Results Center

Total revenues increased 8.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year primarily driven by strong underlying core growth across all segments. Revenues in the Retail/LTC and Pharmacy Services segments in the three months ended March 31, 2020 also increased as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in greater use of 90-day prescriptions and early refills of maintenance medications, as well as increased front store volume in the Retail/LTC segment.

Operating income increased 28.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year primarily due to the increase in adjusted operating income described below, the absence of the $135 million store rationalization charge recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2019 and a decrease in acquisition-related integration costs of $79 million in the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior period.

Adjusted operating income increased 14.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year. The increase in adjusted operating income was primarily due to increased volume across all segments, improved purchasing economics in the Pharmacy Services segment and the favorable impact of cost savings initiatives. These increases were partially offset by a decline in operating income in the Health Care Benefits segment, continued reimbursement pressure in the Retail/LTC segment and continued price compression in the Pharmacy Services segment. The COVID-19 pandemic increased adjusted operating income in the three months ended March 31, 2020 due to increased volume in the Retail/LTC segment, as well as reduced benefit costs due to the deferral of elective procedures and other discretionary utilization in the Health Care Benefits segment, partially offset by lower net investment income.

Net income increased 41.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year primarily due to the higher operating income described above and lower interest expense primarily due to lower average debt in the three months ended March 31, 2020, partially offset by higher income tax expense associated with the increase in pre-tax income and the reinstatement of the non-deductible Health Insurer Fee (“HIF”) for 2020.

The effective income tax rate was 27.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to 26.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase in the effective income tax rate was primarily due to the reinstatement of the non-deductible HIF for 2020.

(1) The Company defines adjusted operating income as operating income (GAAP measure) excluding the impact of amortization of intangible assets and other items, if any, that neither relate to the ordinary course of the Company’s business nor reflect the Company’s underlying business performance, such as acquisition-related integration costs, store rationalization charges, and any other items specifically identified herein. See “Non-GAAP Financial Information” earlier in this press release for additional information regarding the items excluded from operating income.

Total revenues increased 4.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year primarily due to growth in specialty pharmacy, brand inflation and increased total pharmacy claims volume, including greater use of 90-day prescriptions and early refills of maintenance medications as consumers prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase was partially offset by previously disclosed client losses, continued price compression and an increased generic dispensing rate.

Total pharmacy claims processed increased 12.4% on a 30-day equivalent basis for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year primarily driven by increased claims under the Company’s agreement with IngenioRx, which began in the second quarter of 2019, and greater use of 90-day prescriptions and early refills of maintenance medications as consumers prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Operating income and adjusted operating income increased 31.1% and 24.7%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year primarily driven by growth in specialty pharmacy, improved purchasing economics and an increased generic dispensing rate, partially offset by previously disclosed client losses and continued price compression. The increase in operating income also was driven by lower amortization expense in the three months ended March 31, 2020.

Total revenues increased 7.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year primarily driven by increased prescription volume, higher front store revenues and brand inflation, partially offset by continued reimbursement pressure and an increased generic dispensing rate. Total revenues in the three months ended March 31, 2020 reflected the greater use of 90-day prescriptions, early refills of maintenance medications and increased front store volume as consumers prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the impact of the additional day in 2020 due to the leap year.

Front store revenues increased 8.5% in the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year, including an 8.0% increase in same store sales. The growth was primarily due to strength in consumer health and general merchandise sales, which was primarily driven by COVID-19 related sales; the expansion of the CarePass® program; and the impact of the additional day in 2020 due to the leap year.

Prescriptions filled grew 8.2% on a 30-day equivalent basis for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year, including a 9.8% increase in same store prescription volume. The growth was primarily driven by the continued adoption of patient care programs, greater use of 90-day prescriptions and early refills of maintenance medications as consumers prepared for COVID-19, and the impact of the additional day in 2020 due to the leap year.

Operating income and adjusted operating income increased 43.8% and 27.7%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase in both operating income and adjusted operating income was primarily due to the increased pharmacy and front store volume described above, improved generic drug purchasing, the impact of cost savings initiatives and the favorable resolution of certain legal matters in the three months ended March 31, 2020, partially offset by continued reimbursement pressure. The increase in operating income was also due to the absence of the $135 million store rationalization charge primarily related to operating lease right-of-use asset impairment charges in connection with the planned closure of underperforming retail pharmacy stores recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2019.

Total revenues increased 7.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year primarily driven by membership growth in the Health Care Benefits segment’s Government products and the favorable impact of the reinstatement of the HIF for 2020. These increases were partially offset by the absence of the financial results of Aetna’s standalone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, which the Company retained through 2019, membership declines in the segment’s Commercial insured products, as well as a decline in net investment income due to lower interest rates and the capital markets volatility associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Operating income and adjusted operating income decreased 5.2% and 4.5%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to the prior year. The decrease was primarily driven by membership declines in the segment’s Commercial insured products including the migration of Commercial customers from insured to ASC products, higher Medicaid benefit costs in certain states and incremental operating expenses to onboard additional Medicaid members. This decrease was partially offset by membership growth in the segment’s Government products and increased integration synergies. The COVID-19 pandemic had a modest impact on operating income and adjusted operating income in the three months ended March 31, 2020, as the reduction in benefit costs primarily related to the deferral of elective procedures and other discretionary utilization was largely offset by lower net investment income due to lower interest rates and the capital markets volatility associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Health Care Benefits segment’s MBR decreased 160 basis points for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year primarily due to the reinstatement of the HIF for 2020.

Medical membership as of March 31, 2020 of 23.5 million increased compared with December 31, 2019, primarily reflecting increases in Medicare and Medicaid products, partially offset by a decline in Commercial insured products.

The Health Care Benefits segment experienced favorable development of prior-years’ health care cost estimates in its Commercial and Government businesses during the three months ended March 31, 2020, primarily attributable to fourth quarter 2019 performance.

Prior years’ health care costs payable estimates developed favorably by $464 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020. This development is reported on a basis consistent with the prior years’ development reported in the health care costs payable table in the Company’s annual audited financial statements and does not directly correspond to an increase in 2020 operating results.

While acknowledging the inherent and unprecedented uncertainty surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its impact, the Company’s full year 2020 GAAP diluted EPS guidance range of $5.47 to $5.60, its full year 2020 Adjusted EPS guidance range of $7.04 to $7.17 and its full year 2020 cash flow from operations guidance range of $10.5 billion to $11.0 billion remain unchanged.

Given the likelihood of significant variability in the impact of COVID-19 on its financial statement line items (and related ratios), the Company is withdrawing all other previously issued 2020 additional detailed guidance.

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