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EX-32.2 - EXHIBIT 32.2 - AETNA INC /PA/exhibit32_2.htm
EX-32.1 - EXHIBIT 32.1 - AETNA INC /PA/exhibit32_1.htm
EX-31.2 - EXHIBIT 31.2 - AETNA INC /PA/exhibit31_2.htm
EX-31.1 - EXHIBIT 31.1 - AETNA INC /PA/exhibit31_1.htm
EX-15.1 - EXHIBIT 15.1 - AETNA INC /PA/exhibit15_1.htm
EX-12.1 - EXHIBIT 12.1 - AETNA INC /PA/exhibit12_1.htm
EX-10.3 - EXHIBIT 10.3 - AETNA INC /PA/exhibit10_3.htm
EX-10.2 - EXHIBIT 10.2 - AETNA INC /PA/exhibit10_2.htm
EX-10.1 - EXHIBIT 10.1 - AETNA INC /PA/exhibit10_1.htm



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

(Mark One)

þ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018
or

o 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: 1-16095

aetnalogoa_02a10.jpg
Aetna Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Pennsylvania
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
23-2229683
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
151 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT
(Address of principal executive offices)
06156
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(860) 273-0123
 
 
Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report: N/A

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. þ Yes o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter)
during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
þ Yes o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer þ
 
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company o
 
 
Emerging growth company o
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
 
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). o Yes þ No

There were 327.1 million shares of the registrant’s voting common stock with a par value of $.01 per share outstanding at March 31, 2018.




Aetna Inc.
Form 10-Q
For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2018

Unless the context otherwise requires, references to the terms “we”, “our” or “us” used throughout this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (except the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm), refer to Aetna Inc. (a Pennsylvania corporation) (“Aetna”) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”).






Part I.
Financial Information


Item 1.
Financial Statements
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

 
 
 
Page
Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017
Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017
Condensed Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
 


Page 1


Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
 
 
 
(Unaudited)

 
 
(Millions)
 
 
 
March 31,
2018

 
December 31,
2017

Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
 
 
$
7,875

 
$
4,076

Investments
 
 
 
2,521

 
2,280

Premiums receivable, net
 
 
 
2,384

 
2,240

Other receivables, net
 
 
 
3,266

 
2,831

Reinsurance recoverables
 
 
 
1,103

 
1,050

Income taxes receivable
 
 
 
49

 
365

Other current assets
 
 
 
3,503

 
2,681

Total current assets
 
 
 
20,701

 
15,523

Long-term investments
 
 
 
16,409

 
17,793

Reinsurance recoverables
 
 
 
3,176

 
3,323

Goodwill
 
 
 
10,576

 
10,571

Other acquired intangible assets, net
 
 
 
1,152

 
1,180

Property and equipment, net
 
 
 
577

 
586

Deferred income taxes
 
 
 
351

 
195

Other long-term assets
 
 
 
1,948

 
1,684

Separate Accounts assets
 
 
 
4,307

 
4,296

Total assets
 
 
 
$
59,197

 
$
55,151

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity:
 

 
 

 
 

Current liabilities:
 
 
 
 

 
 

Health care costs payable
 
 
 
$
5,783

 
$
5,815

Future policy benefits
 
 
 
581

 
604

Unpaid claims
 
 
 
849

 
850

Unearned premiums
 
 
 
2,528

 
654

Policyholders’ funds
 
 
 
3,060

 
2,918

Current portion of long-term debt
 
 
 
1,374

 
999

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
 
 
 
5,518

 
4,997

Total current liabilities
 
 
 
19,693

 
16,837

Future policy benefits
 
 
 
5,741

 
5,763

Unpaid claims
 
 
 
1,901

 
1,922

Policyholders’ funds
 
 
 
709

 
739

Long-term debt, less current portion
 
 
 
7,785

 
8,160

Other long-term liabilities
 
 
 
2,396

 
1,597

Separate Accounts liabilities
 
 
 
4,307

 
4,296

Total liabilities
 
 
 
42,532

 
39,314

Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)
 
 
 


 


Shareholders’ equity:
 
 
 
 
 
 

Common stock ($.01 par value; 2.5 billion shares authorized and 327.1 million shares issued and outstanding in 2018; 2.5 billion shares authorized and 326.8 million shares issued and outstanding in 2017) and additional paid-in capital
 
 
 
4,687

 
4,706

Retained earnings
 
 
 
13,440

 
12,118

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
 
 
(1,729
)
 
(1,244
)
Total Aetna shareholders’ equity
 
 
 
16,398

 
15,580

Non-controlling interests
 
 
 
267

 
257

Total equity
 
 
 
16,665

 
15,837

Total liabilities and equity
 
 
 
$
59,197

 
$
55,151

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Refer to accompanying Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

Page 2


Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
(Millions, except per common share data)
 
2018

 
2017

Revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Premiums
 
 
 
$
13,070

 
$
13,763

Fees and other revenue (1)
 
 
 
2,062

 
1,475

Net investment income
 
 
 
197

 
260

Net realized capital gains (losses)
 
 
 
6

 
(333
)
Total revenue
 
 
 
15,335

 
15,165

Benefits and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Benefit costs (2)
 
 
 
10,574

 
11,461

Cost of products sold (1)
 
 
 
373

 

Operating expenses
 
 
 
2,787

 
3,853

Interest expense
 
 
 
89

 
173

Amortization of other acquired intangible assets
 
 
 
47

 
60

Loss on early extinguishment of long-term debt
 
 
 

 
246

Total benefits and expenses
 
 
 
13,870

 
15,793

Income (loss) before income taxes
 
 
 
1,465

 
(628
)
Income taxes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current
 
 
 
335

 
(7
)
Deferred
 
 
 
(89
)
 
(242
)
Total income tax expense (benefit)
 
 
 
246

 
(249
)
Net income (loss) including non-controlling interests
 
 
 
1,219

 
(379
)
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests
10

 
2

Net income (loss) attributable to Aetna
 
 
 
$
1,209

 
$
(381
)
Earnings (loss) per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
 
 
$
3.69

 
$
(1.11
)
Diluted
 
 
 
$
3.67

 
$
(1.11
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) 
Fees and other revenue include administrative services contract member co-payments and plan sponsor reimbursements related to our home delivery and specialty pharmacy operations of $31 million (net of pharmaceutical and processing costs of $340 million) for the three months ended March 31, 2017. As a result of the adoption of new accounting guidance related to revenue recognition from contracts with customers for the three months ended March 31, 2018, (a) specialty and home delivery pharmacy revenue reflects the price of the prescription on a gross basis and (b) specialty and home delivery pharmacy costs of products sold reflects the cost of the prescription and certain administrative expenses. Refer to Note 2 for further discussion.
(2) 
Health care costs have been reduced by Insured member co-payments related to our home delivery and specialty pharmacy operations of $32 million and $34 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Refer to accompanying Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

Page 3


Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(Unaudited)


 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
(Millions)
2018

 
2017

Net income (loss) including non-controlling interests
$
1,219

 
$
(379
)
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax:
 
 
 
    Previously impaired debt securities
(1
)
 

    All other securities
(220
)
 
44

    Derivatives and foreign currency
1

 
222

Pension and other postretirement employee benefit plans
12

 
10

Other comprehensive (loss) income
(208
)
 
276

Comprehensive income (loss) including non-controlling interests
1,011

 
(103
)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests
10

 
2

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Aetna
$
1,001

 
$
(105
)
 
 
 
 



Refer to accompanying Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), including Note 10 for further information about other comprehensive income (loss).


Page 4


Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
(Unaudited)

 
 
 
Attributable to Aetna
 
 
 
 
(Millions)
Number of
Common
Shares
Outstanding

 
Common
Stock and
Additional
Paid-in
Capital

 
Retained
Earnings

 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss

 
Total Aetna
Shareholders’
Equity

 
Non-Controlling Interests

 
Total
Equity

Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2017
326.8

 
$
4,706

 
$
12,118

 
$
(1,244
)
 
$
15,580

 
$
257

 
$
15,837

Adoption of new accounting standards (Note 2)



 

 
277

 
(277
)
 

 

 

Net income

 

 
1,209

 

 
1,209

 
10

 
1,219

Other comprehensive loss (Note 10)

 

 

 
(208
)
 
(208
)
 

 
(208
)
Common shares issued for benefit plans, including tax benefits, net of employee tax withholdings
0.3

 
(19
)
 

 

 
(19
)
 

 
(19
)
Dividends declared

 

 
(164
)
 

 
(164
)
 

 
(164
)
Balance at March 31, 2018
327.1

 
$
4,687

 
$
13,440

 
$
(1,729
)
 
$
16,398

 
$
267

 
$
16,665

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2016
351.7

 
$
4,716

 
$
14,717

 
$
(1,552
)
 
$
17,881

 
$
62

 
$
17,943

Net (loss) income

 

 
(381
)
 

 
(381
)
 
2

 
(379
)
Other increases in non-controlling interest

 

 

 

 

 
13

 
13

Other comprehensive income (Note 10)

 

 

 
276

 
276

 

 
276

Common shares issued for benefit plans, including tax benefits, net of employee tax withholdings
0.9

 
(49
)
 

 

 
(49
)
 

 
(49
)
Repurchases of common shares
(20.9
)
 
(661
)
 
(2,639
)
 

 
(3,300
)
 

 
(3,300
)
Dividends declared

 

 
(166
)
 

 
(166
)
 

 
(166
)
Balance at March 31, 2017
331.7

 
$
4,006

 
$
11,531

 
$
(1,276
)
 
$
14,261

 
$
77

 
$
14,338



Refer to accompanying Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).


Page 5


Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
(Millions)
 
2018

 
2017

Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) including non-controlling interests
 
 
 
$
1,219

 
$
(379
)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Net realized capital (gains) losses
 
 
 
(6
)
 
333

Depreciation and amortization
 
 
 
132

 
160

Debt fair value amortization
 
 
 
(3
)
 
(7
)
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net
 
 
 
(10
)
 
(38
)
Stock-based compensation expense
 
 
 
39

 
54

Amortization of net investment premium
 
 
 
15

 
17

Loss on early extinguishment of long-term debt
 
 
 

 
246

Gain on sale of businesses
 
 
 
(113
)
 

Changes in assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Premiums due and other receivables
 
 
 
(384
)
 
(477
)
Income taxes
 
 
 
240

 
(271
)
Other assets and other liabilities
 
 
 
319

 
(95
)
Health care and insurance liabilities
 
 
 
1,893

 
1,356

Net cash provided by operating activities
 
 
 
3,341

 
899

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 

 
 

Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments
 
 
 
2,410

 
2,738

Cost of investments
 
 
 
(1,621
)
 
(2,723
)
Additions to property, equipment and software
 
 
 
(99
)
 
(71
)
Cash used for acquisitions, net of cash acquired
 
 
 
(6
)
 

Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities
 
 
 
684

 
(56
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 

 
 

Repayment of long-term debt
 
 
 

 
(11,484
)
Common shares issued under benefit plans, net
 
 
 
(72
)
 
(103
)
Common shares repurchased
 
 
 

 
(3,300
)
Dividends paid to shareholders
 
 
 
(164
)
 
(88
)
Contributions, non-controlling interests
 
 
 
10

 
13

Net cash used for financing activities
 
 
 
(226
)
 
(14,962
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
 
 
3,799

 
(14,119
)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
 
 
 
4,076

 
17,996

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
 
 
 
$
7,875

 
$
3,877

Supplemental cash flow information:
 
 
 
 

 
 

Interest paid
 
 
 
$
66

 
$
130

Income taxes paid
 
 
 
6

 
22

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Refer to accompanying Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

Page 6


Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

1.
Organization

Effective for the first quarter of 2018, we realigned our business segments to correspond with changes to our management structure and internal management reporting which reflect our evolving business strategy of helping our members live healthier lives. As a result of this realignment, our operations are now conducted in the Health Care reportable segment. Health Care offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services to large and small employers, public sector employers, and Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries. Our Health Care products are offered on both an Insured basis (where we assume all or a majority of the risk for medical and dental care costs) and an employer-funded basis (where the plan sponsor under an administrative services contract (“ASC”) assumes all or a majority of the risk). Health Care also includes emerging business products and services that complement and enhance our medical products.

We present the remainder of our financial results in the Corporate/Other category, which consists of:
Products for which we no longer solicit or accept new customers such as our large case pensions and long-term care products;
Contracts we have divested through reinsurance or other contracts, such as our domestic group life insurance, group disability insurance and absence management businesses; and
Corporate expenses not supporting our business operations, including transaction and integration-related costs, income taxes, interest expense on our outstanding debt and the financing components of our pension and other postretirement employee benefit plans (“OPEB”) expense.

Prior period segment financial information has been restated to conform to the current year presentation. Refer to Note 14 for segment financial information.

2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for annual financial statements. We have omitted certain footnote disclosures that would substantially duplicate the disclosures in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K (our “2017 Annual Report”), unless the information contained in those disclosures materially changed or is required by GAAP. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements and related condensed notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes presented in our 2017 Annual Report.

These interim financial statements necessarily rely on estimates, including assumptions as to annualized tax rates.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of results for the interim periods have been made.  All such adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature. The Company has evaluated subsequent events that occurred from the financial statement date through the date the financial statements were issued and determined there were no subsequent events to disclose.

Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications were made to 2017 financial information to conform with the 2018 presentation.

Revenue Recognition
Our revenue includes premiums, fees and other revenue. Refer to Note 2 and Note 18 in our 2017 Annual Report for further discussion of our revenue recognition. Our fees and other revenue relate to contracts that can include various combinations of products, services, or series of services, which are generally capable of being distinct and accounted for as separate performance obligations. Fee revenue of approximately $1.3 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2018 consists primarily of ASC fees which are received in exchange for performing certain claim processing and member services for our medical members and are recognized as revenue over the period the service is provided. Other revenue of $767 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 primarily relates to our (a) specialty and home delivery pharmacy services to ASC groups and (b) workers’ compensation administrative services products and services. Specialty and home delivery pharmacy services revenue and cost of products sold are recognized when the prescription is shipped. Effective for the first quarter 2018, specialty

Page 7



and home delivery pharmacy services revenue reflects the price of the prescription on a gross basis (ASC member co-payments and plan sponsor reimbursements) and specialty and home delivery pharmacy cost of products sold reflects the cost of the prescription and certain administrative costs incurred for dispensing the prescription.

Accounts receivable related to fees and other revenue was $933 million and $942 million at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. At March 31, 2018, there were no material contract assets, contract liabilities or deferred costs to obtain or fulfill a contract with a customer related to our fees and other revenue. For the three months ended March 31, 2018, we had no material bad debt expense.

For the three months ended March 31, 2018, revenue recognized from performance obligations related to prior periods (for example, due to changes in transaction price) was not material. The aggregate amount of transaction price allocated to our remaining performance obligations (excluding revenue pertaining to contracts that have an original expected duration of one year or less) was not material. We expect to recognize the majority of our fees and other revenue related to our remaining performance obligations within one calendar year.

Health Insurer Fee
Since January 1, 2014, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (as amended, collectively, the “ACA”) imposes an annual premium-based health insurer fee (“HIF”) for each calendar year payable in September which is not deductible for tax purposes. In December 2015, the Consolidated Appropriation Act was enacted which included a one-year suspension of the HIF for 2017. Accordingly, there was no expense related to the HIF in 2017. We recorded an operating expense of $233 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 related to our estimated share of the 2018 HIF. In January 2018, the HIF was suspended for 2019.

Income Taxes
The accounting for certain income tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “TCJA”) was considered provisional at December 31, 2017, including the assessment of the mandatory repatriation of foreign earnings, the minimum tax on global intangible low-taxed income and the assertion of permanent reinvestment of foreign earnings. Accordingly, the items were recorded at a reasonable estimate at December 31, 2017. We are still evaluating the income tax effects of these provisions and accordingly there have been no adjustments recorded for these items at March 31, 2018.

New Accounting Standards
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted, on a modified retrospective basis, new accounting guidance related to revenue recognition from contracts with customers. While industry-specific guidance related to contracts with customers within the scope of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 944 Financial Services - Insurance remains unchanged, most other industry-specific revenue recognition requirements have been removed. The new guidance requires that an entity recognize revenue for the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new guidance also requires additional disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts. The new guidance only impacted contracts with customers outside of the scope of ASC Topic 944. As a result of adopting this new guidance, fees and other revenue, cost of products sold and operating expenses increased by $435 million, $373 million and $62 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 primarily related to modifications to principal versus agent guidance for our home delivery and specialty pharmacy operations. There were no material changes in the timing of our recognition of revenue or net income. We included additional disclosures required by the new accounting guidance under “Revenue Recognition” above.

Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities
Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted new accounting guidance related to the recognition and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities. Under the new guidance, all equity investments in unconsolidated entities are measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. We adopted this provision on a modified retrospective basis and recorded an immaterial cumulative effect adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings in our Consolidated Balance Sheet during the three months ended March 31, 2018. We also elected, on a prospective basis, to report equity investments without a readily determinable fair value at cost less impairment, plus or minus subsequent adjustments for observable price changes. The new guidance also revises certain disclosures regarding financial assets and liabilities. The adoption of this new guidance did not have a material impact on our financial position or operating results.

Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost
Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted, on a retrospective basis, new accounting guidance related to the presentation of net periodic pension costs and net periodic postretirement benefit costs. Under the new guidance, the service cost component of

Page 8



these net periodic costs is required to be reported in the same income statement line item as other employee compensation costs for services rendered during the period. The other components of these net periodic costs generally are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside of a subtotal of income from operations. The other components of these net periodic costs are included within operating expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Income because the amounts are not material and thus separate presentation is not required. The net periodic benefit costs for the our pension and other postretirement employee benefit plans do not contain a service cost component as these defined benefit plans have been frozen for an extended period of time. The adoption of this new guidance did not have a material impact on our financial position or operating results.

Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income to Retained Earnings
During the first quarter of 2018, we elected to early adopt new accounting guidance related to the reclassification of certain tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. We adopted the new accounting guidance as of the beginning of the first quarter of 2018 using the aggregate portfolio approach for available for sale securities and reclassified the stranded tax effects resulting from the TCJA of $273 million from accumulated other comprehensive loss to retained earnings in our Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Future Application of Accounting Standards
Leases
Effective January 1, 2019, we will adopt new accounting guidance related to the recognition, measurement and disclosure requirements for leases. Under the new guidance, lessees will be required to recognize a right-of-use asset and corresponding lease liability on their balance sheets for all leases other than those that meet the definition of a short-term lease. The new guidance also revises certain disclosure requirements regarding leases. While we are still evaluating the impact of adoption of this new guidance, we anticipate that we will be required to record an asset and corresponding liability related to our operating leases (as described in Note 17 in our 2017 Annual Report) on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The adoption of this new guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our operating results.

Accounting for Interest Associated with the Purchase of Callable Debt Securities
Effective January 1, 2019, we will adopt new accounting guidance related to the amortization of purchased callable debt securities held at a premium. Under the new guidance, premiums on callable debt securities are amortized to the earliest call date rather than to the contractual maturity date.  Callable debt securities held at a discount will continue to be amortized to the contractual maturity date. We are still evaluating the impact of adoption of this new guidance on our financial position and operating results.

Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments
Effective January 1, 2020, we will adopt new accounting guidance related to the measurement of credit losses on financial assets and certain other instruments. The new guidance requires the use of a new forward-looking expected loss impairment model for trade and other receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities, loans and other instruments. The new guidance also requires impairments and recoveries for available-for-sale debt securities to be recorded through an allowance account and revises certain disclosure requirements. We are still evaluating the impact of adoption of this new guidance on our financial position and operating results.

3.
Proposed Acquisition, Completed Divestiture, Terminated Acquisition and Terminated Divestiture

Proposed Acquisition by CVS Health
On December 3, 2017, we entered into a definitive agreement (the “CVS Merger Agreement”) under which CVS Health Corporation (“CVS Health”) has agreed to acquire all of our outstanding shares for a combination of cash and stock. Under terms of the agreement, our shareholders will receive $145 in cash and 0.8378 of a CVS Health common share for each of our common shares. The proposed transaction (the “CVS Health Transaction”) is subject to customary closing conditions, including the expiration of the federal Hart-Scott-Rodino anti-trust waiting period and approvals of certain state departments of insurance and other regulators. On February 1, 2018, Aetna and CVS Health each received a request for additional information (also known as a “second request”) from the U.S. Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) in connection with the DOJ’s review of the transactions contemplated by the CVS Merger Agreement. On March 13, 2018, our shareholders approved and adopted the CVS Merger Agreement and CVS Health’s stockholders approved the issuance of CVS Health shares in the transaction.

Divestiture of Domestic Group Life Insurance, Group Disability Insurance and Absence Management Businesses
On November 1, 2017, we completed the sale of our domestic group life insurance, group disability insurance and absence management businesses (the “Group Insurance sale”) to Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company (“HLAIC”) for cash consideration of $1.45 billion. The transaction was accomplished through an indemnity reinsurance arrangement under which HLAIC contractually assumed certain of our policyholder liabilities and obligations, although we remain directly obligated to

Page 9



policyholders. Assets related to and supporting the reinsured life and disability insurance policies were transferred to a trust established by HLAIC for our benefit, and we recorded a reinsurance receivable from HLAIC. The sale is expected to result in an after-tax gain of approximately $710 million ($1.1 billion pre-tax), a significant portion of which has been deferred and will be amortized into earnings: (i) over the remaining contract period (estimated to be approximately 3 years) in proportion to the amount of insurance protection provided for the prospective reinsurance portion of the gain; and (ii) as we recover amounts due from HLAIC over a period estimated to be approximately 30 years for the retrospective reinsurance portion of the gain. The deferred gain liability was recorded in accrued expenses and other current liabilities and in other long-term liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets, and the gain recognition is being recorded in fees and other revenue in our Consolidated Statements of Income. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we recognized $113 million pre-tax of the deferred gain into earnings.

Revenue and income before income taxes for the businesses sold were $570 million and $26 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Terminated Acquisition of Humana
On July 2, 2015, we entered into a definitive agreement (the “Humana Merger Agreement”) to acquire Humana Inc. (“Humana”). On July 21, 2016, the DOJ and certain state attorneys general filed a civil complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (the “District Court”) against us and Humana charging that our acquisition of Humana (the “Humana Transaction”) would violate Section 7 of the Clayton Antitrust Act, and seeking a permanent injunction to prevent Aetna from acquiring Humana. On January 23, 2017, the District Court granted the DOJ’s request to enjoin the Humana Transaction.

On February 14, 2017, Aetna and Humana entered into a mutual termination agreement (the “Termination Agreement”) pursuant to which the parties thereto (collectively the “Parties”) agreed to terminate the Humana Merger Agreement, including all schedules and exhibits thereto, and all ancillary agreements contemplated thereby, entered pursuant thereto or entered in connection therewith (other than certain confidentiality agreements) (collectively with the Humana Merger Agreement, the “Transaction Documents”), effective immediately as of February 14, 2017. Under the Termination Agreement, Aetna agreed to pay Humana the Regulatory Termination Fee (as defined in the Humana Merger Agreement) of $1.0 billion in cash in full satisfaction of any amounts required to be paid by Aetna under the Humana Merger Agreement. The Parties also agreed to release each other from any and all liability, claims, rights, actions, causes of action, suits, liens, obligations, accounts, debts, demands, agreements, promises, liabilities, controversies, costs, charges, damages, expenses and fees, however arising, in connection with, arising out of or related to the Transaction Documents, the transactions contemplated therein or thereby or certain related matters. We paid Humana the Regulatory Termination Fee on February 16, 2017 and recorded the expense in operating expenses. We funded that payment with the proceeds of the 2016 senior notes (as defined below).

In June 2016, we issued $13.0 billion of senior notes to partially fund the Humana Transaction (collectively, the “2016 senior notes”). In accordance with the terms of the 2016 senior notes, on February 14, 2017, we issued a notice of redemption for $10.2 billion aggregate principal amount of certain of the 2016 senior notes (collectively, the “Special Mandatory Redemption Notes”) at a redemption price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of those notes plus accrued and unpaid interest. We redeemed the Special Mandatory Redemption Notes on March 16, 2017, and we funded the redemption with the proceeds of the 2016 senior notes. As a result of the redemption of the Special Mandatory Redemption Notes, we recognized certain costs in our net income during the three months ended March 31, 2017. Refer to Note 7 for additional information.

Terminated Divestiture to Molina
In order to address the DOJ’s perceived competitive concerns regarding Medicare Advantage relating to the Humana Transaction, on August 2, 2016, we entered into a definitive agreement (the “Aetna APA”) to sell for cash to Molina Healthcare, Inc. (“Molina”) certain of our Medicare Advantage assets. On February 14, 2017, Aetna and Molina entered into a Termination Agreement (the “APA Termination Agreement”) pursuant to which Aetna terminated the Aetna APA, including all schedules and exhibits thereto, and all ancillary agreements contemplated thereby or entered pursuant thereto. Under the APA Termination Agreement, Aetna agreed to pay Molina in cash (a) a termination fee of $53 million and (b) approximately 70% of Molina’s transaction costs. We paid Molina the termination fee on February 16, 2017 and the applicable transaction costs of $7 million on February 27, 2017 and recorded the expense in operating expenses. The payments were funded with the proceeds of the 2016 senior notes.


Page 10



4.    Investments

Total investments at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were as follows:
 
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
(Millions)
Current

 
Long-term

 
Total

 
Current

 
Long-term

 
Total

Debt securities available for sale
$
2,386

 
$
13,573

 
$
15,959

 
$
2,101

 
$
14,849

 
$
16,950

Mortgage loans
127

 
1,287

 
1,414

 
166

 
1,330

 
1,496

Other investments
8

 
1,549

 
1,557

 
13

 
1,614

 
1,627

Total investments
$
2,521

 
$
16,409

 
$
18,930

 
$
2,280

 
$
17,793

 
$
20,073


Debt Securities
Debt securities available for sale at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were as follows:
(Millions)
Amortized
Cost

 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains

 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 
Fair
Value

March 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government securities
$
1,303

 
$
28

 
$
(2
)
 
$
1,329

States, municipalities and political subdivisions
2,984

 
74

 
(21
)
 
3,037

U.S. corporate securities
6,651

 
240

 
(84
)
 
6,807

Foreign securities
2,568

 
127

 
(27
)
 
2,668

Residential mortgage-backed securities
491

 
2

 
(11
)
 
482

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
608

 
1

 
(21
)
 
588

Other asset-backed securities
1,020

 
5

 
(7
)
 
1,018

Redeemable preferred securities
27

 
3

 

 
30

Total debt securities (1)(2)
$
15,652

 
$
480

 
$
(173
)
 
$
15,959

December 31, 2017
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Debt securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. government securities
$
1,319

 
$
44

 
$
(1
)
 
$
1,362

States, municipalities and political subdivisions
3,287

 
116

 
(12
)
 
3,391

U.S. corporate securities
6,886

 
388

 
(22
)
 
7,252

Foreign securities
2,498

 
187

 
(7
)
 
2,678

Residential mortgage-backed securities
570

 
5

 
(4
)
 
571

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
641

 
3

 
(9
)
 
635

Other asset-backed securities
1,031

 
8

 
(4
)
 
1,035

Redeemable preferred securities
22

 
4

 

 
26

Total debt securities(1)(2)
$
16,254

 
$
755

 
$
(59
)
 
$
16,950

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) 
At both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we held securities for which we previously recognized an immaterial amount of non-credit related impairments in accumulated other comprehensive loss. These securities had an immaterial amount of net unrealized capital gains at both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.
(2) 
Investment risks associated with our experience-rated and discontinued products generally do not impact our operating results (refer to Note 15 for additional information on our accounting for discontinued products). At March 31, 2018, debt securities with a fair value of approximately $2.5 billion, gross unrealized capital gains of $122 million and gross unrealized capital losses of $36 million and, at December 31, 2017, debt securities with a fair value of approximately $2.6 billion, gross unrealized capital gains of $199 million and gross unrealized capital losses of $8 million were included in total debt securities, but support our experience-rated and discontinued products.  Changes in net unrealized capital gains (losses) on these securities are not reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income.


Page 11



The fair value of debt securities at March 31, 2018 is shown below by contractual maturity.  Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because securities may be restructured, called or prepaid, or we intend to sell a security prior to maturity.
(Millions)
Amortized
Cost

 
Fair
Value

Due to mature:
 
 
 
Less than one year
$
1,004

 
$
1,009

One year through five years
5,647

 
5,677

After five years through ten years
3,208

 
3,224

Greater than ten years
3,674

 
3,961

Residential mortgage-backed securities
491

 
482

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
608

 
588

Other asset-backed securities
1,020

 
1,018

Total
$
15,652

 
$
15,959

 
Mortgage-Backed and Other Asset-Backed Securities
All of our residential mortgage-backed securities at March 31, 2018 were issued by the Government National Mortgage Association, the Federal National Mortgage Association or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and carry agency guarantees and explicit or implicit guarantees by the U.S. Government.  At March 31, 2018, our residential mortgage-backed securities had an average credit quality rating of AAA and a weighted average duration of 5.1 years.

Our commercial mortgage-backed securities have underlying loans that are dispersed throughout the United States.  Significant market observable inputs used to value these securities include loss severity and probability of default.  At March 31, 2018, these securities had an average credit quality rating of AAA and a weighted average duration of 6.5 years.

Our other asset-backed securities have a variety of underlying collateral (e.g., automobile loans, credit card receivables, home equity loans and commercial loans).  Significant market observable inputs used to value these securities include the unemployment rate, loss severity and probability of default.  At March 31, 2018, these securities had an average credit quality rating of AA- and a weighted average duration of 1.0 years.




























Page 12



Summarized below are the debt securities we held at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 that were in an unrealized capital loss position, aggregated by the length of time the investments have been in that position:
 
Less than 12 months
 
Greater than 12 months
 
Total (1)
(Millions, except number of securities)
Number of Securities

 
Fair
Value

 
Unrealized
Losses

 
Number of Securities

 
Fair
Value

 
Unrealized
Losses

 
Number of Securities

 
Fair
Value

 
Unrealized
Losses

March 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government securities
201

 
$
762

 
$
2

 
16

 
$
14

 
$

 
217

 
$
776

 
$
2

States, municipalities and political subdivisions
444

 
1,015

 
15

 
69

 
168

 
6

 
513

 
1,183

 
21

U.S. corporate securities
2,289

 
3,307

 
61

 
276

 
458

 
23

 
2,565

 
3,765

 
84

Foreign securities
646

 
1,011

 
19

 
87

 
182

 
8

 
733

 
1,193

 
27

Residential mortgage-backed securities
158

 
294

 
7

 
87

 
111

 
4

 
245

 
405

 
11

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
114

 
332

 
8

 
73

 
217

 
13

 
187

 
549

 
21

Other asset-backed securities
272

 
443

 
4

 
66

 
131

 
3

 
338

 
574

 
7

Redeemable preferred securities
4

 
5

 

 

 

 

 
4

 
5

 

Total debt securities(1)
4,128

 
$
7,169

 
$
116

 
674

 
$
1,281

 
$
57

 
4,802

 
$
8,450

 
$
173

December 31, 2017
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Debt securities:
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

U.S. government securities
77

 
$
200

 
$
1

 
14

 
$
22

 
$

 
91

 
$
222

 
$
1

States, municipalities and political subdivisions
318

 
616

 
4

 
111

 
308

 
8

 
429

 
924

 
12

U.S. corporate securities
989

 
1,469

 
6

 
284

 
494

 
16

 
1,273

 
1,963

 
22

Foreign securities
262

 
419

 
3

 
91

 
194

 
4

 
353

 
613

 
7

Residential mortgage-backed securities
111

 
179

 
1

 
98

 
134

 
3

 
209

 
313

 
4

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
38

 
135

 
1

 
79

 
241

 
8

 
117

 
376

 
9

Other asset-backed securities
150

 
304

 
2

 
79

 
151

 
2

 
229

 
455

 
4

Total debt securities(1)
1,945

 
$
3,322

 
$
18

 
756

 
$
1,544

 
$
41

 
2,701

 
$
4,866

 
$
59

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) 
At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, debt securities in an unrealized capital loss position of $36 million and $8 million, respectively, and with related fair value of $1.2 billion and $515 million, respectively, related to experience-rated and discontinued products.

We reviewed the securities in the tables above and concluded that these are performing assets generating investment income to support the needs of our business. In performing this review, we considered factors such as the quality of the investment security based on research performed by our internal credit analysts and external rating agencies and the prospects of realizing the carrying value of the security based on the investment’s current prospects for recovery. At March 31, 2018, we did not intend to sell these securities, and we did not believe it was more likely than not that we would be required to sell these securities prior to anticipated recovery of their amortized cost basis.













Page 13



The maturity dates for debt securities in an unrealized capital loss position at March 31, 2018 were as follows:
 
Supporting discontinued and
experience-rated products
 
Supporting remaining
products
 
Total
(Millions)
Fair
Value

 
Unrealized
Losses

 
Fair
Value

 
Unrealized
Losses

 
Fair
Value

 
Unrealized
Losses

Due to mature:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less than one year
$
11

 
$

 
$
631

 
$
2

 
$
642

 
$
2

One year through five years
243

 
4

 
3,147

 
46

 
3,390

 
50

After five years through ten years
471

 
14

 
1,315

 
32

 
1,786

 
46

Greater than ten years
301

 
11

 
803

 
25

 
1,104

 
36

Residential mortgage-backed securities
23

 
1

 
382

 
10

 
405

 
11

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
153

 
6

 
396

 
15

 
549

 
21

Other asset-backed securities
11

 

 
563

 
7

 
574

 
7

Total
$
1,213

 
$
36

 
$
7,237

 
$
137

 
$
8,450

 
$
173

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Mortgage Loans
Our mortgage loans are collateralized by commercial real estate.  During the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 we had the following activity in our mortgage loan portfolio:
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
(Millions)
2018

 
2017

New mortgage loans
$
15

 
$
54

Mortgage loans fully repaid
85

 
48

 
 
 
 
 
We assess our mortgage loans on a regular basis for credit impairments, and annually assign a credit quality indicator to each loan.  Our credit quality indicator is internally developed and categorizes our portfolio on a scale from 1 to 7.  These indicators are based upon several factors, including current loan to value ratios, property condition, market trends, creditworthiness of the borrower and deal structure. The vast majority of our mortgage loans fall into categories 2 to 4.
Category 1 - Represents loans of superior quality.
Categories 2 to 4 - Represent loans where credit risk is minimal to acceptable; however, these loans may display some susceptibility to economic changes.
Categories 5 and 6 - Represent loans where credit risk is not substantial, but these loans warrant management’s close attention.
Category 7 - Represents loans where collections are potentially at risk; if necessary, an impairment is recorded.
Based upon our most recent assessments at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, our mortgage loans were given the following credit quality indicators:
(In Millions, except credit ratings indicator)
March 31, 2018

 
December 31, 2017

1
$
39

 
$
40

2 to 4
1,366

 
1,447

5 and 6
9

 
9

7

 

Total
$
1,414

 
$
1,496

 
 
 
 
 


Page 14



Net Investment Income
Sources of net investment income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
(Millions)
2018

 
2017

Debt securities
$
145

 
$
190

Mortgage loans
20

 
22

Other investments
42

 
58

Gross investment income
207

 
270

Investment expenses
(10
)
 
(10
)
Net investment income (1)
$
197

 
$
260

 
 
 
 
(1) 
Net investment income includes $48 million and $66 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, related to investments supporting our experience-rated and discontinued products.

The decrease in net investment income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the corresponding period of 2017 was primarily due to the transfer of investments supporting our reinsured life and disability insurance policies into a trust established by HLAIC for our benefit as part of the Group Insurance sale during the fourth quarter of 2017.

Realized Capital Gains/Losses
Net realized capital gains (losses) for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, excluding amounts related to experience-rated contract holders and discontinued products, were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
(Millions)
2018

 
2017

Other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) losses on debt securities recognized in earnings
$
(13
)
 
$
(2
)
Other net realized capital gains (losses)
19

 
(331
)
Net realized capital gains (losses)
$
6

 
$
(333
)
 
The net realized capital gains for the three months ended March 31, 2018 were primarily attributable to gains from the sale of debt securities, investment real estate and other investments, substantially offset by yield related impairments taken during the quarter. The net realized capital losses for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were primarily attributable to the recognition into earnings of the entire unamortized effective portion of the related hedge losses upon the mandatory redemption of $10.2 billion aggregate principal amount of the Special Mandatory Redemption Notes and the redemption of the entire $750 million aggregate principal amount of our senior notes due 2020.

We had no individually material realized capital losses on debt or equity securities that impacted our operating results during the three months ended March 31, 2018 or 2017.

The portion of unrealized capital gains and losses recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2018 related to investments in equity securities held as of the reporting date was not material.

Excluding amounts related to experience-rated and discontinued products, proceeds from the sale of available for sale debt securities and the related gross realized capital gains and losses for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
(Millions)
2018

 
2017

Proceeds on sales
$
1,472

 
$
1,084

Gross realized capital gains
23

 
9

Gross realized capital losses
15

 
12

 
 
 
 



Page 15



Variable Interest Entities
We have investments in certain hedge fund and private equity investments and real estate partnerships that are considered Variable Interest Entities (“VIE’s”).  We do not have a future obligation to fund losses or debts on behalf of these investments; however, we may voluntarily contribute funds. In evaluating whether we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE, we considered several factors, including whether we (a) have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and (b) the obligation to absorb losses and the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. We were not the primary beneficiary of any VIE at March 31, 2018 or December 31, 2017.

Variable Interest Entities - Other Variable Interest Holder
Our involvement with VIEs where we are not determined to be the primary beneficiary consists of the following:
Hedge fund and private equity investments - We invest in hedge fund and private equity investments in order to generate investment returns for our investment portfolio supporting our businesses.
Real estate partnerships - We invest in various real estate partnerships, including those that construct, own and manage low-income housing developments. For the low income housing development investments, substantially all of the projected benefits to us are from tax credits and other tax benefits.

We are not the primary beneficiary of these investments because the nature of our involvement with the activities of these VIEs does not give us the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact their economic performance. We record the amount of our investment in these VIEs as long-term investments in our Consolidated Balance Sheets and recognize our share of each VIE’s income or losses in earnings.  Our maximum exposure to loss from these VIEs is limited to our investment balances as disclosed below and the risk of recapture of previously recognized tax credits related to the real estate partnerships, which we do not consider significant.

The total amount of other variable interest holder VIE assets included in long-term investments in our Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were as follows:
(Millions)
 
March 31, 2018

 
December 31, 2017

Hedge fund investments
 
$
361

 
$
351

Private equity investments
 
472

 
453

Real estate partnerships
 
247

 
247

Total
 
$
1,080

 
$
1,051


The carrying value of the total assets and liabilities of our other variable interest holder VIE investments at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were as follows:
(Millions)
 
March 31, 2018

 
December 31, 2017

Assets:
 
 
 
 
Hedge fund investments
 
$
45,289

 
$
54,789

Private equity investments
 
27,889

 
27,342

Real estate partnerships
 
6,290

 
6,451

Total
 
$
79,468

 
$
88,582

 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Hedge fund investments
 
$
8,920

 
$
12,073

Private equity investments
 
2,692

 
2,461

Real estate partnerships
 
4,600

 
4,691

Total
 
$
16,212

 
$
19,225



Page 16




5.    Fair Value

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires certain of our assets and liabilities to be reflected at their fair value, and others on another basis, such as an adjusted historical cost basis.  In this note, we provide details on the fair value of financial assets and liabilities and how we determine those fair values.  We present this information for those financial instruments that are measured at fair value for which the change in fair value impacts net income attributable to Aetna or other comprehensive income separately from other financial assets and liabilities.

Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value in our Consolidated Balance Sheets
Certain of our financial instruments are measured at fair value in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The fair values of these instruments are based on valuations that include inputs that can be classified within one of three levels of a hierarchy established by GAAP.  The following are the levels of the hierarchy and a brief description of the type of valuation information (“inputs”) that qualifies a financial asset or liability for each level:
Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
Level 2 – Inputs other than Level 1 that are based on observable market data.  These include: quoted prices for similar assets in active markets, quoted prices for identical assets in inactive markets, inputs that are observable that are not prices (such as interest rates and credit risks) and inputs that are derived from or corroborated by observable markets.
Level 3 – Developed from unobservable data, reflecting our own assumptions.

Financial assets and liabilities are classified based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the valuation.  When quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities are available, we use these quoted market prices to determine the fair value of financial assets and liabilities and classify these assets and liabilities in Level 1.  In other cases where a quoted market price for identical assets and liabilities in an active market is either not available or not observable, we estimate fair value using valuation methodologies based on available and observable market information or by using a matrix pricing model.  These financial assets and liabilities would then be classified in Level 2.  If quoted market prices are not available, we determine fair value using broker quotes or an internal analysis of each investment’s financial performance and cash flow projections.  Thus, financial assets and liabilities may be classified in Level 3 even though there may be some significant inputs that may be observable.

The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for our financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value, including the general classification of such assets and liabilities pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.

Debt Securities – Where quoted prices are available in an active market, our debt securities are classified in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.  Our Level 1 debt securities consist primarily of U.S. Treasury securities.

The fair values of our Level 2 debt securities are obtained using models, such as matrix pricing, which use quoted market prices of debt securities with similar characteristics or discounted cash flows to estimate fair value. We review these prices to ensure they are based on observable market inputs that include, but are not limited to, quoted prices for similar assets in active markets, quoted prices for identical assets in inactive markets and inputs that are observable but not prices (for example, interest rates and credit risks). We also review the methodologies and the assumptions used to calculate prices from these observable inputs. On a quarterly basis, we select a sample of our Level 2 debt securities’ prices and compare them to prices provided by a secondary source. Variances over a specified threshold are identified and reviewed to confirm the price provided by the primary source represents an appropriate estimate of fair value. In addition, our internal investment team consistently compares the prices obtained for select Level 2 debt securities to the team’s own independent estimates of fair value for those securities. We obtained one price for each of our Level 2 debt securities and did not adjust any of these prices at March 31, 2018 or December 31, 2017.

We also value certain debt securities using Level 3 inputs.  For Level 3 debt securities, fair values are determined by outside brokers or, in the case of certain private placement securities, are priced internally.  Outside brokers determine the value of these debt securities through a combination of their knowledge of the current pricing environment and market flows.  We obtained one non-binding broker quote for each of these Level 3 debt securities and did not adjust any of these quotes at March 31, 2018 or December 31, 2017.  The total fair value of our broker quoted debt securities was $65 million at March 31, 2018 and $67 million at December 31, 2017.  Examples of these broker quoted Level 3 debt securities include certain U.S. and foreign corporate securities and certain of our commercial mortgage-backed securities as well as other asset-backed securities.  For some of our private placement securities, our internal staff determines the value of these debt securities by analyzing spreads of corporate and sector indices as well as interest

Page 17



spreads of comparable public bonds.  Examples of these private placement Level 3 debt securities include certain U.S. and foreign securities and certain tax-exempt municipal securities.

Equity Securities – We currently have two classifications of equity securities: those that are publicly traded and those that are privately placed.  Our publicly-traded equity securities are classified in Level 1 because quoted prices are available for these securities in an active market. For privately-placed equity securities, there is no active market; therefore, we classify these securities in Level 3 because we price these securities through an internal analysis of each investment’s financial statements and cash flow projections. Significant unobservable inputs consist of earnings and revenue multiples, discount for lack of marketability and comparability adjustments. An increase or decrease in any of these unobservable inputs would result in a change in the fair value measurement, which may be significant.

Derivatives – Where quoted prices are available in an active market, our derivatives are classified in Level 1. Certain of our derivative instruments are valued using models that primarily use market observable inputs and therefore are classified in Level 2 because they are traded in markets where quoted market prices are not readily available.

There were no financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis in our Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2018 or December 31, 2017. Financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis in our Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were as follows:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Millions)
Level 1

 
Level 2

 
Level 3

 
Total

March 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government securities
$
1,294

 
$
35

 
$

 
$
1,329

States, municipalities and political subdivisions

 
3,037

 

 
3,037

U.S. corporate securities

 
6,725

 
82

 
6,807

Foreign securities

 
2,665

 
3

 
2,668

Residential mortgage-backed securities

 
482

 

 
482

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 
588

 

 
588

Other asset-backed securities

 
1,018

 

 
1,018

Redeemable preferred securities

 
23

 
7

 
30

Total debt securities
1,294

 
14,573

 
92

 
15,959

Equity securities
17

 

 
31

 
48

Total
$
1,311

 
$
14,573

 
$
123

 
$
16,007

December 31, 2017
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Assets:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Debt securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. government securities
$
1,313

 
$
49

 
$

 
$
1,362

States, municipalities and political subdivisions

 
3,390

 
1

 
3,391

U.S. corporate securities

 
7,167

 
85

 
7,252

Foreign securities

 
2,675

 
3

 
2,678

Residential mortgage-backed securities

 
571

 

 
571

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 
635

 

 
635

Other asset-backed securities

 
1,035

 

 
1,035

Redeemable preferred securities

 
19

 
7

 
26

Total debt securities
1,313

 
15,541

 
96

 
16,950

Equity securities
43

 

 
27

 
70

Total
$
1,356

 
$
15,541

 
$
123

 
$
17,020


There were no transfers between Levels 1 and 2 during the three months ended March 31, 2018 or 2017. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, there were no transfers into or out of Level 3. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, we had an immaterial amount of gross transfers into and out of Level 3.

Page 18



Financial Instruments Not Measured at Fair Value in our Consolidated Balance Sheets
The carrying value and estimated fair value classified by level of fair value hierarchy for our financial instruments carried in our Consolidated Balance Sheets at adjusted cost or contract value at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were as follows:
 
Carrying
Value

 
 Estimated Fair Value
(Millions)
 
Level 1

 
Level 2

 
Level 3

 
Total

March 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage loans
$
1,414

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,427

 
$
1,427

Bank loans
7

 

 

 
7

 
7

Equity securities (1)
50

 
N/A

 
N/A

 
N/A

 
N/A

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment contract liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
With a fixed maturity
5

 

 

 
5

 
5

Without a fixed maturity
367

 

 

 
346

 
346

Long-term debt
9,159

 

 
9,495

 

 
9,495

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Millions)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage loans
$
1,496

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,524

 
$
1,524

Bank loans
7

 

 

 
7

 
7

Equity securities (1)
45

 
N/A

 
N/A

 
N/A

 
N/A

Liabilities:
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Investment contract liabilities:
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

With a fixed maturity
7

 

 

 
7

 
7

Without a fixed maturity
363

 

 

 
354

 
354

Long-term debt
9,159

 

 
9,815

 

 
9,815

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)  
It was not practical to estimate the fair value of these cost-method investments as it represents shares of unlisted companies.

Separate Accounts Measured at Fair Value in our Consolidated Balance Sheets
Separate Accounts assets related to our large case pensions products represent funds maintained to meet specific objectives of contract holders.  Since contract holders bear the investment risk of these assets, a corresponding Separate Accounts liability has been established equal to the assets.  These assets and liabilities are carried at fair value.  Net investment income and capital gains and losses accrue directly to such contract holders.  The assets of each account are legally segregated and are not subject to claims arising from our other businesses.  Deposits, withdrawals, net investment income and realized and unrealized capital gains and losses on Separate Accounts assets are not reflected in our Consolidated Statements of Income, Shareholders’ Equity or Cash Flows.

Separate Accounts assets include debt and equity securities and derivative instruments.  The valuation methodologies used for these assets are similar to the methodologies described above in this Note 5.  Separate Accounts assets also include investments in common/collective trusts that are carried at fair value. Common/collective trusts invest in other investment funds otherwise known as the underlying funds. The Separate Accounts’ interests in the common/collective trust funds are based on the fair values of the investments of the underlying funds and therefore are classified in Level 2. The assets in the underlying funds primarily consist of equity securities. Investments in common/collective trust funds are valued at their respective net asset value per share/unit on the valuation date.









Page 19



Separate Accounts financial assets at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were as follows:
 
 
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
(Millions)
 
Level 1

 
Level 2

 
Level 3

 
Total

 
Level 1

 
Level 2

 
Level 3

 
Total

Debt securities
 
$
991

 
$
2,574

 
$
1

 
$
3,566

 
$
1,085

 
$
2,611

 
$
2

 
$
3,698

Equity securities
 

 
6

 

 
6

 

 
6

 

 
6

Common/collective trusts
 

 
410

 

 
410

 

 
448

 

 
448

Total (1)
 
$
991

 
$
2,990

 
$
1

 
$
3,982

 
$
1,085

 
$
3,065

 
$
2

 
$
4,152

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) 
Excludes $325 million and $144 million of cash and cash equivalents and other receivables at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

During the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, we had an immaterial amount of Level 3 Separate Accounts financial assets.

Offsetting Financial Assets and Liabilities
Certain financial assets and liabilities are offset in our Consolidated Balance Sheets or are subject to master netting arrangements or similar agreements with the applicable counterparty. Financial assets, including derivative assets, subject to offsetting and enforceable master netting arrangements were $11 million and $10 million at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

There were no financial liabilities, including derivative liabilities, subject to offsetting and enforceable master netting arrangements at March 31, 2018 or December 31, 2017.

6.     Health Care Costs Payable

The following table shows the components of the change in health care costs payable during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
(Millions)
 
2018

 
2017

Health care costs payable, beginning of the period
 
$
5,815

 
$
6,558

Less: Reinsurance recoverables
 
6

 
5

Health care costs payable, beginning of the period, net
 
5,809

 
6,553

Add: Components of incurred health care costs
 
 
 
 
  Current year
 
10,974

 
11,420

  Prior years
 
(503
)
 
(614
)
Total incurred health care costs (1)
 
10,471

 
10,806

 
 
 
 
 
Less: Claims paid
 
 
 
 
  Current year
 
6,176

 
6,298

  Prior years
 
4,334

 
4,742

Total claims paid
 
10,510

 
11,040

 
 


 
 
Health care costs payable, end of period, net
 
5,770

 
6,319

Add: Premium deficiency reserve
 
9

 
110

Add: Reinsurance recoverables
 
4

 
3

Health care costs payable, end of period
 
$
5,783

 
$
6,432

 
 
 
 
 
(1) 
The three months ended March 31, 2018 total incurred health care costs exclude from the table above $9 million related to a premium deficiency reserve for the 2018 coverage year related to our Medicaid products. The three months ended March 31, 2017 total incurred health care costs exclude $110 million related to a premium deficiency reserve for the 2017 coverage year related to our individual Commercial products. Total incurred health care costs for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 also exclude from the table above $11 million and $12 million, respectively, of benefit costs recorded in our Health Care segment that are included in our unpaid claims liability.


Page 20



Our estimates of prior years’ health care costs payable decreased by $503 million and $614 million in the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, because claims were settled for amounts less than originally estimated (i.e., the amount of claims incurred was lower than we originally estimated), primarily due to lower health care cost trends as well as the actual claim submission time being faster than we originally assumed (i.e., our completion factors were higher than we originally assumed) in estimating our health care costs payable at the end of the prior year. This development does not directly correspond to an increase in our current year operating results as these reductions were offset by estimated current period health care costs when we established our estimate of the current year health care costs payable.

At March 31, 2018, total Health Care liabilities for the estimated ultimate cost of (i) services rendered to our medical members but not yet reported to us and (ii) medical claims which have been reported to us but not yet paid (collectively, “Health Care IBNR”) plus expected development on reported claims totaled approximately $4.9 billion. The substantial majority of the total Health Care IBNR liabilities plus expected development on reported claims at March 31, 2018 related to the current year.

7.    Debt

Long Term Debt
The carrying value of our long-term debt at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was as follows:
(Millions)
March 31,
2018

 
December 31,
2017

Senior notes, 1.7% due June 2018 (1)
$
1,000

 
$
999

Senior notes, 2.2% due March 2019 (1)
374

 
374

Senior notes, 5.45% due June 2021
644

 
647

Senior notes, 4.125% due June 2021
496

 
496

Senior notes, 2.75% due November 2022
989

 
988

Senior notes, 2.8% due June 2023
1,292

 
1,292

Senior notes, 3.5% due November 2024
744

 
743

Senior notes, 6.625% due June 2036
766

 
766

Senior notes, 6.75% due December 2037
527

 
527

Senior notes, 4.5% due May 2042
479

 
479

Senior notes, 4.125% due November 2042
489

 
489

Senior notes, 4.75% due March 2044
371

 
371

Senior notes, 3.875% due August 2047
988

 
988

Total long-term debt
9,159

 
9,159

Less current portion of long-term debt
1,374

 
999

Total long-term debt, less current portion
$
7,785

 
$
8,160

 
 
 
 
(1)
At March 31, 2018, our 1.7% senior notes due June 2018 and our 2.2% senior notes due March 2019 are each classified as current in our Consolidated Balance Sheet. At December 31, 2017, our 1.7% senior notes due June 2018 were classified as current in our Consolidated Balance Sheet.

2017 Senior Notes
In August 2017, we issued $1.0 billion of 3.875% senior notes due 2047. We used the net proceeds of this offering to repay a portion of our 1.5% senior notes due in November 2017, repay a portion of our floating rate senior notes due in December 2017 and for general corporate purposes.

Early Extinguishment of Long-Term Debt
Special Mandatory Redemption Notes
As a result of the termination of the Humana Merger Agreement, we redeemed the entire $10.2 billion aggregate principal amount of the Special Mandatory Redemption Notes, which were due in 2019, 2021, 2026, 2036 and 2046, at a redemption price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of those notes plus accrued and unpaid interest. We redeemed those notes on March 16, 2017, and we funded the redemption with the proceeds of the 2016 senior notes. As a result of the redemption, we recorded a loss on early extinguishment of long-term debt of $125 million ($192 million pretax) in the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Prior to issuing the 2016 senior notes, during 2015 and 2016 we entered into various interest rate swaps and treasury rate locks that were designated as cash flow hedges against interest rate exposure related to the forecasted future issuance of fixed-rate

Page 21



debt to be primarily used to finance a portion of the purchase price of the Humana Transaction. In addition, we redesignated existing interest rate swaps with an aggregate notional value of $500 million as cash flow hedges against interest rate exposure related to the forecasted future issuance of fixed rate debt.

Prior to issuing the 2016 senior notes in June 2016, we terminated all outstanding hedges and paid an aggregate of $348 million to the hedge counter parties upon termination. The aggregate effective portion of the hedge loss of $342 million pretax was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax. Upon the redemption of the Special Mandatory Redemption Notes, the entire remaining unamortized effective portion of the hedge loss of $323 million pretax recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss was recognized as a realized capital loss in the three months ended March 31, 2017.

2020 Notes
On February 27, 2017, we announced the redemption for cash of the entire $750 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of our 3.95% senior notes due September 1, 2020 (the “2020 Notes”). We redeemed the 2020 Notes on March 29, 2017 at a redemption price that included a make-whole premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest. We funded the redemption from available cash and short-term debt. As a result of the redemption, we recorded a loss on the early extinguishment of long-term debt of $35 million ($54 million pretax) in the three months ended March 31, 2017. Upon redemption of the 2020 Notes, the entire remaining unamortized effective portion of the hedge loss of $13 million pretax related to the issuance of the 2020 Notes recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss was recognized as a realized capital loss in the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Refer to Note 10 for additional information regarding hedge losses reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income during the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Revolving Credit Facility
On March 27, 2012, we entered into an unsecured $1.5 billion five-year revolving credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with several financial institutions. On September 24, 2012, in connection with the acquisition of Coventry Health Care, Inc., we entered into a First Amendment (the “First Amendment”) to the Credit Agreement and also entered into an Incremental Commitment Agreement (the “Incremental Commitment Agreement”). On March 2, 2015, we entered into a Second Amendment to the Credit Agreement (the “Second Amendment”). On July 30, 2015, in connection with the Humana Transaction, we entered into a Third Amendment to the Credit Agreement (the “Third Amendment”). On March 17, 2017, we entered into a Fourth Amendment to the Credit Agreement (the “Fourth Amendment,” and together with the First Amendment, the Incremental Commitment Agreement, the Second Amendment, the Third Amendment and the Credit Agreement, resulting in the “Facility”). The Facility is an unsecured $2.0 billion revolving credit agreement that matures on March 27, 2021. The Third Amendment modified the calculation of total debt for purposes of determining compliance prior to the closing date of the Humana Transaction with certain covenants to exclude debt incurred by us to finance the Humana Transaction, the other financing transactions related to the Humana Transaction and/or the payment of fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith so long as either (A) the net proceeds of such debt were set aside to finance the Humana Transaction, the other financing transactions related to the Humana Transaction and/or the payment of fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith or (B) such debt was subject to mandatory redemption in the event that the Humana Merger Agreement was terminated or expired. Among other things, the Fourth Amendment extended the maturity date of the existing Credit Agreement to March 27, 2021, eliminated the availability of swingline loans, provided us with additional time on each business day to provide notice of borrowings and added customary provisions to reflect European Union “bail-in” directive legislation.

In addition, upon our agreement with one or more financial institutions, we may expand the commitments under the Facility by an additional $500 million. The Facility also provides for the issuance of up to $200 million of letters of credit at our request, which count as usage of the available commitments under the Facility.

Various interest rate options are available under the Facility.  Any revolving borrowings mature on the termination date of the Facility.  We pay facility fees on the Facility ranging from .050% to .150% per annum, depending upon our long-term senior unsecured debt rating.  The facility fee was .100% at March 31, 2018.  The Facility contains a financial covenant that requires us to maintain a ratio of total debt to consolidated capitalization as of the end of each fiscal quarter at or below 50%.  For this purpose, consolidated capitalization equals the sum of total shareholders’ equity, excluding any overfunded or underfunded status of our pension and OPEB plans and any net unrealized capital gains and losses, and total debt (as defined in the Facility). We met this requirement at March 31, 2018. There were no amounts outstanding under the Facility at any time during the three months ended March 31, 2018 or 2017.


Page 22



Terminated Term Loan Agreement
On July 30, 2015, in connection with the Humana Transaction, we entered into a senior three-year $3.2 billion term loan credit agreement (the “Term Loan Agreement”) with a group of seventeen lenders. The lenders’ commitments under the Term Loan Agreement terminated on February 14, 2017, as a result of the termination of the Humana Merger Agreement.

Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston
We are a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (the “FHLBB”), and as a member we have the ability to obtain cash advances, subject to certain minimum collateral requirements. Our maximum borrowing capacity available from the FHLBB at March 31, 2018 was approximately $800 million. At both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we did not have any outstanding borrowings from the FHLBB.

8.    Pension and Other Postretirement Plans

Defined Benefit Retirement Plans
Components of the net periodic (income) benefit cost of our defined benefit pension plans and OPEB plans for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:
 
Pension Plans
 
OPEB Plans
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
(Millions)
2018

 
2017

 
2018

 
2017

Amortization of prior service credit
$

 
$

 
$
(1
)
 
$
(1
)
Interest cost
50

 
51

 
2

 
2

Expected return on plan assets
(102
)
 
(95
)
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Recognized net actuarial losses
16

 
16

 
1

 
1

Net periodic (income) benefit cost
$
(36
)
 
$
(28
)
 
$
1

 
$
1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

9.    Shareholders’ Equity

Share Repurchases
On November 21, 2014 and February 28, 2014, our Board of Directors (our “Board”) authorized two separate share repurchase
programs of our common shares of up to $1.0 billion each. On February 17, 2017, our Board approved a new share repurchase program that authorized us to repurchase up to $4.0 billion of our common shares. The repurchases are effected from time to time in the open market, through negotiated transactions, including accelerated share repurchase (“ASR”) agreements, and through plans designed to comply with Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

On February 22, 2017, we entered into ASR agreements with two unrelated third party financial institutions to repurchase an aggregate of $3.3 billion of Aetna’s common shares. Under the terms of the ASR agreements, we made an approximately $1.7 billion payment to each unrelated third party financial institution on February 22, 2017 and received from each of them an initial delivery of approximately 10.4 million of our common shares on the same day, which represented approximately 80 percent of the total common shares expected to be repurchased under the ASR agreements based on the closing price of $126.34 per share on the day before we entered into the ASR agreements. In August 2017, we settled the ASR agreements and received approximately 2.7 million of our common shares based on the volume-weighted average share price of our common shares during the term of the applicable transaction, less a discount. The average price of our common shares repurchased under the ASR agreements was $140.09 per share.

We recorded the initial delivery of our common shares as a decrease to retained earnings of approximately $2.6 billion, and recorded the remaining approximately $0.7 billion as a decrease to additional paid-in capital in our Consolidated Balance Sheet. In August 2017, we reclassified the approximately $0.7 billion recorded as a decrease to additional paid-in capital to a reduction of retained earnings upon final settlement of the ASR agreements.

We did not repurchase any of our common shares during the three months ended March 31, 2018. At March 31, 2018, we had remaining authorization to repurchase an aggregate of up to approximately $1.2 billion of our common shares under the February 17, 2017 program. As a result of the CVS Merger Agreement, our ability to repurchase our common shares prior to the completion of the merger contemplated by the CVS Merger Agreement (the “Merger”) is limited.


Page 23



Dividends
During the three months ended March 31, 2018 our Board declared the following cash dividend:
Date Declared
 
Dividend Amount
Per Share

 
Shareholders of
Record Date
 
Date Paid/
To be Paid
 
Total Dividends
(Millions)

Three months ended March 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
February 23, 2018
 
$
.50

 
April 12, 2018
 
April 27, 2018
 
$
164


Under the terms of the CVS Merger Agreement, prior to the completion of the Merger, Aetna is not permitted to declare, set aside or pay any dividend or make any other distribution other than a regular quarterly cash dividend in the ordinary course of business, which cannot exceed $.50 per share. In addition, under the terms of the CVS Merger Agreement, we have agreed with CVS Health to coordinate the declaration and payment of dividends so that our shareholders do not fail to receive a quarterly dividend around the time of closing the Merger.

Declaration and payment of future dividends are at the discretion of our Board and may be adjusted at any time without prior notice as business needs or marketplace conditions change.

Stock-based Employee Incentive Plans
On March 2, 2018, 1.0 million restricted stock units (“RSUs”) were granted to certain employees. Each vested RSU represents one common share and will be paid in common shares, net of taxes, at the end of the applicable vesting period.  The RSUs generally will become 100% vested approximately three years from the grant date, with one-third vesting each December. No performance stock units or stock appreciation rights were granted during the three months ended March 31, 2018.

The stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) granted to certain employees during first quarter of 2017 had an estimated grant date fair value per SAR of $32.30. The grant date fair value per SAR was calculated using a modified Black-Scholes option pricing model using the following assumptions during the first quarter of 2017:
 
 
2017

Expected term (in years)
 
7.21

Volatility
 
26.52
%
Risk-free interest rate
 
2.22
%
Dividend yield
 
1.71
%
Initial price
 
$
125.27

 
 
 

The expected term is based on historical equity award activity. Volatility is based on a weighted average of the historical volatility of our stock price and implied volatility from traded options on our stock. The risk-free interest rate is based on a U.S. Treasury rate with a life equal to the expected life of the SARs grant. This rate was calculated by interpolating between the 7-year and 10-year U.S. Treasury rates for the 2017 SARs grant. The dividend yield is based on our expected dividends for the upcoming 12 months subsequent to the grant date.

Regulatory Requirements
Under applicable regulatory requirements at March 31, 2018, the amount of dividends that may be paid through the end of 2018 by our insurance and HMO subsidiaries without prior approval by regulatory authorities was $1.5 billion in the aggregate. There are no such regulatory restrictions on distributions from Aetna to its shareholders. During the first quarter of 2018, our insurance and HMO subsidiaries paid $100 million of dividends to the Company.

The combined statutory capital and surplus of our insurance and HMO subsidiaries was $10.1 billion and $9.4 billion at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

Non-controlling (Minority) Interests
At March 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, continuing business non-controlling interests were $267 million and $257 million, respectively, primarily related to third party interests in our operating entities. 


Page 24



10.    Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income

Shareholders’ equity included the following activity in accumulated other comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
(Millions)
2018
 
2017
Previously impaired debt securities: (1)
 
 
 
Beginning of period balance
$
5

 
$
16

Adoption of new accounting standard (Note 2)
1

 

Net unrealized losses ($(15) and $(2) pretax)
(12
)
 
(1
)
Less: Net reclassification of losses to earnings ($(14) and $(2) pretax) (2)
(11
)
 
(1
)
Other comprehensive (loss) income
(1
)
 

End of period balance
5

 
16

 
 
 
 
All other securities:
 
 
 
Beginning of period balance
326

 
297

Adoption of new accounting standards (Note 2) ($7 pretax)

65

 

Net unrealized (losses) gains ($(256) and $92 pretax)
(202
)
 
60

Less: Net reclassification of gains to earnings ($23 and $25 pretax) (2)
18

 
16

Other comprehensive (loss) income
(220
)
 
44

End of period balance
171

 
341

 
 
 
 
Derivatives and foreign currency:
 
 
 
Beginning of period balance
(4
)
 
(235
)
Adoption of new accounting standard (Note 2)

(1
)
 

Net unrealized losses ($0 and $(2) pretax)

 
(1
)
Less: Net reclassification of losses to earnings ($(1) and $(343) pretax) (3)
(1
)
 
(223
)
Other comprehensive income
1

 
222

End of period balance
(4
)
 
(13
)
 
 
 
 
Pension and OPEB plans:
 
 
 
Beginning of period balance
(1,571
)
 
(1,630
)
Adoption of new accounting standard (Note 2)

(342
)
 

Less: Net amortization of net actuarial losses ($(16) and $(17) pretax) (4)
(13
)
 
(11
)
Less: Net amortization of prior service credit ($1 and $2 pretax) (4)
1

 
1

Other comprehensive income
12

 
10

End of period balance
(1,901
)
 
(1,620
)
 
 
 
 
Total beginning of period accumulated other comprehensive loss
(1,244
)
 
(1,552
)
Adoption of new accounting standards (Note 2)

(277
)
 

Total other comprehensive (loss) income
(208
)
 
276

Total end of period accumulated other comprehensive loss
$
(1,729
)
 
$
(1,276
)
(1) 
Represents specifically identified unrealized gains and losses on the non-credit related component of impaired debt securities that we do not intend to sell and subsequent changes in the fair value of any previously impaired security.
(2) 
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income for specifically identified previously impaired debt securities and all other securities are reflected in net realized capital gains (losses) within our Consolidated Statements of Income.
(3) 
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income for specifically identified foreign currency gains (losses) and derivatives are reflected in net realized capital gains (losses) within our Consolidated Statements of Income, except for the specifically identified effective portion of derivatives related to cash flow hedges which are reflected in interest expense. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, we redeemed the entire $10.2 billion aggregate principal amount of the Special Mandatory Redemption Notes and the entire $750 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of the 2020 Notes and reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income the remaining $336 million pre-tax unrealized hedge losses as a realized capital loss within our Consolidated Statements of Income. Refer to Note 7 for additional information.

Page 25



(4) 
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income for specifically identified pension and OPEB plan expenses are reflected in operating expenses within our Consolidated Statements of Income. Refer to Note 8 for additional information.

11.
Earnings Per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net income (loss) attributable to Aetna by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period.  Diluted EPS is computed in a similar manner, except that the weighted average number of common shares outstanding is adjusted for the dilutive effects of our outstanding stock-based compensation awards, but only if the effect is dilutive.

The computations of basic and diluted EPS for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
(Millions, except per common share data)
2018

 
2017

Net income (loss) attributable to Aetna
$
1,209

 
$
(381
)
Weighted average shares used to compute basic EPS
327.6

 
343.8

Dilutive effect of outstanding stock-based compensation awards
2.0

 

Weighted average shares used to compute diluted EPS
329.6

 
343.8

Basic EPS
$
3.69

 
$
(1.11
)
Diluted EPS
$
3.67

 
$
(1.11
)
 
 
 
 

The stock-based compensation awards excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
(Millions)
2018

 
2017

SARs (1)

 

Other stock-based compensation awards (2)
.6

 
.9

In-the-money anti-dilutive stock-based compensation awards (3)

 
10.6

 
 
 
 
(1) 
SARs are excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS if the exercise price is greater than the average market price of Aetna common shares during the period (i.e., the awards are anti-dilutive).
(2) 
PSUs and certain market stock units with performance conditions are excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS if all necessary performance conditions have not been satisfied at the end of the reporting period.
(3) 
In periods when we report a net loss attributable to Aetna, in-the-money stock-based compensation awards are excluded from our calculation of diluted EPS because their inclusion would have an anti-dilutive effect. Therefore we excluded from our calculation of diluted EPS for the three months ended March 31, 2017 in-the-money stock-based compensation awards which would have increased our weighted-average shares used to compute diluted EPS by 2.4 million shares.

12.     Reinsurance

We utilize reinsurance agreements primarily to reduce our required capital and to facilitate the acquisition or disposition of certain insurance contracts. Ceded reinsurance agreements permit us to recover a portion of our losses from reinsurers, although they do not discharge our primary liability as the direct insurer of the risks reinsured.

In January 2018, we entered into two four-year reinsurance agreements with an unrelated reinsurer. The agreements allow us to reduce our required capital and provide collateralized excess of loss reinsurance coverage on a portion of our group Commercial Insured Health Care business.


Page 26



13.    Commitments and Contingencies

Guaranty Fund Assessments, Market Stabilization and Other Non-Voluntary Risk Sharing Pools
Under guaranty fund laws existing in all states, insurers doing business in those states can be assessed (in most states up to prescribed limits) for certain obligations of insolvent insurance companies to policyholders and claimants. The life and health insurance guaranty associations in which we participate that operate under these laws respond to insolvencies of long-term care insurers as well as health insurers. Our assessments generally are based on a formula relating to our health care premiums in the state compared to the premiums of other insurers. Certain states allow assessments to be recovered over time as offsets to premium taxes. Some states have similar laws relating to HMOs and/or other payors such as not-for-profit consumer-governed health plans established under the ACA.

In 2009, the Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner (the “Commissioner”) placed long-term care insurer Penn Treaty Network America Insurance Company and one of its subsidiaries (collectively, “Penn Treaty”) in rehabilitation, an intermediate action before insolvency, and subsequently petitioned a state court to convert the rehabilitation into a liquidation. Penn Treaty was placed in liquidation in March 2017. During the first quarter of 2017, we recorded a discounted estimated liability and expense of $231 million pretax for our estimated share of future assessments by applicable life and health guaranty associations which reflects a 3.5% discount rate. The undiscounted estimated liability was $347 million. The expense was recorded in operating expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Income, and the liability was recorded in accrued expenses and other current liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We did not record an asset for expected premium tax offsets for our in force business at March 31, 2018 as the amount was not material. It is reasonably possible that in the future we may record a liability and expense relating to other insolvencies which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial position and cash flows. While historically we have ultimately recovered more than half of guaranty fund assessments through statutorily permitted premium tax offsets, significant increases in assessments could lead to legislative and/or regulatory actions that may limit future offsets.

HMOs in certain states in which we do business are subject to assessments, including market stabilization and other risk-sharing pools, for which we are assessed charges based on incurred claims, demographic membership mix and other factors. We establish liabilities for these assessments based on applicable laws and regulations. In certain states, the ultimate assessments we pay are dependent upon our experience relative to other entities subject to the assessment, and the ultimate liability is not known at the financial statement date. While the ultimate amount of the assessment is dependent upon the experience of all pool participants, we believe we have adequate reserves to cover such assessments.

Litigation and Regulatory Proceedings
Out-of-Network Benefit Proceedings
We are named as a defendant in several purported class actions and individual lawsuits arising out of our practices related to the payment of claims for services rendered to our members by health care providers with whom we do not have a contract (“out-of-network providers”). Among other things, these lawsuits allege that we paid too little to our health plan members and/or providers for these services, among other reasons, because of our use of data provided by Ingenix, Inc., a subsidiary of one of our competitors (“Ingenix”). Other major health insurers are the subject of similar litigation or have settled similar litigation.  

Various plaintiffs who are health care providers or medical associations seek to represent nationwide classes of out-of-network providers who provided services to our members during the period from 2001 to the present.  Various plaintiffs who are members in our health plans seek to represent nationwide classes of our members who received services from out-of-network providers during the period from 2001 to the present.  Taken together, these lawsuits allege that we violated state law, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”) and federal antitrust laws, either acting alone or in concert with our competitors.  The purported classes seek reimbursement of all unpaid benefits, recalculation and repayment of deductible and coinsurance amounts, unspecified damages and treble damages, statutory penalties, injunctive and declaratory relief, plus interest, costs and attorneys’ fees, and seek to disqualify us from acting as a fiduciary of any benefit plan that is subject to ERISA.  Individual lawsuits that generally contain similar allegations and seek similar relief have been brought by health plan members and out-of-network providers.

The first class action case was commenced on July 30, 2007.  The federal Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation (the “MDL Panel”) has consolidated these class action cases in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey (the “New Jersey District Court”) under the caption In re: Aetna UCR Litigation, MDL No. 2020 (“MDL 2020”).   In addition, the MDL Panel has transferred the individual lawsuits to MDL 2020.  On May 9, 2011, the New Jersey District Court dismissed the physician plaintiffs from MDL 2020 without prejudice.  The New Jersey District Court’s action followed a ruling by the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (the “Florida District Court”) that the physician plaintiffs were enjoined from

Page 27



participating in MDL 2020 due to a prior settlement and release.  The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has dismissed the physician plaintiffs’ appeal of the Florida District Court’s ruling.

On December 6, 2012, we entered into an agreement to settle MDL 2020. Under the terms of the proposed nationwide settlement, we would have been released from claims relating to our out-of-network reimbursement practices from the beginning of the applicable settlement class period through August 30, 2013. The settlement agreement did not contain an admission of wrongdoing. The medical associations were not parties to the settlement agreement.

Under the settlement agreement, we would have paid up to $120 million to fund claims submitted by health plan members and health care providers who were members of the settlement classes. These payments also would have funded the legal fees of plaintiffs’ counsel and the costs of administering the settlement. In connection with the proposed settlement, the Company recorded an after-tax charge to net income attributable to Aetna of $78 million in the fourth quarter of 2012.

The settlement agreement provided us the right to terminate the agreement under certain conditions related to settlement class members who opted out of the settlement. Based on a report provided to the parties by the settlement administrator, the conditions permitting us to terminate the settlement agreement were satisfied. On March 13, 2014, we notified the New Jersey District Court and plaintiffs’ counsel that we were terminating the settlement agreement. Various legal and factual developments since the date of the settlement agreement led us to believe terminating the settlement agreement was in our best interests. As a result of this termination, we released the reserve established in connection with the settlement agreement, net of amounts due to the settlement administrator, which reduced first quarter 2014 other general and administrative expenses by $103 million pretax.

On June 30, 2015, the New Jersey District Court granted in part our motion to dismiss the proceeding. The New Jersey District Court dismissed with prejudice the plaintiffs’ RICO and federal antitrust claims; their ERISA claims that are based on our disclosures and our purported breach of fiduciary duties; and certain of their state law claims. The New Jersey District Court also dismissed with prejudice all claims asserted by several medical association plaintiffs. The plaintiffs’ remaining claims are for ERISA benefits and breach of contract. We intend to defend ourselves vigorously against the plaintiffs’ remaining claims.

We also have received subpoenas and/or requests for documents and other information from, and been investigated by, attorneys general and other state and/or federal regulators, legislators and agencies relating to, and we are involved in other litigation regarding, our out-of-network benefit payment and administration practices.  It is reasonably possible that others could initiate additional litigation or additional regulatory action against us with respect to our out-of-network benefit payment and/or administration practices.

CMS Actions
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) regularly audits our performance to determine our compliance with CMS’s regulations and our contracts with CMS and to assess the quality of services we provide to Medicare beneficiaries.  CMS uses various payment mechanisms to allocate and adjust premium payments to our and other companies’ Medicare plans by considering the applicable health status of Medicare members as supported by information prepared, maintained and provided by health care providers.  We collect claim and encounter data from providers and generally rely on providers to appropriately code their submissions to us and document their medical records, including the diagnosis data submitted to us with claims.  CMS pays increased premiums to Medicare Advantage plans and prescription drug program plans for members who have certain medical conditions identified with specific diagnosis codes.  Federal regulators review and audit the providers’ medical records to determine whether those records support the related diagnosis codes that determine the members’ health status and the resulting risk-adjusted premium payments to us.  In that regard, CMS has instituted risk adjustment data validation (“RADV”) audits of various Medicare Advantage plans, including certain of the Company’s plans, to validate coding practices and supporting medical record documentation maintained by health care providers and the resulting risk adjusted premium payments to the plans. CMS may require us to refund premium payments if our risk adjusted premiums are not properly supported by medical record data. The Office of Inspector General (the “OIG”) also is auditing our risk adjustment-related data and that of other companies. We expect CMS and the OIG to continue these types of audits.

CMS revised its audit methodology for RADV audits to determine refunds payable by Medicare Advantage plans for contract year 2011 and forward. Under the revised methodology, among other things, CMS will project the error rate identified in the audit sample of approximately 200 members to all risk adjusted premium payments made under the contract being audited.  Historically, CMS did not project sample error rates to the entire contract.  As a result, the revised methodology may increase our exposure to premium refunds to CMS based on incomplete medical records maintained by providers.  Since 2013, CMS has selected certain of our Medicare Advantage contracts for various contract years for RADV audit.  We are currently unable to predict which of our Medicare Advantage contracts will be selected for future audit, the amounts of any retroactive refunds of, or prospective adjustments to, Medicare Advantage premium payments made to us, the effect of any such refunds or

Page 28



adjustments on the actuarial soundness of our Medicare Advantage bids, or whether any RADV audit findings would cause a change to our method of estimating future premium revenue in future bid submissions to CMS or compromise premium assumptions made in our bids for prior contract years, the current contract year or future contract years.  Any premium or fee refunds or adjustments resulting from regulatory audits, whether as a result of RADV, Public Exchange related or other audits by CMS, the OIG, HHS or otherwise, including audits of our minimum medical loss ratio rebates, methodology and/or reports, could be material and could adversely affect our operating results, financial position and cash flows.

Other Litigation and Regulatory Proceedings
We are involved in numerous other lawsuits arising, for the most part, in the ordinary course of our business operations, including claims of or relating to bad faith, medical malpractice, non-compliance with state and federal regulatory regimes, marketing misconduct, failure to timely or appropriately pay or administer claims and benefits in our Health Care and divested group insurance businesses (including our post-payment audit and collection practices and reductions in payments to providers due to sequestration), provider network structure (including the use of performance-based networks and termination of provider contracts), provider directory accuracy, rescission of insurance coverage, improper disclosure of personal information, anticompetitive practices, intellectual property litigation, other legal proceedings in our Health Care and divested group insurance businesses and employment litigation.  Some of these other lawsuits are or are purported to be class actions.  We intend to defend ourselves vigorously against the claims brought in these matters.

Awards to us and others of certain government contracts, particularly Medicaid contracts and contracts with government customers in our Commercial business, are subject to increasingly frequent protests by unsuccessful bidders. These protests may result in awards to us being reversed, delayed or modified. The loss or delay in implementation of any government contract could adversely affect our operating results. We will continue to defend vigorously contract awards we receive.

In addition, our operations, current and past business practices, current and past contracts, and accounts and other books and records are subject to routine, regular and special investigations, audits, examinations and reviews by, and from time to time we receive subpoenas and other requests for information from, CMS, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, various state insurance and health care regulatory authorities, state attorneys general, treasurers and offices of inspector general, the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, the OIG, the Office of Personnel Management, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, committees, subcommittees and members of the U.S. Congress, the DOJ, the Federal Trade Commission, U.S. attorneys and other state, federal and international governmental authorities. These government actions include inquiries by, and testimony before, certain members, committees and subcommittees of the U.S. Congress regarding the CVS Health Transaction, our withdrawal from certain states’ Public Exchanges for 2017, certain of our current and past business practices, including our overall claims processing and payment practices, our business practices with respect to our small group products, student health products or individual customers (such as market withdrawals, rating information, premium increases and medical benefit ratios), executive compensation matters and travel and entertainment expenses, as well as the investigations by, and subpoenas and requests from, attorneys general and others described above under “Out-of-Network Benefit Proceedings.”  We also have produced documents and information to the Civil Division of the DOJ in cooperation with a current investigation of our patient chart review processes in connection with risk adjustment data submissions under Parts C and D of the Medicare program.

A significant number of states are investigating life insurers’ claims payment and related escheat practices. These investigations have resulted in significant charges to earnings by other life insurers in connection with related settlements. We have received requests for information from a number of states, and certain of our subsidiaries are being audited, with respect to our life insurance claim payment and related escheat practices.  In the fourth quarter of 2013, we made changes to our life insurance claim payment practices (including related escheatment practices) based on evolving industry practices and regulatory expectations and interpretations, including expanding our existing use of the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File to identify additional potentially unclaimed death benefits and locate applicable beneficiaries. As a result of these changes, in the fourth quarter of 2013, we increased our estimated liability for unpaid life insurance claims with respect to insureds who passed away on or before December 31, 2013, and recorded in current and future benefits a charge of $36 million ($55 million pretax). Given the judicial, legislative and regulatory uncertainty with respect to life insurance claim payment and related escheat practices, it is reasonably possible that we may incur additional liability related to those practices, whether as a result of litigation, government actions or otherwise, which could adversely affect our operating results and cash flows.

There also continues to be a heightened level of review and/or audit by regulatory authorities of, and increased litigation regarding, our and the rest of the health care and related benefits industry’s business and reporting practices, including premium rate increases, utilization management, development and application of medical policies, complaint, grievance and appeal processing, information privacy, provider network structure (including provider network adequacy, the use of performance-based networks and termination of provider contracts), provider directory accuracy, calculation of minimum medical loss ratios and/or payment of related rebates, delegated arrangements, rescission of insurance coverage, limited benefit health products,

Page 29



student health products, pharmacy benefit management practices (including the use of narrow networks and the placement of drugs in formulary tiers), sales practices, customer service practices, vendor oversight and claim payment practices (including payments to out-of-network providers).

As a leading national health and related benefits company, we regularly are the subject of government actions of the types described above.  These government actions may prevent or delay us from implementing planned premium rate increases and may result, and have resulted, in restrictions on our business, changes to or clarifications of our business practices, retroactive adjustments to premiums, refunds or other payments to members, beneficiaries, states or the federal government, withholding of premium payments to us by government agencies, assessments of damages, civil or criminal fines or penalties, or other sanctions, including the possible suspension or loss of licensure and/or suspension or exclusion from participation in government programs.

Estimating the probable losses or a range of probable losses resulting from litigation, government actions and other legal proceedings is inherently difficult and requires an extensive degree of judgment, particularly where the matters involve indeterminate claims for monetary damages, involve claims for injunctive relief, may involve fines, penalties or punitive damages that are discretionary in amount, involve a large number of claimants or regulatory authorities, represent a change in regulatory policy, present novel legal theories, are in the early stages of the proceedings, are subject to appeal or could result in changes in business practices.  In addition, because most legal proceedings are resolved over long periods of time, potential losses are subject to change due to, among other things, new developments, changes in litigation strategy, the outcome of intermediate procedural and substantive rulings and other parties’ settlement posture and their evaluation of the strength or weakness of their case against us. Except as specifically noted above under “Other Litigation and Regulatory Proceedings,” we are currently unable to predict the ultimate outcome of, or reasonably estimate the losses or a range of losses resulting from, the matters described above under “Litigation and Regulatory Proceedings”, and it is reasonably possible that their outcome could be material to us.

14.    Segment Information

Effective for the first quarter of 2018, we realigned our business segments to correspond with changes to our management structure and internal management reporting, which reflect our evolving business strategy of helping our members live healthier lives. Refer to Note 1 for further discussion.

Non-GAAP financial measures we disclose, such as adjusted earnings and pre-tax adjusted earnings, should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures determined or calculated in accordance with GAAP. The chief executive officer assesses our consolidated results based on adjusted earnings and assesses business segment results based on pre-tax adjusted earnings because income taxes are recorded in our Corporate/Other category and are not allocated to our business operations.

Summarized financial information of our segment operations(1) for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:
(Millions)
Health
Care

 
Corporate/Other

 
Total Company

Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue from external customers
$
14,995

 
$
137

 
$
15,132

Pre-tax adjusted earnings (loss)(2)
1,486

 
(48
)
 
1,438

Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
 

 
 

 
 

Revenue from external customers
$
14,688

 
$
550

 
$
15,238

Pre-tax adjusted earnings (loss)(2)
1,481

 
(30
)
 
1,451

 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) 
Total assets by segment are not disclosed as this information is not reviewed by the chief executive officer.
(2) 
Pre-tax adjusted earnings (loss) excludes net realized capital gains or losses, amortization of other acquired intangible assets and the other items described in the reconciliation below.


Page 30



A reconciliation of income (loss) before income taxes to pre-tax adjusted earnings (1) for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 follows:
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
(Millions)
2018

 
2017

Income (loss) before income taxes (GAAP measure)
$
1,465

 
$
(628
)
Less: Income before income taxes attributable to non-controlling interests (GAAP measure)
13

 
3

Income (loss) before income taxes attributable to Aetna (GAAP measure)
1,452

 
(631
)
Gain related to sale of certain domestic group insurance businesses
(113
)
 

Transaction and integration-related costs
58

 
1,212

Loss on early extinguishment of long-term debt

 
246

Penn Treaty-related guaranty fund assessments

 
231

Amortization of other acquired intangible assets
47

 
60

Net realized capital (gains) losses
(6
)
 
333

Pre-tax adjusted earnings (1)
$
1,438

 
$
1,451

 
 
 
 
(1) 
In addition to net realized capital gains and losses and amortization of other acquired intangible assets, the following other items are excluded from adjusted earnings and pre-tax adjusted earnings because we believe they neither relate to the ordinary course of our business nor reflect our underlying business performance:
During 2017, we sold our domestic group life insurance, group disability insurance and absence management businesses. The transaction was accomplished through an indemnity reinsurance arrangement. A significant portion of the gain on sale was deferred and will be amortized into earnings: (a) over the remaining contract period (estimated to be approximately 3 years) in proportion to the amount of insurance protection provided for the prospective reinsurance portion of the gain; and (b) as we recover amounts due from HLAIC over a period estimated to be approximately 30 years for the retrospective reinsurance portion of the gain. The gain recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2018 does not directly relate to the underwriting or servicing of products for customers and is not directly related to the core performance of our business operations.
We recorded transaction and integration-related costs during the three months ended March 31, 2018 related to our proposed acquisition by CVS Health. We also recorded transaction and integration-related costs during the three months ended March 31, 2017 primarily related to the Humana Transaction. Transaction costs include costs associated with the transactions contemplated by the CVS Merger Agreement, real estate costs associated with the cancellation of our previously announced headquarters relocation which will no longer occur due to CVS Health’s proposed acquisition of Aetna, the termination of the Humana Merger Agreement, the termination of our agreement to sell certain assets to Molina and advisory, legal and other professional fees which are reflected in our GAAP Consolidated Statements of Income in operating expenses. Transaction costs also include the negative cost of carry associated with the debt financing that we obtained in June 2016 for the Humana Transaction. Prior to the mandatory redemption of the Special Mandatory Redemption Notes, the negative cost of carry associated with these senior notes was excluded from adjusted earnings and pre-tax adjusted earnings. The negative cost of carry associated with the $2.8 billion aggregate principal amount of our senior notes issued in June 2016 that are not subject to mandatory redemption (the “Other 2016 Senior Notes”) was excluded from adjusted earnings and pre-tax adjusted earnings through the date of the termination of the Humana Merger Agreement. The components of the negative cost of carry are reflected in our GAAP Consolidated Statements of Income in interest expense and net investment income. Subsequent to the termination of the Humana Merger Agreement, the interest expense and net investment income associated with the Other 2016 Senior Notes were no longer excluded from adjusted earnings and pre-tax adjusted earnings.
During the three months ended March 31, 2017, we incurred losses on the early extinguishment of long-term debt due to (a) the mandatory redemption of the $10.2 billion aggregate principal amount of the Special Mandatory Redemption Notes following the termination of the Humana Merger Agreement and (b) the early redemption of the entire $750 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of the 2020 Notes.
During the three months ended March 31, 2017, we recorded an expense for estimated future guaranty fund assessments related to Penn Treaty, which was placed in rehabilitation in 2009 and placed in liquidation in March 2017. This expense does not directly relate to the underwriting or servicing of products for customers and is not directly related to the core performance of our business operations.

15.
Discontinued Products

Prior to 1993, we sold single-premium annuities (“SPAs”) and guaranteed investment contracts (“GICs”), primarily to employer sponsored pension plans.  In 1993, we discontinued selling these products to large case pensions customers, and now we refer to these products as discontinued products. In November 2016, the last outstanding GIC matured.


Page 31



We discontinued selling these products because they were generating losses for us, and we projected that they would continue to generate losses over their life (which is currently greater than 30 years for SPAs); so we established a reserve for anticipated future losses at the time of discontinuance. This reserve represents the present value (at the risk-free rate of return consistent with the duration of the liabilities) of the difference between the expected cash flows from the assets supporting these products and the cash flows expected to be required to meet the obligations of the outstanding contracts. 

Key assumptions in setting the reserve for anticipated future losses include future investment results, payments to retirees, mortality and retirement rates and the cost of asset management and customer service.  In 2014, we modified the mortality tables used in order to reflect the more up-to-date 2014 Retired Pensioner’s Mortality table. The mortality tables were previously modified in 2012, in order to reflect the more up-to-date 2000 Retired Pensioner’s Mortality table, and in 1995, in order to reflect the more up-to-date 1994 Uninsured Pensioner’s Mortality table. In 1997, we began the use of a bond default assumption to reflect historical default experience. Other than these changes, since 1993 there have been no significant changes to the assumptions underlying the reserve.

We review the adequacy of this reserve quarterly based on actual experience. As long as our expected future losses remain consistent with prior projections, the results of the discontinued products are applied against the reserve and do not impact net income attributable to Aetna. If actual or expected future losses are greater than we currently estimate, we may increase the reserve, which could adversely impact net income attributable to Aetna. If actual or expected future losses are less than we currently estimate, we may decrease the reserve, which could favorably impact net income attributable to Aetna. The reserve at each of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 reflects management’s best estimate of anticipated future losses and is included in future policy benefits in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The activity in the reserve for anticipated future losses on discontinued products for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was as follows (pretax):
(Millions)
2018

 
2017

Reserve, beginning of period
$
954

 
$
962

Operating income
1

 
16

Net realized capital gains
10

 
14

Reserve, end of period
$
965

 
$
992


During the three months ended March 31, 2018, our discontinued products reflected operating income and net realized capital gains, primarily attributable to gains from the sale of debt securities. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, our discontinued products reflected operating income and net realized capital gains, primarily attributable to gains from the sale of investment real estate and debt securities.


Page 32



Assets and liabilities supporting discontinued products (1) at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were as follows:
(Millions)
2018

 
2017

Assets:
 
 
 
Debt and equity securities available for sale
$
1,533

 
$
1,623

Mortgage loans
526

 
567

Other investments
549

 
564

Total investments
2,608

 
2,754

Other assets
112

 
71

Receivable from continuing products (2)
481

 
474

Total assets
$
3,201

 
$
3,299

Liabilities:
 

 
 

Future policy benefits
$
2,124

 
$
2,165

Reserve for anticipated future losses on discontinued products
965

 
954

Current and deferred income taxes
19

 
22

Other liabilities (3)
93

 
158

Total liabilities
$
3,201

 
$
3,299

 
 
 
 
(1) 
Assets supporting the discontinued products are distinguished from assets supporting continuing products.
(2) 
At the time of discontinuance, a receivable from large case pensions’ continuing products was established on the discontinued products balance sheet. This receivable represented the net present value of anticipated cash shortfalls in the discontinued products, which will be funded from continuing products. Interest on the receivable is accrued at the discount rate that was used to calculate the reserve. The offsetting payable, on which interest is similarly accrued, is reflected in continuing products. Interest on the payable generally offsets investment income on the assets available to fund the shortfall. These amounts are eliminated in consolidation.
(3) 
Net unrealized capital gains on the available-for-sale debt securities are included in other liabilities and are not reflected in consolidated shareholders’ equity.

The distributions on our discontinued products consisted of benefit payments of $77 million and $84 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Participant-directed withdrawals from our discontinued products were not significant during the three months ended March 31, 2018 or 2017.  Cash required to fund these distributions was provided by earnings and scheduled payments on, and sales of, invested assets.
    

Page 33


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Aetna Inc.:
Results of Review of Interim Financial Information
We have reviewed the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Aetna Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of March 31, 2018, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, and the related notes (collectively, the “consolidated interim financial information”). Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the consolidated interim financial information for it to be in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We have previously audited, in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the “PCAOB”), the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2017, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated February 23, 2018, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.
Basis for Review Results
The consolidated interim financial information is the responsibility of the Company’s management. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with the respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. A review of consolidated interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.
/s/ KPMG LLP
 
Hartford, Connecticut
May 1, 2018

Page 34


Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”)

OVERVIEW

We are one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving an estimated 40.3 million people. We have the information and resources to help our members, in consultation with their health care professionals, make better informed decisions about their health care. We offer a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental and behavioral health plans, medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans, workers’ compensation administrative services and health information technology products and services. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers (“providers”), governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates.

On December 3, 2017, we entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by CVS Health Corporation (“CVS Health”). See “Significant Transactions - Proposed Acquisition by CVS Health” below. On November 1, 2017, we sold our domestic group life insurance, group disability insurance and absence management businesses to Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company (“HLAIC”). See “Significant Transactions - Divestiture of Domestic Group Life Insurance, Group Disability Insurance, and Absence Management Businesses” below.

Effective for the first quarter of 2018, we realigned our business segments to correspond with changes to our management structure and internal management reporting, which reflect our evolving business strategy of helping our members live healthier lives. Refer to “Segment Results and Use of Non-GAAP Measures in this Document” for further discussion.

The following MD&A provides a review of our financial condition at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. This Overview should be read in conjunction with the entire MD&A, which contains detailed information that is important to understanding our operating results and financial condition, the consolidated financial statements and other data presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as well as the MD&A contained in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K (our “2017 Annual Report”).  This Overview is qualified in its entirety by the full MD&A.

Summarized Results
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
Change
(Millions)
2018

 
2017

 
$
 
%
Total revenue
$
15,335

 
$
15,165

 
$
170

 
1
%
Net income (loss) attributable to Aetna
1,209

 
(381
)
 
1,590

 
417
%
Adjusted earnings (1)
1,051

 
939

 
112

 
12
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Page 35



A reconciliation of net income (loss) attributable to Aetna to adjusted earnings (1) for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 follows:
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
(Millions)
2018

 
2017

Net income (loss) attributable to Aetna (GAAP measure)
$
1,209

 
$
(381
)
Gain related to sale of certain domestic group insurance businesses
(113
)
 

Transaction and integration-related costs
58

1,212

1,212

Loss on early extinguishment of long-term debt

 
246

Penn Treaty-related guaranty fund assessments

 
231

Amortization of other acquired intangible assets
47

 
60

Net realized capital (gains) losses
(6
)
 
333

Income tax benefit (2)
(144
)
 
(762
)
Adjusted earnings (1)
$
1,051

 
$
939

 
 
 
 
(1) 
Adjusted earnings excludes from net income (loss) attributable to Aetna net realized capital gains and losses, amortization of other acquired intangible assets and the other items described in the reconciliation in Note 14 “Segment Information” included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. In addition, adjusted earnings excludes from net income (loss) attributable to Aetna the corresponding tax benefit or expense related to the items excluded from adjusted earnings discussed above and the non-recurring tax benefit described in note (2) immediately below. The tax benefit or expense was calculated utilizing the appropriate tax rate for each individual item excluded from adjusted earnings.
(2) 
For U.S. income tax purposes, we made an election to liquidate a domestic subsidiary, which resulted in a non-recurring tax benefit of $149 million recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Our discussion of consolidated operating results is based on adjusted earnings, which is a non-GAAP measure of net income attributable to Aetna (the term “GAAP” refers to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles). Our discussion of operating results for our reportable business segment is based on pre-tax adjusted earnings which is a non-GAAP measure of income before income taxes attributable to Aetna. Non-GAAP financial measures we disclose, such as adjusted earnings and pre-tax adjusted earnings, should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures determined or calculated in accordance with GAAP. Refer to “Segment Results and Use of Non-GAAP Measures in this Document” for a discussion of non-GAAP measures.

Commentary
Net income attributable to Aetna was $1.2 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared with a net loss of $381 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The increase in net income during the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared with a net loss during the three months ended March 31, 2017 was primarily due to the three months ended March 31, 2017 reflecting costs associated with the termination of the Humana Merger Agreement and the increase in adjusted earnings described below.
Adjusted earnings increased $112 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017. The increase in adjusted earnings during the three months ended March 31, 2018 was primarily due to the favorable impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “TCJA”).
Total revenue increased $170 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017. The increase in total revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2018 was primarily due to:
Membership growth in our Medicare products;
The adoption of new accounting guidance related to revenue recognition effective during first-quarter 2018;
The three months ended March 31, 2017 reflecting a realized capital loss of $336 million pre-tax due to unamortized cash flow hedge losses being recognized into earnings upon the redemption of certain of our senior notes; and
The favorable impact of the reinstatement of the ACA’s (as defined below) health insurer fee (the “HIF”) for 2018; largely offset by
Lower membership in our ACA compliant individual and small group and Medicaid products; and
The Group Insurance sale (as defined below) during the fourth quarter of 2017.

Page 36



Our effective tax rate was 16.8 percent and 39.6 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The decrease in our effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was primarily due to the reduced corporate income tax rate specified in the TCJA and a non-recurring tax benefit recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2018, partially offset by the reinstatement of the non-deductible HIF in 2018.

2018 Outlook Update
Our 2017 quarterly adjusted earnings progression pattern was significantly impacted by changes in our estimates of risk adjustment payables for our individual and small group ACA compliant products during the second quarter and by targeted investment spending on our growth initiatives during the fourth quarter. We project our 2018 quarterly adjusted earnings progression pattern will be more consistent with the pattern in the years prior to 2017, with quarterly adjusted earnings being highest in the first quarter of 2018 and lowest in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Significant Transactions
Proposed Acquisition by CVS Health
On December 3, 2017, we entered into a definitive agreement (the “CVS Merger Agreement”) under which CVS Health Corporation (“CVS Health”) has agreed to acquire all of our outstanding shares for a combination of cash and stock. Under terms of the agreement, our shareholders will receive $145 in cash and 0.8378 of a CVS Health common share for each of our common shares. The proposed transaction (the “CVS Health Transaction”) is subject to customary closing conditions, including the expiration of the federal Hart-Scott-Rodino anti-trust waiting period and approvals of certain state departments of insurance and other regulators. On February 1, 2018, Aetna and CVS Health each received a request for additional information (also known as a “second request”) from the U.S. Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) in connection with the DOJ’s review of the transactions contemplated by the CVS Merger Agreement. On March 13, 2018, our shareholders approved and adopted the CVS Merger Agreement and CVS Health’s stockholders approved the issuance of CVS Health shares in the transaction. The CVS Health Transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2018.

Divestiture of Domestic Group Life Insurance, Group Disability Insurance and Absence Management Businesses
On November 1, 2017, we completed the sale of our domestic group life insurance, group disability insurance and absence management businesses (the “Group Insurance sale”) to Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company (“HLAIC”) for cash consideration of $1.45 billion. The transaction was accomplished through an indemnity reinsurance arrangement under which HLAIC contractually assumed certain of our policyholder liabilities and obligations, although we remain directly obligated to policyholders. Assets related to and supporting the reinsured life and disability insurance policies were transferred to a trust established by HLAIC for our benefit, and we recorded a reinsurance receivable from HLAIC. The sale is expected to result in an after-tax gain of approximately $710 million ($1.1 billion pre-tax), a significant portion of which has been deferred and will be amortized into earnings: (i) over the remaining contract period (estimated to be approximately 3 years) in proportion to the amount of insurance protection provided for the prospective reinsurance portion of the gain; and (ii) as we recover amounts due from HLAIC over a period estimated to be approximately 30 years for the retrospective reinsurance portion of the gain. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we recognized $113 million pre-tax of the deferred gain into earnings.

Terminated Acquisition of Humana and Terminated Divestiture to Molina
On July 2, 2015, we entered into a definitive agreement (the “Humana Merger Agreement”) to acquire Humana Inc. (“Humana”). On July 21, 2016, the DOJ and certain state attorneys general filed a civil complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (the “District Court”) against us and Humana charging that our acquisition of Humana (the “Humana Transaction”) would violate Section 7 of the Clayton Antitrust Act, and seeking a permanent injunction to prevent Aetna from acquiring Humana. On January 23, 2017, the District Court granted the DOJ’s request to enjoin the Humana Transaction.

On February 14, 2017, Aetna and Humana entered into a mutual termination agreement (the “Termination Agreement”) pursuant to which the parties thereto (collectively, the “Parties”) agreed to terminate the Humana Merger Agreement, including all schedules and exhibits thereto, and all ancillary agreements contemplated thereby, entered pursuant thereto or entered in connection therewith (other than certain confidentiality agreements) (collectively with the Humana Merger Agreement, the “Transaction Documents”), effective immediately as of February 14, 2017. Under the Termination Agreement, Aetna agreed to pay Humana the Regulatory Termination Fee (as defined in the Humana Merger Agreement) of $1.0 billion in cash in full satisfaction of any amounts required to be paid by Aetna under the Humana Merger Agreement. The Parties also agreed to release each other from any and all liability, claims, rights, actions, causes of action, suits, liens, obligations, accounts, debts, demands, agreements, promises, liabilities, controversies, costs, charges, damages, expenses and fees, however arising, in connection with, arising out of or related to the Transaction Documents, the transactions contemplated therein or thereby or certain related matters. We paid Humana the Regulatory Termination Fee on February 16, 2017 and funded that payment with the proceeds of the 2016 senior notes (as defined below).


Page 37



In June 2016, we issued $13.0 billion of senior notes to partially fund the Humana Transaction (collectively, the “2016 senior notes”). In accordance with the terms of the 2016 senior notes, on February 14, 2017, we issued a notice of redemption for $10.2 billion aggregate principal amount of certain of the 2016 senior notes (collectively, the “Special Mandatory Redemption Notes”) at a redemption price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of those notes plus accrued and unpaid interest. We redeemed the Special Mandatory Redemption Notes on March 16, 2017, and we funded the redemption with the proceeds of the 2016 senior notes. As a result of the redemption of the Special Mandatory Redemption Notes, we recorded on a pretax basis in our net income during the three months ended March 31, 2017 a loss on early extinguishment of long-term debt of $192 million and a realized capital loss for the remaining unamortized effective portion of the related hedge loss of $323 million that was previously recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income.

In order to address the DOJ’s perceived competitive concerns regarding Medicare Advantage relating to the Humana Transaction, on August 2, 2016, we entered into a definitive agreement (the “Aetna APA”) to sell for cash to Molina Healthcare, Inc. (“Molina”) certain of our Medicare Advantage assets. On February 14, 2017, Aetna and Molina entered into a Termination Agreement (the “APA Termination Agreement”) pursuant to which Aetna terminated the Aetna APA, including all schedules and exhibits thereto, and all ancillary agreements contemplated thereby or entered pursuant thereto. Under the APA Termination Agreement, Aetna agreed to pay Molina in cash (a) a termination fee of $53 million and (b) approximately 70% of Molina’s transaction costs. We paid Molina the termination fee on February 16, 2017 and the applicable transaction costs of $7 million on February 27, 2017 and recorded the expense in operating expenses. The payments were funded with the proceeds of the 2016 senior notes.

Refer to Notes 3 “Proposed Acquisition, Completed Divestiture, Terminated Acquisition and Terminated Divestiture” and 7 “Debt” included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional information on the Humana Transaction.

Health Care Reform
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Health Care Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (as amended, collectively, the “ACA”) has made broad-based changes to the U.S. health care system. We anticipate continued efforts in 2018 and beyond to modify, repeal or replace the ACA, and the future of the ACA is uncertain. We expect aspects of the ACA and/or their implementation or enforcement, including the January 2018 suspension of the HIF for 2019, and uncertainty about the future of the ACA to continue to significantly impact our business operations and operating results, including our pricing and our medical benefit ratios (“MBRs”).

In October 2017, the federal government announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) will curtail payments related to the ACA’s Cost-Sharing Subsidy program. We do not anticipate a material impact to our financial statements as a result of this action, which is the subject of pending litigation.

The federal and state governments also continue to enact and seriously consider many other broad-based legislative and regulatory proposals that have had a material impact on or could materially impact various aspects of the health care and related benefits system. We cannot predict whether pending or future federal or state legislative or regulatory activity or court proceedings, including Federal budget negotiations and future U.S. Congressional appropriations, will change various aspects of the health care and related benefits system or the ACA or the implementation and/or enforcement of the ACA or the impact those changes will have on our business operations or operating results, but the effects could be materially adverse.

For additional information on the ACA, refer to “Overview - Health Care Reform,” “Overview - Outlook for 2018,” and “Regulatory Environment” sections in Part II, Item 7 of our 2017 Annual Report and “Risk Factors” in Part 1, Item 1A of our 2017 Annual Report.

Medicare Update
On April 2, 2018, CMS issued its final notice detailing final 2019 Medicare Advantage benchmark payment rates (the “Final Notice”). Overall we project the benchmark rates in the Final Notice will increase funding for our Medicare Advantage business, excluding the impact of coding trend, by approximately 2.5 percent in 2019 compared to 2018.

Segment Results and Use of Non-GAAP Measures in this Document
The following discussion of operating results is presented based on our reportable segments in accordance with the accounting guidance for segment reporting and is consistent with our segment disclosure in Note 14 “Segment Information” included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Effective for the first quarter of 2018, we realigned our business segments to correspond with changes to our management structure and internal management reporting, which reflect our evolving business strategy of helping our members live healthier lives. Refer to Note 1 “Organization” included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional information.


Page 38



Adjusted earnings and pre-tax adjusted earnings discussed in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q exclude from income before income taxes attributable to Aetna and net income attributable to Aetna reported in accordance with GAAP net realized capital gains or losses, amortization of other acquired intangible assets and other items, if any, that neither relate to the ordinary course of our business nor reflect our underlying business performance. Although the excluded items may recur, we believe excluding them from income before income taxes attributable to Aetna and net income attributable to Aetna to arrive at pre-tax adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings provides a more useful comparison of our underlying business performance from period to period.  Net realized capital gains and losses arise from various types of transactions, primarily in the course of managing a portfolio of assets that support the payment of liabilities. Amortization of other acquired intangible assets relates to our acquisition activities. These transactions and amortization do not directly relate to the underwriting or servicing of products for our customers and are not directly related to the core performance of our business operations. Pre-tax adjusted earnings is the measure reported to our chief executive officer for purposes of assessing business segment financial performance and making operating decisions. In our business segment discussion in this MD&A, we provide a table that reconciles income before income taxes attributable to Aetna to pre-tax adjusted earnings.  The table details the net realized capital gains or losses, amortization of other acquired intangible assets and any other items excluded from income before income taxes attributable to Aetna, and the footnotes to the table describe the nature of each other item and the reason we believe it is appropriate to exclude that item from income before income taxes attributable to Aetna. Non-GAAP financial measures we disclose, such as pre-tax adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings, should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures determined or calculated in accordance with GAAP.

HEALTH CARE

Health Care consists of medical, pharmacy benefit management services, dental, behavioral health and vision plans offered on both an Insured basis (where we assume all or a majority of the risk for medical and dental care costs) and an employer-funded basis (where the plan sponsor under an administrative services contract (“ASC”) assumes all or a majority of this risk) and emerging businesses products and services that complement and enhance our medical products.  We also offer Medicare and Medicaid products and services and other medical products, such as medical management and data analytics services, medical stop loss insurance, workers’ compensation administrative services and products that provide access to our provider networks in select geographies. We separately track premiums and health care costs for our Government businesses (which consist of our combined Medicare and Medicaid products). All other medical, dental and other Health Care products are referred to as Commercial. We no longer sell individual Commercial products, and we exited the individual Public Exchanges in 2018.


Page 39



Operating Summary
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
Change
(Millions)
2018

 
2017

 
$
 
%
Premiums:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial
$
5,580

 
$
6,129

 
$
(549
)
 
(9
)%
Government
7,468

 
7,111

 
357

 
5
 %
Total premiums
13,048

 
13,240

 
(192
)
 
(1
)%
Fees and other revenue
1,947

 
1,448

 
499

 
34
 %
Net investment income
127

 
117

 
10

 
9
 %
Net realized capital gains
5

 
1

 
4

 
400
 %
Total revenue
15,127

 
14,806

 
321

 
2
 %
Benefit costs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial
4,323

 
4,860

 
(537
)
 
(11
)%
Government
6,168

 
6,068

 
100

 
2
 %
Total benefit costs
10,491

 
10,928

 
(437
)
 
(4
)%
Cost of products sold
373

 

 
373

 
100
 %
Operating expenses
2,759

 
2,625

 
134

 
5
 %
Amortization of other acquired intangible assets
47

 
60

 
(13
)
 
(22
)%
Total benefits and expenses
13,670

 
13,613

 
57

 
 %
Income before income taxes including non-controlling interests
1,457

 
1,193

 
264

 
22
 %
Less: Income before income taxes attributable to non-controlling interests
13

 
2

 
11

 
550
 %
Income before income taxes attributable to Aetna for Health Care
$
1,444

 
$
1,191

 
$
253

 
21
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

We calculate our medical benefit ratio MBRs by dividing benefit costs by premiums. For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, our Commercial, Government and Total Health Care MBRs were:
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
Change
 
2018

 
2017

 
basis points
Commercial
77.5
%
 
79.3
%
 
(180
)
Government
82.6
%
 
85.3
%
 
(270
)
Total Health Care
80.4
%
 
82.5
%
 
(210
)

The table presented below reconciles income before income taxes to pre-tax adjusted earnings (1) for our Health Care segment for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
(Millions)
2018

 
2017

Income before income taxes (GAAP measure)
$
1,457

 
$
1,193

Less: Income before income taxes attributable to non-controlling interests (GAAP measure)
13

 
2

Income before income taxes attributable to Aetna for Health Care (GAAP measure)
1,444

 
1,191

Penn Treaty-related guaranty fund assessments

 
231

Amortization of other acquired intangible assets
47

 
60

Net realized capital gains
(5
)
 
(1
)
Pre-tax adjusted earnings for Health Care
$
1,486

 
$
1,481

 
 
 
 
(1) 
Pre-tax adjusted earnings excludes net realized capital gains and losses, amortization of other acquired intangible assets and the other item described in the reconciliation in Note 14 “Segment Information” included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.



Page 40



Commentary
Income before income taxes attributable to Aetna for Health Care increased by $253 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017. The increase was primarily due to the three months ended March 31, 2017 reflecting a $231 million pre-tax expense related to estimated future guaranty fund assessments as a result of Penn Treaty Network America Insurance Company and one of its subsidiaries (collectively, “Penn Treaty”) being placed in liquidation.
Pre-tax adjusted earnings for Health Care remained relatively consistent for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017. The three months ended March 31, 2018 were favorably impacted by our previously announced exit from individual Commercial products and by membership growth in our Medicare products, substantially offset by lower membership in our Commercial and Medicaid Insured products.
Commercial premiums decreased $549 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017, primarily due to lower membership in our ACA compliant individual and small group products, partially offset by the reinstatement of the HIF for 2018 and higher premium yields.
Our Commercial MBR decreased 180 basis points for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017. The decrease was primarily due to the reinstatement of the HIF for 2018 and our previously announced exit from individual Commercial products for 2018.
Government premiums increased $357 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017, primarily due to membership growth in our Medicare products and the reinstatement of the HIF for 2018, partially offset by membership declines in our Medicaid products.
Our Government MBR decreased 270 basis points for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017, primarily due to the reinstatement of the HIF for 2018.
Our Total Health Care MBR for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was negatively impacted by approximately 50 basis points compared with the corresponding period in 2017 due to higher medical costs as a result of a more severe flu season during the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017.
Fees and other revenue increased $499 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017, primarily due to the adoption of new accounting guidance related to revenue recognition effective during the three months ended March 31, 2018.
Operating expenses increased by $134 million primarily due to the reinstatement of the HIF for 2018, partially offset by the favorable impact in 2018 from the execution of our expense management initiatives in 2017.


Page 41



Membership
Health Care’s membership at March 31, 2018 and 2017 was:
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
(Thousands)
Insured
 
ASC
 
Total
 
Insured
 
ASC
 
Total
 
Insured
 
ASC
 
Total
Medical:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial
4,068

 
13,737

 
17,805

 
4,557

 
13,351

 
17,908

 
(489
)
 
386

 
(103
)
Medicare Advantage
1,722

 

 
1,722

 
1,443

 

 
1,443

 
279

 

 
279

Medicare Supplement
748

 

 
748

 
711

 

 
711

 
37

 

 
37

Medicaid (1)
1,104

 
728

 
1,832

 
1,570

 
814

 
2,384

 
(466
)
 
(86
)
 
(552
)
Total Medical Membership
7,642

 
14,465

 
22,107

 
8,281

 
14,165

 
22,446

 
(639
)
 
300

 
(339
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dental:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Dental Membership
5,058

 
7,665

 
12,723

 
5,898

 
8,116

 
14,014

 
(840
)
 
(451
)
 
(1,291
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pharmacy:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial
 

 
 

 
7,442

 
 

 
 

 
8,217

 
 
 
 
 
(775
)
Medicare PDP (stand-alone)
 

 
 

 
2,156

 
 

 
 

 
2,064

 
 
 
 
 
92

Medicare Advantage PDP
 

 
 

 
1,243

 
 

 
 

 
1,106

 
 
 
 
 
137

Medicaid  (1)
 

 
 

 
2,256

 
 

 
 

 
2,817

 
 
 
 
 
(561
)
Total Pharmacy Benefit Management Services Membership
 
13,097

 
 
 
 
 
14,204

 
 
 
 
 
(1,107
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Medicaid membership includes members who are dually-eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.

Commentary
Total medical membership at March 31, 2018 decreased 339 thousand members compared to March 31, 2017, primarily reflecting declines in our Medicaid and ACA compliant individual Commercial products. The decrease was partially offset by growth in our Medicare and Commercial ASC products.
Total dental membership at March 31, 2018 decreased 1.3 million members compared to March 31, 2017 due to declines in both our dental Insured and ASC products.
Total pharmacy benefit management services membership at March 31, 2018 decreased 1.1 million members compared to March 31, 2017, reflecting declines in our Commercial business primarily attributable to our ACA compliant individual and small group products and declines in our Medicaid products.

DISCONTINUED PRODUCTS

Prior to 1993, we sold single-premium annuities (“SPAs”) and guaranteed investment contracts (“GICs”), primarily to employer sponsored pension plans.  In 1993, we discontinued selling these products to large case pensions customers, and now we refer to these products as discontinued products. In November 2016, the last outstanding GIC matured. We discontinued selling these products because they were generating losses for us, and we projected that they would continue to generate losses over their life (which is currently greater than 30 years for SPAs); so we established a reserve for anticipated future losses at the time of discontinuance.

Since we established a reserve for anticipated future losses on discontinued products, as long as our expected future losses remain consistent with prior projections, the results of our discontinued products are applied against the reserve and do not impact net income attributable to Aetna. If actual or expected future losses are greater than we currently estimate, we may increase the reserve, which could adversely impact net income attributable to Aetna. If actual or expected future losses are less than we currently estimate, we may decrease the reserve, which could favorably impact net income attributable to Aetna. In those cases, we disclose such adjustment separately in our Consolidated Statements of Income.

Refer to Note 15 “Discontinued Products” included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional information on the activity in the reserve for anticipated future losses on discontinued products during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.


Page 42



LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Cash Flows
We meet our operating cash requirements by maintaining liquidity in our investment portfolio, using overall cash flows from premiums, fees and other revenue, deposits and income received on investments, issuing commercial paper, entering into repurchase agreements and obtaining cash advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (the “FHLBB”) from time to time.  We monitor the duration of our investment portfolio of highly marketable debt securities and mortgage loans, and execute purchases and sales of these investments with the objective of having adequate funds available to satisfy our maturing liabilities. Overall cash flows are used primarily for claim and benefit payments, operating expenses, share and debt repurchases, repayment of debt, acquisitions, contract withdrawals and shareholder dividends.  We have committed short-term borrowing capacity of $2.0 billion through a revolving credit facility agreement that expires in March 2021.

Presented below is a condensed statement of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. We present net cash flows from operating activities and net cash flows from investing activities separately for our large case pensions products because changes in the insurance reserves for our large case pensions products (which are reported as cash used for operating activities) are funded from the sale of investments (which are reported as cash provided by investing activities). Refer to our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on From 10-Q for additional information.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
Change
(Millions)
2018

 
2017

 
$
 
%
Cash flows from operating activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total company excluding large case pensions products
$
3,401

 
$
983

 
$
2,418

 
246
 %
Large case pensions products
(60
)
 
(84
)
 
24

 
(29
)%
Net cash provided by operating activities
3,341

 
899

 
2,442

 
272
 %
Cash flows from investing activities
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Total company excluding large case pensions products
592

 
(228
)
 
820

 
(360
)%
Large case pensions products
92

 
172

 
(80
)
 
(47
)%
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities
684

 
(56
)
 
740

 
(1,321
)%
Net cash used for financing activities
(226
)
 
(14,962
)
 
14,736

 
(98
)%
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
$
3,799

 
$
(14,119
)
 
$
17,918

 
(127
)%
 
Commentary
Cash flows provided by operating activities for Aetna, excluding large case pensions products increased $2.4 billion during the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017. The increase for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017 was primarily due to the three months ended March 31, 2017 reflecting cash payments associated with the termination of the Humana Merger Agreement and higher advance Medicare payments received from CMS for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared with the corresponding period in 2017.
Cash flows provided by investing activities excluding large case pensions products increased $740 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017, primarily due to higher net sales and maturities of investments for the three months ended March 31, 2018.
Cash flows used for financing activities were $226 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared with cash flows used for financing activities of $15.0 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The activity for the three months ended March 31, 2018 primarily reflects dividends paid. The activity for the three months ended March 31, 2017 primarily reflects the repayment of long-term debt (including the $10.2 billion principal amount Special Mandatory Redemption Notes) and share repurchases.

Refer to Notes 7 “Debt” and 9 “Shareholders’ Equity” included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for more information about debt issuances, debt repayments, share repurchases and dividend payments.


Page 43



Termination of Humana Merger Agreement and Aetna APA
As a result of the termination of the Humana Merger Agreement, we paid Humana the applicable $1.0 billion Regulatory Termination Fee on February 16, 2017. As a result of the APA Termination Agreement, we paid Molina the applicable termination fee of $53 million on February 16, 2017 and paid Molina the applicable transaction costs of $7 million on February 27, 2017. We funded these payments with the proceeds of the 2016 senior notes.

2016 Senior Notes
In June 2016, we issued $13.0 billion of 2016 senior notes. In accordance with the terms of the 2016 senior notes, on February 14, 2017, following the termination of the Humana Merger Agreement, we issued a notice of redemption for the entire $10.2 billion aggregate principal amount of the Special Mandatory Redemption Notes at a redemption price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of those notes plus accrued and unpaid interest. We redeemed the Special Mandatory Redemption Notes on March 16, 2017, and we funded the redemption with the proceeds of the 2016 senior notes. As a result of the redemption of the Special Mandatory Redemption Notes, we recognized on a pretax basis in our net income during the three months ended March 31, 2017 a loss on early extinguishment of long-term debt of $192 million and a realized capital loss for the remaining unamortized effective portion of the related hedge loss of $323 million that was previously recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income. Refer to Notes 3 “Proposed Acquisition, Completed Divestiture, Terminated Acquisition and Terminated Divestiture” and 7 “Debt” included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional information on these transactions.

2017 Senior Notes
In August 2017, we issued $1.0 billion of 3.875% senior notes due 2047. We used the net proceeds of this offering to repay a portion of our 1.5% senior notes due in November 2017, repay a portion of our floating rate senior notes due in December 2017 and for general corporate purposes.

Other Liquidity Information
From time to time, we use short-term commercial paper borrowings, repurchase agreements and cash advances from the FHLBB to address timing differences between cash receipts and disbursements. At both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we did not have any commercial paper outstanding or outstanding advances from the FHLBB. There were no commercial paper borrowings during the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Our consolidated debt to capitalization ratio (calculated by dividing total long-term debt and short-term debt (“Total Debt”) by the sum of Total Debt and total Aetna shareholders’ equity) was 35.8 percent at March 31, 2018. We continually monitor existing and alternative financing sources to support our capital and liquidity needs, including, but not limited to, debt issuance, preferred or common share issuance, reinsurance and pledging or selling of assets.

Interest expense was $89 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and $173 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The decrease in interest expense during the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to 2017 was primarily due to a lower long-term debt balance during 2018 compared to 2017.

Refer to Notes 7 “Debt” and 9 “Shareholders’ Equity” included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for information on our FHLBB membership and our stock-based compensation awards, respectively.

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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

Refer to “Critical Accounting Estimates” in our 2017 Annual Report for information on accounting policies that we consider critical in preparing our consolidated financial statements.  These policies include significant estimates we make using information available at the time the estimates are made.  However, these estimates could change materially if different information or assumptions were used, and these estimates may not ultimately reflect the actual amounts that occur.

REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
Except as described in the “Health Care Reform” section of the MD&A, there were no material changes in the regulation of our business since December 31, 2017.  Refer to the “Regulatory Environment” section in our 2017 Annual Report for information on the regulation of our business.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain information in this MD&A is forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties that are outside our control and could cause actual future results to differ materially from those statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and we disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We have not experienced any material changes in exposures to market risk since December 31, 2017. Refer to the information contained in Part II, Item 7A “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of our exposures to market risk.

Item 4.
Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures, which are designed to ensure that information that we are required to disclose in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

An evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2018 was conducted under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.  Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2018 were designed to ensure that material information relating to Aetna Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries would be made known to the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer by others within those entities, particularly during the periods when periodic reports under the Exchange Act are being prepared and were effective.  Refer to the Certifications by our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer filed as Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation of such control that occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Part II.
Other Information

Item 1.
Legal Proceedings

The information contained in Note 13 of Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements is incorporated herein by reference.


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Item 1A.
Risk Factors

Except as disclosed in MD&A “Overview - Health Care Reform” in this Quarterly Report, there have been no material changes to the “Risk Factors” disclosed in Part I, Item 1A of our 2017 Annual Report. Those risk factors could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results as well as the market price for our common shares.

Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we did not repurchase any of our common shares. At March 31, 2018, we had remaining authorization to repurchase an aggregate of up to $1.2 billion of our common shares under our February 17, 2017 program; however, as a result of the CVS Merger Agreement, our ability to repurchase our common shares prior to the completion of the merger is limited.

The information contained in Note 9 of Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 3.        Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4.        Mine Safety Disclosures

Not Applicable.

Item 5.        Other Information

None.


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Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibits to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are as follows:

INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
 
 
 
10
Material Contracts
 
 
10.1
 
 
10.2
 
 
10.3
 
 
10.4
 
 
11
Statement re: computation of per share earnings
 
 
11.1
 
 
12
Statements re: computation of ratios
 
 
12.1
 
 
15
Letter re: unaudited interim financial information
 
 
15.1
 
 
31
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications
 
 
31.1
 
 
31.2
 
 
32
Section 1350 Certifications
 
 
32.1
 
 
32.2
 
 
101
XBRL Documents
 
 
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document.
 
 
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema.
 
 
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase.
 
 
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase.
 
 
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase.
 
 
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase.

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.



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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.


 
Aetna Inc.
 
Registrant


Date:
May 1, 2018
   By
/s/ Heather Dixon
 
 
 
Heather Dixon
 
 
 
Vice President, Controller and
 
 
 
Chief Accounting Officer
 

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