Insurer says economy has dented its prospects

The UnitedHealth Group says the weakening economy is causing fewer businesses and employees to sign up for its health insurance. UnitedHealth recently announced disappointing first-quarter earnings, and also cut its overall profit outlook for 2008. UnitedHealth representatives said that fewer employers were offering health coverage to their workers, and that when they did, fewer employees were choosing to enroll. The insurer is one of the nation's largest, and its results have raised anxiety about the industry's challenges.