WellPoint adds 500,000 members from ACA

(Bloomberg) — WellPoint Inc., the second-biggest U.S. medical insurer, added 500,000 new members since Obamacare enrollment began and said the system’s early stumbles haven’t dimmed profit estimates, boosting the company’s shares.

While the new members tend to be older and sicker than current enrollees, WellPoint priced its plans accordingly and isn’t backing off of projected profit margins, Chief Executive Officer Joseph Swedish told analysts on a conference call today. The prognosis helped WellPoint shares overcome a 68% decline in fourth-quarter net income.