Independence Holding Company Announces 59% Increase in 2018 First-Quarter Results

STAMFORD, Conn., May 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Independence Holding Company IHC today reported 2018 first-quarter results. 

Financial Results

Net income attributable to IHC per share increased 59% to $.46 per share, diluted, or $6,961,000, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $.29 per share, diluted, or $4,936,000, for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The Company reported revenues of $88,304,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2017 of $71,840,000. 

Chief Executive Officer's Comments

Roy T. K. Thung, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are very pleased with our results for the first quarter of 2018.  Our growth in earnings is largely attributable to a substantial increase in earnings from the specialty health segment, which significantly increased sales in 2017 and the first quarter of 2018.  Given that the current administration in Washington has endorsed affordable options to expensive Obamacare-compliant major medical health insurance coverages, IHC's products are extremely well-positioned to have accelerating sales growth in the fourth quarter of 2018 and all of 2019.  The comment period has now closed on the proposed rule extending the duration of short-term medical ("STM") to up to 364 days, or longer, and we anticipate that the final rule will be released soon and will likely be effective by the fourth quarter of this year.  In addition, beginning January 1, 2019, there will no longer be a penalty for individuals who do not have Affordable Care Act ("ACA") plans.  We believe that these developments and the expected continuing increases in ACA premiums will make our alternatives much more attractive as individuals compare prices and benefits when the 2019 open enrollment period begins November 1, 2018.

We are recognized for our development of medical insurance packages that provide affordable coverage alternatives for consumers who cannot afford ACA policies or need our supplemental products to cover their high deductibles.  We recently introduced Connect Plus, which is a first-of-its-kind temporary medical plan providing coverage for certain pre-existing conditions up to $25,000 to consumers who qualify, subject to a deductible and coinsurance.  Our portfolio of affordable health insurance options also includes the following "core" products: Connect Lite (STM for the budget-minded), Connect (STM for those not concerned with pre-existing condition limitations), Care Access (first dollar indemnity coverage for hospitalizations) and Fusion (Care Access coupled with a high deductible STM product which provides both first dollar coverage for hospitalizations and peace of mind for large expenditures).  We bundle our core products with well-priced ancillary coverages, including: MetalGap (affordable coverage for claims due to both accidents and critical illnesses), dental, vision, Rx discount card and telemedicine.  We believe that sales of our bundled products will accelerate once the duration of STM is extended as anticipated. In addition, we are now targeting underserved small employer groups, which are also seeking more affordable health care plans through our limited medical and gap policies.

In addition to distributing our products through the best known e-brokers and the largest health insurers, a point of emphasis for IHC is enhancing our owned or internal distribution. We have hired an experienced executive to expand our call center distribution and upgrade our lead generation capabilities through investing in www.healthedeals.com, which we view as our central platform for generating leads and sales opportunities for the call center, and creating a lead generation division through acquisition or organic growth.  We are also seeking to recruit additional HealtheDeals career advisors and have tasked one of our sales executives to focus on this effort.  Given the expected accelerated growth of our products later this year and in 2019 and our expanded lead generation, call center and advisor capabilities, we expect that a growing percentage of our sales will be produced by our owned distribution channels, which builds significant value for IHC. For all of the foregoing reasons, we are very optimistic as to the growth and profitability of our specialty health segment."

Mr. Thung added, "We have also further invested in our New York statutory disability (DBL) line of business, which has begun to experience significant growth as a result of New York's enactment of a paid family leave (PFL) rider.  We also are confident that both Madison National Life's group life and disability business and Independence American's pet insurance line of business will grow profitably. Our book value is $29.17 per share at March 31, 2018 compared to $28.98 per share at December 31, 2017. We have increased our dividend in each of the last four years, and announced a 50% increase to $.30 per share annually beginning with our next semi-annual dividend. In the first quarter of 2018, we repurchased 95,263 shares at an average cost of $27.73 per share or $2.6 million. Subsequent to March 31, the Company has repurchased an additional 8,200 shares at an average cost of $35.08 per share.  Our overall investment portfolio continues to be very highly rated (on average, AA) and has an effective duration of approximately four years. Finally, IHC has a substantial amount of free cash at the corporate level and excess capital in our insurance companies, which will readily support our expected growth and investments in distribution."

About The IHC Group

Independence Holding Company IHC, formed in 1980, is a holding company that is principally engaged in underwriting, administering and/or distributing group and individual specialty benefit products, including disability, supplemental health, pet, and group life insurance through its subsidiaries.  The IHC Group owns three insurance companies (Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York, Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. and Independence American Insurance Company), and IHC Specialty Benefits, Inc., a technology-driven full-service marketing and distribution company that focuses on small employer and individual consumer products through general agents, telebrokerage, advisor centers, private label arrangements, and through the following brands: www.HealtheDeals.com; Health eDeals Advisors; Aspira A Mas; www.PetPartners.com; and www.PetPlace.com.  IHC creates value for insurance producers, carriers and consumers (both individuals and small businesses) through a suite of proprietary tools and products, all of which are underwritten by IHC's carriers or placed with highly rated insurance companies.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements and information contained in this release may be considered "forward-looking statements," such as statements relating to management's views with respect to future events and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience or from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic conditions in the markets in which IHC operates, new federal or state governmental regulation, IHC's ability to effectively operate, integrate and leverage any past or future strategic acquisition, and other factors which can be found in IHC's other news releases and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. IHC expressly disclaims any duty to update its forward-looking statements unless required by applicable law.

INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
March 31, 2018
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

As of May 3, 2018, there were 14,795,049 common shares outstanding, net of treasury shares.

INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In Thousands, Except Share Data)

CONTACT: Loan Nisser
(646) 509-2107
www.IHCGroup.com