Anthem Blue Cross 2013 Annual Report Download - page 10

2013 Annual Report
Letter From CEO (continued)
COMMUNITY FINANCIAL INFORMATION CORPORATE INFORMATION
Stabilize. Our simplification eorts led directly to the desired stabili-
zation eect, resulting in four straight quarters of strong performance
that exceeded our expectations. Financially, we built on our positive
momentum by growing adjusted EPS by nearly 13 percent to $8.52 and
increasing operating revenue by 16 percent to $70.2 billion—both his-
torical highs for WellPoint. We also grew membership, ending the
year with 35.7 million medical members, well ahead of our 2013 plan.
Most importantly, we secured several marquee wins in both our
Commercial and Medicaid business lines that will drive membership
growth of more than one million members throughout 2014 and posi-
tion us for continued growth in 2015 and beyond.
Unify. One of my earliest priorities as CEO was to visit our oces
across the country and speak with associates about the state of
WellPoint’s culture. With considerable input from every geography,
level, and division in the company, we undertook an enterprise-wide
eort to better define who we are, who we aspire to be, and how we
deliver value to our customers and our shareholders. We are now uni-
fied under a single purpose: “Together, we are transforming health
care with trusted and caring solutions,” and grounded by five founda-
tional values: “Accountable, Caring, Easy to do business with,
Innovative, and Trustworthy.” Though work remains in making these
concepts a reality in all we do, the final product is a powerful set of
principles that will fuel momentum and serve as a foundation for con-
tinued growth.
What stands out among these accomplishments is that they were
achieved while making unprecedented investments in our company
and in our future. Most notably, we launched more than 1,000 new
products across 14 states in support of the new health insurance
Exchange marketplaces. While still early, I remain cautiously optimis-
tic, encouraged by the high volume of applications and the initial
indicators that support both our risk pool predictions and the
strength of our brand. We also invested heavily in our provider collab-
oration strategy, accelerating our eorts to dramatically change the
way we interact and partner with the delivery system. By deploying
capabilities that enable a bi-directional exchange of information and
sharing in the risk, responsibility, and reward for managing population
health, our innovative provider relationships are revolutionizing the
quality and value of care delivered to our members.
2013 was an exceptional year for WellPoint, our customers, and our
investors. There is always room for improvement, but the strengths
embedded in this company—our national presence, deep relation-
ships with providers and caregivers, brand awareness, and a strong
balance sheet—fortify our ability to succeed no matter what the
future brings. Our 2013 performance can be directly attributed to our
associates, whose commitment and dedication to our customers con-
tinues to inspire me each and every day. As I look to 2014 and
beyond, I am increasingly confident that our new WellPoint is
strongly positioned to capitalize on the opportunities ahead and
more capable than ever to fulfill our vision, “to be America’s valued
health partner.”
Sincerely,
Joseph R. Swedish
CEO, WellPoint, Inc.
Company Culture Connections
CEO LETTER
WellPoint 2013 Annual Report—page 9