HMO Profits Rise to $6.7 Billion in 2003

The nation's HMOs continue to post healthy profits, earning $6.7 billion in the first nine months of 2003, a 52 percent increase over the $4,4 billion reported a year ago, according to Weiss Ratings, Inc. The strength of HMOs has improved substantially since 1999, the year that the industry, following

Despite the strong profitability of the industry, 116 insurers-nearly 22 percent-struggled, posting losses for the first nine months of 2003.