Managed Care Company UnitedHealth Group claims on Thursday its fourth-quarter profit jumped 30 percent on higher premium revenue, despite a continued reduction in commercial enrolment.

The health group reported its fourth-quarter net earnings of $944 million or $0.81 per share in comparison to $726 million or $0.60 per share last year.

The 20 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters augured a profit of 73 cents per share on $21.72 billion in revenue. In addition, they speculated the company to report earnings of $0.73 per share. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Commercial enrolment continued squeezing over the quarter, shedding 6.5 percent to end at just over 24.6 million people, mainly consisting of employer-based and individual health plans and generates higher profit margins for insurers than government business like Medicaid.

Insurers have been cited to be the hard hit with slumping commercial enrolment due to rising unemployment in the recession.

Based on the revenue UnitedHealth is revealed to be the largest commercial health insurer and the first managed Care Company to deliver its quarterly earnings.

The company reaffirmed its outlook for 2010 gain in the range of $2.90 to $3.10 per share and its operative cash flows between $4.0 billion to $4.4 billion.