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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
FORM 10-Q

þ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004

OR

¨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 1-16477

Coventry logo

COVENTRY HEALTH CARE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware 52-2073000
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification Number)

6705 Rockledge Drive, Suite 900, Bethesda, Maryland 20817
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(301) 581-0600
(Registrant’s telephone 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¨

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rule 12b-2). Yes þ No¨

     Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Class Outstanding at April 30, 2004
Common Stock $.01 Par Value 88,642,461

COVENTRY HEALTH CARE, INC.
FORM 10-Q
TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
  ITEM 1: Financial Statements
    Consolidated Balance Sheets
at  March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003
3
    Consolidated Statements of Operations
for the quarters ended March 31, 2004 and 2003
4
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
for the quarters ended March 31, 2004 and 2003
5
    Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements 6
  ITEM 2: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 9
  ITEM 3: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures of Market Risk 14
  ITEM 4: Controls and Procedures 14
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
  ITEM 1: Legal Proceedings 14
  ITEM 2: Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities 15
  ITEMS 3, 4 and 5: Not Applicable 15
  ITEM 6: Exhibits and Reports on Form 8–K 16
  SIGNATURES 17
  INDEX TO EXHIBITS 18

2


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1: Financial Statements

COVENTRY HEALTH CARE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)

March 31,
2004

December 31,
2003

ASSETS (unaudited)  
Current assets:
     Cash and cash equivalents $    271,434  $    253,331 
     Short–term investments 120,331  101,191 
     Accounts receivable, net 84,470  89,766 
     Other receivables, net 50,232  45,335 
     Deferred income taxes 34,513  36,255 
     Other current assets 9,955  8,089 


          Total current assets 570,935  533,967 
      
     Long–term investments 1,059,460  1,051,400 
     Property and equipment, net 30,122  33,085 
     Goodwill 281,328  281,183 
     Other intangible assets, net 27,429  27,447 
     Other long–term assets 59,020  54,654 


          Total assets $ 2,028,294  $ 1,981,736 


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
     Medical claims liabilities $    589,338  $    537,340 
     Other medical liabilities 55,679  59,850 
     Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities 189,702  183,781 
     Deferred revenue 62,454  73,909 


          Total current liabilities 897,173  854,880 
     
     Senior notes 170,500  170,500 
     Other long–term liabilities 33,548  27,358 


          Total liabilities 1,101,221  1,052,738 


Stockholders’ equity:
     Common stock, $.01 par value; 200,000 authorized;
       104,854 issued and 88,638 outstanding in 2004;
       104,797 issued and 90,571 outstanding in 2003 1,049  1,048 
     Treasury stock, at cost; 16,216 in 2004; 14,226 in 2003 (288,683) (204,274)
     Additional paid–in capital 569,865  565,734 
     Accumulated other comprehensive income 21,863  17,838 
     Retained earnings 622,979  548,652 


          Total stockholders’ equity 927,073  928,998 


          Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 2,028,294  $ 1,981,736 


        See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

3


COVENTRY HEALTH CARE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

  Quarters Ended March 31,
2004
  2003
Operating revenues:      
          Managed care premiums $1,259,581    $1,043,308 
          Management services 28,386    22,110 
 
 
                 Total operating revenues 1,287,967    1,065,418 

 
Operating expenses:
          Medical costs 1,023,738    861,270 
          Selling, general and administrative 149,210    130,086 
          Depreciation and amortization 4,309    4,608 

 
                 Total operating expenses 1,177,257    995,964 

 
Operating earnings 110,710    69,454 
Senior notes interest and amortization expense 3,572    3,677 
Other income, net 10,841    10,388 

 
Earnings before income taxes 117,979    76,165 
Provision for income taxes 43,652    26,658 

 
Net earnings $     74,327    $     49,507 

 
Net earnings per share:
          Basic earnings per share $         0.85    $         0.57 

 
          Diluted earnings per share $         0.82    $         0.55 

 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
          Basic 87,920    86,967 
          Effect of dilutive options and warrants 2,702    2,504 

 
            Diluted 90,622    89,471 

 

        See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.



4


COVENTRY HEALTH CARE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

  Quarters Ended March 31,
  2004
  2003
Net cash from operating activities $ 127,149    $   59,519 


Cash flows from investing activities:
   Capital expenditures, net (722)   (1,433)
   Proceeds from sales of investments 77,290    132,138 
   Proceeds from maturities of investments 41,307    28,741 
   Purchases of investments (142,382)   (141,107)
   Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired (751)   (16,045)


Net cash from investing activities (25,258)   2,294 


Cash flows from financing activities:
   Proceeds from issuance of stock 898    1,900 
   Payments for repurchase of stock (84,553)   -- 
   Payments for fractional shares from stock split (133)   -- 


Net cash from financing activities (83,788)   1,900 


Net change in cash and cash equivalents 18,103    63,713 
       
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 253,331    186,768 


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 271,434    $ 250,481 



        See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.


5


COVENTRY HEALTH CARE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

A.      BASIS OF PRESENTATION

        The condensed consolidated financial statements of Coventry Health Care, Inc. and subsidiaries (“Coventry” or the “Company”) contained in this report are unaudited but reflect all normal recurring adjustments which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for the fair presentation of the results of the interim periods reflected. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been omitted pursuant to applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The results of operations for the interim periods reported herein are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year. It is suggested that these condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10–K for the year ended December 31, 2003, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 10, 2004.

        On December 23, 2003, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a three–for–two stock split of the Company’s common stock. The stock split, in the form of a stock dividend, was distributed January 30, 2004 for stockholders of record on January 9, 2004. The stock split is reflected retroactively in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for all periods presented.

B.      SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

        Stock–based Compensation – The Company accounts for stock–based compensation to employees under Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) No. 25 – “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and complies with the disclosure requirements for Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123 – “Accounting for Stock–Based Compensation” and SFAS No. 148 – “Accounting for Stock–Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure.” Unless the accounting rules change, the Company does not expect to transition to the fair value method of accounting for stock–based compensation. Had stock–based compensation cost been determined consistent with SFAS No. 123, the Company’s net earnings and earnings per share (“EPS”) would have been reduced to the following pro–forma amounts (in thousands, except per share data):

  Quarters Ended March 31,
  2004
  2003
Net earnings, as reported $  74,327    $     49,507 
Add: Stock–based employee
compensation expense included in reported
net earnings, net of tax 1,819    1,215 
Deduct: Total stock–based employee
compensation expense determined
under fair–value–based method for all
awards, net of tax (3,132)   (2,069)


Net earnings, pro–forma $  73,014    $     48,653 


EPS, basic – as reported $      0.85    $         0.57 


EPS, basic – pro–forma $      0.83    $         0.56 


EPS, diluted – as reported $      0.82    $         0.55 


EPS, diluted – pro–forma $      0.81    $         0.55 


C.     SENIOR NOTES

        The Company’s senior notes contain certain covenants and restrictions regarding incurring additional debt, limiting dividends or other restricted payments, and restricting transactions with affiliates, sales of assets and consolidations or mergers. The Company has complied with all covenants under the senior notes.

6


D.      CONTINGENCIES

        In the normal course of business, the Company has been named as a defendant in various legal actions such as actions seeking payments for claims denied by the Company, medical malpractice actions, employment related claims and other various claims seeking monetary damages. The claims are in various stages of proceedings and some may ultimately be brought to trial. Incidents occurring through March 31, 2004 may result in the assertion of additional claims.

        The Company’s captive subsidiary provides up to $5 million in professional liability coverage for each single claim and up to $10 million in coverage for each class action claim. The captive professional liability policy has an aggregate limit of $20 million per year. The captive is also co–insured with a commercial carrier for an additional $10 million for professional liability claims made and reported prior to May 1, 2004. For claims made and reported after May 1, 2004, there will be no co–insurance coverage with the commercial carrier because the Company made the decision not to renew this coverage. Additionally, the captive employment practices liability policy provides up to $250,000 per single claim, $10 million per class action claim, and an aggregate policy limit of $10 million. Each year the Company will re–evaluate the most cost effective method for insuring these types of claims.

        Coventry Health Care, Inc. is a defendant in the provider track in the Managed Care Litigation filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Miami Division, Multi-District Litigation (“MDL”) No. 1334, styled in re: Humana, Inc., Charles B. Shane, MD, et al. vs. Humana, Inc., et al. This action was filed by a group of physicians as a class action against Coventry and twelve other companies in the managed care industry. In its fourth amended complaint, the plaintiffs have alleged violations of the federal racketeering act, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (“RICO”), conspiracy to violate RICO and aiding and abetting a scheme to violate RICO. In addition to these RICO claims, the complaint includes counts for breach of contract, violations of various state prompt payment laws and equitable claims for unjust enrichment and quantum meruit. Coventry has filed a motion to dismiss each of these claims because they fail to state a cause of action or, in the alternative, to compel arbitration pursuant to the arbitration provisions which exist in the Company’s physician contracts. In response to the motion to dismiss, the trial court dismissed several of the claims and ordered that all physicians who have an arbitration provision in their provider contracts must submit all of their claims to arbitration. As a consequence of this ruling, all the plaintiffs who have arbitration provisions voluntarily dismissed all of their arbitratable claims. The trial court excluded from the scope of claims subject to arbitration, the plaintiffs’ claims of conspiracy, conspiracy to violate RICO and aiding and abetting violations of RICO. The defendants, including Coventry, have appealed the trial court’s decision to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. The appeal has been fully briefed and the parties are awaiting a date for oral argument. The trial court has certified various subclasses of physicians; however, Coventry is not subject to the class certification order because the motion to certify was filed before Coventry was joined as a defendant. The plaintiffs have now filed a motion to certify a class as to Coventry, and Coventry has filed their opposition to that motion. The trial court has not yet issued a ruling on the motion. The defendants who were subject to the certification order filed an appeal to the 11th Circuit which has been argued. The appeals court has not yet issued its decision. Subsequent to this appeal, two defendants have entered into settlement agreements with the plaintiffs. Both settlement agreements have been filed with the Court and have received final approval. The Shane lawsuit has triggered the filing of copycat class action complaints by other health care providers such as chiropractors, podiatrists, acupuncturists and other licensed health care professionals. Each of these actions have been transferred to the MDL and have been designated as “tag–along” actions to Shane. The court has entered an order which stays all proceedings in the tag–along actions until all pre–trial proceedings in Shane have been concluded. Although the Company can not predict the outcome, management believes that the Shane lawsuit and tag–along actions will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position or our results of operations. Management also believes that the claims asserted in these lawsuits are without merit, and the Company intends to defend its position.

E.     RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

        There were no restricted stock awards granted during the current quarter. The Company recorded compensation expense related to restricted stock granted in prior periods of $2.9 million and $1.9 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The deferred portion of the restricted stock as reported in additional paid in capital is $20.5 million and $23.4 million at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively.

F.     SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM

        Under a share repurchase program previously approved by the Board of Directors, the Company purchased 2.0 million shares of the Company’s common stock during the first quarter of 2004 at an aggregate cost of $84.6 million. The program authorized 9.4 million shares to be repurchased and the total remaining common shares the Company is authorized to repurchase under this program is 1.8 million.

7


G.      SEGMENT INFORMATION

        The Company evaluates the performance of its operating segments and allocates resources based on gross margin. Assets are not allocated to specific products and, accordingly, can not be reported by segment. The following tables summarize the Company’s reportable segments through gross margin and include a medical loss ratio (“MLR”) calculation:

  Quarters Ended March 31,
(in thousands)

  Commercial
Medicare
Medicaid
Total
2004        
   Revenues $981,863  $136,096  $141,622  $1,259,581 
   Medical costs 779,714  120,934  123,090  1,023,738 




   Gross margin $202,149  $  15,162  $  18,532  $   235,843 
   MLR 79.4% 88.9% 86.9% 81.3%
         
2003      
   Revenues $800,682  $117,910  $124,716  $1,043,308 
   Medical costs 648,347  102,021  110,902  861,270 




   Gross margin $152,335  $  15,889  $  13,814  $   182,038 
   MLR 81.0% 86.5% 88.9% 82.6%

H.      COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

        Comprehensive income for the quarters ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 was as follows (in thousands):

Quarters Ended March 31,
  2004
2003
Net earnings $ 74,327  $ 49,507 
Other comprehensive gain:
   Holding gain 6,835  887 
   Reclassification adjustment (237) (439)


        Sub–total 6,598  448 
   Tax provision (2,573) (159)


Comprehensive income $ 78,352  $ 49,796 


I.      SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

        At the time of this filing, no such events have occurred.

8


ITEM 2: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Quarters Ended March 31, 2004 and 2003

        This Form 10–Q contains forward–looking statements which are subject to risks and uncertainties in accordance with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward–looking statements, typically include assumptions, estimates or descriptions of our future plans, strategies and expectations, and are generally identifiable by the use of the words “anticipate,” “will,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “seek,” or other similar expressions. For example, discussions regarding our operating and growth strategy, projections of revenue, income or loss and future operations. Unless this Form 10–Q indicates otherwise or the context otherwise requires, the terms “we,” “our,” “our Company,” “the Company” or “us” as used in this Form 10–Q refer to Coventry Health Care, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

        These forward–looking statements may be affected by a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the “Risk Factors” contained in Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our Annual Report on Form 10–K for the year ended December 31, 2003. Actual operations and results may differ materially from those expressed in this Form 10–Q.

        The following discussion and analysis relates to our financial condition and results of operations for the quarters ended March 31, 2004 and 2003. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and other information presented herein as well as in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10–K for the year ended December 31, 2003 filed on March 10, 2004, including the critical accounting policies discussed therein.

Highlights of First Quarter 2004 Performance

wMembership increased 14% over the prior year quarter.
wRevenue increased 21% over the prior year quarter.
wMedical loss ratio of 81.3% improved 130 basis points over the prior year quarter.
wSelling, general and administrative expenses were 11.6% of operating revenue, a 60 basis point improvement over the prior year quarter.
wOperating margin of 8.6% improved 210 basis points over the prior year quarter.
wDiluted earnings per share increased 49% over the prior year quarter.
wCash flows from operations was $127.1 million compared to net income of $74.3 million.
wTotal cash and investments increased to $1.5 billion, a 22% increase over the prior year quarter.

Stock split

        On December 23, 2003, our Board of Directors approved a three–for–two stock split of our common stock, effective January 30, 2004 for stockholders of record on January 9, 2004. The stock split is reflected retroactively in per share data for all periods presented.

9


Membership

        The following tables present our membership as of March 31, 2004 and 2003 (amounts in thousands).

March 31, 2004           
       Total    
Market
Commercial
Medicare
Medicaid
Risk
Non–Risk
Total
Delaware 51  --  52  51  103 
Georgia 47  --  --  47  35  82 
Illinois 74  --  --  74  12  86 
Iowa 57  --  62  12  74 
Kansas 151  15  --  166  47  213 
Louisiana 70  --  --  70  73 
Missouri 191  17  190  398  90  488 
Nebraska 44  --  --  44  49 
North Carolina 70  --  15  85  38  123 
Pennsylvania 447  32  88  567  149  716 
Utah 117  --  --  117  62  179 
Virginia 107  --  15  122  41  163 
West Virginia 53  21  77  82 






     Total 1,479  67  335  1,881  550  2,431 








March 31, 2003          
      Total    
Market
Commercial
Medicare
Medicaid
Risk
Non–Risk
Total
Delaware 50  --  --  50  54  104 
Georgia 43  --  --  43  29  72 
Illinois 77  --  --  77  --  77 
Iowa 74  --  76  15  91 
Kansas 190  15  --  205  51  256 
Louisiana 73  --  --  73  --  73 
Missouri 175  15  185  375  50  425 
Nebraska 39  --  --  39  45 
North Carolina 66  --  75  40  115 
Pennsylvania 426  30  80  536  115  651 
Utah --  --  --  --  --  -- 
Virginia 94  --  15  109  40  149 
West Virginia 50  16  69  73 






     Total 1,357  63  307  1,727  404  2,131 






Coventry Map

10

        Total membership, excluding network rental membership of 694,000, increased by 14% from the prior year first quarter. The increase is attributable to the acquisition of Altius (Utah) in the third quarter of 2003, as well as continued organic growth. Additionally, our Illinois subsidiary, PersonalCare, entered into a renewal rights agreement with Rockford Health Systems in the current quarter whereby PersonalCare serves as the carrier of choice for the transition of Rockford Health Plans’ business. Through March 31, 2004, PersonalCare has transferred approximately 6,000 non–risk members from Rockford Health Plans. Risk membership has increased 9% from the prior year quarter and non–risk membership increased 36%. The large increase in non–risk membership was influenced by three large groups changing from a risk product to a non–risk product effective January 1, 2004.

Results of Operations

        The following table is provided to facilitate a more meaningful discussion regarding the comparison of our operations for the quarters ended March 31, 2004 and 2003.

  Quarters Ended March 31, Increase
  2004
2003
(Decrease)
Summary Results (in thousands, except EPS)      
    Total operating revenues $     1,287,967  $     1,065,418  20.9% 
    Operating earnings $        110,710  $          69,454  59.4% 
    Net earnings $          74,327  $          49,507  50.1%
    Diluted earnings per share $              0.82  $              0.55  49.1%
       
Managed Care Premium Yields (per member per month):
    Commercial $          222.08  $          200.88  10.6%
    Medicare $          683.12  $          627.05  8.9%
    Medicaid $          141.49  $          139.25  1.6%
       
Medical Costs (per member per month):
    Commercial $          176.36  $          162.66  8.4%
    Medicare $          607.02  $          542.55  11.9%
    Medicaid $          122.98  $          123.82  (0.7%)
       
Medical Loss Ratios:
    Commercial 79.4%  81.0%  (1.6%)
    Medicare 88.9%  86.5%  2.4% 
    Medicaid 86.9%  88.9%  (2.0%)



    Total 81.3%  82.6%  (1.3%)



Administrative Statistics:
    Selling, general and administrative as a percentage of revenue 11.6%  12.2%  (0.6%)
    Days in medical claims liabilities 52.4  56.2  (3.8)
    Days in other medical liabilities 4.9  7.3  (2.4)

         Managed care premium revenue increased as a result of rate increases that occurred throughout all markets, acquisitions and organic growth. Excluding the Altius acquisition, the commercial yield PMPM increased 12.7%. Medicare yields increased 8.9% on a PMPM basis as a result of the rate increases from the annual Adjusted Community Rating filings and as a result of the Medicare Modernization Act. The acquisitions of PersonalCare effective February 1, 2003, and Altius effective September 1, 2003 resulted in an increase in managed care premium revenue of $80.5 million over prior year’s quarter.

         Management services revenue increased due to the increase in non–risk membership discussed earlier.

         Medical costs expense has increased due to acquisitions, organic growth and medical trend. However, total medical expense as a percentage of premium revenue has improved by 1.3% over the prior year quarter. This favorable change was attributable mostly to our commercial business and is a result of the commercial premium rate increases mentioned above outpacing commercial medical trend. Reported commercial medical trend, excluding Altius and net of benefit buy downs, was 9.8%. Our Medicare business medical loss ratio deteriorated as a result of unusually high medical utilization compared to the prior year quarter. The deterioration was partially offset by the increase in premium yields discussed above. Our Medicaid medical loss ratio improved as a result of rate increases across our markets and as a result of much improved performance in our Virginia market. The Virginia market benefited from lower utilization, lower drug costs and provider contract renegotiations. Our days in total medical claims liabilities decreased 3.8 days from prior year’s quarter due primarily to faster claim receipts and continually improved processing cycle times.

11


         Selling, general and administrative expense increased primarily due to increased costs associated with acquisitions, an increase in broker commissions and an increase in salary expenses. Broker commissions, excluding acquisitions, have increased due to the growth in both organic membership and in premium rates. Salary expenses, excluding acquisitions, have increased due to annual salary increases, additional amortization expense related to restricted shares of common stock granted in 2003, and incremental salary expense related to our organic membership growth. Selling, general and admistrative expenses as a percentage of revenue have improved as a result of continuing revenue growth and success in cotrolling customer service costs.

        Our provision for income taxes increased primarily due to an increase in earnings before taxes. The effective tax rate increased to 37.0% in 2004 from 35.0% in 2003. We expect a full year 2004 tax rate between 36.0% and 36.5%

Liquidity and Capital Resources

      Consolidated

         Our total cash and investments, consisting of cash and cash equivalents and short–term and long–term investments, but excluding deposits of $23.2 million restricted under state regulations, increased $45.4 million to $1.4 billion at March 31, 2004 from December 31, 2003.

        We have classified all of our investments as available–for–sale. Our investments at March 31, 2004 mature according to their contractual terms, as follows, in thousands (actual maturities may differ because of call or prepayment rights):

As of March 31, 2004 Amortized
Cost

  Fair
Value

Maturities:      
    Within 1 year $   187,293    $   187,955 
    1 to 5 years 475,943    492,825 
    5 to 10 years 299,100    311,277 
    Over 10 years 181,614    187,734 


Total short–term and long–term securities $1,143,950    $1,179,791 


        Net cash from operating activities is primarily driven by net earnings. For the quarter ended March 31, 2004, operating cash flow was positively affected by an increase in medical claims liabilities. Medical claims liabilities were unusually low at December 31, 2003 due to an effort to pay down medical claims inventory at year-end. The medical claims liabilities increased in the first quarter of 2004 as claim inventory levels returned to more normal levels. Additionally, accounts receivable decreased as a result of improved premium collections. Offsetting these operating cash inflows was a decrease in deferred revenue. As a result of the timing of CMS payments for Medicare+Choice beneficiaries, we only received two monthly CMS payments in the first quarter of 2004. Cash flow from operating activities has improved over the prior year quarter as a result of higher earnings and a larger increase in unpaid medical claims liabilities, the reasons for which are noted above.

        Net cash from financing activites decreased from the prior year quarter primarily due to cash paid for the repurchase of stock. The stock was repurchased under a share repurchase program previously approved by our Board of Directors. The program authorized 9.4 million shares to be repurchased and the total remaining common shares we are authorized to repurchase under this program is 1.8 million.

        Projected capital investments in 2004 of approximately $12 to $14 million consist primarily of computer hardware, software and related equipment costs associated with the development and implementation of improved operational and communication systems.

        Our senior notes contain certain covenants and restrictions regarding incurring additional debt, limiting dividends or other restricted payments, and restricting transactions with affiliates, sales of assets and consolidations or mergers. We have complied with all covenants under the senior notes.

        Our investment guidelines emphasize investment grade fixed income instruments in order to provide liquidity to meet future payment obligations and minimize the risk of principal. The fixed income portfolio includes government and corporate securities with an average quality rating of “AA+” and an average contractual duration of 3.0 years, as of March 31, 2004. We will continue to fund our working capital requirements from our cash flow from operations. We believe that because our long–term investments are available–for–sale, the amount of such investments should be considered when assessing our liquidity. On such basis, current assets plus long–term investments available–for–sale less current liabilities increased to $733.2 million at March 31, 2004 from $730.5 million at December 31, 2003.

12


      Health Plans

        Our regulated HMO and insurance company subsidiaries are required by state regulatory agencies to maintain minimum surplus balances, thereby limiting the dividends the parent may receive from its regulated entities. During the quarter ended March 31, 2004, we collected $4.2 million in dividends from our regulated subsidiaries.

        The majority of states in which we operate health plans have adopted a risk–based capital (“RBC”) policy that recommends the health plans maintain statutory reserves at or above the ‘Company Action Level’ which is currently equal to 200% of their RBC. We have adopted an internal policy to maintain all of our regulated subsidiaries’ statutory capital and surplus at or above 250% of their RBC. Some states in which our regulated subsidiaries operate, require deposits to be maintained with the respective states’ departments of insurance. The table below summarizes our statutory reserve information, as of March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 (in millions, except percentage data).

  March 31,
2004

  December 31,
2003

  (estimated)    
       
Capital and surplus $ 641.6    $ 588.6 
250% of RBC 374.5    374.5 
Excess capital and surplus above 250% of RBC $ 267.1    $ 214.1 
Capital and surplus as percentage of RBC 428%   393%
Statutory deposits $   23.2    $   23.2 

        The increase in capital and surplus for our regulated subsidiaries is a result of income from 2004 offset by dividends paid to the parent company.

        Excluding funds held by entities subject to regulation, we had cash and investments of approximately $142.1 million and $209.5 million at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively. The decrease in non–regulated cash and investments is primarily a result of stock repurchases made during the quarter offset by ordinary operating activities and dividends received from our regulated subsidiaries, as mentioned above. During the quarter ended March 31, 2004, we did not make any capital contributions to our regulated subsidiaries.

      Other

        The United States Department of Health and Human Services has issued rules, as mandated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which, among other things, impose security and privacy requirements with respect to individually identifiable patient data, including a member’s transactions with health care providers and payors, as well as requirements for the standardization of certain electronic transaction code sets and provider identifiers. We anticipate spending approximately $2.6 million in 2004, of which approximately $1.0 million will be capitalized, related to improved functionality of our electronic transaction code sets, improved provider identifier standards, and improved security and patient information privacy standards.

        Management believes that the combination of our ability to generate cash flows from operations, cash and investments on hand and the excess funds held in certain of our regulated subsidiaries will be sufficient to fund continuing operations, capital expenditures, debt interest costs and any other reasonably likely future cash requirements.

Legal Proceedings

        Refer to Part II, Item 1, “Legal Proceedings.”

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ITEM 3: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures of Market Risk

        These disclosures should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and other information presented herein as well as in “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures of Market Risk ” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10–K for the year ended December 31, 2003 filed on March 10, 2004.

        No material changes have occurred in our exposures to market risk since the date of our Annual Report on Form 10–K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.

        Our projections of hypothetical net losses in fair value of our market rate sensitive instruments, should potential changes in market rates occur, are presented below. The projection is based on a model, which incorporates effective duration, convexity and price to forecast hypothetical instantaneous changes in interest rates of positive and negative 100, 200 and 300 basis points. The model only takes into account the fixed income securities in the portfolio and excludes all cash. While we believe that the potential market rate change is reasonably possible, actual results may differ.

Increase (decrease) in fair value of portfolio
given an interest rate (decrease) increase of X basis points
As of March 31, 2004
(in thousands)

(300) (200) (100) 100  200  300 






$ 118,800  $ 77,262  $ 37,984  $ (37,487) $ (74,277) $ (109,699)

ITEM 4: Controls and Procedures

        We have performed an evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this report of the effectiveness of our “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a–15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Based upon our evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

        There have been no significant changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2004 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1: Legal Proceedings

        In the normal course of business, we have been named as a defendant in various legal actions such as actions seeking payments for claims denied by the Company, medical malpractice actions, employment related claims and other various claims seeking monetary damages. The claims are in various stages of proceedings and some may ultimately be brought to trial. Incidents occurring through March 31, 2004 may result in the assertion of additional claims.

        Our captive subsidiary provides up to $5 million in professional liability coverage for each single claim and up to $10 million in coverage for each class action claim. The captive professional liability policy has an aggregate limit of $20 million per year. The captive is also co–insured with a commercial carrier for an additional $10 million for professional liability claims made and reported prior to May 1, 2004. For claims made and reported after May 1, 2004, there will be no co–insurance coverage with the commercial carrier because the Company made the decision not to renew this coverage. Additionally, the captive employment practices liability policy provides up to $250,000 per single claim, $10 million per class action claim, and an aggregate policy limit of $10 million. Each year we will re–evaluate the most cost effective method for insuring these types of claims.

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        We are a defendant in the provider track in the Managed Care Litigation filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Miami Division, Multi-District Litigation (“MDL”) No. 1334, styled in re: Humana, Inc., Charles B. Shane, MD, et al. vs. Humana, Inc., et al. This action was filed by a group of physicians as a class action against us and twelve other companies in the managed care industry. In its fourth amended complaint, the plaintiffs have alleged violations of RICO, conspiracy to violate RICO and aiding and abetting a scheme to violate RICO. In addition to these RICO claims, the complaint includes counts for breach of contract, violations of various state prompt payment laws and equitable claims for unjust enrichment and quantum meruit. We have filed a motion to dismiss each of these claims because they fail to state a cause of action or, in the alternative, to compel arbitration pursuant to the arbitration provisions which exist in our physician contracts. In response to the motion to dismiss, the trial court dismissed several of the claims and ordered that all physicians who have an arbitration provision in their provider contracts must submit all of their claims to arbitration. As a consequence of this ruling, all the plaintiffs who have arbitration provisions voluntarily dismissed all of their arbitratable claims. The trial court excluded from the scope of claims subject to arbitration, the plaintiffs’ claims of conspiracy, conspiracy to violate RICO and aiding and abetting violations of RICO. The defendants, including the Company, have appealed the trial court’s decision to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. The appeal has been fully briefed and the parties are awaiting a date for oral argument. The trial court has certified various subclasses of physicians; however, we are not subject to the class certification order because the motion to certify was filed before we were joined as a defendant. The plaintiffs have now filed a motion to certify a class as to the Company, and we have filed our opposition to that motion. The trial court has not yet issued a ruling on the motion. The defendants who were subject to the certification order filed an appeal to the 11th Circuit which has been argued. The appeals court has not yet issued its decision. Subsequent to this appeal, two defendants have entered into settlement agreements with the plaintiffs. Both settlement agreements have been filed with the Court and have received final approval. The Shane lawsuit has triggered the filing of copycat class action complaints by other health care providers such as chiropractors, podiatrists, acupuncturists and other licensed health care professionals. Each of these actions have been transferred to the MDL and have been designated as “tag–along” actions to Shane. The court has entered an order which stays all proceedings in the tag–along actions until all pre–trial proceedings in Shane have been concluded. Although we can not predict the outcome, management believes that the Shane lawsuit and the tag–along actions will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or our results of operations. Management also believes that the claims asserted in these lawsuits are without merit, and we intend to defend our position.

ITEM 2: Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

        The following table shows our purchases of our common stock during the quarter ended March 31, 2004 (in thousands, except per share information).

Total Shares
Purchased

Average Price
Paid per Share

Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans(1)

Maximum Number of
Shares Remaining
Under Current
Authorization(1)

January 1–31, 2004 --  $           --  --  3,756 
February 1–29, 2004 2,000  $     42.28  2,000  1,756 
March 1–31, 2004 --  $           --  --  1,756 
         
Totals 2,000  $     42.28  2,000  1,756 


(1)  

These shares were purchased under a program previously announced on December 20, 1999, as amended. The program authorized 9.4 million shares to be repurchased and does not have an expiration date.

ITEM 3, 4 and 5: Not Applicable

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ITEM 6: Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)    Exhibit Listing

Exhibit
No.

  Description of Exhibit
     
10.1  

Employment Agreement effective as of January 1, 2004, between Harvey C. DeMovick and Coventry Health Care, Inc.

     
10.2  

Employment Agreement effective as of January 1, 2004, between Thomas P. McDonough and Coventry Health Care, Inc.

     
10.3  

Employment Agreement effective as of January 1, 2004, between Dale B. Wolf and Coventry Health Care, Inc.

     
10.4  

Employment Agreement effective as of March 1, 2004, between Charles R. Stark and Coventry Health Care, Inc.

     
10.5  

Employment Agreement effective as of March 1, 2004, between Nancy G. Cocozza and Coventry Health Care, Inc.

     
10.6  

Employment Agreement effective as of March 6, 2004, between Shawn M. Guertin and Coventry Health Care, Inc.

     
31.1  

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002 made by Allen F. Wise, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director.

     
31.2  

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002 made by Dale B. Wolf, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

     
32.1  

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350 as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002 made by Allen F. Wise, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director and Dale B. Wolf, Executive Vice President, Chief

(b)     Reports on Form 8–K

        In connection with a press release regarding our results of operations for the quarter ended December 31, 2003 and our financial condition as of the period then ended, we filed a current report on Form 8–K with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 3, 2004.



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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.

   
COVENTRY HEALTH CARE, INC.

(Registrant)
   
Date: May 7, 2004 By: /s/ Allen F. Wise 

Allen F. Wise
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
   
Date: May 7, 2004 By: /s/ Dale B. Wolf 

Dale B. Wolf
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
   
Date: May 7, 2004 By: /s/ John J. Ruhlmann 

John J. Ruhlmann
Vice President and Controller



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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Reg. S–K: Item 601

Exhibit
No.

  Description of Exhibit
     
10.1  

Employment Agreement effective as of January 1, 2004, between Harvey C. DeMovick and Coventry Health Care, Inc.

     
10.2  

Employment Agreement effective as of January 1, 2004, between Thomas P. McDonough and Coventry Health Care, Inc.

     
10.3  

Employment Agreement effective as of January 1, 2004, between Dale B. Wolf and Coventry Health Care, Inc.

     
10.4  

Employment Agreement effective as of March 1, 2004, between Charles R. Stark and Coventry Health Care, Inc.

     
10.5  

Employment Agreement effective as of March 1, 2004, between Nancy G. Cocozza and Coventry Health Care, Inc.

     
10.6  

Employment Agreement effective as of March 6, 2004, between Shawn M. Guertin and Coventry Health Care, Inc.

     
31.1  

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002 made by Allen F. Wise, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director.

     
31.2  

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002 made by Dale B. Wolf, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

     
32.1  

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350 as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002 made by Allen F. Wise, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director and Dale B. Wolf, Executive Vice President, Chief




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