WellPoint results up on more members, New York contract

WellPoint Inc. reported a 23-percent increase in fourth-quarter profit, to $801.1 million, on revenue of $14.6 billion, a rise of 28.9 percent.

For the year, the Indianapolis-based health insurer said profit rose 25.6 percent, to $3.1 billion. Revenue of $57 billion was up 28 percent.

The upswing was driven mainly by new enrollments and the addition of a prescription drug contract last year for the state of New York. Its 34.1 million enrollment was up 0.7 percent.

WellPoint affirmed its 2007 profit outlook of $5.53 a share on operating revenue of $61.9 billion.