Guaranteed Healthcare

So your investment goal is capital preservation, and during these rough economic times to lose a little less money on Wall Street.  Since the economy is under attack after close to eight years of debt and spend,  you just don't know what to do with that nest egg that's getting smaller by the day.

Skyrocketing energy prices. Oil stocks are a possibility.

Skyrocketing heathcare costs. Eureka! The magic formula.

Healthcare stocks, insurance companies.

 I know, I know, even insurance companies are down, but  the industry always has a new trick up its sleeve to cut costs and increase profits. This is where I want to be.  I can count on health insurers to protect the bottom line and I want my money to be safe. I know I'll prosper if I sock away all that money I've stuffed under my mattress in one of America's great denial machines insurance companies.

I think I'll go with a brand name like Wellpoint. Susan Bayh, the wife of milquetoast Senator Evan Bayh (D-Wellpoint), sits on the board. I know I can trust Susan and Evan Bayh to be good stewards of my little nest egg. I know this fine political couple will keep their hawk eyes on the corporate bottom line.

Wellpoint is hurting some these days. Profits are down about 10% but it did beat analysts expectations, so the stock was up yesterday.

The real reason I'm so comfortable owning Wellpoint is because I know when they see that nasty medical loss ratio rising, they are going to redouble their efforts and crack down on costs.

NEW YORK (Reuters)—Health insurer WellPoint Inc. on Wednesday said profit fell 10% as medical costs ate further into premiums, but shares rose more than 5% as results beat projections helped by strength in its pharmacy and behavioral health businesses.

. . .WellPoint's benefit expense ratio, which measures the percent of premiums spent on medical costs, worsened to 83.3% from 81.8% a year ago, on high costs in its Medicare plans for seniors and plans serving mid-size businesses.

Wellpoint has an army of well-trained claims denial specialists and they have a huge arsenal of weapons at the ready.  I can count on Wellpoint to get the job done and get costs under control. Ah yes, as an investor, I feel safe with Wellpoint. This is a take-no-prisoners company when it coming to protecting the value of its stock.

Wellpoint has all the resources of AHIP (America's Health Insurance Plans) which gives advice, counsel and guidance to its members on how to increase premium revenue while at the same time denying care, hence cutting costs.

Wellpoint can also count on a company like IncentOne to get costs under control. IncentOne offers its customers many services even a way to reduce the medical loss ratio. Bingo.  Bring down that medical loss ratio, then all is good in the world. I'm a happy shareholder if IncentOne is on my side, and surely Wellpoint works hand-in-hand with IncentOne.

Health plans face intense competition when it comes to providing solutions to employers, market differentiation and member retention. Health plans must drive healthy behaviors, facilitate consumerism and drive member loyalty. Incentives are critical to achieving these objectives. More than just an advanced marketing strategy, an effective incentive solution is essential to support Consumer Driven Health (CDH) initiatives, reduce healthcare costs for employers, improve HEDIS scores, support pay-for-performance and reduce medical cost ratios.

 These are the reasons why I've selected Wellpoint for my little nest egg. I know I can count on this outstanding American company not to let down the people who count-- their shareholders.