     27.8 %     28.5 %     28.9 %

 

Financial Highlights and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read together with the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes.


1 UnitedHealth Group acquired PacifiCare Health Systems, Inc. (PacifiCare) in December 2005 for total consideration of approximately $8.8 billion, Oxford Health Plans, Inc. (Oxford) in July 2004 for total consideration of approximately $5.0 billion and Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Inc. (MAMSI) in February 2004 for total consideration of approximately $2.7 billion. These acquisitions affect the comparability of 2005 and 2004 financial information to prior fiscal years. The results of operations and financial condition of PacifiCare, Oxford and MAMSI have been included in UnitedHealth Group’s consolidated financial statements since the respective acquisition dates. See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements for a detailed discussion of these acquisitions.

 

2 In May 2005, our board of directors declared a two-for-one stock split. All share and per share amounts have been restated to reflect the stock split.

 

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Business Overview

 

UnitedHealth Group is a diversified health and well-being company, serving approximately 65 million Americans. Our focus is on improving the American health care system by simplifying the administrative components of health care delivery; promoting evidence-based medicine as the standard for care; and providing relevant, actionable data that physicians, health care providers, consumers, employers and other participants in health care can use to make better, more informed decisions.

 

Through our diversified family of businesses, we leverage core competencies in advanced technology-based transactional capabilities; health care data, knowledge and informatics; and health care resource organization and care facilitation to make health care work better. We provide individuals with access to quality, cost-effective health care services and resources. We promote the delivery of care, consistent with the best available evidence for effective health care. We provide employers and consumers with superb value, service, and support, and we deliver value to our shareholders by executing a business strategy founded upon a commitment to balanced growth, profitability and capital discipline.

 

2005 Financial Performance Highlights

 

UnitedHealth Group had a very strong year in 2005. The company achieved diversified growth across its business segments and generated net earnings of $3.3 billion, representing an increase of 28% over 2004. Other financial performance highlights include:

 

    Diluted net earnings per common share of $2.48, an increase of 26% over 2004.

 

    Revenues of $45.4 billion, a 22% increase over 2004. Excluding the impact of acquisitions, revenues increased 11% over 2004.

 

    Earnings from operations of $5.4 billion, up 31% over 2004.

 

    Operating margin of 11.8%, up from 11.0% in 2004.

 

UnitedHealth Group acquired PacifiCare Health Plans, Inc. (PacifiCare) in December 2005 for total consideration of approximately $8.8 billion, Oxford Health Plans, Inc. (Oxford) in July 2004 for total consideration of approximately $5.0 billion and Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Inc. (MAMSI) in February 2004 for total consideration of approximately $2.7 billion. The results of operations and financial condition of PacifiCare, Oxford and MAMSI have been included in UnitedHealth Group’s consolidated financial statements since the respective acquisition dates.

 

2005 Results Compared to 2004 Results

 

Consolidated Financial Results

 

Revenues

 

Revenues consist of premium revenues from risk-based products; service revenues, which primarily include fees for management, administrative and consulting services; and investment and other income.

 

Premium revenues are primarily derived from risk-based health insurance arrangements in which the premium is fixed, typically for a one-year period, and we assume the economic risk of funding our customers’ health care services and related administrative costs. Service revenues consist primarily of fees derived from services performed for customers that self-insure the medical costs of their employees and their dependents. For both

 

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premium risk-based and fee-based customer arrangements, we provide coordination and facilitation of medical services; transaction processing; customer, consumer and care provider services; and access to contracted networks of physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals.

 

Consolidated revenues in 2005 increased by $8.1 billion, or 22%, to $45.4 billion. Excluding the impact of businesses acquired since the beginning of 2004, consolidated revenues increased by approximately 11% in 2005 primarily as a result of rate increases on premium-based and fee-based services and growth in individuals served across business segments. Following is a discussion of 2005 consolidated revenue trends for each of our three revenue components.

 

Premium Revenues Consolidated premium revenues totaled $41.1 billion in 2005, an increase of $7.6 billion, or 23%, over 2004. Excluding the impact of acquisitions, consolidated premium revenues increased by approximately 11% over 2004. This increase was primarily driven by premium rate increases and a modest increase in the number of individuals served by our risk-based products.

 

UnitedHealthcare premium revenues increased by $5.1 billion, or 24%, over 2004. Excluding premium revenues from businesses acquired since the beginning of 2004, UnitedHealthcare premium revenues increased by approximately 9% over 2004. This increase was primarily due to average net premium rate increases of approximately 8% to 9% on UnitedHealthcare’s renewing commercial risk-based products. In addition, Ovations premium revenues increased by $1.8 billion, or 24%, over 2004. Excluding the impact of acquisitions, Ovations premium revenues increased by approximately 20% over 2004, driven primarily by an increase in the number of individuals served by Medicare Advantage products and by Medicare supplement products provided to AARP members, as well as rate increases on these products. Premium revenues from AmeriChoice’s Medicaid programs increased by approximately $270 million, or 9%, over 2004 driven primarily by premium rate increases. The remaining premium revenue increase is due mainly to strong growth in the number of individuals served by several Specialized Care Services businesses under premium-based arrangements.

 

Service Revenues Service revenues in 2005 totaled $3.8 billion, an increase of $473 million, or 14%, over 2004. The increase in service revenues was driven primarily by aggregate growth of 8% in the number of individuals served by Uniprise and UnitedHealthcare under fee-based arrangements during 2005, excluding the impact of acquisitions, as well as annual rate increases. In addition, Ingenix service revenues increased by more than 20% due to growth in the health information and clinical research businesses as well as businesses acquired since the beginning of 2004.

 

Investment and Other Income Investment and other income totaled $499 million, representing an increase of $111 million over 2004. Interest income increased by $126 million in 2005, principally due to the impact of increased levels of cash and fixed-income investments during the year due to the acquisitions of Oxford and MAMSI as well as higher yields on fixed-income investments. Net capital gains on sales of investments were $4 million in 2005, a decrease of $15 million from 2004.

 

Medical Costs

 

The combination of pricing, benefit designs, consumer health care utilization and comprehensive care facilitation efforts is reflected in the medical care ratio (medical costs as a percentage of premium revenues). The consolidated medical care ratio decreased from 80.6% in 2004 to 79.7% in 2005. Excluding the AARP business1,

 

19

 


1 Management believes disclosure of the medical care ratio excluding the AARP business is meaningful since underwriting gains or losses related to the AARP business accrue to the overall benefit of the AARP policyholders through a rate stabilization fund (RSF). Although the company is at risk for underwriting losses to the extent cumulative net losses exceed the balance in the RSF, we have not been required to fund any underwriting deficits to date, and management believes the RSF balance is sufficient to cover potential future underwriting or other risks associated with the contract during the foreseeable future.


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the medical care ratio decreased from 79.5% in 2004 to 78.6% in 2005. These medical care ratio decreases resulted primarily from changes in product, business and customer mix and an increase in favorable medical cost development related to prior periods.

 

Each period, our operating results include the effects of revisions in medical cost estimates related to all prior periods. Changes in medical cost estimates related to prior fiscal years, resulting from more complete claim information, identified in the current year are included in total medical costs reported for the current fiscal year. Medical costs for 2005 include approximately $400 million of favorable medical cost development related to prior fiscal years. Medical costs for 2004 include approximately $210 million of favorable medical cost development related to prior fiscal years. The increase in favorable medical cost development in 2005 was driven primarily by lower than anticipated medical costs as well as growth in the size of the medical cost base and related medical payables due to organic growth and businesses acquired since the beginning of 2004.

 

On an absolute dollar basis, 2005 medical costs increased $5.7 billion, or 21%, over 2004. Excluding the impact of acquisitions, medical costs increased by approximately 9% driven primarily by a 7% to 8% increase in medical cost trend due to both inflation and a slight increase in health care consumption as well as organic growth.

 

Operating Costs

 

The operating cost ratio (operating costs as a percentage of total revenues) for 2005 was 15.0%, down from 15.4% in 2004. This decrease was primarily driven by revenue mix changes, with premium revenues growing at a faster rate than service revenues largely due to recent acquisitions. Operating costs as a percentage of premium revenues are generally considerably lower than operating costs as a percentage of fee-based revenues. Additionally, the decrease in the operating cost ratio reflects productivity gains from technology deployment and other cost management initiatives.

 

On an absolute dollar basis, operating costs for 2005 increased $1.1 billion, or 19%, over 2004. Excluding the impact of acquisitions, operating costs increased by approximately 11%. This increase was driven by an 8% increase in total individuals served by Health Care Services and Uniprise during 2005, excluding the impact of acquisitions, growth in Specialized Care Services and Ingenix and general operating cost inflation, partially offset by productivity gains from technology deployment and other cost management initiatives.

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

Depreciation and amortization in 2005 was $453 million, an increase of $79 million, or 21%, over 2004. Approximately $32 million of this increase was related to intangible assets acquired in business acquisitions since the beginning of 2004. The remaining increase is primarily due to additional depreciation and amortization from higher levels of computer equipment and capitalized software as a result of technology enhancements, business growth and businesses acquired since the beginning of 2004.

 

Income Taxes

 

Our effective income tax rate was 35.7% in 2005, compared to 34.9% in 2004. The increase was mainly driven by favorable settlements of prior year tax returns during 2004. Excluding these settlements, the 2004 effective tax rate would have been approximately the same as the 2005 effective tax rate.

 

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Business Segments

 

The following summarizes the operating results of our business segments for the years ended December 31 (in millions):

 

Revenues


   2005

    2004

    Percent
Change


 

Health Care Services

   $ 40,019     $ 32,673     22 %

Uniprise

     3,850       3,365     14 %

Specialized Care Services

     2,806       2,295     22 %

Ingenix

     794       670     19 %

Intersegment Eliminations

     (2,104 )     (1,785 )   nm  
    


 


 

Consolidated Revenues

   $ 45,365     $ 37,218     22 %
    


 


 

Earnings From Operations


   2005

    2004

    Percent
Change


 

Health Care Services

   $ 3,815     $ 2,810     36 %

Uniprise

     799       677     18 %

Specialized Care Services

     582       485     20 %

Ingenix

     177       129     37 %
    


 


 

Consolidated Earnings From Operations

   $ 5,373     $ 4,101     31 %
    


 


 


nm - not meaningful

 

Health Care Services

 

The Health Care Services segment is composed of the UnitedHealthcare, Ovations and AmeriChoice businesses. UnitedHealthcare offers a comprehensive array of consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for local, small and mid-sized employers and individuals nationwide. Ovations provides health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older, including the administration of supplemental health insurance coverage on behalf of AARP. AmeriChoice provides network-based health and well-being services to state Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program and other government-sponsored health care programs and the beneficiaries of those programs.

 

Health Care Services had revenues of $40.0 billion in 2005, representing an increase of $7.3 billion, or 22%, over 2004. Excluding the impact of acquisitions, Health Care Services revenues increased by approximately $3.0 billion, or 11%, over 2004. UnitedHealthcare accounted for approximately $1.6 billion of this increase, driven by average premium rate increases of approximately 8% to 9% on UnitedHealthcare’s renewing commercial risk-based products. Ovations contributed approximately $1.2 billion to the revenue advance over 2004 largely attributable to growth in the number of individuals served by Ovations’ Medicare supplement products provided to AARP members and by its Medicare Advantage products as well as rate increases on these products. The remaining increase in Health Care Services revenues is attributable to an 8% increase in AmeriChoice’s revenues, excluding the impact of acquisitions, driven primarily by premium revenue rate increases on Medicaid products.

 

Health Care Services earnings from operations in 2005 were $3.8 billion, representing an increase of $1.0 billion, or 36%, over 2004. This increase primarily resulted from revenue growth and improved gross margins on UnitedHealthcare’s risk-based products, increases in the number of individuals served by UnitedHealthcare’s commercial fee-based products, and the acquisitions of Oxford and MAMSI during 2004. UnitedHealthcare’s commercial medical care ratio decreased to 78.2% in 2005 from 79.0% in 2004 mainly due to changes in product, business and customer mix. Health Care Services’ 2005 operating margin was 9.5%, an

 

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increase from 8.6% in 2004. This increase was driven mainly by the lower commercial medical care ratio as well as changes in business and customer mix.

 

The following table summarizes the number of individuals served by Health Care Services, by major market segment and funding arrangement, as of December 311:

 

(in thousands)


   20052

   2004

Commercial

         

Risk-based

   7,765    7,655

Fee-based

   3,895    3,305
    
  

Total Commercial

   11,660    10,960

Medicare

   395    330

Medicaid

   1,250    1,260
    
  

Total Health Care Services

   13,305    12,550
    
  

1 Excludes individuals served by Ovations’ Medicare supplement products provided to AARP members.
2 Excludes commercial risk-based membership of approximately 2.3 million, commercial fee-based membership of approximately 100,000 and Medicare membership of approximately 750,000 related to the December 2005 acquisition of PacifiCare. These amounts have been excluded since the impact of PacifiCare on our 2005 consolidated financial results is not significant.

 

The number of individuals served by UnitedHealthcare’s commercial business as of December 31, 2005, excluding the PacifiCare acquisition, increased by approximately 700,000 over the prior year. This included an increase of 590,000 in the number of individuals served with fee-based products driven by the addition of approximately 335,000 individuals served resulting from new customer relationships and customers converting from risk-based products to fee-based products as well as approximately 255,000 individuals served by a benefits administrative services company acquired in December 2005. In addition, the number of individuals served with commercial risk-based products increased by 110,000 driven primarily by the addition of approximately 130,000 individuals served by Neighborhood Health Partnership, acquired in September 2005, and a slight increase in net new customer relationships offset by customers converting from risk-based products to fee-based products.

 

Excluding the PacifiCare acquisition, the number of individuals served by Ovations’ Medicare Advantage products increased by 65,000, or 20%, over 2004 due primarily to new customer relationships. AmeriChoice’s Medicaid enrollment decreased by 10,000 from 2004 due primarily to the withdrawal of participation in one market during the third quarter of 2005 partially offset by new customer relationships since 2004.

 

Uniprise

 

Uniprise provides network-based health and well-being services, business-to-business transaction processing services, consumer connectivity and technology support services nationwide to large employers and health plans, and provides health-related consumer and financial transaction products and services. Uniprise revenues in 2005 were $3.9 billion, representing an increase of $485 million, or 14%, over 2004. Excluding the impact of acquisitions, Uniprise revenues increased approximately 12% over 2004. This increase was driven primarily by growth of 7% in the number of individuals served by Uniprise, excluding the impact of acquisitions, and annual service fee rate increases for self-insured customers. Uniprise served 10.5 million individuals and 9.9 million individuals as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

Uniprise earnings from operations in 2005 were $799 million, representing an increase of $122 million, or 18%, over 2004. Operating margin for 2005 improved to 20.8% from 20.1% in 2004. Uniprise has expanded its operating margin through operating cost efficiencies derived from process improvements, technology deployment and cost management initiatives that have reduced labor and occupancy costs in its transaction

 

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processing and customer service, billing and enrollment functions. Additionally, Uniprise’s infrastructure can be scaled efficiently, allowing its business to grow revenues at a proportionately higher rate than the associated growth in operating expenses.

 

Specialized Care Services

 

Specialized Care Services offers a comprehensive platform of specialty health, wellness and ancillary benefits, networks, services and resources to specific customer markets nationwide. Specialized Care Services revenues of $2.8 billion increased by $511 million, or 22%, over 2004. This increase was principally driven by an 11% increase in the number of individuals served by its specialty benefit businesses, excluding the impact of acquisitions, and rate increases related to these businesses as well as businesses acquired since the beginning of 2004.

 

Earnings from operations in 2005 of $582 million increased $97 million, or 20%, over 2004. Specialized Care Services’ operating margin was 20.7% in 2005, down from 21.1% in 2004. This decrease was due to a business mix shift toward higher revenue, lower margin products, partially offset by continued gains in quality initiatives and operating cost efficiencies.

 

Ingenix

 

Ingenix offers database and data management services, software products, publications, consulting services, outsourced services and pharmaceutical development and consulting services on a national and international basis. Ingenix 2005 revenues of $794 million increased by $124 million, or 19%, over 2004. This was driven primarily by growth in the health information and contract research businesses as well as businesses acquired since the beginning of 2004.

 

Earnings from operations in 2005 were $177 million, up $48 million, or 37%, from 2004. Operating margin was 22.3% in 2005, up from 19.3% in 2004. The increase in earnings from operations and operating margin was primarily due to growth in the health information and contract research businesses, improving gross margins due to effective cost management and businesses acquired since the beginning of 2004.

 

2004 Results Compared to 2003 Results

 

Consolidated Financial Results

 

Revenues

 

Consolidated revenues increased by $8.4 billion, or 29%, in 2004 to $37.2 billion, primarily as a result of revenues from businesses acquired since the beginning of 2003. Excluding the impact of these acquisitions, consolidated revenues increased by approximately 8% in 2004 as a result of rate increases on premium-based and fee-based services and growth across business segments. Following is a discussion of 2004 consolidated revenue trends for each of our three revenue components.

 

Premium Revenues Consolidated premium revenues in 2004 totaled $33.5 billion, an increase of $8.0 billion, or 32%, over 2003. Excluding the impact of acquisitions, premium revenues increased by approximately 8% in 2004. This increase was due in part to average net premium rate increases of approximately 9% on UnitedHealthcare’s renewing commercial risk-based business, partially offset by a slight decrease in the number of individuals served by UnitedHealthcare’s commercial risk-based products and changes in the commercial product benefit and customer mix. In addition, Ovations’ premium revenues increased largely due to increases in the number of individuals it serves through Medicare Advantage products and changes in product mix related to Medicare supplement products, as well as rate increases on all of these products. Premium revenues from AmeriChoice’s Medicaid programs and Specialized Care Services’ businesses also increased due to advances in the number of individuals served by those businesses.

 

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Service Revenues Service revenues in 2004 totaled $3.3 billion, an increase of $217 million, or 7%, over 2003. The increase in service revenues was driven primarily by aggregate growth of 4% in the number of individuals served by Uniprise and UnitedHealthcare under fee-based arrangements during 2004, excluding the impact of acquisitions, as well as annual rate increases. In addition, Ingenix service revenues increased due to new business growth in the health information and clinical research businesses.

 

Investment and Other Income Investment and other income totaled $388 million, representing an increase of $131 million over 2003. Interest income increased by $134 million in 2004, principally due to the impact of increased levels of cash and fixed-income investments during the year from the acquisitions of Oxford, MAMSI and Golden Rule Financial Corporation (Golden Rule), which was acquired in November 2003. Net capital gains on sales of investments were $19 million in 2004, a decrease of $3 million from 2003.

 

Medical Costs

 

The consolidated medical care ratio decreased from 81.4% in 2003 to 80.6% in 2004. Excluding the AARP business, the medical care ratio decreased from 80.0% in 2003 to 79.5% in 2004. The medical care ratio decrease resulted primarily from net premium rate increases that slightly exceeded overall medical benefit cost increases and changes in product, business and customer mix.

 

Each period, our operating results include the effects of revisions in medical cost estimates related to all prior periods. Changes in medical cost estimates related to prior fiscal years that are identified in the current year are included in total medical costs reported for the current fiscal year. Medical costs for 2004 include approximately $210 million of favorable medical cost development related to prior fiscal years. Medical costs for 2003 include approximately $150 million of favorable medical cost development related to prior fiscal years.

 

On an absolute dollar basis, 2004 medical costs increased $6.3 billion, or 30%, over 2003 principally due to the impact of the acquisitions of Oxford, MAMSI and Golden Rule. Excluding the impact of acquisitions, medical costs increased by approximately 8% driven primarily by medical cost inflation and a moderate increase in health care consumption.

 

Operating Costs

 

The operating cost ratio for 2004 was 15.4%, down from 16.9% in 2003. This decrease was driven by revenue mix changes, with premium revenues growing at a faster rate than service revenues largely due to recent acquisitions. The existence of premium revenues within our risk-based products cause them to have lower operating cost ratios than fee-based products, which have no premium revenues. Additionally, the decrease in the operating cost ratio reflects productivity gains from technology deployment and other cost management initiatives.

 

On an absolute dollar basis, operating costs for 2004 increased $868 million, or 18%, over 2003 primarily due to the acquisitions of Oxford, MAMSI and Golden Rule. Excluding the impact of acquisitions, operating costs increased by approximately 3%. This increase was driven by a more than 3% increase in the total number of individuals served by Health Care Services and Uniprise in 2004, excluding the impact of acquisitions, and general operating cost inflation, partially offset by productivity gains from technology deployment and other cost management initiatives.

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

Depreciation and amortization in 2004 was $374 million, an increase of $75 million, or 25%, over 2003. Approximately $42 million of this increase is related to intangible assets acquired in business acquisitions in 2004. The remaining increase is due primarily to additional depreciation and amortization from higher levels of computer equipment and capitalized software as a result of technology enhancements, business growth and businesses acquired since the beginning of 2003.

 

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Income Taxes

 

Our effective income tax rate was 34.9% in 2004, compared to 35.7% in 2003. The decrease was driven mainly by favorable settlements of prior year income tax returns during 2004.

 

Business Segments

 

The following summarizes the operating results of our business segments for the years ended December 31 (in millions):

 

Revenues


   2004

    2003

    Percent
Change


 

Health Care Services

   $ 32,673     $ 24,807     32 %

Uniprise

     3,365       3,107     8 %

Specialized Care Services

     2,295       1,878     22 %

Ingenix

     670       574     17 %

Intersegment Eliminations

     (1,785 )     (1,543 )   nm  
    


 


 

Consolidated Revenues

   $ 37,218     $ 28,823     29 %
    


 


 

Earnings From Operations


   2004

    2003

    Percent
Change


 

Health Care Services

   $ 2,810     $ 1,865     51 %

Uniprise

     677       610     11 %

Specialized Care Services

     485       385     26 %

Ingenix

     129       75     72 %
    


 


 

Consolidated Earnings From Operations

   $ 4,101     $ 2,935     40 %
    


 


 


nm - not meaningful

 

Health Care Services

 

Health Care Services had revenues of $32.7 billion in 2004, representing an increase of $7.9 billion, or 32%, over 2003, driven primarily by acquisitions since the beginning of 2003. Excluding the impact of acquisitions, Health Care Services revenues increased by approximately $1.9 billion, or 8%, over 2003. UnitedHealthcare accounted for approximately $850 million of this increase, driven by average premium rate increases of approximately 9% on renewing commercial risk-based business and growth in the number of individuals served by fee-based products, partially offset by a slight decrease in the number of individuals served by UnitedHealthcare’s commercial risk-based products. Ovations contributed approximately $770 million to the revenue advance over 2003 driven by growth in the number of individuals served by Ovations’ Medicare Advantage products and changes in product mix related to Medicare supplement products it provides to AARP members, as well as rate increases on all of these products. The remaining increase in Health Care Services revenues is attributable to growth in the number of individuals served by AmeriChoice’s Medicaid programs and Medicaid premium rate increases.

 

Health Care Services earnings from operations in 2004 were $2.8 billion, representing an increase of $945 million, or 51%, over 2003. This increase primarily resulted from Ovations’ and UnitedHealthcare’s revenue growth, improved gross margins on UnitedHealthcare’s commercial risk-based products and the impact of the acquisitions of Oxford, MAMSI and Golden Rule. UnitedHealthcare’s commercial medical care ratio decreased to 79.0% in 2004 from 80.0% in 2003. The decrease in the commercial medical care ratio was primarily driven by net premium rate increases that slightly exceeded overall medical benefit cost increases and changes in business and customer mix. Health Care Services’ 2004 operating margin was 8.6%, an increase of 110 basis

 

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points over 2003. This increase was principally driven by a combination of the improved commercial medical care ratio and changes in business and customer mix.

 

The following table summarizes the number of individuals served by Health Care Services, by major market segment and funding arrangement, as of December 311:

 

(in thousands)


   2004

   2003

Commercial

         

Risk-based

   7,655    5,400

Fee-based

   3,305    2,895
    
  

Total Commercial

   10,960    8,295
    
  

Medicare

   330    230

Medicaid

   1,260    1,105
    
  

Total Health Care Services

   12,550    9,630
    
  

1 Excludes individuals served by Ovations’ Medicare supplement products provided to AARP members.

 

The number of individuals served by UnitedHealthcare’s commercial business as of December 31, 2004, increased by nearly 2.7 million, or 32%, over the prior year. Excluding the 2004 acquisitions of Oxford, MAMSI and a smaller regional health plan, the number of individuals served by UnitedHealthcare’s commercial business increased by 245,000. This included an increase of 285,000 in the number of individuals served with fee-based products, driven by new customer relationships and existing customers converting from risk-based products to fee-based products, partially offset by a decrease of 40,000 in the number of individuals served with risk-based products resulting primarily from customers converting to self-funded, fee-based arrangements and a competitive commercial risk-based pricing environment.

 

Excluding the impact of the Oxford acquisition, the number of individuals served by Ovations’ Medicare Advantage products increased by 30,000, or 13%, from 2003. AmeriChoice’s Medicaid enrollment increased by 155,000, or 14%, due to organic growth in the number of individuals served and the acquisition of a Medicaid health plan in Michigan in February 2004, resulting in the addition of approximately 95,000 individuals served.

 

Uniprise

 

Uniprise revenues in 2004 were $3.4 billion, representing an increase of 8% over 2003. This increase was driven primarily by growth of 4% in the number of individuals served by Uniprise, excluding the impact of acquisitions, and annual service fee rate increases for self-insured customers. Uniprise served 9.9 million individuals and 9.1 million individuals as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

Uniprise earnings from operations in 2004 were $677 million, representing an increase of 11% over 2003. Operating margin for 2004 improved to 20.1% from 19.6% in 2003. Uniprise has expanded its operating margin through operating cost efficiencies derived from process improvements, technology deployment and cost management initiatives that have reduced labor and occupancy costs in its transaction processing and customer service, billing and enrollment functions.

 

Specialized Care Services

 

Specialized Care Services revenues during 2004 of $2.3 billion increased by $417 million, or 22%, over 2003. This increase was principally driven by an increase in the number of individuals served by its behavioral health benefits business, its dental services business and its vision care benefits business; rate increases related to these businesses; and incremental revenues related to businesses acquired since the beginning of 2003 of approximately $100 million.

 

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Earnings from operations in 2004 of $485 million increased $100 million, or 26%, over 2003. Specialized Care Services’ operating margin increased to 21.1% in 2004, up from 20.5% in 2003. This increase was driven primarily by operational and productivity improvements within Specialized Care Services’ businesses and consolidation of the production and service operation infrastructure to enhance productivity and efficiency and to improve the quality and consistency of service, partially offset by a business mix shift toward higher revenue, lower margin products.

 

Ingenix

 

Ingenix revenues in 2004 of $670 million increased by $96 million, or 17%, over 2003. This was driven primarily by new business growth in the health information and contract research businesses. Earnings from operations in 2004 were $129 million, up $54 million, or 72%, from 2003. Operating margin was 19.3% in 2004, up from 13.1% in 2003. The increase in earnings from operations and operating margin was primarily due to growth and improving gross margins in the health information and clinical research businesses.

 

Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources at December 31, 2005

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

We manage our cash, investments and capital structure so we are able to meet the short- and long-term obligations of our business while maintaining strong financial flexibility and liquidity. We forecast, analyze and monitor our cash flows to enable prudent investment management and financing within the confines of our financial strategy.

 

Our regulated subsidiaries generate significant cash flows from operations. A majority of the assets held by our regulated subsidiaries are in the form of cash, cash equivalents and investments. After considering expected cash flows from operating activities, we generally invest cash of regulated subsidiaries that exceed our short-term obligations in longer term, investment-grade, marketable debt securities to improve our overall investment return. Factors we consider in making these investment decisions include our board of directors’ approved investment policy, regulatory limitations, return objectives, tax implications, risk tolerance and maturity dates. Our long-term investments are also available for sale to meet short-term liquidity and other needs. Cash in excess of the capital needs of our regulated entities are paid to their non-regulated parent companies, typically in the form of dividends, for general corporate use, when and as permitted by applicable regulations.

 

Our non-regulated businesses also generate significant cash from operations for general corporate use. Cash flows generated by these entities, combined with the issuance of commercial paper, long-term debt and the availability of committed credit facilities, further strengthen our operating and financial flexibility. We generally use these cash flows to reinvest in our businesses in the form of capital expenditures, to expand the depth and breadth of our services through business acquisitions, and to repurchase shares of our common stock, depending on market conditions.

 

Cash flows generated from operating activities, our primary source of liquidity, are principally from net earnings, prior to depreciation and amortization. As a result, any future decline in our profitability may have a negative impact on our liquidity. The level of profitability of our risk-based insured business depends in large part on our ability to accurately predict and price for health care and operating cost increases. This risk is partially mitigated by the diversity of our other businesses, the geographic diversity of our risk-based business and our disciplined underwriting and pricing processes, which seek to match premium rate increases with future health care costs. In 2005, a hypothetical unexpected 1% increase in commercial insured medical costs would have reduced net earnings by approximately $130 million.

 

The availability of financing in the form of debt or equity is influenced by many factors, including our profitability, operating cash flows, debt levels, debt ratings, debt covenants and other contractual restrictions, regulatory requirements and market conditions. We believe that our strategies and actions toward maintaining financial flexibility mitigate much of this risk.

 

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Cash and Investments

 

Cash flows from operating activities were $4.3 billion in 2005, an increase over $4.1 billion in 2004. The increase in operating cash flows resulted primarily from an increase of $834 million in net income prior to depreciation, amortization and other noncash items partially offset by a decrease of $643 million in cash flows generated from working capital changes. We generated operating cash flows from working capital changes of $406 million in 2005 and $1,049 million in 2004. The year-over-year decrease primarily resulted from the Company receiving only eleven monthly Medicare premium payments during 2005 from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rather than the twelve monthly payments received in 2004, negatively impacting the change in reported operating cash flows by $375 million. Additionally, there was reduced growth in medical payables during 2005 compared to 2004 due in part to an increase in electronic claim submissions and other disbursement process efficiencies.

 

We maintained a strong financial condition and liquidity position, with cash and investments of $15.0 billion at December 31, 2005. Total cash and investments increased by $2.7 billion since December 31, 2004, primarily due to cash and investments acquired through businesses acquired since the beginning of 2005, strong operating cash flows and cash received from debt issuances, partially offset by common stock repurchases, cash paid for business acquisitions and capital expenditures.

 

As further described under Regulatory Capital and Dividend Restrictions, many of our subsidiaries are subject to various government regulations that restrict the timing and amount of dividends and other distributions that may be paid to their parent companies. At December 31, 2005, approximately $270 million of our $15.0 billion of cash and investments was held by non-regulated subsidiaries and available for general corporate use, including acquisitions and share repurchases.

 

Financing and Investing Activities

 

In addition to our strong cash flows generated by operating activities, we use commercial paper and debt to maintain adequate operating and financial flexibility. As of December 31, 2005 and 2004, we had commercial paper and debt outstanding of approximately $7.1 billion and $4.0 billion, respectively. Our debt-to-total-capital ratio was 28.6% and 27.3% as of December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively. We believe the prudent use of debt leverage optimizes our cost of capital and return on shareholders’ equity, while maintaining appropriate liquidity.

 

On December 20, 2005, the company acquired PacifiCare. Under the terms of the agreement, PacifiCare shareholders received 1.1 shares of UnitedHealth Group common stock and $21.50 in cash for each share of PacifiCare common stock they owned. Total consideration issued for the transaction was approximately $8.8 billion, composed of approximately 99.2 million shares of UnitedHealth Group common stock (valued at approximately $5.3 billion based upon the average of UnitedHealth Group’s share closing price for two days before, the day of and two days after the acquisition announcement date of July 6, 2005), approximately $2.1 billion in cash, $960 million cash paid to retire PacifiCare’s existing debt and UnitedHealth Group vested common stock options with an estimated fair value of approximately $420 million issued in exchange for PacifiCare’s outstanding vested common stock options.

 

On February 24, 2006, our Health Care Services business segment acquired John Deere Health Care, Inc. (John Deere Health). Under the terms of the purchase agreement, we paid approximately $500 million in cash in exchange for all of the outstanding equity of John Deere Health. We issued commercial paper to finance the John Deere Health purchase price.

 

On September 19, 2005, our Health Care Services business segment acquired Neighborhood Health Partnership (NHP). Under the terms of the purchase agreement, we paid approximately $185 million in cash in exchange for all of the outstanding equity of NHP. We issued commercial paper to finance the NHP purchase price.

 

On December 10, 2004, our Uniprise business segment acquired Definity Health Corporation (Definity). Under the terms of the purchase agreement, we paid $305 million in cash in exchange for all of the outstanding stock of Definity. We used available cash and issued commercial paper to finance the Definity purchase price.

 

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On July 29, 2004, our Health Care Services business segment acquired Oxford. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, Oxford shareholders received 1.2714 shares of UnitedHealth Group common stock and $16.17 in cash for each share of Oxford common stock they owned. Total consideration issued was approximately $5.0 billion, composed of approximately 104.4 million shares of UnitedHealth Group common stock (valued at approximately $3.4 billion based upon the average of UnitedHealth Group’s share closing price for two days before, the day of and two days after the acquisition announcement date of April 26, 2004), approximately $1.3 billion in cash and UnitedHealth Group vested common stock options with an estimated fair value of $240 million issued in exchange for Oxford’s outstanding vested common stock options.

 

On February 10, 2004, our Health Care Services business segment acquired MAMSI. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, MAMSI shareholders received 1.64 shares of UnitedHealth Group common stock and $18 in cash for each share of MAMSI common stock they owned. Total consideration issued was approximately $2.7 billion, composed of 72.8 million shares of UnitedHealth Group common stock (valued at $1.9 billion based upon the average of UnitedHealth Group’s share closing price for two days before, the day of and two days after the acquisition announcement date of October 27, 2003) and approximately $800 million in cash.

 

In November and December 2005, we issued $2.6 billion of commercial paper primarily to finance the cash portion of the purchase price of the PacifiCare acquisition described above and to retire a portion of the PacifiCare debt at the closing of the acquisition, as well as to refinance current maturities of long-term debt. As of December 31, 2005, our outstanding commercial paper had interest rates ranging from 4.2% to 4.4%.

 

In March 2005, we issued $500 million of 4.9% fixed-rate notes due March 2015. We used the proceeds from this borrowing for general corporate purposes including repayment of commercial paper, capital expenditures, working capital and share repurchases.

 

In July 2004, we issued $1.2 billion of commercial paper to fund the cash portion of the Oxford purchase price. In August 2004, we refinanced the commercial paper by issuing $550 million of 3.4% fixed-rate notes due August 2007, $450 million of 4.1% fixed-rate notes due August 2009 and $500 million of 5.0% fixed-rate notes due August 2014.

 

In February 2004, we issued $250 million of 3.8% fixed-rate notes due February 2009 and $250 million of 4.8% fixed-rate notes due February 2014. We used the proceeds from the February 2004 borrowings to finance a majority of the cash portion of the MAMSI purchase price as described above.

 

To more closely align interest costs with the floating interest rate received on our cash and cash equivalent balances, we have entered into interest rate swap agreements to convert the majority of our interest rate exposure from a fixed rate to a variable rate. These interest rate swap agreements qualify as fair value hedges. The interest rate swap agreements have aggregate notional amounts of $3.4 billion with variable rates that are benchmarked to the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). At December 31, 2005, the rate used to accrue interest expense on these agreements ranged from 4.3% to 5.0%. The differential between the fixed and variable rates to be paid or received is accrued and recognized over the life of the agreements as an adjustment to interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

In December 2005, we amended and restated our $1.0 billion five-year revolving credit facility supporting our commercial paper program. We increased the capacity to $1.3 billion and extended the maturity date to December 2010. In October 2005, we executed a $3.0 billion 364-day revolving credit facility to support a $3.0 billion increase in our commercial paper program. As of December 31, 2005, we had no amounts outstanding under either of these credit facilities.

 

PacifiCare had approximately $100 million par value of 3% convertible subordinated debentures (convertible notes) which were convertible into approximately 5.2 million shares of UnitedHealth Group’s common stock and $102 million of cash as of December 31, 2005. In December 2005, we initiated a consent solicitation to all of the holders of outstanding convertible notes pursuant to which we offered to compensate all holders who elected to convert their notes in accordance with existing terms and consent to an amendment to a covenant in the indenture

 

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governing the convertible notes. The compensation consisted of the present value of interest through October 18, 2007, the earliest mandatory redemption date, plus a pro rata share of $1 million. On January 31, 2006, approximately 91% of the convertible notes were tendered pursuant to the offer, for which we issued 4.8 million shares of UnitedHealth Group common stock and cash of $99 million.

 

Our debt arrangements and credit facilities contain various covenants, the most restrictive of which require us to maintain a debt-to-total-capital ratio (calculated as the sum of commercial paper and debt divided by the sum of commercial paper, debt and shareholders’ equity) below 45% and to exceed specified minimum interest coverage levels. We are in compliance with the requirements of all debt covenants.

 

Our senior debt is rated “A” by Standard & Poor’s (S&P) and Fitch, and “A2” by Moody’s. Our commercial paper is rated “A-1” by S&P, “F-1” by Fitch, and “P-1” by Moody’s. Consistent with our intention of maintaining our senior debt ratings in the “A” range, we currently intend to maintain our debt-to-total-capital ratio at approximately 30% or less. A significant downgrade in our debt or commercial paper ratings could adversely affect our borrowing capacity and costs.

 

Under our board of directors’ authorization, we maintain a common stock repurchase program. Repurchases may be made from time to time at prevailing prices, subject to certain restrictions on volume, pricing and timing. During the year ended December 31, 2005, we repurchased 53.6 million shares at an average price of approximately $48 per share and an aggregate cost of approximately $2.6 billion. As of December 31, 2005, we had board of directors’ authorization to purchase up to an additional 55.5 million shares of our common stock. Our common stock repurchase program is discretionary as we are under no obligation to repurchase shares. We repurchase shares because we believe it is a prudent use of capital. A decision by the company to discontinue share repurchases would significantly increase our liquidity and financial flexibility.

 

We currently have a $4.0 billion universal S-3 shelf registration statement (for common stock, preferred stock, debt securities and other securities) which has been declared effective by the SEC. In addition, we are considered a “well known seasoned issuer” under the Securities Offering Reform Act that became effective in December 2005. We have not yet issued any securities under this shelf registration statement. We may publicly offer securities from time to time at prices and terms to be determined at the time of offering. We intend to issue debt securities during the first quarter of 2006 to refinance some or all of the commercial paper currently outstanding. Under our S-4 acquisition shelf registration statement, we have remaining issuing capacity of 48.6 million shares of our common stock in connection with acquisition activities. We filed separate S-4 registration statements for the 72.8 million shares issued in connection with the February 2004 acquisition of MAMSI, the 104.4 million shares issued in connection with the July 2004 acquisition of Oxford and the 99.2 million shares issued in connection with the December 2005 acquisition of PacifiCare described previously.

 

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Contractual Obligations, Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements And Commitments

 

The following table summarizes future obligations due by period as of December 31, 2005, under our various contractual obligations, off-balance sheet arrangements and commitments (in millions):

 

     2006

   2007 to 2008

   2009 to 2010

   Thereafter

   Total

Debt and Commercial Paper1

   $ 3,261    $ 1,450    $ 700    $ 1,700    $ 7,111

Interest on Debt and Commercial Paper2

     194      299      191      302      986

Operating Leases

     167      287      183      172      809

Purchase Obligations3

     151      45      6      —        202

Future Policy Benefits4

     120      305      280      1,176      1,881

Other Long-Term Obligations5

     —        56      —        302      358
    

  

  

  

  

Total Contractual Obligations

   $ 3,893    $ 2,442    $ 1,360    $ 3,652    $ 11,347
    

  

  

  

  


1 Debt payments could be accelerated upon violation of debt covenants. We believe the likelihood of a debt covenant violation is remote.

 

2 Calculated using stated rates from the debt agreements and related interest rate swap agreements and assuming amounts are outstanding through their contractual term. For variable-rate obligations, we used the rates in place as of December 31, 2005 to estimate all remaining contractual payments.

 

3 Includes fixed or minimum commitments under existing purchase obligations for goods and services, including agreements which are cancelable with the payment of an early termination penalty. Excludes agreements that are cancelable without penalty and also excludes liabilities to the extent recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2005.

 

4 Estimated payments required under life and annuity contracts. Under our reinsurance arrangement with OneAmerica Financial Partners, Inc. (OneAmerica) these amounts are payable by OneAmerica but we remain primarily liable to the policyholders if they are unable to pay (see Note 3 of the consolidated financial statements).

 

5 Includes obligations associated with certain employee benefit programs and minority interest purchase commitments.

 

Currently, we do not have any other material contractual obligations, off-balance sheet arrangements or commitments that require cash resources; however, we continually evaluate opportunities to expand our operations. This includes internal development of new products, programs and technology applications, and may include acquisitions.

 

AARP

 

In January 1998, we entered into a 10-year contract to provide health insurance products and services to members of AARP. These products and services are provided to supplement benefits covered under traditional Medicare. Under the terms of the contract, we are compensated for transaction processing and other services as well as for assuming underwriting risk. We are also engaged in product development activities to complement the insurance offerings under this program. Premium revenues from our portion of the AARP insurance offerings were approximately $4.9 billion in 2005, $4.5 billion in 2004 and $4.1 billion in 2003.

 

The underwriting gains or losses related to the AARP business are directly recorded as an increase or decrease to a rate stabilization fund (RSF). The primary components of the underwriting results are premium revenue, medical costs, investment income, administrative expenses, member services expenses, marketing expenses and premium taxes. Underwriting gains and losses are recorded as an increase or decrease to the RSF and accrue to the overall benefit of the AARP policyholders, unless cumulative net losses were to exceed the balance in the RSF. To the extent underwriting losses exceed the balance in the RSF, we would have to fund the deficit. Any deficit we fund could be recovered by underwriting gains in future periods of the contract. To date, we have not been required to fund any underwriting deficits. As further described in Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements, the RSF balance is reported in Other Policy Liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. We believe the RSF balance is sufficient to cover potential future underwriting or other risks associated with the contract.

 

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Medicare Part D Pharmacy Benefits Contract

 

The Company has contracted with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to serve as a Prescription Drug Plan sponsor offering Medicare Part D prescription drug insurance coverage to eligible Medicare beneficiaries, beginning January 1, 2006. This product is either offered as a stand-alone product or as an element of the Medicare Advantage products.

 

As a result of this contract and the December 2005 acquisition of PacifiCare, premium revenues from Medicare-related programs, which have historically been approximately 10% of total premium revenues, are expected to increase to approximately 25% in 2006.

 

Regulatory Capital and Dividend Restrictions

 

We conduct a significant portion of our operations through companies that are subject to standards established by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). These standards, among other things, require these subsidiaries to maintain specified levels of statutory capital, as defined by each state, and restrict the timing and amount of dividends and other distributions that may be paid to their parent companies. Generally, the amount of dividend distributions that may be paid by a regulated subsidiary, without prior approval by state regulatory authorities, is limited based on the entity’s level of statutory net income and statutory capital and surplus. The agencies that assess our creditworthiness also consider capital adequacy levels when establishing our debt ratings. Consistent with our intent to maintain our senior debt ratings in the “A” range, we maintain an aggregate statutory capital level for our regulated subsidiaries that is significantly higher than the minimum level regulators require. As of December 31, 2005, our regulated subsidiaries had aggregate statutory capital of approximately $6.4 billion, which is significantly more than the aggregate minimum regulatory requirements.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Critical accounting policies are those policies that require management to make the most challenging, subjective or complex judgments, often because they must estimate the effects of matters that are inherently uncertain and may change in subsequent periods. Critical accounting policies involve judgments and uncertainties that are sufficiently sensitive to result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. We believe our most critical accounting policies are those described below. For a detailed discussion of these and other accounting policies, see Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

Medical Costs

 

Each reporting period, we estimate our obligations for medical care services that have been rendered on behalf of insured consumers but for which claims have either not yet been received or processed, and for liabilities for physician, hospital and other medical cost disputes. We develop estimates for medical care services incurred but not reported using an actuarial process that is consistently applied, centrally controlled and automated. The actuarial models consider factors such as time from date of service to claim receipt, claim backlogs, seasonal variances in medical care consumption, provider contract rate changes, medical care utilization and other medical cost trends, membership volume and demographics, benefit plan changes, and business mix changes related to products, customers and geography. Depending on the health care provider and type of service, the typical billing lag for services can range from two to 90 days from the date of service. Substantially all claims related to medical care services are known and settled within nine to 12 months from the date of service. We estimate liabilities for physician, hospital and other medical cost disputes based upon an analysis of potential outcomes, assuming a combination of litigation and settlement strategies.

 

Each period, we re-examine previously established medical costs payable estimates based on actual claim submissions and other changes in facts and circumstances. As more complete claim information becomes available, we adjust the amount of the estimates, and include the changes in estimates in medical costs in the

 

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period in which the change is identified. In every reporting period, our operating results include the effects of more completely developed medical costs payable estimates associated with previously reported periods. If the revised estimate of prior period medical costs is less than the previous estimate, we will decrease reported medical costs in the current period (favorable development). If the revised estimate of prior period medical costs is more than the previous estimate, we will increase reported medical costs in the current period (unfavorable development). Historically, the net impact of estimate developments has represented less than 1% of annual medical costs, less than 5% of annual earnings from operations and less than 4% of medical costs payable.

 

In order to evaluate the impact of changes in medical cost estimates for any particular discrete period, one should consider both the amount of development recorded in the current period pertaining to prior periods and the amount of development recorded in subsequent periods pertaining to the current period. The accompanying table provides a summary of the net impact of favorable development on medical costs and earnings from operations (in millions).

 

     Favorable
Development


   Net Impact
on Medical
Costs(a)


    Medical Costs

    Earnings from Operations

 
          As Reported

   As Adjusted(b)

    As Reported

   As Adjusted(b)

 

2002

   $ 70    ($ 80 )   $ 18,192    $ 18,112     $ 2,186    $ 2,266  

2003

   $ 150    ($ 60 )   $ 20,714    $ 20,654     $ 2,935    $ 2,995  

2004

   $ 210    ($ 190 )   $ 27,000    $ 26,810     $ 4,101    $ 4,291  

2005

   $ 400      (c )   $ 32,725      (c )   $ 5,373      (c )

(a) The amount of favorable development recorded in the current year pertaining to the prior year less the amount of favorable development recorded in the subsequent year pertaining to the current year.

 

(b) Represents reported amounts adjusted to reflect the net impact of medical cost development.

 

(c) Not yet determinable as the amount of prior period development recorded in 2006 will change as our December 31, 2005 medical costs payable estimate develops throughout 2006.

 

Our estimate of medical costs payable represents management’s best estimate of the company’s liability for unpaid medical costs as of December 31, 2005, developed using consistently applied actuarial methods. Management believes the amount of medical costs payable is reasonable and adequate to cover the company’s liability for unpaid claims as of December 31, 2005; however, actual claim payments may differ from established estimates. The increase in favorable medical cost development in 2005 was driven primarily by lower than anticipated medical costs as well as growth in the size of the medical cost base and related medical payables due to organic growth and businesses acquired since the beginning of 2004. Assuming a hypothetical 1% difference between our December 31, 2005 estimates of medical costs payable and actual costs payable, excluding the AARP business, 2005 earnings from operations would increase or decrease by $63 million and diluted net earnings per common share would increase or decrease by $0.03 per share.

 

Contingent Liabilities

 

Because of the nature of our businesses, we are routinely involved in various disputes, legal proceedings and governmental audits and investigations. We record liabilities for our estimates of the probable costs resulting from these matters. Our estimates are developed in consultation with outside legal counsel and are based upon an analysis of potential results, assuming a combination of litigation and settlement strategies and considering our insurance coverages, if any, for such matters. We do not believe any matters currently threatened or pending will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations. It is possible, however, that future results of operations for any particular quarterly or annual period could be materially affected by changes in our estimates or assumptions.

 

Goodwill, Intangible Assets and Other Long-Lived Assets

 

As of December 31, 2005, we had long-lived assets, including goodwill, other intangible assets, property, equipment and capitalized software, of $19.9 billion. We review our goodwill for impairment annually at the

 

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reporting unit level, and we review our remaining long-lived assets for impairment when events and changes in circumstances indicate we might not recover their carrying value. To determine the fair value of our long-lived assets and assess their recoverability, we must make assumptions about a wide variety of internal and external factors including estimated future utility and estimated future cash flows, which in turn are based on estimates of future revenues, expenses and operating margins. If these estimates or their related assumptions change in the future, we may be required to record impairment charges for these assets that could materially affect our results of operations and shareholders’ equity in the period in which the impairment occurs.

 

Revenues

 

Revenues are principally derived from health care insurance premiums. We recognize premium revenues in the period eligible individuals are entitled to receive health care services. Customers are typically billed monthly at a contracted rate per eligible person multiplied by the total number of people eligible to receive services, as recorded in our records. Employer groups generally provide us with changes to their eligible population one month in arrears. Each billing includes an adjustment for prior month changes in eligibility status that were not reflected in our previous billing. We estimate and adjust the current period’s revenues and accounts receivable accordingly. Our estimates are based on historical trends, premiums billed, the level of contract renewal activity and other relevant information. We revise estimates of revenue adjustments each period, and record changes in the period they become known.

 

Investments

 

As of December 31, 2005, we had approximately $9.6 billion of investments, primarily held in marketable debt securities. Our investments are principally classified as available for sale and are recorded at fair value. We exclude unrealized gains and losses on investments available for sale from earnings and report them together, net of income tax effects, as a separate component in shareholders’ equity. We continually monitor the difference between the cost and fair value of our investments. As of December 31, 2005, our investments had gross unrealized gains of $105 million and gross unrealized losses of $53 million. If any of our investments experience a decline in fair value that is determined to be other than temporary, based on analysis of relevant factors, we record a realized loss in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. Management judgment is involved in evaluating whether a decline in an investment’s fair value is other than temporary. New information and the passage of time can change these judgments. We revise impairment judgments when new information becomes known and record any resulting impairment charges at that time. We manage our investment portfolio to limit our exposure to any one issuer or industry and largely limit our investments to U.S. Government and Agency securities, state and municipal securities, and corporate debt obligations that are investment grade.

 

Inflation

 

The current national health care cost inflation rate significantly exceeds the general inflation rate. We use various strategies to lessen the effects of health care cost inflation. These include setting commercial premiums based on anticipated health care costs and coordinating care with physicians and other health care providers. Through contracts with physicians and other health care providers, we emphasize preventive health care, appropriate use of health care services consistent with clinical performance standards, education and closing gaps in care.

 

We believe our strategies to mitigate the impact of health care cost inflation on our operating results have been and will continue to be successful. However, other factors including competitive pressures, new health care and pharmaceutical product introductions, demands from physicians and other health care providers and consumers, major epidemics, and applicable regulations may affect our ability to control the impact of health care cost inflation. Because of the narrow operating margins of our risk-based products, changes in medical cost trends that were not anticipated in establishing premium rates can create significant changes in our financial results.

 

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Legal Matters

 

Because of the nature of our businesses, we are routinely made party to a variety of legal actions related to the design and management of our service offerings. We record liabilities for our estimates of probable costs resulting from these matters. These matters include, but are not limited to, claims relating to health care benefits coverage, medical malpractice actions, contract disputes and claims related to disclosure of certain business practices.

 

Beginning in 1999, a series of class action lawsuits were filed against both UnitedHealthcare and PacifiCare, and virtually all major entities in the health benefits business. In December 2000, a multidistrict litigation panel consolidated several litigation cases involving UnitedHealth Group and our affiliates, including PacifiCare, in the Southern District Court of Florida, Miami division. Generally, the health care provider plaintiffs allege violations of ERISA and the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization Act (RICO) in connection with alleged undisclosed policies intended to maximize profits. Other allegations include breach of state prompt payment laws and breach of contract claims for failure to timely reimburse providers for medical services rendered. The consolidated suits seek injunctive, compensatory and equitable relief as well as restitution, costs, fees and interest payments. The trial court granted the health care providers’ motion for class certification and that order was reviewed by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the class action status of the RICO claims, but reversed as to the breach of contract, unjust enrichment and prompt payment claims. During the course of the litigation, there have been co-defendant settlements. Through a series of motions and appeals, all direct claims against us have been compelled to arbitration. A trial date has been set for September 2006. The trial court has ordered that the trial be split into separate liability and damage proceedings. In August 2005, the capitation-related claims were dismissed from litigation. On January 31, 2006, the trial court dismissed all remaining claims against PacifiCare. A March 14, 2006 hearing date has been scheduled for our summary judgment motion.

 

On March 15, 2000, the American Medical Association filed a lawsuit against the company in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York. On April 13, 2000, we removed this case to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The suit alleges causes of action based on ERISA, as well as breach of contract and the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, deceptive acts and practices, and trade libel in connection with the calculation of reasonable and customary reimbursement rates for non-network providers. The suit seeks declaratory, injunctive and compensatory relief as well as costs, fees and interest payments. An amended complaint was filed on August 25, 2000, which alleged two classes of plaintiffs, an ERISA class and a non-ERISA class. After the Court dismissed certain ERISA claims and the claims brought by the American Medical Association, a third amended complaint was filed. On October 25, 2002, the court granted in part and denied in part our motion to dismiss the third amended complaint. On May 21, 2003, we filed a counterclaim complaint in this matter alleging antitrust violations against the American Medical Association and asserting claims based on improper billing practices against an individual provider plaintiff. On May 26, 2004, we filed a motion for partial summary judgment seeking the dismissal of certain claims and parties based, in part, due to lack of standing. On July 16, 2004, plaintiffs filed a motion for leave to file an amended complaint, seeking to assert RICO violations.

 

Although the results of pending litigation are always uncertain, we do not believe the results of any such actions currently threatened or pending, including those described above, will, individually or in aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks

 

Market risk represents the risk of changes in the fair value of a financial instrument caused by changes in interest rates or equity prices. The company’s primary market risk is exposure to changes in interest rates that could impact the fair value of our investments and long-term debt.

 

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Approximately $14.7 billion of our cash equivalents and investments at December 31, 2005 were debt securities. Assuming a hypothetical and immediate 1% increase or decrease in interest rates applicable to our fixed-income investment portfolio at December 31, 2005, the fair value of our fixed-income investments would decrease or increase by approximately $345 million. We manage our investment portfolio to limit our exposure to any one issuer or industry and largely limit our investments to U.S. Government and Agency securities, state and municipal securities, and corporate debt obligations that are investment grade.

 

To mitigate the financial impact of changes in interest rates, we have entered into interest rate swap agreements to more closely match the interest rates of our long-term debt with those of our cash equivalents and short-term investments. Including the impact of our interest rate swap agreements, approximately $6.2 billion of our commercial paper and debt had variable rates of interest and approximately $0.9 billion had fixed rates as of December 31, 2005. A hypothetical 1% increase or decrease in interest rates would not be material to the fair value of our commercial paper and debt.

 

At December 31, 2005, we had $261 million of equity investments, a portion of which were held by our UnitedHealth Capital business in various public and non-public companies concentrated in the areas of health care delivery and related information technologies. Market conditions that affect the value of health care or technology stocks will likewise impact the value of our equity portfolio.

 

Concentrations of Credit Risk

 

Investments in financial instruments such as marketable securities and accounts receivable may subject UnitedHealth Group to concentrations of credit risk. Our investments in marketable securities are managed under an investment policy authorized by our board of directors. This policy limits the amounts that may be invested in any one issuer and generally limits our investments to U.S. Government and Agency securities, state and municipal securities and corporate debt obligations that are investment grade. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable are limited due to the large number of employer groups that constitute our customer base. As discussed more fully in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, we have a $1.8 billion reinsurance receivable resulting from the sale of our life and annuity business. We regularly evaluate the financial condition of the reinsurer and only record the reinsurance receivable to the extent that the amounts are deemed probable of recovery. As of December 31, 2005, there were no other significant concentrations of credit risk.

 

Cautionary Statements

 

The statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA). When used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in future filings by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in our news releases, presentations to securities analysts or investors, and in oral statements made by or with the approval of one of our executive officers, the words or phrases “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “seeks,” “intends,” “will likely result,” “estimates,” “projects” or similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are intended to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions of the PSLRA. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements.

 

The following discussion contains certain cautionary statements regarding our business that investors and others should consider. Except to the extent otherwise required by federal securities laws, we do not undertake to address or update forward-looking statements in future filings or communications regarding our business or operating results, and do not undertake to address how any of these factors may have caused results to differ from discussions or information contained in previous filings or communications. In addition, any of the matters discussed below may have affected past, as well as current, forward-looking statements about future results. Any or all forward-looking statements in this Form 10-K and in any other public filings or statements we make may

 

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turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions we might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many factors discussed below will be important in determining future results. By their nature, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict or quantify. Actual future results may vary materially from expectations expressed in our prior communications.

 

We must effectively manage our health care costs.

 

Under our risk-based product arrangements, we assume the risk of both medical and administrative costs for our customers in return for monthly premiums. Premium revenues from risk-based products (excluding AARP) have typically comprised approximately 75% to 80% of our total consolidated revenues. We generally use approximately 80% to 85% of our premium revenues to pay the costs of health care services delivered to these customers. The profitability of our risk-based products depends in large part on our ability to predict, price for, and effectively manage health care costs. Total health care costs are affected by the number of individual services rendered and the cost of each service. Our premium revenue is typically fixed in price for a 12-month period and is generally priced one to four months before the contract commences. We base the premiums we charge on our estimate of future health care costs over the fixed premium period; however, inflation, regulations and other factors may cause actual costs to exceed what was estimated and reflected in premiums. These factors may include increased use of services, increased cost of individual services, catastrophes, epidemics, the introduction of new or costly treatments and technology, new mandated benefits or other regulatory changes, insured population characteristics and seasonal changes in the level of health care use. As a measure of the impact of medical cost on our financial results, relatively small differences between predicted and actual medical costs as a percentage of premium revenues can result in significant changes in our financial results. For example, if medical costs increased by 1% without a proportional change in related revenues for UnitedHealthcare’s commercial insured products, our annual net earnings for 2005 would have been reduced by approximately $130 million. In addition, the financial results we report for any particular period include estimates of costs that have been incurred for which claims are still outstanding. If these estimates prove too high or too low, the effect of the change in estimate will be included in future results. That change can be either positive or negative to our results.

 

We face competition in many of our markets and customers have flexibility in moving between competitors.

 

Our businesses compete throughout the United States and face competition in all of the geographic markets in which they operate. For our Uniprise and Health Care Services segments, competitors include Aetna Inc., Cigna Corporation, Coventry Health Care, Inc., Humana Inc., and WellPoint, Inc., numerous for-profit and not-for-profit organizations operating under licenses from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and enterprises that serve more limited geographic areas. Our Specialized Care Services and Ingenix segments also compete with a number of businesses. The addition of new competitors can occur relatively easily, and customers enjoy significant flexibility in moving between competitors. In particular markets, competitors may have capabilities or resources that give them a competitive advantage. Greater market share, established reputation, superior supplier or provider arrangements, existing business relationships, and other factors all can provide a competitive advantage to our businesses or to their competitors. In addition, significant merger and acquisition activity has occurred in the industries in which we operate, both as to our competitors and suppliers in these industries. Consolidation may make it more difficult for us to retain or increase customers, to improve the terms on which we do business with our suppliers, or to maintain or advance profitability.

 

Our relationship with AARP is important.

 

Under our 10-year contract with AARP, which commenced in 1998, we provide Medicare supplement and hospital indemnity health insurance and other products to AARP members. As of December 31, 2005, our portion of AARP’s insurance program represented approximately $4.9 billion in annual net premium revenue from approximately 3.8 million AARP members. The AARP contract may be terminated early by us or AARP under certain circumstances, including a material breach by either party, insolvency of either party, a material

 

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adverse change in the financial condition of either party, and by mutual agreement. The success of our AARP arrangement depends, in part, on our ability to service AARP and its members, develop additional products and services, price the products and services competitively, and respond effectively to federal and state regulatory changes.

 

Some of the favorable and unfavorable effects of changes in Medicare remain uncertain.

 

The changes in Medicare as a result of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) are complex and wide-ranging and continue to affect our businesses. We have taken advantage of new opportunities to partner with the federal government created by the MMA, including Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, Medicare Advantage Regional PPOs, and Special Needs Plans for chronically ill Medicare beneficiaries. We have invested considerable resources in creating new Medicare product offerings for these initiatives and in analyzing how to best address uncertainties and risks associated with these new programs and other changes arising from the MMA. In particular, the Part D program presents challenges because of the size and scope of the new program. Our ability to successfully participate in the Part D program depends in part on coordination of information and information systems between us, CMS and state governments. We have been working with CMS to correct systems issues that they have experienced with respect to certain low income people eligible to participate in Part D. The inability to receive correct information due to systems issues by the federal government, the applicable state government or us could adversely affect our business. Additionally, our participation in the Part D program is based upon certain assumptions regarding enrollment, utilization, pharmaceutical costs and other factors. In the event any of these assumptions are materially incorrect, either as a result of unforeseen changes to the Part D program or otherwise, our results could be materially affected. Any positive or negative results of the Part D program are likely to have a significant impact on us as a result of the size of our enrollment in our Part D program.

 

We are subject to funding risks with respect to revenue received from participation in Medicare and Medicaid programs.

 

We participate as a payer in Medicare Advantage, Part D, and Medicaid programs and receive revenues from the Medicare and Medicaid programs to provide benefits under these programs. Revenues for these programs are dependent upon annual funding from the federal government or applicable state governments. Funding for these programs is dependent upon many factors outside of our control including general economic conditions at the federal or applicable state level and general political issues and priorities. An unexpected reduction in government funding for these programs may adversely affect our revenues and financial results.

 

Our business is subject to routine government scrutiny, and we must respond quickly and appropriately to frequent changes in government regulations.

 

Our business is regulated at the federal, state, local and international levels. The laws and rules governing our business and interpretations of those laws and rules are subject to frequent change. Broad latitude is given to the agencies administering those regulations. Existing or future laws and rules could force us to change how we do business, restrict revenue and enrollment growth, increase our health care and administrative costs and capital requirements, and increase our liability in federal and state courts for coverage determinations, contract interpretation and other actions. We must obtain and maintain regulatory approvals to market many of our products, to increase prices for certain regulated products and to complete certain acquisitions and dispositions. Delays in obtaining approvals or our failure to obtain or maintain these approvals could reduce our revenue or increase our costs.

 

We participate in federal, state and local government health care coverage programs. These programs generally are subject to frequent change, including changes that may reduce the number of persons enrolled or eligible, reduce the amount of reimbursement or payment levels, or increase our administrative or health care costs under such programs. Such changes have adversely affected our financial results and willingness to participate in such programs in the past, and may do so in the future.

 

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State legislatures and Congress continue to focus on health care issues. Legislative and regulatory proposals at state and federal levels may affect certain aspects of our business, including contracting with physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals; physician reimbursement methods and payment rates; coverage determinations; claim payments and processing; drug utilization and patient safety efforts; use and maintenance of individually identifiable health information; medical malpractice litigation; and government-sponsored programs. We cannot predict if any of these initiatives will ultimately become binding law or regulation, or, if enacted, what their terms will be, but their enactment could increase our costs, expose us to expanded liability, require us to revise the ways in which we conduct business or put us at risk for loss of business.

 

We typically are involved in various governmental investigations, audits and reviews. These include routine, regular and special investigations, audits and reviews by CMS, state insurance and health and welfare departments and state attorneys general, the Office of the Inspector General, the Office of Personnel Management, the Office of Civil Rights, the Department of Justice and U.S. Attorneys. Such government actions can result in assessment of damages, civil or criminal fines or penalties, or other sanctions, including restrictions or changes in the way we conduct business, loss of licensure or exclusion from participation in government programs. In addition, public perception or publicity surrounding routine governmental investigations may adversely affect our stock price, damage our reputation in various markets or make it more difficult for us to sell products and services.

 

Relationships with physicians, hospitals and other health care providers are important to our business.

 

We contract with physicians, hospitals, pharmaceutical benefit service providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and other health care providers for competitive prices. Our results of operations and prospects are substantially dependent on our continued ability to maintain these competitive prices. A number of organizations are advocating for legislation that would exempt certain of these physicians and health care professionals from federal and state antitrust laws. In any particular market, these physicians and health care professionals could refuse to contract, demand higher payments, or take other actions that could result in higher health care costs, less desirable products for customers or difficulty meeting regulatory or accreditation requirements. In some markets, certain health care providers, particularly hospitals, physician/hospital organizations or multispecialty physician groups, may have significant market positions or near monopolies that could result in diminished bargaining power on our part.

 

In addition, we have capitation arrangements with some physicians, hospitals and other health care providers. Under the typical arrangement, the provider receives a fixed percentage of premium to cover all the medical costs provided to the capitated member. Under some capitated arrangements, the provider may also receive additional compensation from risk sharing and other incentive arrangements. Capitation arrangements limit our exposure to the risk of increasing medical costs, but expose us to risk related to the adequacy of the financial and medical care resources of the provider. To the extent that a capitated provider organization faces financial difficulties or otherwise is unable to perform its obligations under the capitation arrangement, we may be held responsible for unpaid health care claims that are the responsibility of the capitated provider and for which we have already paid the provider under the capitation arrangement.

 

The nature of our business exposes us to litigation risks.

 

Periodically, we become a party to the types of legal actions that can affect any business, such as employment and employment discrimination-related suits, employee benefit claims, breach of contract actions, tort claims, shareholder suits, and intellectual property-related litigation. In addition, because of the nature of our business, we are routinely made party to a variety of legal actions related to the design and management of our service offerings. These matters include, among others, claims related to health care benefits coverage, medical malpractice actions, contract disputes and claims related to disclosure of certain business practices. In 1999, a number of class action lawsuits were filed against UnitedHealthcare and PacifiCare and virtually all major entities in the health benefits business, although all claims against PacifiCare have been dismissed. The suits are

 

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purported class actions on behalf of physicians for alleged breaches of federal statutes, including ERISA and RICO . In March 2000, the American Medical Association filed a lawsuit against us in connection with the calculation of reasonable and customary reimbursement rates for non-network providers. Although the expenses we have incurred to date in defending the 1999 class action lawsuits and the American Medical Association lawsuit have not been material to our business, we will continue to incur expenses in the defense of these lawsuits and other matters, even if they are without merit.

 

The Company is largely self-insured with regard to litigation risks; however, we maintain excess liability insurance with outside insurance carriers to minimize risks associated with catastrophic claims. Although we believe that we are adequately insured for claims in excess of our self-insurance, certain types of damages, such as punitive damages, are not covered by insurance. We record liabilities for our estimates of the probable costs resulting from self-insured matters. Although we believe the liabilities established for these risks are adequate, it is possible that the level of actual losses may exceed the liabilities recorded.

 

Our businesses providing pharmacy benefit management (PBM) services face regulatory and other risks associated with the pharmacy benefits management industry that may differ from the risks of providing managed care and health insurance products.

 

In connection with the PacifiCare merger, we acquired a pharmacy benefits management business, Prescription Solutions. We also provide pharmacy benefits management services through UnitedHealth Pharmaceutical Solutions. Prescription Solutions and UnitedHealth Pharmaceutical Solutions are subject to federal and state anti-remuneration and other laws that govern their relationships with pharmaceutical manufacturers, customers and consumers. Federal and state legislatures are considering new regulations for the industry that could adversely affect current industry practices, including the receipt of rebates from pharmaceutical companies. In addition, if a court were to determine that our PBM business acts as a fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or ERISA, we could be subject to claims for alleged breaches of fiduciary obligations in implementation of formularies, preferred drug listings and therapeutic intervention programs, contracting network practices, speciality drug distribution and other transactions. Our PBM also conducts business as a mail order pharmacy, which subjects it to extensive federal, state and local laws and regulations, as well as risks inherent in the packaging and distribution of pharmaceuticals and other health care products. The failure to adhere to these laws and regulations could expose our PBM subsidiary to civil and criminal penalties. We also face potential claims in connection with purported errors by our mail order pharmacy.

 

Our businesses depend on effective information systems and the integrity of the data in our information systems.

 

Our ability to adequately price our products and services, provide effective and efficient service to our customers, and to accurately report our financial results depends on the integrity of the data in our information systems. As a result of our acquisition activities, we have acquired additional systems. We have been taking steps to reduce the number of systems we operate and have upgraded and expanded our information systems capabilities. If the information we rely upon to run our businesses were found to be inaccurate or unreliable or if we fail to maintain our information systems and data integrity effectively, we could lose existing customers, have difficulty attracting new customers, have problems in determining medical cost estimates and establishing appropriate pricing, have disputes with customers, physicians and other health care providers have regulatory problems, have increases in operating expenses or suffer other adverse consequences.

 

The value of our intangible assets may become impaired.

 

Due largely to our recent acquisitions, goodwill and other intangible assets represent a substantial portion of our assets. Goodwill and other intangible assets were approximately $18.2 billion as of December 31, 2005, representing approximately 44% of our total assets. If we make additional acquisitions it is likely that we will record additional intangible assets on our books. We periodically evaluate our goodwill and other intangible

 

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assets to determine whether all or a portion of their carrying values may no longer be recoverable, in which case a charge to earnings may be necessary. Any future evaluations requiring an asset impairment of our goodwill and other intangible assets could materially affect our results of operations and shareholders’ equity in the period in which the impairment occurs. A material decrease in shareholders’ equity could, in turn, negatively impact our debt ratings or potentially impact our compliance with existing debt covenants.

 

Our knowledge and information-related businesses depend on our ability to maintain proprietary rights to our databases and related products.

 

We rely on our agreements with customers, confidentiality agreements with employees, and our trade secrets, copyrights and patents to protect our proprietary rights. These legal protections and precautions may not prevent misappropriation of our proprietary information. In addition, substantial litigation regarding intellectual property rights exists in the software industry, and we expect software products to be increasingly subject to third-party infringement claims as the number of products and competitors in this industry segment grows. Such litigation and misappropriation of our proprietary information could hinder our ability to market and sell products and services.

 

We must comply with restrictions on patient privacy and information security, including taking steps to ensure that our business associates who obtain access to sensitive patient information maintain its confidentiality.

 

The use of individually identifiable data by our businesses is regulated at the international, federal and state levels. These laws and rules are changed frequently by legislation or administrative interpretation. Various state laws address the use and disclosure of individually identifiable health data. Most are derived from the privacy and security provisions in the federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, (HIPAA). HIPAA also imposes guidelines on our business associates (as this term is defined in the HIPAA regulations). Even though we provide for appropriate protections through our contracts with our business associates, we still have limited control over their actions and practices. Compliance with these proposals, requirements, and new regulations may result in cost increases due to necessary systems changes, the development of new administrative processes, and the effects of potential noncompliance by our business associates. They also may impose further restrictions on our use of patient identifiable data that is housed in one or more of our administrative databases.

 

The anticipated benefits of acquiring PacifiCare may not be realized.

 

We acquired PacifiCare with the expectation that the merger will result in various benefits including, among others, benefits relating to a stronger and more diverse network of doctors and other health care providers, expanded and enhanced affordable health care services, enhanced revenues, a strengthened market position for UnitedHealth Group in the Western United States, cross-selling opportunities, technology, cost savings and operating efficiencies. Achieving the anticipated benefits of the merger is subject to a number of uncertainties, including whether UnitedHealth Group integrates PacifiCare in an efficient and effective manner and general competitive factors in the marketplace. Failure to achieve these anticipated benefits could result in increased costs, decreases in the amount of expected revenues and diversion of management’s time and energy, which could materially impact our business, financial condition and operating results.

 

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

The information called for by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to Item 7 of this report under the heading “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.”

 

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

UnitedHealth Group

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

     For the Year Ended December 31,

 

(in millions, except per share data)


   2005

    2004

    2003

 

Revenues

                        

Premiums

   $ 41,058     $ 33,495     $ 25,448  

Services

     3,808       3,335       3,118  

Investment and Other Income

     499       388       257  
    


 


 


Total Revenues

     45,365       37,218       28,823  
    


 


 


Medical and Operating Costs

                        

Medical Costs

     32,725       27,000       20,714  

Operating Costs

     6,814       5,743       4,875  

Depreciation and Amortization

     453       374       299  
    


 


 


Total Medical and Operating Costs

     39,992       33,117       25,888  
    


 


 


Earnings From Operations

     5,373       4,101       2,935  

Interest Expense

     (241 )     (128 )     (95 )
    


 


 


Earnings Before Income Taxes

     5,132       3,973       2,840  

Provision for Income Taxes

     (1,832 )     (1,386 )     (1,015 )
    


 


 


Net Earnings

   $ 3,300     $ 2,587     $ 1,825  
    


 


 


Basic Net Earnings per Common Share

   $ 2.61     $ 2.07     $ 1.55  
    


 


 


Diluted Net Earnings per Common Share

   $ 2.48     $ 1.97     $ 1.48  
    


 


 


Basic Weighted-Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding

     1,265       1,252       1,178  

Dilutive Effect of Common Stock Equivalents

     65       58       56  
    


 


 


Diluted Weighted-Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding

     1,330       1,310       1,234  
    


 


 


 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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UnitedHealth Group

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

     As of December 31,

(in millions, except per share data)


   2005

   2004

Assets

             

Current Assets

             

Cash and Cash Equivalents

   $ 5,421    $ 3,991

Short-Term Investments

     590      514

Accounts Receivable, net of allowances of $105 and $101

     1,290      906

Assets Under Management

     1,825      1,930

Deferred Income Taxes

     645      353

Other Current Assets

     869      547
    

  

Total Current Assets

     10,640      8,241

Long-Term Investments

     8,971      7,748

Property, Equipment, and Capitalized Software, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $966 and $660

     1,647      1,139

Goodwill

     16,206      9,470

Other Intangible Assets, net of accumulated amortization of $192 and $103

     2,020      1,205

Other Assets

     1,890      76
    

  

Total Assets

   $ 41,374    $ 27,879
    

  

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

             

Current Liabilities

             

Medical Costs Payable

   $ 7,301    $ 5,540

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities

     3,301      2,107

Other Policy Liabilities

     1,824      1,933

Commercial Paper and Current Maturities of Long-Term Debt

     3,261      673

Unearned Premiums

     957      1,076
    

  

Total Current Liabilities

     16,644      11,329

Long-Term Debt, less current maturities

     3,850      3,350

Future Policy Benefits for Life and Annuity Contracts

     1,761      1,669

Deferred Income Taxes and Other Liabilities

     1,386      814

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 12)

             
    

  

Shareholders’ Equity

             

Common Stock, $0.01 par value - 3,000 shares authorized;
1,358 and 1,286 shares outstanding

     14      13

Additional Paid-In Capital

     6,921      3,088

Retained Earnings

     10,765      7,484

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income:

             

Net Unrealized Gains on Investments, net of tax effects

     33      132
    

  

Total Shareholders’ Equity

     17,733      10,717
    

  

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

   $ 41,374    $ 27,879
    

  

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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UnitedHealth Group

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

 

    Common Stock

    Additional
Paid-in
Capital


    Retained
Earnings


    Net Unrealized
Gains on
Investments


   

Total
Shareholders’

Equity


   

Comprehensive
Income


 

(in millions)


  Shares

    Amount

           

Balance at December 31, 2002

  1,198     $ 12     $ 164     $ 4,104     $ 148     $ 4,428          

Issuances of Common Stock, and related tax benefits

  34       —         490       —         —         490          

Common Stock Repurchases

  (66 )     —         (602 )     (1,005 )     —         (1,607 )        

Comprehensive Income

                                                     

Net Earnings

  —         —         —         1,825       —         1,825     $ 1,825  

Other Comprehensive Income Adjustments:

                                                     

Change in Net Unrealized Gains on Investments, net of tax effects

  —         —         —         —         1       1       1  
                                                 


Comprehensive Income

                                                $ 1,826  
                                                 


Common Stock Dividend

  —         —         —         (9 )     —         (9 )        
   

 


 


 


 


 


       

Balance at December 31, 2003

  1,166       12       52       4,915       149       5,128          

Issuances of Common Stock, and related tax benefits

  223       2       6,481       —         —         6,483          

Common Stock Repurchases

  (103 )     (1 )     (3,445 )     —         —         (3,446 )        

Comprehensive Income

                                                     

Net Earnings

  —         —         —         2,587       —         2,587     $ 2,587  

Other Comprehensive Income Adjustments:

                                                     

Change in Net Unrealized Gains on Investments, net of tax effects

  —         —         —         —         (17 )     (17 )     (17 )
                                                 


Comprehensive Income

                                                $ 2,570  
                                                 


Common Stock Dividend

  —         —         —         (18 )     —         (18 )        
   

 


 


 


 


 


       

Balance at December 31, 2004

  1,286       13       3,088       7,484       132       10,717          

Issuances of Common Stock, and related tax benefits

  126       1       6,390       —         —         6,391          

Common Stock Repurchases

  (54 )     —         (2,557 )     —         —         (2,557 )        

Comprehensive Income

                                                     

Net Earnings

  —         —         —         3,300       —         3,300     $ 3,300  

Other Comprehensive Income Adjustments:

                                                     

Change in Net Unrealized Gains on Investments, net of tax effects

  —         —         —         —         (99 )     (99 )     (99 )
                                                 


Comprehensive Income

                                                $ 3,201  
                                                 


Common Stock Dividend

  —         —         —         (19 )     —         (19 )        
   

 


 


 


 


 


       

Balance at December 31, 2005

  1,358     $ 14     $ 6,921     $ 10,765     $ 33     $ 17,733          
   

 


 


 


 


 


       

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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UnitedHealth Group

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

     For the Year Ended December 31,

 

(in millions)


       2005    

        2004    

        2003    

 

Operating Activities

                        

Net Earnings

   $ 3,300     $ 2,587     $ 1,825  

Noncash Items

                        

Depreciation and Amortization

     453       374       299  

Deferred Income Taxes and Other

     167       125       91  

Net Change in Other Operating Items, net of effects from acquisitions, and changes in AARP balances:

                        

Accounts Receivable and Other Current Assets

     (83 )     (30 )     (46 )

Medical Costs Payable

     193       322       276  

Accounts Payable and Other Accrued Liabilities

     580       623       547  

Unearned Premiums

     (284 )     134       11  
    


 


 


Cash Flows From Operating Activities

     4,326       4,135       3,003  
    


 


 


Investing Activities

                        

Cash Paid for Acquisitions, net of cash assumed and other effects

     (2,562 )     (2,225 )     (590 )

Cash Transferred on Sale of Business

     (363 )     —         —    

Purchases of Property, Equipment and Capitalized Software

     (509 )     (350 )     (352 )

Purchases of Investments

     (5,876 )     (3,190 )     (2,583 )

Maturities and Sales of Investments

     5,821       4,121       2,780  
    


 


 


Cash Flows Used For Investing Activities

     (3,489 )     (1,644 )     (745 )
    


 


 


Financing Activities

                        

Proceeds from (Payments of) Commercial Paper, net

     2,556       194       (382 )

Proceeds from Issuance of Long-Term Debt

     500       2,000       950  

Payments for Retirement of Long-Term Debt

     (400 )     (150 )     (350 )

Common Stock Repurchases

     (2,557 )     (3,446 )     (1,607 )

Proceeds from Common Stock Issuances

     423       583       268  

Dividends Paid

     (19 )     (18 )     (9 )

Other

     90       75       4  
    


 


 


Cash Flows From (Used For) Financing Activities

     593       (762 )     (1,126 )
    


 


 


Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     1,430       1,729       1,132  

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period

     3,991       2,262       1,130  
    


 


 


Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period

   $ 5,421     $ 3,991     $ 2,262  
    


 


 


Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Investing and Financing Activities

                        

Common Stock Issued for Acquisitions

   $ 5,696     $ 5,557     $ —    

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

1. Description of Business

 

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (also referred to as “UnitedHealth Group,” “the company,” “we,” “us,” and “our”) is a diversified health and well-being company dedicated to making health care work better. Through strategically aligned, market-defined businesses, we design products, provide services and apply technologies that improve access to health and well-being services, simplify the health care experience, promote quality and make health care more affordable.

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Presentation

 

We have prepared the consolidated financial statements according to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and have included the accounts of UnitedHealth Group and its subsidiaries. We have eliminated all significant intercompany balances and transactions.

 

Use of Estimates

 

These consolidated financial statements include certain amounts that are based on our best estimates and judgments. These estimates require us to apply complex assumptions and judgments, often because we must make estimates about the effects of matters that are inherently uncertain and will change in subsequent periods. The most significant estimates relate to medical costs, medical costs payable, contingent liabilities, intangible asset valuations, asset impairments and revenues. We adjust these estimates each period, as more current information becomes available. The impact of any changes in estimates is included in the determination of earnings in the period in which the estimate is adjusted.

 

Revenues

 

Premium revenues are primarily derived from risk-based health insurance arrangements in which the premium is fixed, typically for a one-year period, and we assume the economic risk of funding our customers’ health care services and related administrative costs. We recognize premium revenues in the period in which eligible individuals are entitled to receive health care services. We record health care premium payments we receive from our customers in advance of the service period as unearned premiums.

 

Service revenues consist primarily of fees derived from services performed for customers that self-insure the medical costs of their employees and their dependents. Under service fee contracts, we recognize revenue in the period the related services are performed based upon the fee charged to the customer. The customers retain the risk of financing medical benefits for their employees and their employees’ dependents, and we administer the payment of customer funds to physicians and other health care providers from customer-funded bank accounts. Because we do not have the obligation for funding the medical expenses, nor do we have responsibility for delivering the medical care, we do not recognize gross revenue and medical costs for these contracts in our consolidated financial statements.

 

For both premium risk-based and fee-based customer arrangements, we provide coordination and facilitation of medical services; transaction processing; customer, consumer and care provider services; and access to contracted networks of physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals.

 

Medical Costs and Medical Costs Payable

 

Medical costs and medical costs payable include estimates of our obligations for medical care services that have been rendered on behalf of insured consumers but for which we have either not yet received or processed claims,

 

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and for liabilities for physician, hospital and other medical cost disputes. We develop estimates for medical costs incurred but not reported using an actuarial process that is consistently applied, centrally controlled and automated. The actuarial models consider factors such as time from date of service to claim receipt, claim backlogs, care provider contract rate changes, medical care consumption and other medical cost trends. We estimate liabilities for physician, hospital and other medical cost disputes based upon an analysis of potential outcomes, assuming a combination of litigation and settlement strategies. Each period, we re-examine previously established medical costs payable estimates based on actual claim submissions and other changes in facts and circumstances. As the liability estimates recorded in prior periods become more exact, we adjust the amount of the estimates, and include the changes in estimates in medical costs in the period in which the change is identified. In every reporting period, our operating results include the effects of more completely developed medical costs payable estimates associated with previously reported periods.

 

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments

 

Cash and cash equivalents are highly liquid investments that generally have an original maturity of three months or less. The fair value of cash and cash equivalents approximates their carrying value because of the short maturity of the instruments. Investments with maturities of less than one year are classified as short-term. We may sell investments classified as long-term before their maturities to fund working capital or for other purposes. Because of regulatory requirements, certain investments are included in long-term investments regardless of their maturity date. We classify these investments as held to maturity and report them at amortized cost. All other investments are classified as available for sale and reported at fair value based on quoted market prices.

 

We exclude unrealized gains and losses on investments available for sale from earnings and report it, net of income tax effects, as a separate component of shareholders’ equity. We continually monitor the difference between the cost and estimated fair value of our investments. If any of our investments experiences a decline in value that is determined to be other than temporary, based on analysis of relevant factors, we record a realized loss in Investment and Other Income in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. To calculate realized gains and losses on the sale of investments, we use the specific cost or amortized cost of each investment sold.

 

Assets Under Management

 

We administer certain aspects of AARP’s insurance program (see Note 11). Pursuant to our agreement, AARP assets are managed separately from our general investment portfolio and are used to pay costs associated with the AARP program. These assets are invested at our discretion, within investment guidelines approved by AARP. We do not guarantee any rates of return on these investments and, upon transfer of the AARP contract to another entity, we would transfer cash equal in amount to the fair value of these investments at the date of transfer to that entity. Because the purpose of these assets is to fund the medical costs payable, the rate stabilization fund (RSF) liabilities and other related liabilities associated with the AARP contract, assets under management are classified as current assets, consistent with the classification of these liabilities. Interest earnings and realized investment gains and losses on these assets accrue to the overall benefit of the AARP policyholders through the RSF. As such, they are not included in our earnings.

 

Property, Equipment and Capitalized Software

 

Property, equipment and capitalized software is stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Capitalized software consists of certain costs incurred in the development of internal-use software, including external direct costs of materials and services and payroll costs of employees devoted to specific software development.

 

We calculate depreciation and amortization using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The useful lives for property, equipment and capitalized software are: from three to seven years for furniture, fixtures and equipment; from 35 to 40 years for buildings; the shorter of the useful life or remaining

 

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lease term for leasehold improvements; and from three to nine years for capitalized software. The weighted-average useful life of property, equipment and capitalized software at December 31, 2005 was approximately five years. The net book value of property and equipment was $876 million and $543 million as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The net book value of capitalized software was $771 million and $596 million as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

Goodwill represents the amount by which the purchase price of businesses we have acquired exceed the estimated fair value of the net tangible assets and separately identifiable intangible assets of these businesses. Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortized, but are tested at least annually for impairment. Intangible assets with discrete useful lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives.

 

Long-Lived Assets

 

We review long-lived assets, including property, equipment, capitalized software and intangible assets, for events or changes in circumstances that would indicate we might not recover their carrying value. We consider many factors, including estimated future utility and cash flows associated with the assets, to make this decision. An impairment charge is recorded for the amount by which an asset’s carrying value exceeds its estimated fair value. We record assets held for sale at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value, less any costs for the final settlement.

 

Other Policy Liabilities

 

Other policy liabilities include the RSF associated with the AARP program (see Note 11), customer balances related to experience-rated insurance products and the current portion of future policy benefits for life insurance and annuity contracts. Customer balances represent excess customer payments and deposit accounts under experience-rated contracts. At the customer’s option, these balances may be refunded or used to pay future premiums or claims under eligible contracts.

 

Income Taxes

 

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the differences between the financial and income tax reporting bases of assets and liabilities based on enacted tax rates and laws. The deferred income tax provision or benefit generally reflects the net change in deferred income tax assets and liabilities during the year, excluding any deferred income tax assets and liabilities of acquired businesses. The current income tax provision reflects the tax consequences of revenues and expenses currently taxable or deductible on various income tax returns for the year reported.

 

Future Policy Benefits for Life and Annuity Contracts and Reinsurance Receivables

 

Future policy benefits for life insurance and annuity contracts represent account balances that accrue to the benefit of the policyholders, excluding surrender charges, for universal life and investment annuity products. As a result of the October 2005 sale of the life and annuity business within our subsidiary Golden Rule Financial Corporation (Golden Rule) under an indemnity reinsurance arrangement described in Note 3, we have maintained a liability associated with the reinsured contracts, as we remain primarily liable to the policyholders, and have recorded a corresponding reinsurance receivable due from the purchaser on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2005. We regularly evaluate the financial condition of the reinsurer and only record the reinsurance receivable to the extent that the amounts are deemed probable of recovery.

 

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Policy Acquisition Costs

 

For our health insurance contracts, costs related to the acquisition and renewal of customer contracts are charged to expense as incurred. Our health insurance contracts typically have a one-year term and may be cancelled upon 30 days notice by either the company or the customer.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

We account for activity under our stock-based employee compensation plans under the recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” Accordingly, we do not recognize compensation expense in connection with employee stock option grants because we grant stock options at exercise prices not less than the fair value of our common stock on the date of grant.

 

The following table shows the effect on net earnings and earnings per share had we applied the fair value expense recognition provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (FAS) No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” (FAS 123) to stock-based employee compensation.

 

     For the Year Ended
December 31,


 

(in millions, except per share data)


   2005

    2004

    2003

 

Net Earnings

                        

As Reported

   $ 3,300     $ 2,587     $ 1,825  

Compensation Expense, net of tax effect

     (160 )     (132 )     (122 )
    


 


 


Pro Forma

   $ 3,140     $ 2,455     $ 1,703  
    


 


 


Basic Net Earnings Per Common Share

                        

As Reported

   $ 2.61     $ 2.07     $ 1.55  

Pro Forma

   $ 2.48     $ 1.96     $ 1.45  

Diluted Net Earnings Per Common Share

                        

As Reported

   $ 2.48     $ 1.97     $ 1.48  

Pro Forma

   $ 2.36     $ 1.87     $ 1.38  

Weighted-Average Fair Value Per Share of

                        

Options Granted

   $ 13     $ 10     $ 6  

 

Information on our stock-based compensation plans and data used to calculate compensation expense in the table above are described in more detail in Note 9.

 

As discussed more fully within Note 9, FAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share Based Payment,” (FAS 123R) was effective during the first quarter of 2006, and requires us to measure compensation expense for all share-based payments (including employee stock options) at fair value and recognize the expense over the related service period. We adopted this standard on a retrospective restatement basis as of January 1, 2006 and the adoption did not result in any change to the pro forma compensation expense amounts historically disclosed under FAS 123.

 

Net Earnings Per Common Share

 

We compute basic net earnings per common share by dividing net earnings by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. We determine diluted net earnings per common share using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, adjusted for potentially dilutive shares that might be issued upon the exercise of common stock options or the conversion of convertible subordinated debentures.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments

 

As part of our risk management strategy, we enter into interest rate swap agreements to manage our exposure to interest rate risk. The differential between fixed and variable rates to be paid or received is accrued and

 

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recognized over the life of the agreements as an adjustment to interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Our existing interest rate swap agreements convert a majority of our interest rate exposure from a fixed to a variable rate and are accounted for as fair value hedges. Additional information on our existing interest rate swap agreements is included in Note 7.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

 

In November 2005, the FASB issued Staff Position No. 115-1, “The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments” (FSP 115-1). FSP 115-1 provides accounting guidance for evaluating and recording other-than-temporary impairment losses on certain debt and equity investments. FSP 115-1 nullifies certain provisions of Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 03-1 while retaining its disclosure requirements, which had already been adopted. The Company has adopted FSP 115-1 and its adoption did not have any impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

In June 2005, the FASB issued an exposure draft of a proposed standard entitled “Business Combinations — a replacement of FASB Statement No. 141.” The proposed standard, if adopted, would provide new guidance for evaluating and recording business combinations and would be effective on a prospective basis for business combinations whose acquisition dates are on or after January 1, 2007. Upon issuance of a final standard, the Company will evaluate the impact of this new standard and its effect on the process for recording business combinations.

 

3. Acquisitions and Divestitures

 

On December 20, 2005, the company acquired PacifiCare Health Systems, Inc. (PacifiCare). PacifiCare provides health care and benefit services to individuals and employers, principally in markets in the Western United States. This merger significantly strengthened our resources by enhancing our capabilities on the Pacific Coast and in other Western states and broadening the scope of our product offerings for a host of specialized services. The operations of PacifiCare reside primarily within our Health Care Services and Specialized Care Services segments. Under the terms of the agreement, PacifiCare shareholders received 1.1 shares of UnitedHealth Group common stock and $21.50 in cash for each share of PacifiCare common stock they owned. Total consideration issued for the transaction was approximately $8.8 billion, composed of approximately 99.2 million shares of UnitedHealth Group common stock (valued at approximately $5.3 billion based upon the average of UnitedHealth Group’s share closing price for two days before, the day of and two days after the acquisition announcement date of July 6, 2005), approximately $2.1 billion in cash, $960 million cash paid to retire PacifiCare’s existing debt and UnitedHealth Group vested common stock options with an estimated fair value of approximately $420 million issued in exchange for PacifiCare’s outstanding vested common stock options. The purchase price and costs associated with the acquisition exceeded the preliminary estimated fair value of the net tangible assets acquired by approximately $7.1 billion. Pending completion of an independent valuation analysis, we have preliminarily allocated the excess purchase price over the fair value of the net tangible assets acquired to finite-lived intangible assets of $1.0 billion and associated deferred tax liabilities of $392 million, and goodwill of approximately $6.5 billion. The finite-lived intangible assets consist primarily of member lists, health care physician and hospital networks and trademarks, with an estimated weighted-average useful life of 13 years. The acquired goodwill is not deductible for income tax purposes. Our preliminary estimate of acquired net tangible assets and liabilities are categorized as follows: cash and cash equivalents of $810 million; investments of $2.4 billion; accounts receivable and other current assets of $750 million; property, equipment and capitalized software and other assets of $380 million; medical costs payable of $1.4 billion and other liabilities of $1.2 billion.

 

On February 24, 2006, our Health Care Services business segment acquired John Deere Health Care, Inc. (John Deere Health). John Deere Health serves employers primarily in central and eastern Iowa, western Illinois, eastern Tennessee and southwestern Virginia. This acquisition will strengthen our market position in these areas. We paid approximately $500 million in cash in exchange for all of the outstanding equity of John Deere Health. Due to the timing of the acquisition, management is still in the process of estimating the acquired net tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill resulting from this acquisition.

 

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On September 19, 2005, our Health Care Services business segment acquired Neighborhood Health Partnership (NHP). NHP serves local employers primarily in South Florida. This acquisition strengthened our market position in this region and provided expanded distribution opportunities for our other UnitedHealth Group businesses. We paid approximately $185 million in cash in exchange for all of the outstanding equity of NHP. The results of operations and financial condition of NHP have been included in our consolidated financial statements since the acquisition date. The pro forma effects of the NHP acquisition on our consolidated financial statements were not material.

 

On December 10, 2004, our Uniprise business segment acquired Definity Health Corporation (Definity). Definity is a national market leader in consumer-driven health benefit programs. This acquisition strengthened our position in the emerging consumer-driven health benefits marketplace. We paid $305 million in cash in exchange for all of the outstanding stock of Definity. The purchase price and costs associated with the acquisition exceeded the preliminary estimated fair value of the net tangible assets acquired by approximately $263 million. Based on management’s consideration of fair value, which included an independent valuation analysis, we have allocated the excess purchase price over the fair value of the net tangible assets acquired to finite-lived intangible assets of $34 million and associated deferred tax liabilities of $13 million, and goodwill of approximately $242 million. The finite-lived intangible assets consist primarily of customer contracts and trademarks, with an estimated weighted-average useful life of 13 years. The acquired goodwill is not deductible for income tax purposes. The results of operations and financial condition of Definity have been included in our consolidated financial statements since the acquisition date. The pro forma effects of the Definity acquisition on our consolidated financial statements were not material. Acquired net tangible assets of $42 million consisted mainly of cash, cash equivalents, accounts receivable, property and equipment and other assets partially offset by current liabilities.

 

On July 29, 2004, our Health Care Services business segment acquired Oxford Health Plans, Inc. (Oxford). Oxford provides health care and benefit services for individuals and employers, principally in New York City, northern New Jersey and southern Connecticut. This merger strengthened our market position in this region and provided substantial distribution opportunities in this region for our other UnitedHealth Group businesses. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, Oxford shareholders received 1.2714 shares of UnitedHealth Group common stock and $16.17 in cash for each share of Oxford common stock they owned. Total consideration issued was approximately $5.0 billion, composed of approximately 104.4 million shares of UnitedHealth Group common stock (valued at approximately $3.4 billion based upon the average of UnitedHealth Group’s share closing price for two days before, the day of and two days after the acquisition announcement date of April 26, 2004), approximately $1.3 billion in cash and UnitedHealth Group vested common stock options with an estimated fair value of $240 million issued in exchange for Oxford’s outstanding vested common stock options. The purchase price and costs associated with the acquisition exceeded the estimated fair value of the net tangible assets acquired by approximately $4.2 billion. Based on management’s consideration of fair value, which included an independent valuation analysis, we have allocated the excess purchase price over the fair value of the net tangible assets acquired to finite-lived intangible assets of approximately $600 million and associated deferred tax liabilities of approximately $225 million, and goodwill of approximately $3.8 billion. The finite-lived intangible assets consist primarily of member lists, health care physician and hospital networks and trademarks, with an estimated weighted-average useful life of 16 years. The acquired goodwill is not deductible for income tax purposes. Acquired net tangible assets and liabilities are categorized as follows: cash, cash equivalents and investments of $1.7 billion; accounts receivable and other current assets of $162 million; property, equipment and capitalized software and other assets of $37 million; medical costs payable of $713 million and other current liabilities of $334 million.

 

On February 10, 2004, our Health Care Services business segment acquired Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Inc. (MAMSI). MAMSI offers a broad range of health care coverage and related administrative services for individuals and employers in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. This merger strengthened UnitedHealthcare’s market position in the mid-Atlantic region and provided substantial distribution opportunities for our other UnitedHealth Group businesses in this region. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, MAMSI

 

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shareholders received 1.64 shares of UnitedHealth Group common stock and $18 in cash for each share of MAMSI common stock they owned. Total consideration issued was approximately $2.7 billion, comprised of 72.8 million shares of UnitedHealth Group common stock (valued at $1.9 billion based on the average of UnitedHealth Group’s share closing price for two days before, the day of and two days after the acquisition announcement date of October 27, 2003) and approximately $800 million in cash. The purchase price and costs associated with the acquisition exceeded the estimated fair value of the net tangible assets acquired by approximately $2.1 billion. Based on management’s consideration of fair value, which included an independent valuation analysis, we have allocated the excess purchase price over the fair value of the net tangible assets acquired to finite-lived intangible assets of approximately $280 million and associated deferred tax liabilities of approximately $100 million, and goodwill of approximately $1.9 billion. The finite-lived intangible assets consist primarily of member lists, health care physician and hospital networks and trademarks, with an estimated weighted-average useful life of 17 years. The acquired goodwill is not deductible for income tax purposes. Acquired net tangible assets and liabilities are categorized as follows: cash, cash equivalents and investments of $736 million; accounts receivable and other current assets of $228 million; property, equipment and capitalized software and other assets of $57 million; medical costs payable of $283 million and other current liabilities of $140 million.

 

The results of operations and financial condition of PacifiCare, Oxford and MAMSI have been included in our consolidated financial statements since the respective acquisition dates. The unaudited pro forma financial information presented below assumes that the acquisitions occurred as of the beginning of the respective periods. The pro forma adjustments include the pro forma effect of UnitedHealth Group shares issued in the acquisitions, the amortization of finite-lived intangible assets arising from the purchase price allocations, interest expense related to financing the cash portion of the purchase price and the associated income tax effects of the pro forma adjustments. The following unaudited pro forma results have been prepared for comparative purposes only and do not purport to be indicative of the results of operations that would have occurred had the acquisitions been consummated at the beginning of the periods presented.

 

    

For the

Year Ended
December 31, 2005


  

For the

Year Ended
December 31, 2004


(in millions, except per share data)


   Pro forma - unaudited

Revenues

   $ 59,426    $ 53,051

Net Earnings

   $ 3,568    $ 3,012

Earnings Per Share:

             

Basic

   $ 2.62    $ 2.12

Diluted

   $ 2.48    $ 2.02

 

In October 2005, we sold the life insurance and annuity business within Golden Rule to OneAmerica Financial Partners, Inc. (OneAmerica) through an indemnity reinsurance arrangement. Under the arrangement, OneAmerica assumes the risks associated with the future policy benefits for the life and annuity contracts. We remain liable for claims if OneAmerica fails to meet its obligations to policy holders. Because we remain primarily liable to the policy holders, the liabilities and obligations associated with the reinsured contracts remain on our Consolidated Balance Sheet with a corresponding reinsurance receivable from OneAmerica, which is classified in other noncurrent assets and totaled approximately $1.8 billion as of December 31, 2005. We transferred approximately $1.3 billion of investments and $363 million in cash to OneAmerica in conjunuction with the arrangement. We realized a small gain on the sale which has been deferred and is being amortized over the estimated remaining life of the reinsured contracts.

 

For the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, aggregate consideration paid or issued for smaller acquisitions accounted for under the purchase method was $196 million, $158 million and $127 million, respectively. These acquisitions were not material to our consolidated financial statements.

 

 

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4. Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments

 

As of December 31, the amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and fair value of cash, cash equivalents and investments were as follows (in millions):

 

     Amortized
Cost


   Gross
Unrealized
Gains


   Gross
Unrealized
Losses


    Fair
Value


2005

                            

Cash and Cash Equivalents

   $ 5,421    $ —      $ —       $ 5,421

Debt Securities — Available for Sale

     9,011      60      (52 )     9,019

Equity Securities — Available for Sale

     217      45      (1 )     261

Debt Securities — Held to Maturity

     281      —        —         281
    

  

  


 

Total Cash and Investments

   $ 14,930    $   105    $   (53 )   $ 14,982
    

  

  


 

2004

                            

Cash and Cash Equivalents

   $ 3,991    $ —      $ —       $ 3,991

Debt Securities — Available for Sale

     7,723      205      (9 )     7,919

Equity Securities — Available for Sale

     199      10      (2 )     207

Debt Securities — Held to Maturity

     136      —        —         136
    

  

  


 

Total Cash and Investments

   $ 12,049    $ 215    $ (11 )   $ 12,253
    

  

  


 

 

As of December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, debt securities consisted of $2,256 million and $1,551 million in U.S. Government and Agency obligations, $4,554 million and $2,932 million in state and municipal obligations, and $2,490 million and $3,572 million in corporate obligations. At December 31, 2005, we held $767 million in debt securities with maturities of less than one year, $3,469 million in debt securities with maturities of one to five years, $2,808 million in debt securities with maturities of five to 10 years and $2,256 million in debt securities with maturities of more than 10 years.

 

As of December 31, 2005 we had only $5 million of investments, mainly corporate obligations, in a continuous unrealized loss position for 12 months or greater. Gross unrealized losses of $53 million were primarily a result of changes in interest rates and relate to debt securities with an aggregate fair value of $3.8 billion at December 31, 2005. We evaluate the credit rating of the state and municipal obligations and the corporate obligations and do not believe that there has been any significant deterioration since purchase. The contractual cash flows of any U.S. Government and Agency obligations are either guaranteed by the U.S. Government or an agency of the U.S. Government. The equity securities were evaluated for duration of unrealized loss and other market factors. After taking into account these and other factors, we determined the unrealized losses on our investments were temporary and, as such, no impairment was required.

 

We recorded realized gains and losses on sales of investments, excluding the UnitedHealth Capital disposition described below, as follows:

 

    

For the year ended
December 31,


 

(in millions)


   2005

    2004

    2003

 

Gross Realized Gains

   $ 54     $ 37     $ 45  

Gross Realized Losses

     (50 )     (18 )     (23 )
    


 


 


Net Realized Gains (Losses)

   $ 4     $ 19     $ 22  
    


 


 


 

During the first quarter of 2004, we realized a capital gain of $25 million on the sale of certain UnitedHealth Capital investments. With the gain proceeds from this sale, we made a cash contribution of $25 million to the United Health Foundation in the first quarter of 2004. The realized gain of $25 million and the related contribution expense of $25 million are included in Investment and Other Income in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

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5. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, by segment, during the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, were as follows:

 

(in millions)


   Health Care
Services


   Uniprise

   Specialized
Care Services


   Ingenix

   Consolidated

Balance at December 31, 2003

   $ 1,770    $ 698    $ 409    $ 632    $ 3,509

Acquisitions and Subsequent Payments

     5,724      205      —        32      5,961
    

  

  

  

  

Balance at December 31, 2004

     7,494      903      409      664      9,470

Acquisitions and Subsequent Payments

     6,340      14      323      59      6,736
    

  

  

  

  

Balance at December 31, 2005

   $ 13,834    $ 917    $ 732    $ 723    $ 16,206
    

  

  

  

  

 

The weighted-average useful life, gross carrying value, accumulated amortization and net carrying value of other intangible assets as of December 31, 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

 

          December 31, 2005

   December 31, 2004

(in millions)


   Weighted-
Average
Useful Life


   Gross
Carrying
Value


  Accumulated
Amortization


    Net
Carrying
Value


   Gross
Carrying
Value


  Accumulated
Amortization


    Net
Carrying
Value


Customer Contracts and
Membership Lists

   15 years    $ 1,830   $ (106 )   $ 1,724    $ 1,153   $ (46 )   $ 1,107

Patents, Trademarks and Technology

   10 years      221     (62 )     159      86     (39 )     47

Other

   16 years      161     (24 )     137      69     (18 )     51
    
  

 


 

  

 


 

Total

   15 years    $ 2,212   $ (192 )   $ 2,020    $ 1,308   $ (103 )   $ 1,205
    
  

 


 

  

 


 

 

Amortization expense relating to intangible assets was $94 million in 2005, $62 million in 2004 and $18 million in 2003. Estimated future amortization expense relating to intangible assets for the years ending December 31 are as follows: $175 million in 2006, $168 million in 2007, $164 million in 2008, $156 million in 2009, and $148 million in 2010.

 

6. Medical Costs Payable

 

The following table shows the components of the change in medical costs payable for the years ended December 31:

 

(in millions)


   2005

    2004

    2003

 

Medical Costs Payable, Beginning of Period

   $ 5,540     $ 4,152     $ 3,741  

Acquisitions

     1,469       1,040       165  

Reported Medical Costs

                        

Current Year

     33,125       27,210       20,864  

Prior Years

     (400 )     (210 )     (150 )
    


 


 


Total Reported Medical Costs

     32,725       27,000       20,714  
    


 


 


Claim Payments

                        

Payments for Current Year

     (27,985 )     (23,173 )     (17,411 )

Payments for Prior Years

     (4,448 )     (3,479 )     (3,057 )
    


 


 


Total Claim Payments

     (32,433 )     (26,652 )     (20,468 )
    


 


 


Medical Costs Payable, End of Period

   $ 7,301     $ 5,540     $ 4,152  
    


 


 


 

The increase in favorable medical cost development in 2005 was driven primarily by lower than anticipated medical costs as well as growth in the size of the medical cost base and related medical payables due to organic growth and businesses acquired since the beginning of 2004.

 

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7. Commercial Paper and Debt

 

Commercial paper and debt consisted of the following as of December 31:

 

     2005

    2004

 

(in millions)


   Carrying
Value


    Fair
Value1


    Carrying
Value


    Fair
Value1


 

Commercial Paper

   $ 2,829     $ 2,829     $ 273     $ 273  

3.0% Convertible Subordinated Debentures

     432       432       —         —    

7.5% Senior Unsecured Notes due November 2005

     —         —         400       417  

5.2% Senior Unsecured Notes due January 2007

     400       402       400       413  

3.4% Senior Unsecured Notes due August 2007

     550       537       550       546  

3.3% Senior Unsecured Notes due January 2008

     500       485       500       493  

3.8% Senior Unsecured Notes due February 2009

     250       242       250       247  

4.1% Senior Unsecured Notes due August 2009

     450       438       450       452  

4.9% Senior Unsecured Notes due April 2013

     450       448       450       453  

4.8% Senior Unsecured Notes due February 2014

     250       245       250       248  

5.0% Senior Unsecured Notes due August 2014

     500       498       500       503  

4.9% Senior Unsecured Notes due March 2015

     500       490       —         —    
    


 


 


 


Total Commercial Paper and Debt

     7,111       7,046       4,023       4,045  

Less Current Maturities

     (3,261 )     (3,261 )     (673 )     (690 )
    


 


 


 


Long-Term Debt, less current maturities

   $ 3,850     $ 3,785     $ 3,350     $ 3,355  
    


 


 


 



1 Estimated based on third-party quoted market prices for the same or similar issues

 

In November and December 2005, we issued $2.6 billion of commercial paper, primarily to finance the cash portion of the purchase price of the PacifiCare acquisition described above, to retire a portion of the PacifiCare debt upon closing of the acquisition as well as to refinance maturing long term debt. As of December 31, 2005, our outstanding commercial paper had interest rates ranging from 4.2% to 4.4%.

 

In March 2005, we issued $500 million of 4.9% fixed-rate notes due March 2015. We used the proceeds from this borrowing for general corporate purposes including repayment of commercial paper, capital expenditures, working capital and share repurchases.

 

In July 2004, we issued $1.2 billion of commercial paper to fund the cash portion of the Oxford purchase price. In August 2004, we refinanced the commercial paper by issuing $550 million of 3.4% fixed-rate notes due August 2007, $450 million of 4.1% fixed-rate notes due August 2009 and $500 million of 5.0% fixed-rate notes due August 2014.

 

In February 2004, we issued $250 million of 3.8% fixed-rate notes due February 2009 and $250 million of 4.8% fixed-rate notes due February 2014. We used the proceeds from the February 2004 borrowings to finance a majority of the cash portion of the MAMSI purchase price.

 

To more closely align the floating interest rate received on our cash and cash equivalent balances, we have entered into interest rate swap agreements to convert the majority of our interest rate exposure from a fixed rate to a variable rate. These interest rate swap agreements qualify as fair value hedges. The interest rate swap agreements have aggregate notional amounts of $3.4 billion with variable rates that are benchmarked to the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). At December 31, 2005, the rates used to accrue interest expense on these agreements ranged from 4.3% to 5.0%. The differential between the fixed and variable rates to be paid or received is accrued and recognized over the life of the agreements as an adjustment to interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

In December 2005, we amended and restated our $1.0 billion five-year revolving credit facility supporting our commercial paper program. We increased the capacity to $1.3 billion and extended the maturity date to

 

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December 2010. In October 2005, we executed a $3.0 billion 364-day revolving credit facility to support a $3.0 billion increase in our commercial paper program. As of December 31, 2005, we had no amounts outstanding under either of these credit facilities.

 

PacifiCare had approximately $100 million par value of 3% convertible subordinated debentures (convertible notes) which were convertible into approximately 5.2 million shares of UnitedHealth Group’s common stock and $102 million of cash as of December 31, 2005. In December 2005, we initiated a consent solicitation to all of the holders of outstanding convertible notes pursuant to which we offered to compensate all holders who elected to convert their notes in accordance with existing terms and consent to an amendment to a covenant in the indenture governing the convertible notes. The compensation consisted of the present value of interest through October 18, 2007, the earliest mandatory redemption date, plus a pro rata share of $1 million. On January 31, 2006, approximately 91% of the convertible notes were tendered pursuant to the offer, for which we issued approximately 4.8 million shares of UnitedHealth Group common stock and cash of $99 million.

 

Our debt arrangements and credit facilities contain various covenants, the most restrictive of which require us to maintain a debt-to-total-capital ratio below 45% and to exceed specified minimum interest coverage levels. We are in compliance with the requirements of all debt covenants.

 

Maturities of commercial paper and debt for the years ending December 31 are as follows: $3,261 million in 2006, $950 million in 2007, $500 million in 2008, $700 million in 2009, and $1,700 million thereafter.

 

We made cash payments for interest of $219 million, $100 million and $94 million in 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

8. Shareholders’ Equity

 

Regulatory Capital and Dividend Restrictions

 

We conduct a significant portion of our operations through companies that are subject to standards established by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). These standards, among other things, require these subsidiaries to maintain specified levels of statutory capital, as defined by each state, and restrict the timing and amount of dividends and other distributions that may be paid to their parent companies. Generally, the amount of dividend distributions that may be paid by a regulated subsidiary, without prior approval by state regulatory authorities, is limited based on the entity’s level of statutory net income and statutory capital and surplus. At December 31, 2005, approximately $270 million of our $15.0 billion of cash and investments was held by non-regulated subsidiaries and available for general corporate use, including acquisitions and share repurchases.

 

The agencies that assess our creditworthiness also consider capital adequacy levels when establishing our debt ratings. Consistent with our intent to maintain our senior debt ratings in the “A” range, we maintain an aggregate statutory capital and surplus level for our regulated subsidiaries that is significantly higher than the minimum level regulators require. As of December 31, 2005, our regulated subsidiaries had aggregate statutory capital and surplus of approximately $6.4 billion, which is significantly more than the aggregate minimum regulatory requirements.

 

Stock Repurchase Program

 

Under our board of directors’ authorization, we maintain a common stock repurchase program. Repurchases may be made from time to time at prevailing prices, subject to certain restrictions on volume, pricing and timing. During 2005, we repurchased 53.6 million shares at an average price of approximately $48 per share and an aggregate cost of approximately $2.6 billion. As of December 31, 2005, we had board of directors’ authorization to purchase up to an additional 55.5 million shares of our common stock.

 

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Common Stock Split

 

In May 2005, our board of directors declared a two-for-one stock split. The stock split was effective on May 27, 2005 for shareholders of record on May 20, 2005. All share and per share amounts have been restated to reflect the stock split.

 

Preferred Stock

 

At December 31, 2005, we had 10 million shares of $0.001 par value preferred stock authorized for issuance, and no preferred shares issued and outstanding.

 

9. Stock-Based Compensation Plans

 

As of December 31, 2005, we had approximately 96.9 million shares available for future grants of stock-based awards under our stock-based compensation plan including, but not limited to, incentive or non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights and restricted stock.

 

Stock options are granted at an exercise price not less than the fair value of our common stock on the date of grant. They generally vest ratably over four years and may be exercised up to 10 years from the date of grant. Activity under our stock-based compensation plan is summarized in the tables below (shares in millions):

 

     2005

   2004

   2003

     Shares

   

Weighted-
Average

Exercise
Price


   Shares

   

Weighted-
Average

Exercise
Price


   Shares

    Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price


Outstanding at Beginning of Year

   176.3     $   18    174.6     $   14    172.8     $ 11

Granted

   26.2     $ 51    34.1     $ 36    36.9     $ 22

Assumed in Acquisitions

   10.9     $ 16    15.2     $ 17    —       $

Exercised

   (23.6 )   $ 15    (43.5 )   $ 12    (30.7 )   $ 8

Forfeited

   (3.0 )   $ 28    (4.1 )   $ 18    (4.4 )   $ 15
    

 

  

 

  

 

Outstanding at End of Year

   186.8     $ 23    176.3     $ 19    174.6     $   14
    

 

  

 

  

 

Exercisable at End of Year

   110.7     $ 14    89.6     $ 11    85.4     $ 8
    

 

  

 

  

 

 

As of December 31, 2005    Options Outstanding

   Options Exercisable

Range of Exercise Prices


   Number
Outstanding


   Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Option Term
(years)


   Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price


   Number
Exercisable


   Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price


$  0-$10

   49.7    3.7    $ 6    49.5    $ 6

$11-$20

   50.9    6.1    $   17    35.1    $   16

$21-$40

   58.9    7.8    $ 30    24.8    $ 27

$41-$65

   27.3    9.5    $ 50    1.3    $ 46
    
  
  

  
  

$  0-$65

   186.8    6.5    $ 23    110.7    $ 14
    
  
  

  
  

 

We also maintain a 401(k) plan and an employee stock purchase plan. Activity related to these plans was not significant in relation to our consolidated financial results in 2005, 2004 and 2003.

 

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To determine compensation expense related to our stock-based compensation plans under the fair value method, the fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using an option-pricing model. For purposes of estimating the fair value of our employee stock option grants, we utilized a binomial model. The principal assumptions we used in applying the option pricing models were as follows:

 

     2005

    2004

    2003

 

Risk-Free Interest Rate

   4.3 %   3.3 %   2.6 %

Expected Volatility

   23.5 %   28.5 %   30.9 %

Expected Dividend Yield

   0.1 %   0.1 %   0.1 %

Expected Life in Years

   4.1     4.2     4.1  

 

Information regarding the effect on net earnings and net earnings per common share had we applied the fair value expense recognition provisions of FAS 123 is included in Note 2.

 

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FAS 123R, which amended FAS 123 and 95. FAS 123R requires all companies to measure compensation expense for all share-based payments (including employee stock options) at fair value and recognize the expense over the related service period. Additionally, excess tax benefits, as defined in FAS 123R, are recognized as an addition to paid-in-capital and are reclassified from operating cash flows to financing cash flows in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. We adopted this standard as of January 1, 2006, and the adoption did not result in any change to the pro forma compensation amounts historically disclosed under FAS 123.

 

10. Income Taxes

 

The components of the provision for income taxes are as follows:

 

Year Ended December 31, (in millions)


   2005

   2004

   2003

Current Provision

                    

Federal

   $ 1,638    $ 1,223    $ 932

State and Local

     106      78      46
    

  

  

Total Current Provision

     1,744      1,301      978

Deferred Provision

     88      85      37
    

  

  

Total Provision for Income Taxes

   $ 1,832    $ 1,386    $ 1,015
    

  

  

 

The reconciliation of the tax provision at the U.S. Federal Statutory Rate to the provision for income taxes is as follows:

 

Year Ended December 31, (in millions)


   2005

    2004

    2003

 

Tax Provision at the U.S. Federal Statutory Rate

   $ 1,796     $ 1,391     $ 994  

State Income Taxes, net of federal benefit

     77       54       29  

Tax-Exempt Investment Income

     (40 )     (33 )     (30 )

Other, net

     (1 )     (26 )     22  
    


 


 


Provision for Income Taxes

   $ 1,832     $ 1,386     $ 1,015  
    


 


 


 

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The components of deferred income tax assets and liabilities are as follows:

 

As of December 31, (in millions)


   2005

    2004

 

Deferred Income Tax Assets

                

Accrued Expenses and Allowances

   $ 317     $ 227  

Unearned Premiums

     44       57  

Medical Costs Payable and Other Policy Liabilities

     208       85  

Long Term Liabilities

     87       78  

Net Operating Loss Carryforwards

     110       123  

Other

     87       31  
    


 


Subtotal

     853       601  

Less: Valuation Allowances

     (28 )     (28 )
    


 


Total Deferred Income Tax Assets

     825       573  
    


 


Deferred Income Tax Liabilities

                

Capitalized Software Development

     (270 )     (223 )

Net Unrealized Gains on Investments

     (19 )     (72 )

Intangible Assets

     (776 )     (406 )

Property and Equipment

     (5 )     (63 )

Other

     —         (16 )
    


 


Total Deferred Income Tax Liabilities

     (1,070 )     (780 )
    


 


Net Deferred Income Tax Assets (Liabilities)

   $ (245 )   $ (207 )
    


 


 

Valuation allowances are provided when it is considered more likely than not that deferred tax assets will not be realized. The valuation allowances primarily relate to future tax benefits on certain federal and state net operating loss carryforwards. Federal net operating loss carryforwards expire beginning in 2018 through 2024, and state net operating loss carryforwards expire beginning in 2006 through 2025.

 

We made cash payments for income taxes of $1,377 million in 2005, $898 million in 2004 and $783 million in 2003. We recorded a tax benefit upon the exercise of non-qualified stock options of $320 million in 2005, $358 million in 2004, and $222 million in 2003.

 

Consolidated income tax returns for fiscal years 2003 and 2004 are currently being examined by the Internal Revenue Service. We do not believe any adjustments that may result from the examination will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statement position or results of operations.

 

11. AARP

 

In January 1998, we entered into a 10-year contract to provide health insurance products and services to members of AARP. These products and services are provided to supplement benefits covered under traditional Medicare. Under the terms of the contract, we are compensated for transaction processing and other services as well as for assuming underwriting risk. We are also engaged in product development activities to complement the insurance offerings under this program. Premium revenues from our portion of the AARP insurance offerings were approximately $4.9 billion in 2005, $4.5 billion in 2004 and $4.1 billion in 2003.

 

The underwriting gains or losses related to the AARP business are directly recorded as an increase or decrease to a rate stabilization fund (RSF). The primary components of the underwriting results are premium revenue, medical costs, investment income, administrative expenses, member service expenses, marketing expenses and premium taxes. Underwriting gains and losses are recorded as an increase or decrease to the RSF and accrue to the overall benefit of the AARP policyholders, unless cumulative net losses were to exceed the balance in the RSF. To the extent underwriting losses exceed the balance in the RSF, we would have to fund the deficit. Any

 

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deficit we fund could be recovered by underwriting gains in future periods of the contract. To date, we have not been required to fund any underwriting deficits. The RSF balance is reported in Other Policy Liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. We believe the RSF balance is sufficient to cover potential future underwriting or other risks associated with the contract.

 

The following AARP program-related assets and liabilities are included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets:

 

     Balance as of
December


(in millions)


   2005

   2004

Accounts Receivable

   $ 414    $ 389

Assets Under Management

   $ 1,792    $ 1,883

Medical Costs Payable

   $ 1,001    $ 899

Other Policy Liabilities

   $ 939    $ 1,162

Other Current Liabilities

   $ 266    $ 211

 

The effects of changes in balance sheet amounts associated with the AARP program accrue to the overall benefit of the AARP policyholders through the RSF balance. Accordingly, we do not include the effect of such changes in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

 

Pursuant to our agreement, AARP assets under management are managed separately from our general investment portfolio and are used to pay costs associated with the AARP program. These assets are invested at our discretion, within investment guidelines approved by AARP. We do not guarantee any rates of investment return on these investments and, upon transfer of the AARP contract to another entity, we would transfer cash equal in amount to the fair value of these investments at the date of transfer to that entity. Interest earnings and realized investment gains and losses on these assets accrue to the overall benefit of the AARP policyholders through the RSF. As such, they are not included in our earnings. Interest income and realized gains and losses related to assets under management are recorded as an increase to the AARP RSF and were $90 million, $103 million and $101 million in 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Assets under management are reported at their fair market value, and unrealized gains and losses are included directly in the RSF associated with the AARP program. As of December 31, 2005 and 2004, the amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and fair value of cash, cash equivalents and investments associated with the AARP insurance program, included in Assets Under Management, were as follows (in millions):

 

     Amortized
Cost


   Gross Unrealized
Gains


   Gross Unrealized
Losses


    Fair
Value


2005

                            

Cash and Cash Equivalents

   $ 409    $   —      $   —         409

Debt Securities — Available for Sale

     1,390      6      (13 )     1,383
    

  

  


 

Total Cash and Investments

   $ 1,799    $ 6    $ (13 )   $ 1,792
    

  

  


 

2004

                            

Cash and Cash Equivalents

   $ 184    $ —      $ —       $ 184

Debt Securities — Available for Sale

     1,664      37      (2 )     1,699
    

  

  


 

Total Cash and Investments

   $ 1,848    $ 37    $ (2 )   $ 1,883
    

  

  


 

 

As of December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, debt securities consisted of $779 million and $809 million in U.S. Government and Agency obligations, $19 million and $20 million in state and municipal obligations and $585 million and $870 million in corporate obligations. At December 31, 2005, the AARP assets under management included debt securities of $149 million with maturities of less than one year, $459 million with maturities of one to five years, $435 million with maturities of five to 10 years and $340 million with maturities of more than 10 years. As of December 31, 2005, we had no investments under the AARP agreement in a continuous unrealized loss position for 12 months or greater.

 

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12. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Leases

 

We lease facilities, computer hardware and other equipment under long-term operating leases that are noncancelable and expire on various dates through 2026. Rent expense under all operating leases was $152 million in 2005, $137 million in 2004 and $133 million in 2003.

 

At December 31, 2005, future minimum annual lease payments, net of sublease income, under all noncancelable operating leases were as follows: $167 million in 2006, $159 million in 2007, $128 million in 2008, $107 million in 2009, $76 million in 2010, and $172 million thereafter.

 

Service Agreements

 

We have noncancelable contracts for certain support services, which expire on various dates through 2010. Expenses incurred in connection with these agreements were $239 million in 2005, $265 million in 2004 and $256 million in 2003. At December 31, 2005, future minimum obligations under our noncancelable contracts were as follows: $151 million in 2006, $33 million in 2007, $12 million in 2008, $3 million in 2009 and $3 million in 2010.

 

Legal Matters

 

Because of the nature of our businesses, we are routinely made party to a variety of legal actions related to the design and management of our service offerings. We record liabilities for our estimates of probable costs resulting from these matters. These matters include, but are not limited to, claims relating to health care benefits coverage, medical malpractice actions, contract disputes and claims related to disclosure of certain business practices.

 

Beginning in 1999, a series of class action lawsuits were filed against both UnitedHealthcare and PacifiCare, and virtually all major entities in the health benefits business. In December 2000, a multidistrict litigation panel consolidated several litigation cases involving UnitedHealth Group and our affiliates in the Southern District Court of Florida, Miami division. Generally, the health care provider plaintiffs allege violations of ERISA and RICO in connection with alleged undisclosed policies intended to maximize profits. Other allegations include breach of state prompt payment laws and breach of contract claims for failure to timely reimburse providers for medical services rendered. The consolidated suits seek injunctive, compensatory and equitable relief as well as restitution, costs, fees and interest payments. The trial court granted the health care providers’ motion for class certification and that order was reviewed by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the class action status of the RICO claims, but reversed as to the breach of contract, unjust enrichment and prompt payment claims. During the course of the litigation, there have been co-defendant settlements. Through a series of motions and appeals, all direct claims against us have been compelled to arbitration. A trial date has been set for April 2006. The trial court has ordered that the trial be split into separate liability and damage proceedings. In August 2005, the capitation related claims were dismissed from litigation. On January 31, 2006, the trial court dismissed all remaining claims against PacifiCare. A March 14, 2006 hearing date has been scheduled for our summary judgment motion.

 

On March 15, 2000, the American Medical Association filed a lawsuit against the company in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York. On April 13, 2000, we removed this case to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The suit alleges causes of action based on ERISA, as well as breach of contract and the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, deceptive acts and practices, and trade libel in connection with the calculation of reasonable and customary reimbursement rates for non-network providers. The suit seeks declaratory, injunctive and compensatory relief as well as costs, fees and interest payments. An amended complaint was filed on August 25, 2000, which alleged two classes of plaintiffs, an ERISA class and a non-ERISA class. After the Court dismissed certain ERISA claims and the claims brought by

 

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the American Medical Association, a third amended complaint was filed. On October 25, 2002, the court granted in part and denied in part our motion to dismiss the third amended complaint. On May 21, 2003, we filed a counterclaim complaint in this matter alleging antitrust violations against the American Medical Association and asserting claims based on improper billing practices against an individual provider plaintiff. On May 26, 2004, we filed a motion for partial summary judgment seeking the dismissal of certain claims and parties based, in part, due to lack of standing. On July 16, 2004, plaintiffs filed a motion for leave to file an amended complaint, seeking to assert RICO violations.

 

Although the results of pending litigation are always uncertain, we do not believe the results of any such actions currently threatened or pending, including those described above, will, individually or in aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

Government Regulation

 

Our business is regulated at federal, state, local and international levels. The laws and rules governing our business and interpretations of those laws and rules are subject to frequent change. Broad latitude is given to the agencies administering those regulations. State legislatures and Congress continue to focus on health care issues as the subject of proposed legislation. Existing or future laws and rules could force us to change how we do business, restrict revenue and enrollment growth, increase our health care and administrative costs and capital requirements, and increase our liability in federal and state courts for coverage determinations, contract interpretation and other actions. Further, we must obtain and maintain regulatory approvals to market many of our products.

 

We typically are involved in various governmental investigations, audits and reviews. These include routine, regular and special investigations, audits and reviews by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), state insurance and health and welfare departments and state attorneys general, the Office of the Inspector General, the Office of Personnel Management, the Office of Civil Rights, the Department of Justice, and U.S. Attorneys. Such government actions can result in assessment of damages, civil or criminal fines or penalties, or other sanctions, including restrictions or changes in the way we conduct business, loss of licensure or exclusion from participation in government programs. We record liabilities for our estimate of probable costs resulting from these matters. In addition, public perception or publicity surrounding routine governmental investigations may adversely affect our stock price, damage our reputation in various markets or make it more difficult for us to sell products and services. Although the results of pending matters are always uncertain, we do not believe the results of any of the current investigations, audits or reviews, currently threatened or pending, individually or in aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

13. Segment Financial Information

 

Factors used in determining our reportable business segments include the nature of operating activities, existence of separate senior management teams, and the type of information presented to the company’s chief operating decision-maker to evaluate our results of operations.

 

Our accounting policies for business segment operations are the same as those described in the Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (see Note 2). Transactions between business segments principally consist of customer service and transaction processing services that Uniprise provides to Health Care Services, certain product offerings sold to Uniprise and Health Care Services customers by Specialized Care Services, and sales of medical benefits cost, quality and utilization data and predictive modeling to Health Care Services and Uniprise by Ingenix. These transactions are recorded at management’s best estimate of fair value, as if the services were purchased from or sold to third parties. All intersegment transactions are eliminated in consolidation. Assets and liabilities that are jointly used are assigned to each segment using estimates of pro-rata usage. Cash and investments are assigned such that each segment has minimum specified levels of regulatory capital or working capital for non-regulated businesses.

 

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Substantially all of our operations are conducted in the United States. In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, segments with similar economic characteristics may be combined. The financial results of UnitedHealthcare, Ovations and AmeriChoice have been combined in the Health Care Services segment column in the following tables because these businesses have similar economic characteristics and have similar products and services, types of customers, distribution methods and operational processes, and operate in a similar regulatory environment, typically within the same legal entity.

 

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The following table presents segment financial information as of and for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 (in millions):

 

    Health Care
Services


  Uniprise

 

Specialized

Care Services


  Ingenix

  Intersegment
Eliminations


    Consolidated

2005

                                     

Revenues - External Customers

  $ 39,583   $ 3,060   $ 1,686   $ 537   $ —       $ 44,866

Revenues - Intersegment

    —       752     1,095     257     (2,104 )     —  

Investment and Other Income

    436     38     25     —       —         499
   

 

 

 

 


 

Total Revenues

  $ 40,019   $ 3,850   $ 2,806   $ 794   $ (2,104 )   $ 45,365
   

 

 

 

 


 

Earnings From Operations

  $ 3,815   $ 799   $ 582   $ 177   $ —       $ 5,373

Total Assets1

  $ 35,734   $ 2,599   $ 2,179   $ 1,057   $ (841 )   $ 40,728

Net Assets1

  $ 22,483   $ 1,414   $ 1,449   $ 849   $ (841 )   $ 25,354

Purchases of Property, Equipment and Capitalized Software

  $ 238   $ 134   $ 88   $ 49   $ —       $ 509

Depreciation and Amortization

  $ 227   $ 110   $ 54   $ 62   $ —       $ 453

2004

                                     

Revenues - External Customers

  $ 32,333   $ 2,688   $ 1,363   $ 446   $ —       $ 36,830

Revenues - Intersegment

    —       647     914     224     (1,785 )     —  

Investment and Other Income

    340     30     18     —       —         388
   

 

 

 

 


 

Total Revenues

  $ 32,673   $ 3,365   $ 2,295   $ 670   $ (1,785 )   $ 37,218
   

 

 

 

 


 

Earnings From Operations

  $ 2,810   $ 677   $ 485   $ 129   $ —       $ 4,101

Total Assets1

  $ 23,799   $ 2,366   $ 1,269   $ 971   $ (879 )   $ 27,526

Net Assets1

  $ 13,138   $ 1,385   $ 765   $ 795   $ (879 )   $ 15,204

Purchases of Property, Equipment and Capitalized Software

  $ 147   $ 112   $ 56   $ 35   $ —       $ 350

Depreciation and Amortization

  $ 173   $ 95   $ 44   $ 62   $ —       $ 374

2003

                                     

Revenues - External Customers

  $ 24,592   $ 2,496   $ 1,077   $ 401   $ —       $ 28,566

Revenues - Intersegment

    —       583     787     173     (1,543 )     —  

Investment and Other Income

    215     28     14     —       —         257
   

 

 

 

 


 

Total Revenues

  $ 24,807   $ 3,107   $ 1,878   $ 574   $ (1,543 )   $ 28,823
   

 

 

 

 


 

Earnings From Operations

  $ 1,865   $ 610   $ 385   $ 75   $ —       $ 2,935

Total Assets1

  $ 13,597   $ 2,024   $ 1,191   $ 919   $ (366 )   $ 17,365

Net Assets1

  $ 5,008   $ 1,116   $ 710   $ 766   $ (347 )   $ 7,253

Purchases of Property, Equipment and Capitalized Software

  $ 122   $ 130   $ 48   $ 52   $ —       $ 352

Depreciation and Amortization

  $ 116   $ 86   $ 40   $ 57   $ —       $ 299

1 Total Assets and Net Assets exclude, where applicable, debt and accrued interest of $7,161 million, $4,054 million and $1,993 million, income tax-related assets of $646 million, $353 million and $269 million, and income tax-related liabilities of $1,106 million, $786 million and $401 million as of December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

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14. Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

 

     For the Quarter Ended

(in millions, except per share data)


   March 31

   June 30

   September 30

   December 31

2005

                           

Revenues

   $ 10,887    $ 11,111    $ 11,322    $ 12,045

Medical and Operating Costs

   $ 9,631    $ 9,801    $ 9,944    $ 10,616

Earnings From Operations

   $ 1,256    $ 1,310    $ 1,378    $ 1,429

Net Earnings

   $ 779    $ 809    $ 842    $ 870

Basic Net Earnings per Common Share

   $ 0.61    $ 0.64    $ 0.67    $ 0.69

Diluted Net Earnings per Common Share

   $ 0.58    $ 0.61    $ 0.64    $ 0.65

2004

                           

Revenues

   $ 8,144    $ 8,704    $ 9,859    $ 10,511

Medical and Operating Costs

   $ 7,268    $ 7,759    $ 8,767    $ 9,323

Earnings From Operations

   $ 876    $ 945    $ 1,092    $ 1,188

Net Earnings

   $ 554    $ 596    $ 698    $ 739

Basic Net Earnings per Common Share

   $ 0.46    $ 0.49    $ 0.55    $ 0.57

Diluted Net Earnings per Common Share

   $ 0.44    $ 0.47    $ 0.52    $ 0.54

1 UnitedHealth Group acquired PacifiCare in December 2005 for total consideration of approximately $8.8 billion, Oxford in July 2004 for total consideration of approximately $5.0 billion and MAMSI in February 2004 for total consideration of approximately $2.7 billion. These acquisitions affect the comparability of 2005 and 2004 financial information to prior fiscal years. The results of operations and financial condition of PacifiCare, Oxford and MAMSI have been included in UnitedHealth Group’s consolidated financial statements since the respective acquisition dates. See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements for a detailed discussion of these acquisitions.

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and Subsidiaries:

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 24, 2006, expressed an unqualified opinion on management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Minneapolis, Minnesota

February 24, 2006

 

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

None

 

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

As of December 31, 2005, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the company’s management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that the design and operation of these disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

 

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

Report of Management

 

The management of UnitedHealth Group is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The company’s internal control system is designed to provide reasonable assurance to our management and board of directors regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:

 

    Pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company;

 

    Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and

 

    Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

Management assessed the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005. In making this assessment, we used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control—Integrated Framework. Based on our assessment and those criteria, we believe that, as of December 31, 2005, the company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting.

 

Management excluded from its assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting the internal controls of PacifiCare Health Systems, Inc. (PacifiCare) which was acquired by the Company on December 20, 2005, and is included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the period from that date through yearend. Such exclusion was in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission guidance that an assessment of a recently acquired business may be omitted in management’s report on internal controls over financial reporting in the year of acquisition. Total assets and total liabilities of

 

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PacifiCare represented approximately 29% and 13%, respectively, of the Company’s consolidated assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2005, and less than 1% of consolidated revenues and operating income for the year then ended.

 

Changes to certain processes, information technology systems, and other components of Internal Control resulting from the acquisition of PacifiCare may occur and will be evaluated by management as such integration activities are implemented. Other than the impact of the acquisition, there were no changes in Internal Control that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s Internal Control during the year ended December 31, 2005.

 

The company’s independent registered public accounting firm has audited management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, as stated in the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, appearing under Item 9A, which expresses unqualified opinions on management’s assessment and on the effectiveness of the company’s internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005.

 

February 24, 2006

 

/s/    WILLIAM W. MCGUIRE, MD


William W. McGuire, MD

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

/s/    STEPHEN J. HEMSLEY


Stephen J. Hemsley

President and Chief Operating Officer

 

/s/    PATRICK J. ERLANDSON


Patrick J. Erlandson

Chief Financial Officer

 

New York Stock Exchange Certification

 

Pursuant to Section 303A.12(a) of the NYSE listed company manual, the company submitted an unqualified certification of its Chief Executive Officer to the NYSE in 2005. We have also filed as exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Certifications required under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and Subsidiaries:

 

We have audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying Report of Management, that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. As described in the Report of Management, management excluded from their assessment the internal control over financial reporting at PacifiCare Health Systems, Inc. (PacifiCare), which was acquired on December 20, 2005 and whose financial statements reflect total assets and revenues constituting approximately 29 and 1 percent, respectively, of the related consolidated financial statement amounts as of and for the year ended December 31, 2005. Accordingly, our audit did not include the internal control over financial reporting at PacifiCare. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management’s assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinions.

 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

In our opinion, management’s assessment that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

 

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We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2005 of the Company and our report dated February 24, 2006 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

 

/s/    DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Minneapolis, Minnesota

February 24, 2006

 

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

PART III

 

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

 

Code of Ethics

 

We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics which applies to all of our employees and directors. The Code of Ethics is published on our Web site at www.unitedhealthgroup.com. Any amendments to the Code of Ethics and waivers of the Code of Ethics for our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or Controller will be published on our Web site. We will provide a copy of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, free of charge, upon request. To request a copy, please submit your request to: UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, 9900 Bren Road East, Minnetonka, MN 55343, Attn: Corporate Secretary.

 

The information included under the headings “Election of Directors” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in our definitive proxy statement for our Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 2, 2006, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Pursuant to General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K and Instruction 3 to Item 401(b) of Regulation S-K, information regarding our executive officers is provided in Item 1 of Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption “Executive Officers of the Registrant.”

 

Board of Directors and Committees of the Board

 

William C. Ballard, Jr.

Of Counsel

Greenebaum Doll & McDonald PLLC

 

Richard T. Burke

Director of Meritage Homes Corporation

and First Cash Financial Services, Inc.

 

Stephen J. Hemsley

President and Chief Operating Officer

UnitedHealth Group

 

James A. Johnson

Vice Chairman of Perseus, LLC

 

Thomas H. Kean

Former President of Drew University

Former Governor of New Jersey

 

Douglas W. Leatherdale

Former Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of

The St. Paul Companies, Inc.

 

 

William W. McGuire, MD

Chairman and

Chief Executive Officer

UnitedHealth Group

 

Mary O. Mundinger, DrPH, RN

Dean, School of Nursing and Centennial Professor in Health Policy, and Associate Dean, Faculty of Medicine

Columbia University

 

Robert L. Ryan

Former Senior Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer Medtronic, Inc.

 

Donna E. Shalala, PhD

President of University of Miami

 

William G. Spears

Senior Principal

Spears Grisanti & Brown LLC

 

Gail R. Wilensky, PhD

Senior Fellow, Project HOPE

 

 

Committees of the Board

 

Audit Committee
William C. Ballard, Jr.

Thomas H. Kean

Douglas W. Leatherdale

 

Compensation and Human Resources Committee

James A. Johnson

Mary O. Mundinger

William G. Spears

 

Compliance and Government Affairs Committee

Donna E. Shalala

Gail R. Wilensky

 

Nominating Committee

William C. Ballard, Jr.

Thomas H. Kean

Douglas W. Leatherdale

William G. Spears

 

Executive Committee
William C. Ballard, Jr.

Douglas W. Leatherdale

William W. McGuire

William G. Spears

 

 

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The information included under the heading “Executive Compensation” in our definitive proxy statement for our Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 2, 2006, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

The information included under the heading “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in our definitive proxy statement for our Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May     , 2006, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

Plan Category


 

(a)

Number of securities to be

issued upon exercise of

outstanding options,

warrants and rights


 

(b)

Weighted-average exercise
price of outstanding

options, warrants and

rights


 

(c)

Number of securities remaining

available for future issuance

under equity compensation plans

(excluding securities reflected in
column (a))


 

Equity compensation plans approved by shareholders(1)

  174,030,671   $ 23.60   102,707,501 (3)

Equity compensation plans not approved by shareholders(2)

  —       —     —    
   
 

 

Total

  174,030,671   $ 23.60   102,707,501  
   
 

 


(1) Consists of the UnitedHealth Group Incorporated 2002 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, and the 1993 Qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended.

 

(2) Excludes 12,752,378 shares underlying stock options assumed by us in connection with our acquisition of the companies under whose plans the options originally were granted. These options have a weighted-average exercise price of $16.20 and an average remaining term of approximately 5.74 years. The options are administered pursuant to the terms of the plan under which the option originally was granted. No future options or other awards will be granted under these acquired plans.

 

(3) Includes 5,834,475 shares of common stock available for future issuance under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan as of December 31, 2005, and 96,873,026 shares available under the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan as of December 31, 2005. Shares available under the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan may become the subject of future awards in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance awards and other stock-based awards, except that only 26,233,466 of these shares are available for future grants of awards other than stock options or stock appreciation rights.

 

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

 

Information regarding certain relationships and related transactions that appears under the heading “Certain Relationships and Transactions” in our definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 2, 2006, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 

Information regarding accountant fees and services that appears under the heading “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in our definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 2, 2006, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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PART IV

 

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

 

(a) 1. Financial Statements

 

The financial statements are included under Item 8 of this report:

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003.

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2005 and 2004.

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003.

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

(a) 2. Financial Statement Schedules

 

None

 

(a) 3. Exhibits**

 

3 (a)   Articles of Amendment to Second Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Company’s Current Report on From 8-K dated May 24, 2005)
3 (b)   Articles of Amendment to Second Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001)
3 (c)   Articles of Merger amending the Articles of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999)
3 (d)   Second Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995)
3 (e)   Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(d) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002)
4 (a)   Senior Indenture, dated as of November 15, 1998, between the Company and The Bank of New York (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3/A, filed on January 11, 1999)
4 (b)   Amendment, dated as of November 6, 2000, to Senior Indenture, dated as of November 15, 1998, between the Company and The Bank of New York (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2001)
*10 (a)   UnitedHealth Group Incorporated 2002 Stock Incentive Plan, Amended and Restated Effective May 15, 2002 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002)
*10 (b)   Form of Agreement for Stock Option Award to Officers under the Company’s 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 31, 2006)
*10 (c)   Form of Agreement for Stock Option Award to Officers under the Company’s 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 24, 2004).
*10 (d)   Form of Agreement for Stock Option Award to Non-Employee Directors under the Company’s 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 24, 2004)
*10 (e)   Form of Agreement for Initial Stock Option Award to Non-Employee Directors under the Company’s 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 24, 2004)

 

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*10 (f)   Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement to Officers under the Company’s 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 31, 2006)
*10 (g)   Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement to Officers under the Company’s 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 24, 2004)
*10 (h)   Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under the Company’s 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 24, 2004)
*10 (i)   Form of Stock Appreciation Rights Award Agreement to Officers under the Company’s 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 31, 2006)
*10 (j)   Form of Stock Appreciation Rights Award Agreement to Non-Employee Directors under the Company’s 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 31, 2006)
*10 (k)   UnitedHealth Group Incorporated Executive Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002)
*10 (l)   UnitedHealth Group Executive Savings Plans (2004 Statement) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(e) of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003)
*10 (m)   UnitedHealth Group Directors’ Compensation Deferral Plan (2002 Statement) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(d) of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002)
*10 (n)   First Amendment to UnitedHealth Group Directors’ Compensation Deferral Plan (2002 Statement) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(g) of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003)
*10 (o)   Employment Agreement, dated as of October 13, 1999, between the Company and William W. McGuire, M.D. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(f) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999)
*10 (p)   Letter to William W. McGuire, M.D., dated as of February 13, 2001, regarding Employment Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(h) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000)
*10 (q)   Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated as of August 5, 2005, between the Company and William W. McGuire, M.D. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(c) of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005)
*10 (r)   Employment Agreement dated as of October 13, 1999, between the Company and Stephen J. Hemsley (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(g) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999)
*10 (s)   Letter to Stephen J. Hemsley, dated as of February 13, 2001, regarding Employment Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(j) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000)
*10 (t)   Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated August 5, 2005, between the Company and Stephen J. Hemsley (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(d) of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005)
*10 (u)   Agreement for Supplemental Executive Retirement Pay, effective April 1, 2004, between UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and Stephen J. Hemsley (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2004)
*10 (v)   Employment Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2004, between United HealthCare Services, Inc. and Richard H. Anderson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(p) of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004)

 

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*10 (w)   Employment Agreement, dated as of October 1, 1998, as amended, between United HealthCare Services, Inc. and Tracy L. Bahl (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2004)
*10 (x)   Employment Agreement, dated as of October 1, 1998, between United HealthCare Services, Inc. and Patrick J. Erlandson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(m) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000)
*10 (y)   Employment Agreement, dated as of October 16, 1998, between United HealthCare Services, Inc. and David J. Lubben, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(p) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000)
*10 (z)   Employment Agreement, dated as of October 1, 1998, between United HealthCare Services, Inc. and William A. Munsell, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(t) of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004)
*10 (aa)   Employment Agreement, dated as of October 16, 1998, between United HealthCare Services, Inc. and Lois E. Quam, as amended, and Memorandum of Understanding, effective as of October 11, 1999, between Lois E. Quam and United HealthCare Services, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(l) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000)
*10 (bb)   Employment Agreement, dated as of October 16, 1998, between United HealthCare Services, Inc. and Robert J. Sheehy, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(l) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001)
*10 (cc)   Employment Agreement, dated as of October 1, 1998, as amended, between United HealthCare Services, Inc. and David S. Wichmann (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(o) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003)
†10 (dd)   AARP Health Insurance Agreement by and among American Association of Retired Persons, Trustees of the AARP Insurance Plan and United HealthCare Insurance Company dated as of February 26, 1997 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(p) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1996)
†10 (ee)   First Amendment to the AARP Health Insurance Agreement by and among American Association of Retired Persons, Trustees of the AARP Insurance Plan and United HealthCare Insurance Company effective January 1, 1998 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter period ended June 30, 1998)
†10 (ff)   Second Amendment to the AARP Health Insurance Agreement by and among American Association of Retired Persons, Trustees of the AARP Insurance Plan and United HealthCare Insurance Company effective January 1, 1998 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998)
†10 (gg)   Amendments to the AARP Health Insurance Agreement by and among American Association of Retired Persons, Trustees of the AARP Insurance Plan and United HealthCare Insurance Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(s) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002)
†10 (hh)   Amendments to the AARP Health Insurance Agreement by and between AARP Services, Inc. and United HealthCare Insurance Company, entered into between April and October 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(v) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003)
†10 (ii)   10th Amendment to the AARP Health Insurance Agreement by and between AARP Services, Inc. and United HealthCare Insurance Company, effective as of January 1, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004)
†10 (jj)   11th Amendment to the AARP Health Insurance Agreement by and between AARP Services, Inc. and United HealthCare Insurance Company, effective as of January 1, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(dd) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004)

 

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10 (kk)   12th Amendment to the AARP Health Insurance Agreement by and between AARP Services, Inc. and United HealthCare Insurance Company, effective as of January 1, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) of the Company’s Quarterly Report on From 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005)
10 (ll)   13th Amendment to the AARP Health Insurance Agreement by and between AARP Services, Inc. and United HealthCare Insurance Company, effective as of December 21, 2005
11     Statement regarding computation of per share earnings (incorporated by reference to the information contained under the heading “Net Earnings Per Common Share” in Note 2 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 8)
12     Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
21     Subsidiaries of the Company
23     Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
24     Powers of Attorney
31     Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32     Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, confidential portions of these Exhibits have been deleted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.

 

* Denotes management contracts and compensation plans in which certain directors and named executive officers participate and which are being filed pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iii)(A) of Regulation S-K.

 

**Pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii) of Regulation S-K, copies of instruments defining the rights of certain holders of long-term debt are not filed. The Company will furnish copies thereof to the SEC upon request.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated: February 24, 2006

   
   

UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INCORPORATED

   

By

 

/s/    WILLIAM W. MCGUIRE, M.D.        


       

William W. McGuire, M.D.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature


  

Title


 

Date


/s/    WILLIAM W. MCGUIRE, M.D.        


William W. McGuire, M.D.

  

Director, Chief Executive Officer

(principal executive officer)

  February 24, 2006

/s/    PATRICK J. ERLANDSON        


Patrick J. Erlandson

  

Chief Financial Officer

(principal financial and accounting officer)

  February 24, 2006

*


William C. Ballard, Jr.

  

Director

  February 24, 2006

*


Richard T. Burke

  

Director

  February 24, 2006

*


Stephen J. Hemsley

  

Director

  February 24, 2006

*


James A. Johnson

  

Director

  February 24, 2006

*


Thomas H. Kean

  

Director

  February 24, 2006

*


Douglas W. Leatherdale

  

Director

  February 24, 2006

*


Mary O. Mundinger

  

Director

  February 24, 2006

*


Robert L. Ryan

  

Director

  February 24, 2006

*


Donna E. Shalala

  

Director

  February 24, 2006

*


William G. Spears

  

Director

  February 24, 2006

*


Gail R. Wilensky

  

Director

  February 24, 2006

 

*By

 

/s/    DAVID J. LUBBEN        


   

David J. Lubben

As Attorney-in-Fact

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Item

   

Description


Exhibits**
3 (a)   Articles of Amendment to Second Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Company’s Current Report on From 8-K dated May 24, 2005)
3 (b)   Articles of Amendment to Second Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001)
3 (c)   Articles of Merger amending the Articles of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999)
3 (d)   Second Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995)
3 (e)   Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(d) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002)
4 (a)   Senior Indenture, dated as of November 15, 1998, between the Company and The Bank of New York (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3/A, filed on January 11, 1999)
4 (b)   Amendment, dated as of November 6, 2000, to Senior Indenture, dated as of November 15, 1998, between the Company and The Bank of New York (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2001)
*10 (a)   UnitedHealth Group Incorporated 2002 Stock Incentive Plan, Amended and Restated Effective May 15, 2002 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002)
*10 (b)   Form of Agreement for Stock Option Award to Officers under the Company’s 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 31, 2006)
*10 (c)   Form of Agreement for Stock Option Award to Officers under the Company’s 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 24, 2004)
*10 (d)   Form of Agreement for Stock Option Award to Non-Employee Directors under the Company’s 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 24, 2004)
*10 (e)   Form of Agreement for Initial Stock Option Award to Non-Employee Directors under the Company’s 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 24, 2004)
*10 (f)   Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement to Officers under the Company’s 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 31, 2006)
*10 (g)   Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement to Officers under the Company’s 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 24, 2004)
*10 (h)   Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under the Company’s 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 24, 2004)

 

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Item

   

Description


*10 (i)   Form of Stock Appreciation Rights Award Agreement to Officers under the Company’s 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 31, 2006)
*10 (j)   Form of Stock Appreciation Rights Award Agreement to Non-Employee Directors under the Company’s 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 31, 2006)
*10 (k)   UnitedHealth Group Incorporated Executive Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002)
*10 (l)   UnitedHealth Group Executive Savings Plans (2004 Statement) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(e) of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003)
*10 (m)   UnitedHealth Group Directors’ Compensation Deferral Plan (2002 Statement) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(d) of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002)
*10 (n)   First Amendment to UnitedHealth Group Directors’ Compensation Deferral Plan (2002 Statement) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(g) of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003)
*10 (o)   Employment Agreement, dated as of October 13, 1999, between the Company and William W. McGuire, M.D. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(f) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999)
*10 (p)   Letter to William W. McGuire, M.D., dated as of February 13, 2001, regarding Employment Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(h) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000)
*10 (q)   Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated as of August 5, 2005, between the Company and William W. McGuire, M.D. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(c) of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005)
*10 (r)   Employment Agreement dated as of October 13, 1999, between the Company and Stephen J. Hemsley (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(g) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999)
*10 (s)   Letter to Stephen J. Hemsley, dated as of February 13, 2001, regarding Employment Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(j) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000)
*10 (t)   Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated August 5, 2005, between the Company and Stephen J. Hemsley (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(d) of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005)
*10 (u)   Agreement for Supplemental Executive Retirement Pay, effective April 1, 2004, between UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and Stephen J. Hemsley (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2004)
*10 (v)   Employment Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2004, between United HealthCare Services, Inc. and Richard H. Anderson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(p) of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004)
*10 (w)   Employment Agreement, dated as of October 1, 1998, as amended, between United HealthCare Services, Inc. and Tracy L. Bahl (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2004)

 

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Description


*10 (x)   Employment Agreement, dated as of October 1, 1998, between United HealthCare Services, Inc. and Patrick J. Erlandson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(m) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000)
*10 (y)   Employment Agreement, dated as of October 16, 1998, between United HealthCare Services, Inc. and David J. Lubben, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(p) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000)
*10 (z)   Employment Agreement, dated as of October 1, 1998, between United HealthCare Services, Inc. and William A. Munsell, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(t) of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004)
*10 (aa)   Employment Agreement, dated as of October 16, 1998, between United HealthCare Services, Inc. and Lois E. Quam, as amended, and Memorandum of Understanding, effective as of October 11, 1999, between Lois E. Quam and United HealthCare Services, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(l) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000)
*10 (bb)   Employment Agreement, dated as of October 16, 1998, between United HealthCare Services, Inc. and Robert J. Sheehy, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(l) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001)
*10 (cc)   Employment Agreement, dated as of October 1, 1998, as amended, between United HealthCare Services, Inc. and David S. Wichmann (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(o) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003)
†10 (dd)   AARP Health Insurance Agreement by and among American Association of Retired Persons, Trustees of the AARP Insurance Plan and United HealthCare Insurance Company dated as of February 26, 1997 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(p) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1996)
†10 (ee)   First Amendment to the AARP Health Insurance Agreement by and among American Association of Retired Persons, Trustees of the AARP Insurance Plan and United HealthCare Insurance Company effective January 1, 1998 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter period ended June 30, 1998)
†10 (ff)   Second Amendment to the AARP Health Insurance Agreement by and among American Association of Retired Persons, Trustees of the AARP Insurance Plan and United HealthCare Insurance Company effective January 1, 1998 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998)
†10 (gg)   Amendments to the AARP Health Insurance Agreement by and among American Association of Retired Persons, Trustees of the AARP Insurance Plan and United HealthCare Insurance Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(s) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002)
†10 (hh)   Amendments to the AARP Health Insurance Agreement by and between AARP Services, Inc. and United HealthCare Insurance Company, entered into between April and October 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(v) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003)
†10 (ii)   10th Amendment to the AARP Health Insurance Agreement by and between AARP Services, Inc. and United HealthCare Insurance Company, effective as of January 1, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004)
†10 (jj)   11th Amendment to the AARP Health Insurance Agreement by and between AARP Services, Inc. and United HealthCare Insurance Company, effective as of January 1, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(dd) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004)
10 (kk)   12th Amendment to the AARP Health Insurance Agreement by and between AARP Services, Inc. and United HealthCare Insurance Company, effective as of January 1, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) of the Company’s Quarterly Report on From 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005)

 

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Description


10 (ll)   13th Amendment to the AARP Health Insurance Agreement by and between AARP Services, Inc. and United HealthCare Insurance Company, effective as of December 21, 2005
11     Statement regarding computation of per share earnings (incorporated by reference to the information contained under the heading “Net Earnings Per Common Share” in Note 2 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 8)
12     Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
21     Subsidiaries of the Company
23     Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
24     Powers of Attorney
31     Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32     Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, confidential portions of these Exhibits have been deleted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.

 

* Denotes management contracts and compensation plans in which certain directors and named executive officers participate and which are being filed pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iii)(A) of Regulation S-K.

 

** Pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii) of Regulation S-K, copies of instruments defining the rights of certain holders of long-term debt are not filed. The Company will furnish copies thereof to the SEC upon request.

 

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