NEW YORK (Reuters) - UnitedHealth Group Inc posted better-than-expected second-quarter profit on Tuesday, helped by growth in the health insurer's plans for seniors and low-income Americans.
The largest U.S. health insurer by market value also raised the low end of its 2009 earnings forecast.
Net income rose to $859 million, or 73 cents per share, from $337 million, or 27 cents per share, a year earlier, when the company took a big charge for a legal settlement.
Analysts on average expected 70 cents, according to Reuters Estimates.
(Reporting by Lewis Krauskopf; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)
