Centene Latest Insurer Facing Higher Costs As GOP Preps Bigger Hit

Core Insights - Centene has withdrawn its 2025 financial guidance amid potential cuts to Medicaid and Obamacare funding by the Republican-controlled Congress, which could impact health insurers significantly [2][3] - The health insurance sector has faced challenges in controlling costs for government-subsidized plans, with Centene's earnings expected to decline by at least $1.8 billion, or $2.75 per share, due to higher-than-anticipated medical costs and a sicker subscriber base [6][8] Company-Specific Insights - Centene's individual coverage market growth in over 20 states is lower than expected, leading to a significant earnings hit [6] - The company is experiencing rising costs in its Medicaid business, particularly in behavioral health, home health, and high-cost drugs, with expectations of a higher Medicaid Health Benefits Ratio in Q2 2025 compared to Q1 2025 [8] - Other health insurers, such as UnitedHealth Group, Humana, and CVS Health, are also facing similar challenges, with UnitedHealth suspending its financial outlook and CVS exiting the individual health insurance market [4][5] Industry-Wide Implications - The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the proposed budget cuts could result in nearly 12 million Americans losing health insurance coverage over the next decade, which would destabilize state Medicaid programs and local healthcare systems [8][9] - The trade group America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) warns that the proposed policies could lead to the largest rollback in healthcare coverage in U.S. history, resulting in millions losing access to affordable primary care [9]