"Assessing UnitedHealth's First-Quarter Earnings Amid Cyberattack Fallout"

UnitedHealth Group's first-quarter earnings report will provide insight into the financial impact of the cyberattack on its Change Healthcare subsidiary, which caused significant disruption in the U.S. healthcare system. Analysts are eager to see how the company accounts for the cyberattack costs and its impact on other operations within its Optum division. The outage has affected healthcare providers and insurers, leading to increased uncertainty for Medicare Advantage insurers and potentially impacting their ability to track medical utilization costs in real time. The delayed outlook on medical costs will also affect the preparation of 2025 Medicare Plan bids.