Executives at the health insurance behemoth Centene on Thursday had a clear message to Republicans who are about to take control of the federal government: Think twice before you cut health care programs.
The political messaging reflects how Centene’s executives are in preservation mode, because the company’s entire business is dependent on taxpayers. Two of the company’s biggest lines of business, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces, could face cuts next year, challenging the company’s promises to deliver higher profit margins in 2025 and beyond.
Some of Centene’s prepared remarks during its investor day could be mistaken for the kinds of political ads that might run if Republicans pursue Medicaid cuts or don’t extend subsidies for ACA plans, often called Obamacare plans.
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