Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
     
þ   QUARTER REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2011
OR
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to                     .
Commission file number: 001-14953
 
HEALTHMARKETS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
     
Delaware   75-2044750
(State or other jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)   Identification Number)
9151 Boulevard 26, North Richland Hills, Texas 76180
(Address of principal executive offices, zip code)
(817) 255-5200
(Registrant’s phone number, including area code)
 
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 o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 1 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). o Yes o No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
             
Large accelerated filer o   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer þ   Smaller reporting company o
        (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
On April 21, 2011, the registrant had 28,397,133 outstanding shares of Class A-1 Common Stock, $.01 Par Value, and 2,989,754 outstanding shares of Class A-2 Common Stock, $.01 Par Value.
 
 

 

 


 

HEALTHMARKETS, INC.
and Subsidiaries
First Quarter 2011 Form 10-Q
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 Exhibit 18.1
 Exhibit 31.1
 Exhibit 31.2
 Exhibit 32

 

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HEALTHMARKETS, INC.
and Subsidiaries
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except per share data)
                 
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2011     2010  
    (Unaudited)          
ASSETS
               
Investments:
               
Securities available for sale —
Fixed maturities, at fair value (cost: 2011 — $563,980; 2010 — $644,661)
  $ 591,990     $ 679,405  
Short-term and other investments
    434,741       373,023  
 
           
Total investments
    1,026,731       1,052,428  
Cash and cash equivalents
    9,238       12,874  
Student loan receivables
    57,749       60,312  
Restricted cash
    10,779       13,170  
Investment income due and accrued
    9,083       7,139  
Reinsurance recoverable — ceded policy liabilities
    358,804       363,243  
Agent and other receivables
    38,795       32,508  
Deferred acquisition costs
    25,293       32,689  
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $151,015 and $148,026 at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively
    42,296       43,738  
Goodwill and other intangible assets
    81,769       82,331  
Recoverable federal income taxes
    606       3,443  
Other assets
    22,813       15,776  
 
           
 
  $ 1,683,956     $ 1,719,651  
 
           
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Policy liabilities:
               
Future policy and contract benefits
  $ 484,339     $ 453,773  
Claims
    123,989       208,675  
Unearned premiums
    33,574       34,862  
Other policy liabilities
    10,850       7,687  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    30,100       38,131  
Other liabilities
    45,189       58,868  
Deferred federal income taxes
    69,503       58,883  
Debt
    553,420       553,420  
Student loan credit facility
    65,950       68,650  
Net liabilities of discontinued operations
    1,430       1,574  
 
           
 
    1,418,344       1,484,523  
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 11)
               
 
               
Stockholders’ equity:
               
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share — authorized 10,000,000 shares, none issued
           
Common Stock, Class A-1, par value $0.01 per share — authorized 90,000,000 shares, 28,454,231 issued and 28,397,176 outstanding at March 31, 2011; 28,281,859 issued and 28,256,028 outstanding at December 31, 2010. Class A-2, par value $0.01 per share — authorized 20,000,000 shares, 4,026,104 issued and 3,040,538 outstanding at March 31, 2011; 4,026,104 issued and 2,762,100 outstanding at December 31, 2010
    325       323  
Additional paid-in capital
    50,363       54,772  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    18,810       21,981  
Retained earnings
    209,315       178,313  
Treasury stock, at cost (57,056 Class A-1 common shares and 985,566 Class A-2 common shares at March 31, 2011; 25,831 Class A-1 common shares and 1,264,004 Class A-2 common shares at December 31, 2010)
    (13,201 )     (20,261 )
 
           
 
    265,612       235,128  
 
           
 
  $ 1,683,956     $ 1,719,651  
 
           
See Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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HEALTHMARKETS, INC.
and Subsidiaries
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2011     2010  
REVENUE
               
Health premiums
  $ 151,201     $ 205,773  
Life premiums and other considerations
    466       651  
 
           
 
    151,667       206,424  
Investment income
    8,965       11,271  
Commissions and other income
    20,534       13,649  
Total other-than-temporary impairment losses
           
Portion of loss recognized in other comprehensive income (before taxes)
           
 
           
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
           
Realized gains, net
    3,858       219  
 
           
 
    185,024       231,563  
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
               
Benefits, claims, and settlement expenses
    103,966       121,796  
Underwriting, acquisition, and insurance expenses
    30,231       53,589  
Other expenses
    38,535       46,270  
Interest expense
    7,111       8,192  
 
           
 
    179,843       229,847  
 
           
 
               
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
    5,181       1,716  
Federal income tax expense
    2,017       948  
 
           
Income from continuing operations
    3,164       768  
 
               
Income from discontinued operations, (net of income tax expense of $8 for the three months ended March 31, 2011, and $8 for the three months ended March 31, 2010, respectively)
    14       14  
 
           
Net income
  $ 3,178     $ 782  
 
           
 
               
Basic earnings per share:
               
Income from continuing operations
  $ 0.11     $ 0.03  
Income from discontinued operations
    0.00       0.00  
 
           
Net income per share, basic
  $ 0.11     $ 0.03  
 
           
Diluted earnings per share:
               
Income from continuing operations
  $ 0.10     $ 0.03  
Income from discontinued operations
    0.00       0.00  
 
           
Net income per share, diluted
  $ 0.10     $ 0.03  
 
           
See Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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HEALTHMARKETS, INC.
and Subsidiaries
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2011     2010  
Net income
  $ 3,178     $ 782  
 
               
Other comprehensive income (loss):
               
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities available for sale arising during the period
    (2,260 )     11,331  
Reclassification for investment (gains) losses included in net income
    (3,858 )     (219 )
Other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in OCI
           
 
           
Effect on other comprehensive income (loss) from investment securities
    (6,118 )     11,112  
 
           
 
               
Unrealized losses on derivatives used in cash flow hedging during the period
    (4 )     (487 )
Reclassification adjustments included in net income
    1,244       2,504  
 
           
Effect on other comprehensive income from hedging activities
    1,240       2,017  
 
           
 
               
Other comprehensive income before tax
    (4,878 )     13,129  
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income
    (1,707 )     4,596  
 
           
Other comprehensive income (loss) net of tax
    (3,171 )     8,533  
 
           
 
               
Comprehensive income
  $ 7     $ 9,315  
 
           
See Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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HEALTHMARKETS, INC.
and Subsidiaries
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2011     2010  
Operating Activities:
               
Net income
  $ 3,178     $ 782  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
               
Income from discontinued operations
    (14 )     (14 )
Realized gains, net
    (3,858 )     (219 )
Change in deferred income taxes
    (2,656 )     224  
Depreciation and amortization
    4,876       5,862  
Amortization of prepaid monitoring fees
    3,125       3,750  
Equity based compensation expense
    1,351       1,440  
Other items, net
    3,591       4,446  
Changes in assets and liabilities:
               
Investment income due and accrued
    (2,224 )     (2,661 )
Due premiums
    3       1,112  
Reinsurance recoverable — ceded policy liabilities
    4,439       1,440  
Other receivables
    (4,564 )     606  
Deferred acquisition costs
    7,396       8,841  
Prepaid monitoring fees
    (12,500 )     (12,500 )
Current income tax recoverable
    2,837       3,196  
Policy liabilities
    (9,084 )     (21,154 )
Other liabilities and accrued expenses
    (17,017 )     (13,987 )
 
           
Cash used in continuing operations
    (21,121 )     (18,836 )
Cash used in discontinued operations
    (130 )     (116 )
 
           
Net cash used in operating activities
    (21,251 )     (18,952 )
 
           
 
               
Investing Activities:
               
Student loan receivables
    2,112       2,193  
Securities available for sale
    84,172       29,611  
Short-term and other investments, net
    (61,628 )     109,649  
Purchases of property and equipment
    (1,547 )     (3,627 )
Change in restricted cash
    2,391       2,244  
Decrease (increase) in agent receivables
    (2,614 )     459  
 
           
Cash provided by continuing operations
    22,886       140,529  
Cash provided by discontinued operations
           
 
           
Net cash provided by investing activities
    22,886       140,529  
 
           
 
               
Financing Activities:
               
Repayment of student loan credit facility
    (2,700 )     (2,450 )
Decrease in investment products
    (354 )     (3,408 )
Change in cash overdraft
    (393 )     3,898  
Proceeds from shares issued to agent plans and other
    1,149       1,521  
Purchases of treasury stock
    (2,612 )     (1,764 )
Dividends paid
          (120,652 )
Excess tax reduction from equity based compensation
    (361 )     (339 )
 
           
Cash used in continuing operations
    (5,271 )     (123,194 )
Cash used in discontinued operations
           
 
           
Net cash used in financing activities
    (5,271 )     (123,194 )
 
           
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
    (3,636 )     (1,617 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    12,874       17,406  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period in continuing operations
  $ 9,238     $ 15,789  
 
           
 
               
Supplemental disclosures:
               
Income taxes paid
  $ 2,207     $  
 
           
Interest paid
  $ 5,342     $ 5,338  
 
           
See Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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HEALTHMARKETS, INC.
and Subsidiaries
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The accompanying consolidated condensed financial statements for HealthMarkets, Inc. (the “Company” or “HealthMarkets”) and its subsidiaries have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, such financial statements do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments and accruals, necessary for the fair presentation of the consolidated condensed balance sheets, statements of income, statements of comprehensive income and statements of cash flows for the periods presented. The accompanying December 31, 2010 consolidated condensed balance sheet was derived from audited consolidated financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP for annual financial statement purposes. Preparing financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts that are reported in the financial statements and the accompanying disclosures. Although these estimates are based on management’s knowledge of current events and actions that HealthMarkets may undertake in the future, actual results may differ materially from the estimates. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year ending December 31, 2011. We have evaluated subsequent events for recognition or disclosure through the date we filed this Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
HealthMarkets, Inc. is a holding company, the principal asset of which is its investment in its wholly owned subsidiary, HealthMarkets, LLC. HealthMarkets, LLC’s principal assets are its investments in its separate operating subsidiaries, including its regulated insurance subsidiaries. HealthMarkets conducts its insurance underwriting businesses through its indirect wholly owned insurance company subsidiaries, The MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company (“MEGA”), Mid-West National Life Insurance Company of Tennessee (“Mid-West”) and The Chesapeake Life Insurance Company (“Chesapeake”), and conducts its insurance distribution business through its indirect insurance agency subsidiary, Insphere Insurance Solutions, Inc. (“Insphere”).
Reclassification
Certain amounts in the 2010 financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2011 financial statement presentation.
2. CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE
Effective January 1, 2011, the Company changed the method used to calculate its policy liabilities for the majority of its health insurance products because it believes that the new method will be preferable in light of, among other factors, certain changes required by Health Care Reform Legislation.
For the majority of health insurance products in the Commercial Health Division, the Company’s claims liabilities are estimated using the developmental method. The Company establishes the claims liabilities based upon claim incurral dates, supplemented with certain refinements as appropriate. Prior to January 1, 2011, for products introduced prior to 2008, the Company used a technique for calculating claims liabilities referred to as the Modified Incurred Date (“MID”) technique. Under the MID technique, claims liabilities for the cost of all medical services related to a distinct accident or sickness are based on the earliest date of diagnosis or treatment, even though the medical services associated with such accident or sickness might not be rendered to the insured until a later financial reporting period. Claims liabilities based on the earliest date of diagnosis generally result in larger initial claims liabilities which complete over a longer period of time than claims estimation techniques using dates of service. Under the MID technique, the Company modifies the original incurred date coding by establishing a new incurral date if: (i) there is a break of more than six months in the occurrence of a covered benefit service or (ii) if claims payments continue for more than thirty-six months without a six month break in service.

 

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For products introduced in 2008 and later, claims payments are considered incurred on the date the service is rendered, regardless of whether the sickness or accident is distinct or the same. This is referred to as the Service Date (“SD”) technique. This is consistent with the assumptions used in the pricing of these products and the policy language. At December 31, 2010, the Company had claims liabilities for products using the SD technique in the amount of $10.6 million, representing approximately 8% of the total claims liabilities of the Commercial Health Division. The use of the SD technique in establishing claims liabilities requires the establishment of a future policy benefit reserve while the MID technique does not. For the reasons discussed below, we believe that it is preferable to estimate the Company’s claims liabilities using the SD technique, and to apply such technique for claims liabilities previously calculated based on the MID technique.
As previously disclosed, in March 2010, Health Care Reform Legislation was signed into law. The Health Care Reform Legislation requires, beginning in 2011, a mandated minimum loss ratio (“MLR”) of 80% for the individual and small group markets. If MLR is below the mandated minimum, the Health Care Reform Legislation generally requires that the insurer return the amount of premium that is in excess of the required MLR to the policyholder in the form of rebates. The MLR is calculated for each of our insurance subsidiaries on a state-by-state basis in each state where the Company has issued major medical business. The Interim Final Rule from the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) indicates that the MLR calculation shall utilize data on incurred claims for the calendar year, paid through March of the following year.
Any refund of premiums in excess of the required MLR will be based on the completion of claims three months after the calendar year end. Based on the MLR calculation requiring only three additional months of claims and the SD technique being the most prevalent method of estimating claims liabilities in the health insurance industry, the Company believes that the SD technique is the preferable method for calculating the MLR. The Company also believes that using the SD method for the settlement of the MLR calculation will reduce uncertainty regarding the ultimate amount of incurred claims, as the MID technique estimates claims over a longer settlement period. The calculation of the MLR using the Company’s current data results in claims for a given incurred year that are approximately 95% complete three months after the valuation date using the SD technique, whereas claims are approximately 82% complete 3 months after the valuation date using the MID technique. Additionally, the use of the MID technique for financial reporting purposes, with the settlement of the MLR calculated on a SD basis, may result in an over accrual of the claims liabilities on the financial statements as a result of the Company’s accrual for rebates in the MLR calculation.
In light of the changes resulting from the Health Care Reform Legislation, and given that the Company’s insurance contracts would support the use of either reserving technique, the Company, after discussions with its domiciliary insurance regulators on the preferred methodology for calculating rebates under the MLR requirements of the Health Care Reform Legislation, determined that the SD method is preferable in determining the estimation of its claims liabilities. For the in-force policies utilizing the MID technique for estimation of claims liabilities, effective January 1, 2011, the Company changed the method used to calculate its claims liabilities from the MID technique to the SD technique. Consistent with the Company’s products introduced in 2008 and later, the Company established a reserve for future policy benefits for products introduced prior to 2008.
The Company has determined it is impracticable to determine the period-specific effects of the change in reserving methodology from MID to SD on all prior periods since retrospective application requires significant estimates of amounts and it is impossible to distinguish objectively information about those estimates at previous reporting dates. Based on the guidance of ASC 250-10-45 Accounting Changes — Change in Accounting Principle if the cumulative effect of applying a change in accounting principle to all prior periods is determinable, but it is impracticable to determine the period-specific effects of that change to all prior periods presented, the cumulative effect of the change to the new accounting principle shall be applied to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities as of beginning of the earliest period to which the new accounting principle can be applied. As such the Company accounted for the change effective January 1, 2011 by recording the cumulative effect of the change in accounting at that date.
Effective January 1, 2011, as a result of this change, the Company recorded the following; (i) a decrease in the amount of $77.9 million to claims and claims administration liabilities, (ii) an increase in the amount of $35.1 million to future policy and contract benefits, (iii) an increase in the amount of $15.0 million to deferred federal income tax liability and (iv) an increase in the amount of $27.8 million to retained earnings.

 

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3. CONCENTRATIONS
Insphere maintains marketing agreements for the distribution of health benefits plans with a number of non-affiliated insurance carriers as well as the Company’s own insurance subsidiaries. The non-affiliated carriers include, among others, United Healthcare’s Golden Rule Insurance Company, Humana and Aetna, for which Insphere distributes individual health insurance products. The products offered by these third-party carriers and the Company’s insurance subsidiaries offer coverage and benefit variations that may fit one consumer better than another. In the markets where Insphere has commenced distribution of these third-party carrier products, these products have, to a great extent, replaced the sale of the Company’s own health benefit plans. During the three months ended March 31, 2011, approximately 81% of the Company’s health benefit plan sales marketed by Insphere were underwritten by these three third-party carriers.
Additionally, during the three months ended March 31, 2011, the Company’s insurance subsidiaries generated approximately 56% of its premium revenue from new and existing business from the following 10 states:
         
    Percentage  
California
    14 %
Texas
    7 %
Maine
    6 %
Florida
    6 %
Massachusetts
    5 %
Washington
    5 %
Illinois
    5 %
North Carolina
    3 %
Pennsylvania
    3 %
Georgia
    2 %
 
     
 
    56 %
4. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In October 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update 2010-26, Financial Services — Insurance (ASC Topic 944): Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts (“ASU 2010-26”), which clarifies what costs relating to the acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts qualify for deferral. Costs that should be capitalized include (1) incremental direct costs of successful contract acquisition and (2) certain costs related directly to successful acquisition activities (underwriting, policy issuance and processing, medical and inspection, and sales force contract selling) performed by the insurer for the contract. Advertising costs should be included in deferred acquisition costs only if the capitalization criteria in the US GAAP direct-response advertising guidance are met. All other acquisition-related costs should be charged to expense as incurred.
The provisions of ASU 2010-26 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011, and should be applied prospectively. Retrospective application is permitted, and early adoption is permitted at the beginning of an entity’s annual reporting period. The Company is currently in the process of determining the impact of adoption of the provisions of ASU 2010-26.
During the first quarter of 2010, the Company adopted ASC Update 2010-06, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures: Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements (“ASU 2010-06”). ASU 2010-06 amends ASC Subtopic 820-10 to require new disclosures around the transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 and around activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. Such guidance also provides amendments to ASC 820 which clarifies existing disclosures on the level of disaggregation, inputs and valuation techniques. Certain disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements relating to Level 3 measurements are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010. The Company implemented these additional disclosure items in the first quarter of 2011.
5. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
In accordance with ASC 820, the Company categorizes its investments and certain other assets and liabilities recorded at fair value into a three-level fair value hierarchy as follows:
   
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets which are accessible by the Company.
   
Level 2 — Observable prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities. Prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets which are not active. Directly observable market inputs for substantially the full term of the asset or liability, such as interest rates and yield curves at commonly quoted intervals, volatilities, prepayment speeds, default rates, and credit spreads. Market inputs that are not directly observable but are derived from or corroborated by observable market data.
   
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs based on the Company’s own judgment as to assumptions a market participant would use, including inputs derived from extrapolation and interpolation that are not corroborated by observable market data.

 

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The Company evaluates the various types of securities in its investment portfolio to determine the appropriate level in the fair value hierarchy based upon trading activity and the observability of market inputs. The Company employs control processes to validate the reasonableness of the fair value estimates of its assets and liabilities, including those estimates based on prices and quotes obtained from independent third party sources. The Company’s procedures generally include, but are not limited to, initial and ongoing evaluation of methodologies used by independent third parties and monthly analytical reviews of the prices against current pricing trends and statistics.
Where possible, the Company utilizes quoted market prices to measure fair value. For investments that have quoted market prices in active markets, the Company uses the quoted market price as fair value and includes these prices in the amounts disclosed in Level 1 of the hierarchy. When quoted market prices in active markets are unavailable, the Company determines fair values using various valuation techniques and models based on a range of observable market inputs including pricing models, quoted market price of publicly traded securities with similar duration and yield, time value, yield curve, prepayment speeds, default rates and discounted cash flow. In most cases, these estimates are determined based on independent third party valuation information, and the amounts are disclosed in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Generally, the Company obtains a single price or quote per instrument from independent third parties to assist in establishing the fair value of these investments.
If quoted market prices and independent third party valuation information are unavailable, the Company produces an estimate of fair value based on internally developed valuation techniques, which, depending on the level of observable market inputs, will render the fair value estimate as Level 2 or Level 3. On occasions when pricing service data is unavailable, the Company may rely on bid/ask spreads from dealers in determining the fair value. When dealer quotations are used to assist in establishing the fair value, the Company generally obtains one quote per instrument. The quotes obtained from dealers or brokers are generally non-binding. When dealer quotations are used, the Company uses the mid-mark as fair value. When broker or dealer quotations are used for valuation or price verification, greater priority is given to executable quotes. As part of the price verification process, valuations based on quotes are corroborated by comparison both to other quotes and to recent trading activity in the same or similar instruments.
To the extent the Company determines that a price or quote is inconsistent with actual trading activity observed in that investment or similar investments, or if the Company does not think the quote is reflective of the market value for the investment, the Company will internally develop a fair value using this observable market information and disclose the occurrence of this circumstance.
In accordance with ASC 820, the Company has categorized its available for sale securities into a three level fair value hierarchy based on the priority of inputs to the valuation techniques. The fair values of investments disclosed in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy include money market funds and certain U.S. government securities, while the investments disclosed in Level 2 include the majority of the Company’s fixed income investments. In cases where there is limited activity or less transparency around inputs to the valuation, the Company classifies the fair value estimates within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
As of March 31, 2011, all of the Company’s investments classified within Level 2 and Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy are valued based on quotes or prices obtained from independent third parties, except for $193.0 million of “Corporate debt and other” classified as Level 2, and $810,000 of “Commercial-backed” investments classified as Level 3. The “Corporate debt and other” investments classified as Level 2 noted above includes $99.7 million of an investment grade corporate bond issued by UnitedHealth Group Inc. that was received as consideration for the sale of the Company’s former Student Insurance Division in December 2006 and $85.6 million of an investment grade corporate bond received from a unit of the CIGNA Corporation as consideration for the receipt of the former Star HRG assets.

 

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Fair Value Hierarchy on a Recurring Basis
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are categorized in the tables below based upon the lowest level of significant input to the valuations.
                                 
    Assets at Fair Value at March 31, 2011  
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
            (In thousands)          
U.S. and U.S. Government agencies
  $ 4,583     $ 51,403     $     $ 55,986  
Corporate bonds and municipals
          342,133             342,133  
Residential-backed issued by agencies
          66,015             66,015  
Commercial-backed issued by agencies
          3,155             3,155  
Residential-backed
          2,115             2,115  
Commercial-backed
          28,853       810       29,663  
Asset-backed
          7,315             7,315  
Other bonds
          85,608             85,608  
Other invested assets (1)
                2,613       2,613  
Short-term investments (2)
    409,485                   409,485  
 
                       
 
  $ 414,068     $ 586,597     $ 3,423     $ 1,004,088  
 
                       
(1)  
Investments in entities that calculate net asset value per share
 
(2)  
Amount excludes $22.6 million of short-term other investments which are not subject to fair value measurement.
                                 
    Liabilities at Fair Value at March 31, 2011  
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
            (In thousands)          
Interest rate swaps
  $     $ 1,177     $     $ 1,177  
Agent and employee plans
                3,538       3,538  
 
                       
 
  $     $ 1,177     $ 3,538     $ 4,715  
 
                       
                                 
    Assets at Fair Value at December 31, 2010  
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
    (In thousands)  
U.S. and U.S. Government agencies
  $ 4,611     $ 51,655     $     $ 56,266  
Corporate bonds and municipals
          402,883             402,883  
Residential-backed issued by agencies
          72,684             72,684  
Commercial-backed issued by agencies
          5,392             5,392  
Residential-backed
          2,410             2,410  
Commercial-backed
          44,367       916       45,283  
Asset-backed
          8,095             8,095  
Other bonds
          86,392             86,392  
Other invested assets (1)
                2,000       2,000  
Short-term investments (2)
    347,121                   347,121  
 
                       
 
  $ 351,732     $ 673,878     $ 2,916     $ 1,028,526  
 
                       
(1)  
Investments in entities that calculate net asset value per share
 
(2)  
Amount excludes $23.9 million of short-term other investments which are not subject to fair value measurement.
                                 
    Liabilities at Fair Value at December 31, 2010  
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
    (In thousands)  
Interest rate swaps
  $     $ 2,367     $     $ 2,367  
Agent and employee plans
                6,238       6,238  
 
                       
 
  $     $ 2,367     $ 6,238     $ 8,605  
 
                       
The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for certain assets and liabilities of the Company measured at fair value on a recurring basis, including the general classification of such assets pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.
Fixed Income Investments
Available for sale investments
The Company’s fixed income investments include investments in U.S. Treasury securities, U.S. Government agency bonds, corporate bonds, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, and municipal securities and bonds.

 

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The Company estimates the fair value of its U.S. Treasury securities using unadjusted quoted market prices, and accordingly, discloses these investments in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. The fair values of the majority of non-U.S. treasury securities held by the Company are determined based on observable market inputs provided by independent third party valuation information. The market inputs utilized in the pricing evaluation include but are not limited to, benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers, reference data, and industry and economic events. The Company classifies the fair value estimates based on these observable market inputs within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Investments classified within Level 2 consist of U.S. government agencies bonds, corporate bonds, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, and municipal bonds.
The Company also holds a fixed income commercial asset-backed investment for which it estimates the fair value using an internal pricing matrix with some unobservable inputs that are significant to the valuation. Consequently, the lack of transparency in the inputs and availability of independent third party pricing information for this investment resulted in its fair value being classified within the Level 3 of the hierarchy. As of March 31, 2011, the fair value of such commercial asset-backed security which represents approximately 0.1% of the Company’s total fixed income investments is reflected within the Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
Other invested assets
The Company’s other invested assets consist of one alternative investment that owns a portfolio of collateralized debt obligation equity investments managed by a third party management group. The Company calculates the fair market value of such investment using the net asset value per share, which is determined based on unobservable inputs. Accordingly, the fair value of this asset is reflected within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
The Company has committed to fund $5.0 million to such equity investment, of which the entire amount has been funded to date. There are no redemption opportunities, and the fund will terminate when the underlying collateralized debt obligation deals mature.
Short-term investments
The Company’s short-term investments primarily consist of highly liquid money market funds, which are reflected within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.
Derivatives
The Company’s derivative instruments are valued utilizing valuation models that primarily use market observable inputs and are traded in the markets where quoted market prices are not readily available, and accordingly, these instruments are reflected within the Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
Agent and Employee Stock Plans
The Company accounts for its agent and certain employee stock plan liabilities based on the Company’s share price at the end of each reporting period. The Company’s share price at the end of each reporting period is based on the prevailing fair value as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors (see Note 12 of Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements). The Company largely uses unobservable inputs in deriving the fair value of its share price and the value is, therefore, reflected in Level 3 of the hierarchy.

 

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Changes in Level 3 Assets and Liabilities
The tables below summarize the change in balance sheet carrying values associated with Level 3 financial instruments and agent and employee stock plans for the three months ended March 31, 2011.
                                                         
            Changes in Level 3 Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value  
            For the Year Ended March 31, 2011  
            Unrealized                     Realized     Transfer        
    Beginning     Gains or     Sales or             Gains or     in/(out) of     Ending  
    Balance     (Losses)     Redemption     Settlements     (Losses)(1)     Level 3, Net     Balance  
    (In thousands)  
ASSETS
                                                       
Commercial-backed
  $ 916     $ (11 )   $ (99 )   $ 4     $     $     $ 810  
Other invested assets
    2,000       618             (5 )                 2,613  
 
                                         
 
  $ 2,916     $ 607     $ (99 )   $ (1 )   $     $     $ 3,423  
 
                                         
 
                                                       
LIABILITIES
                                                       
Agent and employee stock plans
  $ 6,238     $ 144     $     $ (2,844 )   $     $     $ 3,538  
 
                                         
(1)  
Realized losses for the period are included in “Realized gains, net” on the Company’s consolidated condensed statement of income (loss).
During the three months ended March 31, 2011, the Company did not transfer securities between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3.
Investments not reported at fair value
Other investments consists of investments in equity investees, which are accounted for under the equity method of accounting on the Company’s consolidated condensed balance sheet at cost.
6. INVESTMENTS
The Company’s investments consist of the following at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
                 
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  
Securities available for sale
               
Fixed maturities
  $ 591,990     $ 679,405  
Short-term and other investments
    434,741       373,023  
 
           
Total investments
  $ 1,026,731     $ 1,052,428  
 
           
Available for sale fixed maturities are reported at fair value which was derived as follows:
                                         
    March 31, 2011  
            Gross     Gross     Non-credit Loss        
    Amortized     Unrealized     Unrealized     Recognized        
    Cost     Gains     Losses     in OCI     Fair Value  
    (In thousands)  
U.S. and U.S. Government agencies
  $ 55,288     $ 765     $ (67 )   $     $ 55,986  
Residential-backed issued by agencies
    62,622       3,461       (68 )           66,015  
Commercial-backed issued by agencies
    3,056       99                   3,155  
Residential-backed
    2,061       54                   2,115  
Commercial-backed
    28,706       957                   29,663  
Asset-backed
    7,301       315       (20 )     (281 )     7,315  
Corporate bonds and municipals
    326,550       16,161       (578 )           342,133  
Other bonds
    78,396       7,212                   85,608  
 
                             
Total fixed maturities
  $ 563,980     $ 29,024     $ (733 )   $ (281 )   $ 591,990  
 
                             

 

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    December 31, 2010  
            Gross     Gross     Non-credit Loss        
    Amortized     Unrealized     Unrealized     Recognized        
    Cost     Gains     Losses     in OCI     Fair Value  
    (In thousands)  
U.S. and U.S. Government agencies
  $ 55,338     $ 1,006     $ (78 )   $     $ 56,266  
Residential-backed issued by agencies
    68,932       3,827       (75 )           72,684  
Commercial-backed issued by agencies
    5,156       236                   5,392  
Residential-backed
    2,344       66                   2,410  
Commercial-backed
    43,261       2,022                   45,283  
Asset-backed
    8,046       346       (16 )     (281 )     8,095  
Corporate bonds and municipals
    383,188       21,133       (1,438 )           402,883  
Other bonds
    78,396       7,996                   86,392  
 
                             
Total fixed maturities
  $ 644,661     $ 36,632     $ (1,607 )   $ (281 )   $ 679,405  
 
                             
The amortized cost and fair value of available for sale fixed maturities at March 31, 2011, by contractual maturity, are set forth in the table below. Fixed maturities subject to early or unscheduled prepayments have been included based upon their contractual maturity dates. Actual maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
                 
    March 31, 2011  
    Amortized        
    Cost     Fair Value  
    (In thousands)  
Maturity:
               
One year or less
  $ 52,050     $ 52,673  
Over 1 year through 5 years
    115,985       121,308  
Over 5 years through 10 years
    183,042       192,292  
Over 10 years
    109,157       117,454  
 
           
 
    460,234       483,727  
Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities
    103,746       108,263  
 
           
Total fixed maturities
  $ 563,980     $ 591,990  
 
           
See Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements for additional disclosures on fair value measurements.
A summary of net investment income by source is set forth below:
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  
Fixed maturities
  $ 7,270     $ 9,497  
Equity securities
          10  
Short-term and other investments
    1,265       651  
Agent receivables
    91       449  
Student loan interest income
    841       1,070  
 
           
 
    9,467       11,677  
Less investment expenses
    502       406  
 
           
 
  $ 8,965     $ 11,271  
 
           
Realized Gains and Losses
Realized gains and losses on sales of investments are recognized in net income on the specific identification basis and include write downs on those investments deemed to have other than temporary declines in fair values. Gains and losses on trading securities are reported in “Realized gains, net” on the consolidated condensed statements of income.
Fixed maturities
Proceeds from the sale and call of investments in fixed maturities were $61.6 million and $16.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Proceeds from maturities, sinking and principal reductions amounted to $22.6 million and $21.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. During 2011 and 2010, the Company realized gross gains of $3.9 million and $235,000, respectively, on the sale and call of fixed maturity investments. The company realized no gross losses in 2011 and realized gross losses of $16,000 during 2010.

 

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Other than temporary impairment (“OTTI”)
During the three months ended March 31, 2011, the Company recognized no OTTI losses.
Set forth below is a summary of cumulative OTTI losses on debt securities held by the Company at March 31, 2011, a portion of which have been recognized in “Net impairment losses recognized in earnings” on the consolidated condensed statement of income and a portion of which have been recognized in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” on the consolidated condensed balance sheet:
                                           
                              Reductions for        
            Additions for OTTI             increases in cash      
Cumulative OTTI   Additions to OTTI     securities where             flows expected to     Cumulative OTTI  
credit losses   securities where no     credit losses have     Reductions for     be collected that     credit losses  
recognized for   credit losses were     been recognized     securities sold     are recognized     recognized for  
securities still held at   recognized prior to     prior to     during the period     over the remaining     securities still held at  
January 1, 2011   January 1, 2011     January 1, 2011     (Realized)     life of the security     March 31, 2011  
      (In thousands)  
$
4,104   $     $     $ (586 )   $     $ 3,518  
Unrealized Gains and Losses
Fixed maturities
Set forth below is a summary of gross unrealized losses in its fixed maturities as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
                                                 
    March 31, 2011  
    Unrealized Loss     Unrealized Loss        
    Less Than 12 Months     12 Months or Longer     Total  
    Fair     Unrealized     Fair     Unrealized     Fair     Unrealized  
Description of Securities   Value     Losses     Value     Losses     Value     Losses  
    (In thousands)  
U.S. and U.S. Government agencies
  $     $     $ 16,266     $ 67     $ 16,266     $ 67  
Residential-backed issued by agencies
                4,596       68       4,596       68  
Commercial-backed issued by agencies
                                   
Residential-backed
                                   
Commercial-backed
                                   
Asset-backed
    317       10       2,880       10       3,197       20  
Corporate bonds and municipals
                24,680       578       24,680       578  
Other bonds
                                   
 
                                   
Total
  $ 317     $ 10     $ 48,422     $ 723     $ 48,739     $ 733  
 
                                   
                                                 
    December 31, 2010  
    Unrealized Loss     Unrealized Loss        
    Less Than 12 Months     12 Months or Longer     Total  
    Fair     Unrealized     Fair     Unrealized     Fair     Unrealized  
Description of Securities   Value     Losses     Value     Losses     Value     Losses  
                            (In thousands)                  
U.S. and U.S. Government agencies
  $ 16,254     $ 78     $     $     $ 16,254     $ 78  
Residential-backed issued by agencies
    4,810       75                   4,810       75  
Commercial-backed issued by agencies
                                   
Residential-backed
                426             426        
Commercial-backed
                                   
Asset-backed
                3,296       16       3,296       16  
Corporate bonds and municipals
    7,124       57       30,967       1,381       38,091       1,438  
Other bonds
                                   
 
                                   
Total
  $ 28,188     $ 210     $ 34,689     $ 1,397     $ 62,877     $ 1,607  
 
                                   
Unrealized Losses Less Than 12 Months
Of the $10,000 in unrealized losses that had existed for less than twelve months at March 31, 2011, no security had an unrealized loss in excess of 10% of the security’s cost.
Of the $210,000 in unrealized losses that had existed for less than twelve months at December 31, 2010, no security had an unrealized loss in excess of 10% of the security’s cost.

 

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Unrealized Losses 12 Months or Longer
Of the $723,000 in unrealized losses that had existed for twelve months or longer at March 31, 2011, one security classified as “Asset-backed” in the table above had an unrealized loss in excess of 10% of the security’s cost. The amount of unrealized loss with respect to that security was $182,000 at March 31, 2011.
Of the $1.4 million in unrealized losses that had existed for twelve months or longer at December 31, 2010, one security, classified as “Corporate bonds and municipals”, had unrealized losses in excess of 10% of the security’s cost. The amount of unrealized loss with respect to that security was $620,000 at December 31, 2010.
All issuers of securities we own remain current on all contractual payments. The Company continually monitors investments with unrealized losses that have existed for twelve months or longer and considers such factors as the current financial condition of the issuer, credit ratings, performance of underlying collateral and effective yields. Additionally, HealthMarkets’ considers whether it has the intent to sell the security and whether it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the debt security before the fair value reverts to its cost basis, which may be at maturity of the security. Based on such review, the Company believes that, as of March 31, 2011, the unrealized losses in these investments were caused by an increase in market interest rates and tighter liquidity conditions in the current markets than when the securities were purchased and therefore, is temporary.
It is at least reasonably probable that the Company’s assessment of whether the unrealized losses are other than temporary may change over time, given, among other things, the dynamic nature of markets and changes in the Company’s assessment of its ability or intent to hold impaired investment securities, which could result in the Company recognizing other-than-temporary impairment charges or realized losses on the sale of such investments in the future.
7. STUDENT LOANS
Through its student loan funding vehicles, CFLD-I and UFC2, the Company holds alternative (i.e., non-federally guaranteed) student loans extended to students at selected colleges and universities. The Company’s insurance subsidiaries previously offered an interest-sensitive whole life insurance product with a child term rider. The child term rider included a special provision under which private student loans to help fund the insured child’s higher education could be made available, subject to the terms, conditions and qualifications of the policy and the child term rider. Pursuant to the terms of the child term rider, the making of any student loan is expressly conditioned on the availability of a guarantee for the loan at the time the loan is made. During 2003, the Company discontinued offering the child term rider; however, for policies previously issued, outstanding potential commitments to fund student loans extend through 2026.
As previously disclosed, the Company’s arrangements with the party previously originating student loans terminated in 2010. The Company is attempting to find a replacement for the Company’s previous originator and lender of student loans; however, there can be no assurance whether and when a new lender will be located. In addition, as discussed above, the making of any student loan is expressly conditioned on the availability of a guarantee for the loan, and there is no longer a guarantor for the student loan program. As a result, loans under the child term rider are not available at this time. The Company does not believe this will have a material impact to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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8. DEBT
The following table sets forth detail of the Company’s debt and interest expense:
                                         
                            Interest Expense  
    Principal Amount                     Three Months Ended  
    at     Maturity     Interest     March 31,  
    March 31, 2011     Date     Rate(a)     2011     2010  
2006 credit agreement:
                                       
Term loan
  $ 362,500       2012       1.303 %   $ 2,358     $ 3,512  
$75 Million revolver (non-use fee)
          2011             48       70  
Grapevine Note
    72,350       2021       6.712 %     1,197       1,199  
Trust preferred securities:
                                       
UICI Capital Trust I
    15,470       2034       3.786 %     147       145  
HealthMarkets Capital Trust I
    51,550       2036       3.352 %     432       426  
HealthMarkets Capital Trust II
    51,550       2036       8.367 %     1,078       1,078  
Other:
                                       
Interest on Deferred Tax Gain
                  4.000 %     525       525  
Amortization of financing fees
                          1,326       1,237  
 
                                 
Total
  $ 553,420                     $ 7,111     $ 8,192  
Student Loan Credit Facility
    65,950       (b )     0.000% (c)            
 
                                 
Total
  $ 619,370                     $ 7,111     $ 8,192  
 
                                 
(a)  
Represents the interest rate at March 31, 2011.
 
(b)  
The Series 2001A-1 Notes and Series 2001A-2 Notes have a final stated maturity of July 1, 2036; the Series 2002A Notes have a final stated maturity of July 1, 2037 (see “Student Loan Credit Facility” discussion below).
 
(c)  
The interest rate on each series of SPE Notes resets monthly in a Dutch auction process and is capped by several interest rate triggers. It is currently capped at zero by a Net Loan Rate calculation driven by the rate of return of the student loans less certain allowed note fees.
On April 5, 2006, HealthMarkets, LLC entered into a credit agreement, providing for a $500.0 million term loan facility and a $75.0 million revolving credit facility, which includes a $35.0 million letter of credit sub-facility. The full amount of the term loan was drawn at closing. At March 31, 2011, the Company had an aggregate of $362.5 million of indebtedness outstanding under the term loan facility, which indebtedness bore interest at the London inter-bank offered rate (“LIBOR”) plus a borrowing margin of 1.00%. The Company has not drawn on the $75.0 million revolving credit facility. Pursuant to the credit agreement, the $75.0 million revolving credit facility matured on April 5, 2011.
In addition, on April 5, 2006, HealthMarkets Capital Trust I and HealthMarkets Capital Trust II (two Delaware statutory business trusts, collectively the “Trusts”) issued $100.0 million of floating rate trust preferred securities (the “Trust Securities”) and $3.1 million of floating rate common securities. The Trusts invested the proceeds from the sale of the Trust Securities, together with the proceeds from the issuance to HealthMarkets, LLC by the Trusts of the common securities, in $100.0 million principal amount of HealthMarkets, LLC’s Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due June 15, 2036 (the “Notes”), of which $50.0 million principal amount accrue interest at a floating rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus 3.05% and $50.0 million principal amount accrue interest at a fixed rate of 8.367%.
On April 29, 2004, UICI Capital Trust I (a Delaware statutory business trust, the “2004 Trust”) completed the private placement of $15.0 million aggregate issuance amount of floating rate trust preferred securities with an aggregate liquidation value of $15.0 million (the “2004 Trust Preferred Securities”). The 2004 Trust invested the $15.0 million proceeds from the sale of the 2004 Trust Preferred Securities, together with the proceeds from the issuance to the Company by the 2004 Trust of its floating rate common securities in the amount of $470,000 (the “Common Securities” and, collectively with the 2004 Trust Preferred Securities, the “2004 Trust Securities”), in an equivalent face amount of the Company’s Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due 2034 (the “2004 Notes”). The 2004 Notes will mature on April 29, 2034. The 2004 Notes accrue interest at a floating rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus 3.50%, payable quarterly.
On August 16, 2006, Grapevine issued $72.4 million of its senior secured notes (the “Grapevine Notes”) to an institutional purchaser. The net proceeds from the Grapevine Notes of $71.9 million were distributed to HealthMarkets, LLC. The Grapevine Notes bear interest at an annual rate of 6.712%. The interest is to be paid semi-annually on January 15th and July 15th of each year beginning on January 15, 2007. The principal payment is due at maturity on July 15, 2021. The Grapevine Notes are collateralized by Grapevine’s assets including a note receivable in the amount of $78.4 million from a unit of CIGNA Corporation (“the CIGNA Note”). Grapevine services its debt primarily from cash receipts from the CIGNA Note. All cash receipts from the CIGNA Note are paid into a debt service coverage account maintained and held by an institutional trustee (the “Grapevine Trustee”) for the benefit of the holder of the Grapevine Notes. Pursuant to an indenture and direction notices from Grapevine, the Grapevine Trustee uses the proceeds in the debt service coverage account to (i) make interest payments on the Grapevine Notes, (ii) pay for certain Grapevine expenses and (iii) distribute cash to HealthMarkets, subject to satisfaction of certain restricted payment tests.

 

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The fair value of the Company’s debt, exclusive of indebtedness outstanding under the secured student loan credit facility, was $501.5 million and $499.2 million at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. The fair value of such debt is estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, based on the Company’s current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements.
Student Loan Credit Facility
At March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company had an aggregate of $66.0 million and $68.7 million, respectively, of indebtedness outstanding under a secured student loan credit facility (the “Student Loan Credit Facility”), which indebtedness is represented by Student Loan Asset-Backed Notes issued by a bankruptcy-remote special purpose entity (the “SPE Notes”). At March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, indebtedness outstanding under the Student Loan Credit Facility was secured by student loans and accrued interest in the carrying amount of $57.9 million and $60.5 million, respectively, and by a pledge of cash, cash equivalents and other qualified investments of $8.1 million and $8.0 million, respectively.
The SPE Notes represent obligations solely of the SPE, and not of the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company. For financial reporting and accounting purposes, the Student Loan Credit Facility has been classified as a financing as opposed to a sale. Accordingly, in connection with the financing, the Company recorded no gain on sale of the assets transferred to the SPE.
The SPE Notes were issued by the SPE in three tranches: $50.0 million of Series 2001A-1 Notes (the “Series 2001A -1 Notes”) and $50.0 million of Series 2001A-2 Notes (the “Series 2001A-2 Notes”), both issued on April 27, 2001, and $50.0 million of Series 2002A Notes (the “Series 2002A Notes”) issued on April 10, 2002. The interest rate on each series of SPE Notes resets monthly in a Dutch auction process. The Series 2001A-1 Notes and Series 2001A-2 Notes have a final stated maturity of July 1, 2036; the Series 2002A Notes have a final stated maturity of July 1, 2037. Beginning in 2005, the SPE Notes were also subject to mandatory redemption in whole or in part on each interest payment date from any monies received as a recovery of the principal amount of any student loan securing payment of the SPE Notes, including scheduled, delinquent and advance payments, payouts or prepayments. During the three months ended March 31 2011, the Company made principal payments of approximately $2.7 million on the SPE notes.
At March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the carrying amount of outstanding indebtedness secured by student loans approximated the fair value, as interest rates on such indebtedness reset monthly.
9. DERIVATIVES
HealthMarkets uses derivative instruments, specifically interest rate swaps, as part of its risk management activities to protect against the risk of changes in prevailing interest rates adversely affecting future cash flows associated with certain debt. The Company accounts for such interest rate swaps in accordance with ASC Topic 815 Derivatives and Hedging. These swap agreements are designed as hedging instruments and the Company formally documents qualifying hedged transactions and hedging instruments, and assesses, both at inception of the contract and on an ongoing basis, whether the hedging instruments are effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of the hedged transaction. The Company uses regression analysis to assess the hedge effectiveness in achieving the offsetting cash flows attributable to the risk being hedged. In addition, the Company utilizes the hypothetical derivative methodology for the measurement of ineffectiveness. Derivative gains and losses not effective in hedging the expected cash flows will be recognized immediately in earnings. In accordance with ASC 820, the fair values of the Company’s interest rate swaps are also contained in Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements. In assessing the fair value, the Company takes into consideration the current interest rates and the current creditworthiness of the counterparties, as well as the current creditworthiness of the Company, as applicable.
At March 31, 2011, the Company owned one interest rate swap agreement with an aggregate notional amount of $100 million. The terms of the interest rate swap agreement is 5 years beginning on April 11, 2006. This interest rate swap matured on April 11, 2011.

 

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The Company employs control procedures to validate the reasonableness of valuation estimates obtained from a third party. The table below represents the fair values of the Company’s derivative assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
                                             
    Asset Derivatives     Liability Derivatives  
            March 31,     December 31,         March 31,     December 31,  
    Balance Sheet     2011     2010     Balance Sheet   2011     2010  
    Location     Fair Value     Fair Value     Location   Fair Value     Fair Value  
    (In thousands)  
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments under ASC Topic 815:
                                           
 
                                           
Interest rate swaps
          $     $     Other liabilities   $ 1,177     $ 2,367  
 
                                   
Total derivatives
          $     $         $ 1,177     $ 2,367  
 
                                   
The table below represents the effect of derivative instruments in hedging relationships under ASC Topic 815 on the Company’s consolidated condensed statements of income for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010:
                                                         
    Derivative Instruments in Hedging Relationships for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010  
                    Location of Gain   Amount of Interest     Location of (Gain)      
                    (Loss) from   Expense (Income)     Loss Recognized in      
                    Accumulated   Reclassified from     Income on   Amount of (Gain) Loss  
    Amount of Gain (Loss)     OCI into Income   Accumulated OCI     Derivative   Recognized in Income on  
    Recognized in OCI on     (Effective   into Income     (Ineffective   Derivative  
    Derivative (Effective Portion)     Portion)   (Expense) (Effective Portion)     Portion)   (Ineffective Portion)  
    2011     2010       2011     2010       2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  
 
                                                       
Interest rate swaps
  $ 1,240     $ 2,017     Interest Expense   $ 1,177     $ 2,376     Investment income   $ 66     $ 128  
 
                                           
During 2011 and 2010, the Company did not have any derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments.
There were no components of the derivative instruments that were excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness.
At March 31, 2011, accumulated other comprehensive income included a deferred after-tax net loss of $65,000 related to the interest rate swaps of which $66,000 ($43,000 net of tax) is the remaining amount of loss associated with the previous terminated hedging relationship. This amount will be reclassified into “Investment income” on the Company’s consolidated statement of income (loss) in conjunction with the interest payments on the variable rate debt in April 2011.
10. NET INCOME PER SHARE
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2011     2010  
    (In thousands, except per share  
    amounts)  
Income from continuing operations
  $ 3,164     $ 768  
Income from discontinued operations
    14       14  
 
           
Net income available to common shareholders
  $ 3,178     $ 782  
 
           
 
               
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic
    30,144       29,616  
Dilutive effect of stock options and other shares
    786       647  
 
           
Weighted average shares outstanding, dilutive
    30,930       30,263  
 
           
 
               
Basic earnings per share:
               
From continuing operations
  $ 0.11     $ 0.03  
From discontinued operations
    0.00       0.00  
 
           
Net income per share, basic
  $ 0.11     $ 0.03  
 
           
Diluted earnings per share:
               
From continuing operations
  $ 0.10     $ 0.03  
From discontinued operations
    0.00       0.00  
 
           
Net income per share, basic
  $ 0.10     $ 0.03  
 
           

 

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11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Litigation and Regulatory Matters
The Company is a party to various material proceedings, which are described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 31, 2010 under the caption “Item 3 — Legal Proceedings”. Except as discussed below, during the three month period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company has not been named in any new material legal proceeding, and there have been no material developments in the previously reported legal proceedings.
Litigation Matters
As previously disclosed, HealthMarkets, HealthMarkets Lead Marketing Group and Mid-West were named as defendants in an action filed on December 4, 2006 (Howard Woffinden, individually, and as Successor in interest to Mary Charlotte Woffinden, deceased v. HealthMarkets, Mid-West, et al.) pending in the Superior Court for the County of Los Angeles, California, Case No. LT061371. Plaintiffs alleged several causes of action, including breach of fiduciary duty, negligent failure to obtain insurance, intentional misrepresentation, fraud by concealment, promissory fraud, civil conspiracy, professional negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and violation of the California Consumer Legal Remedies statute, California Civil Code Section 1750, et seq. Plaintiff sought injunctive relief, and general and punitive monetary damages in an unspecified amount. On October 5, 2007, the Court granted a motion to quash service of summons for defendants HealthMarkets and HealthMarkets Lead Marketing Group, removing them from the case. Following a mandatory settlement conference held on April 19, 2011, the remaining parties settled this matter on terms that, after consideration of applicable reserves and/or potentially available insurance coverage benefits, did not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
The Company and its subsidiaries are parties to various other pending and threatened legal proceedings, claims, demands, disputes and other matters arising in the ordinary course of business, including some asserting significant liabilities arising from claims, demands, disputes and other matters with respect to insurance policies, relationships with agents, relationships with former or current employees and other matters. From time to time, some such matters, where appropriate, may be the subject of internal investigation by management, the Board of Directors, or a committee of the Board of Directors.
Given the expense and inherent risks and uncertainties of litigation, we regularly evaluate litigation matters pending against us, including those described in Note 16 of Notes to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, to determine if settlement of such matters would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The costs associated with any such settlement could be substantial and, in certain cases, could result in an earnings charge in any particular quarter in which we enter into a settlement agreement. Although we have recorded litigation reserves which represent our best estimate on probable losses, both known and incurred but not reported, our recorded reserves might prove to be inadequate to cover an adverse result or settlement for extraordinary matters. Therefore, costs associated with the various litigation matters to which we are subject and any earnings charge recorded in connection with a settlement agreement could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations in a period, depending on the results of our operations for the particular period.
Regulatory Matters
The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are subject to various pending market conduct or other regulatory examinations, inquiries or proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. As previously disclosed, these matters include the multi-state market conduct examination of the Company’s principal insurance subsidiaries for the examination period January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2005, which was resolved on May 29, 2008 through execution of a regulatory settlement agreement with the states of Washington and Alaska, as lead regulators, and three other “monitoring” states — Oklahoma, Texas and California (collectively, the “Monitoring Regulators”). The settlement agreement provides, among other things, for a re-examination by the Monitoring Regulators. If the re-examination is unfavorable, the Company’s principal insurance subsidiaries are subject to additional penalties of up to $10 million. In the first quarter of 2011, the Monitoring Regulators initiated a re-examination to assess performance with respect to the standards of the regulatory settlement agreement. Reference is made to the discussion of these and other matters contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 under the caption “Item 3 — Legal Proceedings” and in Note 16 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in such report. State insurance regulatory agencies have authority to levy significant fines and penalties and require remedial action resulting from findings made during the course of such matters. Market conduct or other regulatory examinations, inquiries or proceedings could result in, among other things, changes in business practices that require the Company to incur substantial costs. Such results, individually or in combination, could injure our reputation, cause negative publicity, adversely affect our debt and financial strength ratings, place us at a competitive disadvantage in marketing or administering our products or impair our ability to sell insurance policies or retain customers, thereby adversely affecting our business, and potentially materially adversely affecting the results of operations in a period, depending on the results of operations for the particular period. Determination by regulatory authorities that we have engaged in improper conduct could also adversely affect our defense of various lawsuits.

 

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In March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and a reconciliation measure, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (collectively, the “Health Care Reform Legislation”) were signed into law. The Health Care Reform Legislation will result in broad-based material changes to the United States health care system. The Health Care Reform Legislation is expected to significantly impact the Company’s business, including but not limited to the minimum medical loss ratio requirements applicable to its insurance subsidiaries as well to health insurance carriers doing business with Insphere. Provisions of the Health Care Reform Legislation become effective at various dates over the next several years and a number of additional steps are required to implement these requirements. Due to the complexity of the Health Care Reform Legislation, the pending status of certain implementing regulations and interpretive guidance, and gradual implementation, the full impact of Health Care Reform Legislation on the Company’s business is not yet fully known. However, we have made material changes to our business as a result of the Health Care Reform Legislation, including, to the extent required by this legislation, adjustments to our in-force block of business issued prior to March 24, 2010. These adjustments include, but are not limited to, removal of lifetime maximums on benefits, extension of dependent coverage through age 26, meeting new HHS reporting requirements and adopting limitations on most policy rescissions. These changes generally became effective on January 1, 2011 (for most of our plans — the effective date of the new plan year), although certain states may require an earlier effective date. In addition to these changes, health benefit plans issued on or after March 24, 2010 are subject to more extensive benefit changes, including but not limited to first dollar preventive care benefits and no annual limits on essential benefits covered by the policies. The Company has made all state form and rate filings necessary to include these new requirements in the limited number of states in which our insurance subsidiaries continue to offer health benefit plans. The Company’s review of the requirements of the Health Care Reform Legislation, and its potential impact on the Company’s health insurance product offerings, is ongoing and we expect to dedicate additional material resources and to incur material expenses (including but not limited to additional claims expenses) as a result of Health Care Reform Legislation. Depending on the outcome of certain potential developments with respect to the Health Care Reform Legislation, this legislation could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. With respect to the minimum loss ratio requirements effective beginning in 2011, a mandated minimum loss ratio of 80% for the individual and small group markets is expected to have a significant impact on the revenues of our insurance subsidiaries and our business generally. In addition, beginning in 2011, the mandated medical loss ratio requirements have adversely affected the level of base commissions and override commissions that Insphere receives from the Company’s insurance subsidiaries and third party insurance carriers. For additional information, see the caption entitled “Business — Regulatory and Legislative Matters” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
12. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
The Company’s Board of Directors determines the prevailing “fair market value” of the HealthMarkets’ Class A-1 and A-2 common stock in good faith, considering factors it deems appropriate. Since the de-listing of the Company’s stock in 2006, the Company has generally retained several independent investment firms to value its common stock on an annual basis, or more frequently if circumstances warrant. When setting the “fair market value” of the Company’s common stock, the Board considers among other factors it deems appropriate, each independent investment firm’s valuation for reasonableness in light of known and expected circumstances.
As of March 31, 2011, the “fair market value” of the Company’s Class A-1 and Class A-2 common stock, as determined by the Board of Directors, was $9.35.
As previously disclosed above in Note 2 — Change in Accounting Principle, the Company changed the method used to calculate its policy liabilities for the majority of its health insurance products. As a result of this change in accounting principle, effective January 1, 2011, the Company increased its retained earnings by an amount of $27.8 million.

 

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13. SEGMENT INFORMATION
The Company operates four business segments: Commercial Health, Insphere, Corporate, and Disposed Operations. Through our Commercial Health Division, we administer a broad range of health insurance products. Insphere includes net commission revenue, agent incentives, marketing costs and costs associated with the creation and development of Insphere. Corporate includes investment income not allocated to the other segments, realized gains or losses, interest expense on corporate debt, the Company’s student loan business, general expenses relating to corporate operations and operations that do not constitute reportable operating segments. Disposed Operations includes the remaining run out of the Other Insurance Division as well as the residual operations from the disposition and wind down of other businesses prior to 2010.
Allocations of investment income and certain general expenses are based on a number of assumptions and estimates, and the business segments reported operating results would change if different allocation methods were applied. Certain assets are not individually identifiable by segment and, accordingly, have been allocated by formulas. Segment revenues include premiums and other policy charges and considerations, net investment income, commission revenue, fees and other income. Management does not allocate income taxes to segments. Transactions between reportable segments are accounted for under respective agreements, which provide for such transactions generally at cost.
Revenue from continuing operations, income from continuing operations before income taxes, and assets by operating segment are set forth in the tables below:
                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  
Revenue from continuing operations:
               
Commercial Health Division:
  $ 162,523     $ 223,146  
Insphere:
    16,387       4,171  
Corporate:
    9,529       5,714  
Intersegment Eliminations:
    (3,819 )     (2,115 )
 
           
Total revenues excluding disposed operations
    184,620       230,916  
Disposed Operations:
    404       647  
 
           
Total revenue from continuing operations
  $ 185,024     $ 231,563  
 
           
 
               
                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  
Income (loss) from continuing operations before federal income taxes:
               
Commercial Health Division:
  $ 23,346     $ 41,225  
Insphere:
    (12,826 )     (22,861 )
Corporate:
    (6,000 )     (17,306 )
 
           
Total operating income excluding disposed operations
    4,520       1,058  
Disposed Operations
    661       658  
 
           
Total income from continuing operations before federal income taxes
  $ 5,181     $ 1,716  
 
           
Assets by operating segment at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 are set forth in the table below:
                 
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  
Assets:
               
Commercial Health Division:
  $ 442,527     $ 490,088  
Insphere:
    70,575       77,139  
Corporate:
    796,490       769,105  
 
           
Total assets excluding assets of Disposed Operations
    1,309,592       1,336,332  
Disposed Operations
    374,364       383,319  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 1,683,956     $ 1,719,651  
 
           
Disposed Operations assets at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 primarily represent a reinsurance recoverable for the ceding of the former Life Insurance Division business as a result of coinsurance agreements entered into in 2008.
14. AGENT AND EMPLOYEE STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS
Stock Plan Awards
In March 2011, the Company granted an aggregate of 15,000 non-qualified stock option awards to two Directors of the Company under the Second Amended and Restated HealthMarkets 2006 Management Options Plan. Each of the awards vests in 20% increments over five years. The stock options have an exercise price equal to the fair market value per share at the date of grant.

 

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InVest Stock Ownership Plan
In connection with the reorganization of the Company’s agent sales force into an independent career-agent distribution company, and the launch of Insphere, effective January 1, 2010, the series of stock accumulation plans established for the benefit of the independent contractor insurance agents and contractor sales representatives (the “Predecessor Plans”) were superseded and replaced by the HealthMarkets, Inc. InVest Stock Ownership Plan (“ISOP”). Eligible insurance agents and designated eligible employees may participate in the ISOP. Accounts under the Predecessor Plans were transferred to the ISOP. Several features of the ISOP differ in certain material respects from the Predecessor Plans, including, but not limited to, plan participation by designated eligible employees and the elimination of the reallocation of forfeited matching account credits after June 30, 2010.
For financial reporting purposes, the Company accounts for the Company-match feature of the ISOP for nonemployee agents by recognizing compensation expense over the vesting period in an amount equal to the fair market value of vested shares at the date of their vesting and distribution to the agent-participant. The Company accounts for the Company-match feature of the ISOP for employees by recognizing compensation expense over the vesting period in an amount equal to the fair market value of each award at the date of grant, or, in the case of outstanding awards transferred from the Predecessor Plans, the fair market value at the date of employment. Expense on awards granted after January 1, 2010, is recognized on a straight-line basis based on the Company’s policy adopted in 2006 for new plans effective after January 1, 2006. Expense on awards transferred from Predecessor Plans will continue to be recognized on a graded basis. Employee awards are equity-classified and changes in values and expense are offset to the Company’s Additional Paid-in Capital account on its balance sheet. Nonemployee awards are liability-classified and changes are reflected in the Other Liabilities account on the balance sheet. The liability for nonemployee awards is based on (i) the number of unvested credits, (ii) the prevailing fair market value of the Company’s common stock as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors and (iii) an estimate of the percentage of the vesting period that has elapsed.
The accounting treatment of matching credits for nonemployee agent-participants result in unpredictable stock-based compensation charges, dependent upon fluctuations in the fair market value of the Company’s common stock, as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors. In periods of decline in the fair market value of HealthMarkets’ common stock, the Company will recognize less stock-based compensation expense than in periods of appreciation. In addition, in circumstances where increases in the fair market value of the Company’s common stock are followed by declines, negative stock-based compensation expense may result as the cumulative liability for unvested stock-based compensation expense is adjusted.
The Company recognized $1.1 million and ($485,000) of expense (benefit) for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, in connection with the ISOP. The liability for nonemployee participation in the ISOP decreased $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. Approximately, $3.6 million of the liability decrease is the result of vesting of awards which was offset by additional expense recognized during the quarter. Paid in capital for employee awards under the ISOP increased $262,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2011.
15. TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES
As of March 31, 2011, affiliates of The Blackstone Group, Goldman Sachs Capital Partners and DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (the “Private Equity Investors”) held 52.4%, 21.5%, and 10.8%, respectively, of the Company’s outstanding equity securities. Certain members of the Board of Directors of the Company are affiliated with the Private Equity Investors.
Transactions with the Private Equity Investors
Transaction and Monitoring Fee Agreements
Each of the Private Equity Investors provides to the Company ongoing monitoring, advisory and consulting services pursuant to Transaction and Monitoring Fee Agreements, for which the Company pays The Blackstone Group, Goldman Sachs Capital Partners and DLJ Merchant Banking Partners, in the aggregate, annual monitoring fees of at least $12.5 million. The annual monitoring fees are, in each case, subject to an upward adjustment in each year based on the ratio of the Company’s consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) in such year to consolidated EBITDA in the prior year, provided that the aggregate monitoring fees paid to all advisors pursuant to the Transaction and Monitoring Fee Agreements in any year shall not exceed the greater of $15.0 million or 3% of consolidated EBITDA in such year. Of the aggregate annual monitoring fees of $12.5 million paid in January 2011, $7.7 million was paid to The Blackstone Group, $3.2 million was paid to Goldman Sachs Capital Partners and $1.6 million was paid to DLJ Merchant Banking Partners. The Company has expensed $3.1 million through March 31, 2011.

 

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Investment in Certain Funds Affiliated with the Private Equity Investors
On April 20, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a $10.0 million investment by Mid-West in Goldman Sachs Real Estate Partners, L.P., a commercial real estate fund managed by an affiliate of Goldman Sachs Capital Partners. The Company has committed such investment to be funded over a series of capital calls. During the three months March 31, 2011, the Company did not fund any capital calls. As of March 31, 2011, the Company had a remaining commitment to Goldman Sachs Real Estate Partners, L.P. of $1.6 million.
On April 20, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a $10.0 million investment by MEGA in Blackstone Strategic Alliance Fund L.P., a hedge fund of funds managed by an affiliate of The Blackstone Group. The Company has committed such investment to be funded over a series of capital calls. During the three months ended March 31, 2011, the Company funded a capital call in the amount of $132,000 and received a capital distribution of $317,000 and received a distribution of earnings of $111,000. As of March 31, 2011, the Company had a remaining commitment to The Blackstone Strategic Alliance Fund L.P. of $458,000.

 

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ITEM 2  
— MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
In this report, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “Company,” “HealthMarkets,” “we,” “us,” or “our” refer to HealthMarkets, Inc. and its subsidiaries. This report and other documents or oral presentations prepared or delivered by and on behalf of the Company contain or may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements based upon management’s expectations at the time such statements are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical information provided or incorporated by reference herein, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, when used in written documents or oral presentations, the terms “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “may,” “objective,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “project,” “will” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In addition to the assumptions and other factors referred to specifically in connection with such statements, factors that could impact the Company’s business and financial prospects include, but are not limited to, those discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 under the caption “Item 1 Business,” “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and “Item 7 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and those discussed from time to time in the Company’s various filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission or in other publicly disseminated written documents.
Introduction
HealthMarkets, Inc. is a holding company, the principal asset of which is its investment in its wholly owned subsidiary, HealthMarkets, LLC. HealthMarkets, LLC’s principal assets are its investments in its separate operating subsidiaries, including its regulated insurance subsidiaries. HealthMarkets conducts its insurance underwriting businesses through its indirect wholly owned insurance company subsidiaries, The MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company (“MEGA”), Mid-West National Life Insurance Company of Tennessee (“Mid-West”) and The Chesapeake Life Insurance Company (“Chesapeake”), and conducts its insurance distribution business through its indirect insurance agency subsidiary, Insphere Insurance Solutions, Inc. (“Insphere”)
Through our Commercial Health Division, we administer a broad range of health insurance products for individuals, families, the self-employed and small businesses. Our plans are designed to accommodate individual needs and include basic hospital-medical expense plans, plans with preferred provider organization features, catastrophic hospital expense plans, as well as other supplemental types of coverage. We currently market these products to the self-employed and individual markets through independent agents contracted with Insphere in a limited number of states in which Insphere does not have access to third-party health benefit plans.
During 2009, the Company formed Insphere, a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of HealthMarkets, LLC. Insphere is a distribution company that specializes in meeting the life, health, long-term care and retirement insurance needs of small businesses and middle-income individuals and families through its portfolio of products from nationally recognized insurance carriers. Insphere is an authorized agency in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. As of March 31, 2011, Insphere had approximately 3,000 independent agents, of which approximately 1,900 on average write health insurance applications each month, and offices in over 33 states. Insphere distributes products underwritten by the Company’s insurance company subsidiaries, as well as non-affiliated insurance companies. Insphere has completed marketing agreements with a number of non-affiliated life, health, long-term care and retirement insurance carriers, including, but not limited to, Aetna, Humana and UnitedHealthcare’s Golden Rule Insurance Company for individual health insurance products.
As a result of the enactment of Health Care Reform Legislation, as well as the growing emphasis on the distribution of third party products through Insphere, in the second quarter of 2010, the Company determined that it would discontinue the sale of the Company’s traditional “scheduled benefit” health insurance products. After September 23, 2010, the effective date for many aspects of the Health Care Reform Legislation, the Company discontinued marketing all of its health benefit plans in all but a limited number of states in which Insphere does not currently have access to third-party health benefit plans. For additional information, see the caption entitled “Business — Commercial Health Division” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

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Results of Operations
The table below sets forth certain summary information about the Company’s operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010:
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2011     2010  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
REVENUE
               
Health premiums
  $ 151,201     $ 205,773  
Life premiums and other considerations
    466       651  
 
           
 
    151,667       206,424  
Investment income
    8,965       11,271  
Other income
    20,534       13,649  
Other-than-temporary impairment losses
           
Realized gains, net
    3,858       219  
 
           
 
    185,024       231,563  
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
               
Benefits, claims, and settlement expenses
    103,966       121,796  
Underwriting, acquisition, and insurance expenses
    30,231       53,589  
Other expenses
    38,535       46,270  
Interest expense
    7,111       8,192  
 
           
 
    179,843       229,847  
 
           
 
               
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
    5,181       1,716  
Federal income taxes
    2,017       948  
 
           
Income from continuing operations
    3,164       768  
Income from discontinued operations, net
    14       14  
 
           
Net income
  $ 3,178     $ 782  
 
           
National Health Care Reform Legislation
In March 2010, Health Care Reform Legislation was signed into law, which will result in broad-based material changes to the United States health care system. The Health Care Reform Legislation is expected to significantly impact our business, including but not limited to the minimum medical loss ratio requirements applicable to our insurance subsidiaries as well to health insurance carriers doing business with Insphere. Provisions of the Health Care Reform Legislation become effective at various dates over the next several years and a number of additional steps are required to implement these requirements. Due to the complexity of the Health Care Reform Legislation, the pending status of certain implementing regulations and interpretive guidance, and gradual implementation, the full impact of Health Care Reform Legislation on our business is not yet fully known. However, we have dedicated material resources and, in the future, expect to dedicate additional material resources and to incur material expenses (including but not limited to additional claims expenses) as a result of Health Care Reform Legislation.
With respect to the minimum loss ratio requirements effective beginning in 2011, a mandated minimum loss ratio of 80% for the individual and small group markets is expected to have a significant impact on the revenues of our insurance subsidiaries and our business generally. Subject to the outcome of final rulemaking, a minimum medical loss ratio at or near the 80% level could, at an appropriate time in the future, compel us to issue rebates to customers, discontinue the underwriting and marketing of individual health insurance and/or to non-renew coverage of our existing individual health customers in one or more states pursuant to applicable state and federal requirements.
In addition, beginning in 2011, the mandated medical loss ratio requirements have adversely affected the level of base commissions and override commissions that Insphere receives from the Company’s insurance subsidiaries and third party insurance carriers. In order to comply with the 80% minimum medical loss ratio requirement, many of these carriers, including the Company’s insurance subsidiaries, have reduced commissions and overrides. In the fourth quarter of 2010, Insphere received notice from a number of its health carriers that compensation levels in 2011 would be significantly lower than 2010 levels. As a result of these reductions, Insphere has lowered the level of commissions paid to its agents for the sale of products underwritten by these carriers. At this time, we are not able to project with certainty the full extent to which the minimum medical loss ratio requirement will impact our revenues and results of operations, but the impact is expected to be material.

 

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To the extent required by the Health Care Reform Legislation, the Company has made the adjustments to its in-force block of business issued prior to March 24, 2010, including but not limited to removal of lifetime maximums on benefits, extension of dependent coverage through age 26, meeting new HHS reporting requirements and adopting limitations on most policy rescissions. These changes generally became effective on January 1, 2011 (for most of our plans — the effective date of the new plan year), although certain states may require an earlier effective date. In addition to the changes discussed above, plans issued on or after March 24, 2010 are subject to more extensive benefit changes, including but not limited to first dollar preventive care benefits and no annual limits on essential benefits covered by the policies. The Company has made all state form and rate filings necessary to include these new requirements in the limited number of states in which our insurance subsidiaries continue to offer health benefit plans. The Company’s review of the requirements of the Health Care Reform Legislation, and its potential impact on the Company’s health insurance product offerings, is ongoing.
For additional information, see the caption entitled “Business — Regulatory and Legislative Matters” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
Business Segments
The Company operates four business segments: Commercial Health, Insphere, Corporate, and Disposed Operations. Through our Commercial Health Division, we administer a broad range of health insurance products. Insphere includes net commission revenue, agent incentives, marketing costs and costs associated with the creation and development of Insphere. Corporate includes investment income not allocated to the other segments, realized gains or losses, interest expense on corporate debt, the Company’s student loan business, general expenses relating to corporate operations and operations that do not constitute reportable operating segments. Disposed Operations includes the remaining run out of the former Medicare Division and the former Other Insurance Division as well as the residual operations from the disposition of other businesses prior to 2010.
Allocations of investment income and certain general expenses are based on a number of assumptions and estimates, and the business segments reported operating results would change if different allocation methods were applied. Certain assets are not individually identifiable by segment and, accordingly, have been allocated by formulas. Segment revenues include premiums and other policy charges and considerations, net investment income, commission revenue, fees and other income. Management does not allocate income taxes to segments. Transactions between reportable segments are accounted for under respective agreements, which provide for such transactions generally at cost.
Revenue from continuing operations, income from continuing operations before income taxes, and assets by operating segment are set forth in the tables below:
                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  
Revenue from continuing operations:
               
Commercial Health Division:
  $ 162,523     $ 223,146  
Insphere:
    16,387       4,171  
Corporate:
    9,529       5,714  
Intersegment Eliminations:
    (3,819 )     (2,115 )
 
           
Total revenues excluding disposed operations
    184,620       230,916  
Disposed Operations:
    404       647  
 
           
Total revenue from continuing operations
  $ 185,024     $ 231,563  
 
           
                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  
Income (loss) from continuing operations before federal income taxes:
               
Commercial Health Division:
  $ 23,346     $ 41,225  
Insphere:
    (12,826 )     (22,861 )
Corporate:
    (6,000 )     (17,306 )
 
           
Total operating income excluding disposed operations
    4,520       1,058  
Disposed Operations
    661       658  
 
           
Total income from continuing operations before federal income taxes
  $ 5,181     $ 1,716  
 
           

 

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Commercial Health Division
Set forth below is certain summary financial and operating data for the Company’s Commercial Health Division for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010:
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2011     2010  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Revenue
               
Earned premium revenue
  $ 151,667     $ 206,238  
Investment income
    3,578       5,850  
Other income
    7,278       11,058  
 
           
Total revenue
    162,523       223,146  
Benefits and Expenses
               
Benefit expenses
    104,400       122,320  
Underwriting and policy acquisition expenses
    32,653       54,328  
Other expenses
    2,124       5,273  
 
           
Total expenses
    139,177       181,921  
 
           
Operating income
  $ 23,346     $ 41,225  
 
           
 
               
Other operating data:
               
Loss ratio
    68.8 %     59.3 %
Expense ratio
    21.5 %     26.3 %
 
           
Combined ratio
    90.3 %     85.6 %
Submitted annualized volume
  $ 15,629     $ 22,580  
Loss Ratio. The loss ratio is defined as benefits expense as a percentage of earned premium revenue.
   
Expense Ratio. The expense ratio is defined as underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses as a percentage of earned premium revenue.
   
Submitted Annualized Volume. Submitted annualized premium volume in any period is the aggregate annualized premium amount associated with health insurance applications submitted by the Company’s agents in such period for underwriting by the Company’s insurance subsidiaries.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 versus 2010
The Commercial Health Division reported earned premium revenue of $151.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2011 compared to $206.2 million in the corresponding period of 2010, a decrease of $54.5 million or 26.4%, which is due to a decrease in policies in force. The decrease in policies in force reflects an attrition rate that exceeds the pace of new sales, and is evident in the reduction in submitted annualized premium volume in the table above. The decrease in submitted annualized premium volume reflects the emphasis on the distribution of health insurance products underwritten by non-affiliated carriers and the discontinuation in marketing health benefit plans underwritten by the Company’s insurance subsidiaries in all but a limited number of states.
The Commercial Health Division reported operating income of $23.3 million in 2011 compared to operating income of $41.2 million in 2010, a decrease of $17.9 million or 43.4%. Operating income as a percentage of earned premium revenue (i.e., operating margin) for 2011 was 15.4% compared to the operating margin of 20.0% in 2010, which is generally attributable to an increase in the loss ratio, as a result of the new minimum loss ratio requirements and certain large claims incurred during the period as a result of the removal of lifetime limits. The impact on the operating margin from the increased loss ratio in 2011 was partially offset by a continued decrease in underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses reflecting the Company’s ongoing cost reduction initiatives.
Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses decreased by $21.6 million, or 39.8%, to $32.7 million in 2011 from $54.3 million in 2010. This decrease reflects the variable nature of commission expenses and premium taxes included in these amounts which generally vary in proportion to earned premium revenue. Additionally, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2008, we initiated certain cost reduction programs which are being reflected as a decrease in the expense ratio.
Other income and other expenses both decreased in the current period compared to the prior year period. Other income largely consists of fee and other income received for sales of association memberships prior to the formation of Insphere, for which other expenses are incurred for bonuses and other compensation provided to the agents. The majority of these association memberships were sold along with health policies and as premium continues to decrease we expect the revenue and expense generated from these association memberships to decrease also.

 

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Insphere
During the second quarter of 2009, we formed Insphere, an authorized insurance agency in 50 states and the District of Columbia specializing in small business and middle-income market life, health, long-term care and retirement insurance. Insphere distributes products underwritten by our insurance subsidiaries, as well as non-affiliated insurance companies.
Set forth below is certain summary financial and operating data for Insphere for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010:
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2011     2010  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Revenue
               
Commission revenue
  $ 15,913     $ 4,084  
Investment income
    240       21  
Other income
    234       66  
 
           
Total revenue
    16,387       4,171  
Expenses
               
Commission expenses
    8,558       1,802  
Agent incentives
    5,867       6,345  
Other expenses
    14,788       18,885  
 
           
Total expenses
    29,213       27,032  
 
           
Operating loss
  $ (12,826 )   $ (22,861 )
 
           
Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 versus 2010
For the three months ended March 31, 2011, the Company earned commission revenue of approximately $15.9 million of which $2.7 million was generated from the sale of insurance products underwritten by the Company’s insurance subsidiaries. The remaining amount of $13.2 million was generated from third-party carriers with approximately 88% generated from four carriers. Insphere did not begin writing business until the fourth quarter of 2009 and as a result the revenue for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011 is significantly greater than the comparable period in 2010. In response to Health Care Reform Legislation, beginning in 2011, both the Company’s insurance subsidiaries and certain third-party carriers have decreased the levels of commission paid to Insphere.
Commission expense of $8.6 million includes commissions and overrides paid to our independent agents. Commissions are generally based on a percentage of the premiums paid by the insured to the carrier. The increase in commission expense over the prior year primarily trends with commission revenue. However, beginning in the third quarter of 2010, Insphere increased its commission rates paid to its agents to incorporate some of the costs previously included in agent incentives.
Agent incentives of $5.9 million primarily include production and agent recruiting bonuses paid to our independent agents as well as lead generation costs incurred to facilitate the production of commission revenue. The decrease from prior year reflects the adjustment to commission rates to incorporate some of these costs as discussed above. In addition, beginning in last half of 2010, the agents started sharing some of the costs of purchasing customer leads which reduced some of the lead generation costs for the Company.
For the three months ended March 31, 2011, Insphere reported other expenses of $14.8 million. Other expenses associated with Insphere are related to employee compensation, costs associated with our field offices, depreciation and amortization, and other administrative expenses. Other expenses in 2010 reflect a significant amount of developmental costs.
Corporate
Corporate includes investment income not otherwise allocated to the other segments, realized gains and losses on sales, interest expense on corporate debt, the Company’s student loan business, general expense relating to corporate operations and operations that do not constitute reportable operating segments.

 

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Set forth below is a summary of the components of operating loss at Corporate for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010:
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  
Operating loss:
               
Investment income on equity
  $ 4,169     $ 3,985  
Realized gains, net
    3,858       219  
Interest expense on corporate debt
    (7,110 )     (8,192 )
Student loan operations
    8       (116 )
General corporate expenses and other
    (6,925 )     (13,202 )
 
           
Operating loss
  $ (6,000 )   $ (17,306 )
 
           
Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 versus 2010
Corporate reported an operating loss in 2011 of $6.0 million compared to $17.3 million in 2010 for an overall decrease in the operating loss of $11.3 million. The change in operating loss is primarily due to the following items:
   
The Company recognized realized gains of $3.9 million and $219,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The realized gains resulted from the sales of various fixed maturities.
   
Interest expense on corporate debt decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2011 compared to the same period in 2010 as a result of the maturing of one of the Company’s interest rate swaps in April 2010. The Company’s interest rate swaps caused the Company to pay a fixed rate higher than the current variable rate incurred on the debt. As discussed above in Note 9, the Company’s remaining interest rate swap expired on April 11, 2011.
   
General corporate expenses and other decreased by $6.3 million from the prior year. The decrease in the expenses are primarily due to a reduction in salaries and related expenses by $4.8 million and a reduction in employee severance by $3.1 million partially offset by an increase in costs incurred with the agent stock plan.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Consolidated Operations
Historically, the Company’s primary sources of cash on a consolidated basis have been premium revenue from policies issued, investment income, and fees and other income. The primary uses of cash have been payments for benefits, claims and commissions under those policies, servicing of the Company’s debt obligations, and operating expenses.
The Company has entered into several financing agreements designed to strengthen both its capital base and liquidity, the most significant of which are described below. The following table also sets forth additional information with respect to the Company’s debt:
                                 
            Interest Rate at     March 31,     December 31,  
    Maturity Date     March 31, 2011     2011     2010  
                    (In thousands)  
2006 credit agreement:
                               
Term loan
    2012       1.303 %   $ 362,500     $ 362,500  
$75 million revolver
                         
Grapevine Note
    2021       6.712 %     72,350       72,350  
Trust preferred securities:
                               
UICI Capital Trust I
    2034       3.786 %     15,470       15,470  
HealthMarkets Capital Trust I
    2036       3.352 %     51,550       51,550  
HealthMarkets Capital Trust II
    2036       8.367 %     51,550       51,550  
 
                           
Total
                  $ 553,420     $ 553,420  
Student Loan Credit Facility
    (a )     0.000 %(b)     65,950       68,650  
 
                           
Total
                  $ 619,370     $ 622,070  
 
                           
(a)  
The Series 2001A-1 Notes and Series 2001A-2 Notes have a final stated maturity of July 1, 2036; the Series 2002A Notes have a final stated maturity of July 1, 2037. See Note 7 of Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.
 
(b)  
The interest rate on each series of notes resets monthly in a Dutch auction process. See Note 7 of Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements for additional information on the Student Loan Credit Facility.

 

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In April 2006, the Company borrowed $500.0 million under a term loan credit facility and issued $100.0 million of Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Notes. See Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements for additional disclosure regarding the Company’s debt.
We regularly monitor our liquidity position, including cash levels, credit line, principal investment commitments, interest and principal payments on debt, capital expenditures and matters relating to liquidity and to compliance with regulatory requirements. We maintain a line of credit in excess of anticipated liquidity requirements. As of March 31, 2011, HealthMarkets had a $75.0 million unused line of credit. Pursuant to the credit agreement, the $75.0 million revolving credit facility matured on April 5, 2011.
Holding Company
HealthMarkets, Inc. is a holding company, the principal asset of which is its investment in its wholly owned subsidiary, HealthMarkets, LLC (collectively referred to as the “holding company”). The holding company’s ability to fund its cash requirements is largely dependent upon its ability to access cash, by means of dividends or other means, from its separate operating subsidiaries, including its regulated insurance subsidiaries and Insphere.
Domestic insurance companies require prior approval by insurance regulatory authorities for the payment of dividends that exceed certain limitations based on statutory surplus and net income. During 2011, based on the 2010 statutory net income and statutory capital and surplus levels, the Company’s domestic insurance companies are eligible to pay, without prior approval of the regulatory authorities, aggregate dividends in the ordinary course of business to HealthMarkets, LLC of approximately $169.4 million. The Company’s domestic insurance companies paid dividends of $65.0 million to HealthMarkets, LLC through March 31, 2011.
As it has done in the past, the Company will continue to assess the results of operations of the regulated domestic insurance companies to determine the prudent dividend capability of the subsidiaries. This is consistent with our practice of maintaining risk-based capital ratios at each of our domestic insurance subsidiaries significantly in excess of minimum requirements.
HealthMarkets, LLC provides working capital to its wholly-owned subsidiary, Insphere, pursuant to a $100 million Loan Agreement. As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, Insphere had an outstanding balance owed to HealthMarkets, LLC of $87.2 million and $79.9 million, respectively.
At March 31, 2011, HealthMarkets, Inc. and HealthMarkets, LLC, in the aggregate, held cash and cash equivalents in the amount of $207.7 million.
Contractual Obligations and Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
A summary of HealthMarkets’ contractual obligations is included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. There have been no material changes in the Company’s contractual obligations or off balance sheet commitments since December 31, 2010.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The Company’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operations are based on its consolidated condensed financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these consolidated condensed financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to the valuation of assets and liabilities requiring fair value estimates, including investments and allowance for bad debts, the amount of health and life insurance claims and liabilities, the realization of deferred acquisition costs, the carrying value of goodwill and intangible assets, the amortization period of intangible assets, stock-based compensation plan forfeitures, the realization of deferred taxes, reserves for contingencies, including reserves for losses in connection with unresolved legal matters and other matters that affect the reported amounts and disclosure of contingencies in the financial statements. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Reference is made to the discussion of these critical accounting policies and estimates contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates.”

 

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Effective January 1, 2011, the Company changed the method used to calculate its policy liabilities for the majority of its health insurance products because it believes that the new method will be preferable in light of, among other factors, certain changes required by Health Care Reform Legislation. As a result of this change, the Company recorded the following; (i) a decrease in the amount of $77.9 million to claims and claims administration liabilities, (ii) an increase in the amount of $35.1 million to future policy and contract benefits, (iii) an increase in the amount of $15.0 million to deferred federal income tax liability and (iv) an increase in the amount of $27.8 million to retained earnings. See Note 2 — Change in Accounting Principle in Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.
Regulatory and Legislative Matters
The business of insurance is primarily regulated by the states and is also affected by a range of legislative developments at the state and federal levels. Recently adopted legislation and regulations may have a significant impact on the Company’s business and future results of operations. Reference is made to the discussion under the caption “Business — Regulatory and Legislative Matters” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. See Note 11 of Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.
ITEM 3.  
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company has not experienced significant changes related to its market risk exposures during the quarter ended March 31, 2011. Reference is made to the information contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 in Item 7A — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
ITEM 4.  
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company maintains a set of disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms. In addition, the disclosure controls and procedures ensure that information required to be disclosed is accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, allowing timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report.
Change in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1.  
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company is a party to various material legal proceedings, which are described in Note 11 of Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements included herein and/or in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 31, 2010 under the caption “Item 3. Legal Proceedings.” The Company and its subsidiaries are parties to various other pending legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, including some asserting significant damages arising from claims under insurance policies, disputes with agents and other matters. Based in part upon the opinion of counsel as to the ultimate disposition of such lawsuits and claims, management believes that the liability, if any, resulting from the disposition of such proceedings, after consideration of applicable reserves and/or potentially available insurance coverage benefits, will not be material to the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations. Except as discussed in Note 11 of the Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements included herein, during the three month period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company has not been named in any new material legal proceeding, and there have been no material developments in the previously reported legal proceedings.

 

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ITEM 1A.  
RISK FACTORS
Reference is made to the risk factors discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 in Part I, Item 1A. — Risk Factors, which could materially affect the Company’s business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated by the Quarterly Reports, are not the only risks the Company faces. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to the Company or that the Company currently deems to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.
The Company has not experienced material changes to the risk factors disclosed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 2.  
UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
During the quarter ended March 31, 2011, the Company issued an aggregate of 31,924 unregistered shares of its Class A-1 common stock. In particular, an executive officer of the Company purchased 7,850 shares of the Company’s Class A-1 common stock for aggregate consideration of $73,000 (or $9.25 per share) and employee participants in the HealthMarkets, Inc. InVest Stock Ownership Plan purchased 24,074 shares of the Company’s Class A-1 common stock for aggregate consideration of $222,000 (or $9.25 per share). Such sale of securities was made in reliance upon the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (and/or Regulation D promulgated thereunder) for transactions by an issuer not involving a public offering. The proceeds of such sale were used for general corporate purposes.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The following table sets forth the Company’s purchases of HealthMarkets, Inc. Class A-1 common stock during each of the months in the three months ended March 31, 2011:
                                 
    Total Number of             Total Number of Shares     Maximum Number of Shares  
    Shares     Average Price     Purchased as Part of Publicly     That May Yet Be Purchased  
Period   Purchased(1)     Paid per Share ($)     Announced Plans or Programs     Under The Plan or Program  
 
1/1/11 to 1/31/11
        $              
2/1/11 to 2/28/11
                       
3/1/11 to 3/31/11
    81,130       9.25              
 
                       
Totals
    81,130     $ 9.25              
(1)  
The number of shares purchased other than through a publicly announced plan or program includes 81,130 shares purchased from former or current employees of the Company.
The following table sets forth the Company’s purchases of HealthMarkets, Inc. Class A-2 common stock during each of the months in the three months ended March 31, 2011:
                                 
                    Total Number of Shares        
    Total Number of             Purchased as Part of     Maximum Number of Shares  
    Shares     Average Price     Publicly Announced Plans     That May Yet Be Purchased  
Period   Purchased(1)     Paid per Share ($)     or Programs     Under The Plan or Program  
 
1/1/11 to 1/31/11
        $              
2/1/11 to 2/28/11
                       
3/1/11 to 3/31/11
    201,170       9.25              
 
                       
Totals
    201,170     $ 9.25              
(1)  
The number of shares purchased other than through a publicly announced plan or program includes 201,170 shares purchased from former or current participants of the stock accumulation plan established for the benefit of the Company’s insurance agents.
ITEM 3.  
DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 5.  
OTHER INFORMATION
None.

 

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ITEM 6.  
EXHIBITS
(a) Exhibits.
       
Exhibit No.     Description
     
 
18.1    
Preferability Letter from Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Regarding Change in Accounting Principle
     
 
31.1    
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification, executed by Kenneth J. Fasola, Chief Executive Officer of HealthMarkets, Inc.
     
 
31.2    
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification, executed by K. Alec Mahmood, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of HealthMarkets, Inc.
     
 
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Certifications required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. 1350), executed by Kenneth J. Fasola, Chief Executive Officer of HealthMarkets, Inc. and K. Alec Mahmood, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of HealthMarkets, Inc.

 

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements 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.
         
  HEALTHMARKETS, INC
(Registrant)
 
 
Date: May 12, 2011  /s/ Kenneth J. Fasola    
  Kenneth J. Fasola   
  Chief Executive Officer   
     
Date: May 12, 2011  /s/ K. Alec Mahmood    
  K. Alec Mahmood   
  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer) 
 

 

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