Hartford health insurer Aetna said its first-quarter profits rose 16.8 percent, mostly due to higher revenue from healthcare premiums.
Aetna booked $777.5 million in profits, or $2.20 per share, up from $665.5 million, or $1.82, in the first quarter of 2014.
Revenue grew $1.1 billion — nearly 8 percent — to $15.09 billion.
Aetna added 122,000 medical members during the quarter, mainly in its Medicare and commercial insured products lines.
Based on the results, the company increased its guidance for 2015 operating earnings per share to a range of $7.20 to $7.40, up from a previous estimate of at least $7.
