Prognosis
UnitedHealth Expects $2 Billion Covid Earnings Hit Next Year
- Health giant projects testing, treatment costs similar to 2020
- Company still expects earnings, membership to grow next year
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UnitedHealth Group Inc. expects the pandemic to carve $2 billion out of its profits next year, with Covid-19 testing and treatment costs remaining steady even as more Americans return to their doctors’ offices for routine care.
Executives said costs for virus testing and treatment won’t be offset by widespread deferrals in care in 2021, as they were in 2020 when U.S. medical providers shut down most non-urgent in-person care for weeks during the spring.