On November 6, 2020 Triple-S Management Corporation (NYSE: GTS), a leading healthcare care company in Puerto Rico, reported its third quarter 2020 results (Press release, Triple-S Management, NOV 6, 2020, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/triple-s-management-corporation-reports-third-quarter-2020-results-301167673.html [SID1234570204]).
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"Our strong third quarter performance reflects ongoing, improved performance resulting from our operational focus and enhanced organizational capabilities," said Roberto Garcia-Rodriguez, President and Chief Executive Officer. "This has led to sustained membership momentum and premium growth in a difficult environment, particularly in the government markets sector. Continuing this momentum, we are delivering a very competitive Medicare Advantage product for this year’s open enrollment period. Like most of our peer managed care companies, we have also experienced lower than planned utilization due to the impact of the ongoing pandemic.
"I am proud of our people, who continue to support our customers, providers and communities. Through their efforts, we are helping our members handle their medical needs safely and partnering with our providers and community organizations to assist our seniors and most vulnerable members during this challenging time.
"As we look to 2021 and beyond, we aim to be the preeminent healthcare company in Puerto Rico by delivering seamless holistic care through innovative models, state of the art technology and service excellence, in partnership with our providers."
Third Quarter 2020 Consolidated Results and Other Highlights
Net income of $23.6 million, or $1.02 per diluted share, versus net income of $13.9 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, in the prior-year period;
Adjusted net income of $14.2 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, a 17.4% increase versus adjusted net income of $12.1 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, in the prior-year period;
Operating revenues of $942.9 million, a 12.8% increase from the prior-year period, primarily reflecting higher Managed Care net premiums earned;
Consolidated loss ratio of 82.5%, a 90 basis-point improvement from the third quarter of 2019, reflecting higher premium rates and lower utilization;
Medical loss ratio ("MLR") of 84.7%, an improvement of 170 basis points over the same period last year;
Consolidated operating income of $22.3 million, a 17.4% increase compared to $19.0 million in the prior-year period;
Selected Consolidated Quarterly Details
Consolidated net premiums earned were $923.0 million, up 13.3% from the prior-year period, primarily reflecting higher Managed Care premiums.
Consolidated claims incurred were $761.8 million, up 12.0% year-over-year. Consolidated loss ratio was 82.5%, 90 basis points lower than the prior-year period, reflecting higher premium rates and lower utilization in the Company’s Managed Care segment.
Consolidated operating expenses of $158.8 million increased by $21.9 million, or 16.0%, from the prior-year period, primarily reflecting the reinstatement of the HIP fee in 2020 and expenses related to supplying much-needed assistance to our providers, communities and seniors to help them manage through the COVID-19 pandemic. The consolidated operating expense ratio was 17.1%, a 40 basis-point increase from the prior-year quarter.
Selected Segment Quarterly Details
Managed Care
Managed Care premiums earned were $850.0 million, up 13.9% year-over-year.
Medicare premiums earned of $400.7 million increased 9.2% from the prior-year period, largely due to an increase of approximately 20,000 member months, which primarily reflects a more competitive product offering and higher premium rates due to an increase in the premium rate benchmark and membership risk score. In addition, as utilization of services has trended to almost-normalized levels, the Company reduced the estimated MLR rebate accrual, which was originally recorded as a reduction of premiums.
Medicaid premiums earned of $240.9 million increased 36.6% from the prior-year period, primarily reflecting higher member months of approximately 67,000, higher average premium rates following three premium rate increases effective November 1, 2019, May 1, 2020 and July 1, 2020, and the reinstatement of the HIP Fee pass-through in 2020.
Commercial premiums earned of $208.4 million increased 2.6% from the prior-year period, mainly reflecting higher average premium rates, an increase of approximately 3,000 fully insured member months and the reinstatement of the HIP Fee pass-through in 2020.
Reported MLR of 84.7% improved 170 basis points from the prior-year period, primarily reflecting higher average premium rates and the reinstatement of the HIP Fee in 2020, as well as lower utilization of services during the quarter as the result of the pandemic, offset in part by increased benefits in the Medicare product offering in 2020.
Life Insurance Segment
Premiums earned of $50.1 million increased 9.4% from the prior-year period, resulting from new sales and the acquisition of a life insurance portfolio in the second quarter of 2020.
Operating income was $5.7 million, compared with $6.6 million in the prior year period, primarily caused by a higher actuarial reserve due to the reinstatement of policies that were cancelled during the second quarter of 2020 due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
Property and Casualty Segment
Premiums earned of $23.9 million increased 0.8% from the prior-year period.
Operating income was $4.4 million, compared with $6.6 million during the same quarter last year; this decrease was primarily caused by an increase in net commission expense.
Updated information related to Hurricane María as of September 30, 2020:
The Company’s P&C subsidiary has paid a cumulative amount of $767 million in claims and expenses related to Hurricane María. Estimated gross losses remain unchanged at $967 million.
TSP closed 75 claims during the third quarter of 2020, increasing the number of claims closed to 97.5%; 434 claims remain open.
The Company has been served with process with respect to 322 of the 434 claims that remain open.
2020 Outlook
The Company is raising its full year 2020 guidance for adjusted net income per diluted share to be between $3.25 and $3.35, compared to its previous outlook for adjusted net income per diluted share between $2.80 and $3.00. The Company is currently assuming a weighted average diluted share count for full year 2020 of 23.4 million shares.
Conference Call and Webcast
Management will host a conference call and webcast today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2020. To participate, callers within the U.S. and Canada should dial 1-877-300-8521 and international callers should dial 1-412-317-6026 at least ten minutes before the call.
To listen to the webcast, participants should visit the "Investor Relations" section of the Company’s website at www.triplesmanagement.com several minutes before the event is broadcast and follow the instructions provided to ensure they have the necessary audio application downloaded and installed. This program is provided at no charge to the user. An archived version of the call, also located on the "Investor Relations" section of Triple-S Management’s website, will be available about two hours after the call ends for one year. This news release, along with other information relating to the call, will be available on the "Investor Relations" section of the website.