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Quotes & Info
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| CI > SEC Filings for CI > Form 10-Q on 30-Apr-2009 | All Recent SEC Filings |
30-Apr-2009
Quarterly Report
INDEX
Introduction 34
Consolidated Results of Operations 36
Critical Accounting Estimates 38
Segment Reporting
Health Care 39
Disability and Life 44
International 45
Run-off Reinsurance 47
Other Operations 49
Corporate 50
Discontinued Operations 50
Industry Developments and Other Matters 51
Liquidity and Capital Resources 52
Investment Assets 56
Market Risk 58
Cautionary Statement 59
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INTRODUCTION
In this filing and in other marketplace communications, CIGNA Corporation and
its subsidiaries (the Company) make certain forward-looking statements relating
to the Company's financial condition and results of operations, as well as to
trends and assumptions that may affect the Company. Generally, forward-looking
statements can be identified through the use of predictive words (e.g., "Outlook
for 2009"). Actual results may differ from the Company's predictions. Some
factors that could cause results to differ are discussed throughout Management's
Discussion and Analysis (MD&A), including in the Cautionary Statement beginning
on page 59. The forward-looking statements contained in this filing represent
management's current estimate as of the date of this filing. Management does not
assume any obligation to update these estimates.
The following discussion addresses the financial condition of the Company as of
March 31, 2009, compared with December 31, 2008, and its results of operations
for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared with the same period last
year. This discussion should be read in conjunction with Management's Discussion
and Analysis included in the Company's 2008 Form 10-K, to which the reader is
directed for additional information.
The preparation of interim consolidated financial statements necessarily relies
heavily on estimates. This and certain other factors, such as the seasonal
nature of portions of the health care and related benefits business as well as
competitive and other market conditions, call for caution in estimating full
year results based on interim results of operations.
Certain reclassifications and restatements have been made to prior period
amounts to conform to the presentation of 2009 amounts. In addition, certain
amounts have been restated as a result of the adoption of new accounting
pronouncements. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for
additional information.
Overview
The Company constitutes one of the largest investor-owned health service
organizations in the United States. Its subsidiaries are major providers of
health care and related benefits, the majority of which are offered through the
workplace. In addition, the Company has an international operation that offers
life, accident and supplemental health insurance products as well as
international health care products and services to businesses and individuals in
selected markets. The Company also has certain inactive businesses, including a
Run-off Reinsurance segment.
Ongoing Operations
The Company generates revenues, shareholders' net income and cash flow from
ongoing operations by:
• maintaining and growing its customer base;
• charging prices that reflect emerging experience;
• investing available cash at attractive rates of return for appropriate durations; and
• effectively managing other operating expenses.
The Company's ability to increase revenue, shareholders' net income and
operating cash flow is directly related to its ability to execute on its
strategic initiatives, the success of which is measured by certain key factors
as discussed below.
Key factors affecting the Company's results from ongoing operations include:
• the ability to profitably price products and services at competitive levels;
• the volume of customers served and the mix of products and services purchased by those customers;
• the ability to cross sell its various health and related benefit products;
• the relationship between other operating expenses and revenue; and
• the effectiveness of the Company's capital deployment initiatives.
Run-off Operations
Effectively managing the various exposures of its run-off operations is
important to the Company's ongoing profitability, operating cash flows and
available capital. The results are influenced by a range of economic factors,
especially movements in equity markets and interest rates. Results are also
influenced by behavioral factors, including future partial surrender election
rates for guaranteed minimum death benefits (GMDB) contracts and annuity
election rates for guaranteed minimum income benefits (GMIB) contracts, as well
as the collection of amounts recoverable from retrocessionaires. In order to
manage these risks, the Company operates a GMDB equity hedge program to
substantially reduce the impact of equity market movements. The Company actively
monitors the performance of the hedge program, and evaluates the cost/benefit of
hedging other risks. The Company also actively studies policyholder behavior
experience and adjusts future expectations based on the results of the studies,
as warranted. We also perform regular audits of the ceding companies to ensure
treaty compliance that premiums received and claims paid are properly reflective
of the underlying risks and to maximize the probability of subsequent collection
of claims from retrocessionaires. Finally, the Company monitors the credit
standing of the retrocessionaires.
Summary
The Company's overall results are influenced by a range of economic and other
factors, especially:
• cost trends and inflation for medical and related services;
• utilization patterns of medical and other services;
• employment levels;
• the tort liability system;
• developments in the political environment both domestically and internationally;
• interest rates, equity market returns, foreign currency fluctuations and credit market volatility, including the availability and cost of credit in the future; and
• federal and state regulation.
The Company regularly monitors the trends impacting operating results from the
above mentioned key factors and economic and other factors affecting its
operations. The Company develops strategic and tactical plans designed to
improve performance and maximize its competitive position in the markets it
serves. The Company's ability to achieve its financial objectives is dependent
upon its ability to effectively execute these plans and to appropriately respond
to emerging economic and company-specific trends.
The Company seeks to improve the performance of and profitably grow its ongoing
businesses and manage the risks associated with the run-off reinsurance
operations.
Acquisition of Great-West Healthcare
On April 1, 2008, the Company acquired the Healthcare division of Great-West
Life and Annuity, Inc. ("Great-West Healthcare" or the "acquired business")
through 100% indemnity reinsurance agreements and the acquisition of certain
affiliates and other assets and liabilities of Great-West Healthcare. The
purchase price was approximately $1.5 billion and consisted of a payment to the
seller of approximately $1.4 billion for the net assets acquired and the
assumption of net liabilities under the reinsurance agreement of approximately
$0.1 billion. Great-West Healthcare primarily sells medical plans on a
self-funded basis with stop-loss coverage to select and regional employer
groups. Great-West Healthcare's offerings also include the following specialty
products: stop-loss, life, disability, medical, dental, vision, prescription
drug coverage, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance. The
acquisition, which was accounted for as a purchase, was financed through a
combination of cash and the issuance of both short and long-term debt.
See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
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