UnitedHealth fourth-quarter revenue rises as costs kept in check

(Reuters) – UnitedHealth Group Inc , the largest U.S. health insurer, said on Thursday it kept fourth-quarter costs under control and increased revenue by more than 11 percent, helping earnings per share to rise. The company, which provides health care benefits through both employer and government-paid insurance plans and serves individuals and military members, also backed its forecast for 2013 revenue growth of at least 11 percent and said earnings would be in a range of slightly down to up 4 percent. …