WellPoint Increases Share Repurchases By $5 Billion

Health insurance giant WellPoint Inc. is increasing its share repurchasing program by $5 billion, the company announced after the close Thursday. The increase brings the total amount of authorized share repurchases to $6 billion. WellPoint said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing that it plans to use this over a multi-year period. WellPoint is one of the bigger players in public exchanges set up under the Affordable Care Act. Shares ended trading Thursday up slightly to $118.45.