UnitedHealth may expand PPACA exchange effort

The drop in net income was due mainly to Medicare Advantage program cuts, executives said.

Also during the call, executives said they may give up market share in New York state.

"We believe several carriers there, including new entrants, are pricing well below cost, and at what we would view as unsustainable pricing levels," Hemsley said. "If this climate continues, we could see some further pressure on risk-based membership beyond the ranges we anticipated this year."

Several insurers that had been sitting on the sidelines returned to the state's market in January, and that has contributed to the intense level of competition, Boudreaux said.

UnitedHealth will "stay very disciplined in our pricing" there, Boudreaux said.

Executives did not say whether the level of price competition is different for the plans sold through the public exchange system and the plans sold outside the exchange system.

See also:

• Insurers fight California rate measure
• Carrier mum on public exchange strategy
• New York state exchange rates to vary widely