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Health insurer Cigna Corp, which agreed last week to be bought by Anthem Inc for $47 billion, said on Thursday that medical services use was low in the second quarter, helping to keep costs in check and beat Wall Street profit estimates. Cigna's report of a continued low utilization trend backs up a growing industry view of this closely watched component of insurer profitability. Anthem made similar comments on Wednesday, when it reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings. (Humer, 7/30)

Cigna Corp., which last week agreed to sell itself to Anthem Inc. for $48 billion, logged better-than-expected profit in its second quarter amid medical cost management and customer growth. The Bloomfield, Conn., insurer said it had 14.77 million total medical customers at the end of the quarter, compared with 14.25 million a year earlier and 14.65 million in the previous quarter. (Dulaney, 7/30)

Insurer CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield said on Thursday its cost savings on providing healthcare rose sharply last year in a program that rewards U.S. doctors for keeping patients out of the hospital. The non-profit health insurer emphasizes coordination among providers, led by a patient's primary care physician. The model is part of an industry trend to pay more to doctors and hospitals who show measurable improvement in patient care. President Barack Obama's healthcare reform law has helped fuel adoption of these arrangements. (Kelly, 7/30)

Assurant Health absorbed a $124 million net loss in the second quarter this year as the financially troubled health insurer continues to wind down its operations. The Milwaukee-based company, which will shut down by the end of 2016, also had to settle a complaint in Montana that it illegally charged sicker enrollees more than healthier ones. The $124 million loss in the second quarter means Assurant Health, which has about 1 million members, lost about $272 million in the past 18 months. A significant portion of the second-quarter deficit, about $107 million, was tied to a lack of premium revenue to cover medical costs and other “exit-related charges,” Assurant said. (Herman, 7/30)