Days in Claims Payable: Days in Claims Payable was 45.2 days as of December 31, 2021, a decrease of 1.6 days from September 30, 2021 and an increase of 1.8 days as compared to December 31, 2020.
SG&A Expense Ratio: The SG&A expense ratio was 11.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021, a decrease of 200 basis points from 13.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020. The decrease was primarily driven by growth in operating revenue and the repeal of the health insurance tax in 2021, partially offset by increased spend to support growth and business optimization charges taken in the fourth quarter of 2021. For the full year of 2021, the SG&A expense ratio was 11.6 percent, a decrease of 280 basis points from 14.4 percent in 2020. The decrease was primarily driven by growth in operating revenue, the repeal of the health insurance tax in 2021, and the absence of charges in 2021 for the BCBSA litigation accrual recognized in 2020 and reduced business optimization charges in 2021, partially offset by increased spend to support growth.
Operating Cash Flow: Operating cash flow was $1.7 billion, or 1.5 times net income in the fourth quarter of 2021, a decrease of $2.1 billion as compared to the prior year quarter. The year-on-year decrease was primarily driven by an increase in medical claims payable in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared with a slight decrease in the fourth quarter of 2021, and an increase in receivables. For the full year 2021, operating cash flow was $8.4 billion, or 1.4 times net income.
Share Repurchase Program: During the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company repurchased 1.3 million shares of its common stock for $522 million, at a weighted average price of $417.92. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had approximately $4.2 billion of Board-approved share repurchase authorization remaining.
Cash Dividend: During the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company paid a quarterly dividend of $1.13 per share, representing a distribution of cash totaling $274 million.
On January 25, 2022, the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors declared a first quarter 2022 dividend to shareholders of $1.28 per share, an increase of over 13 percent from the quarterly dividend payment in the fourth quarter. On an annualized basis, the new quarterly dividend equates to $5.12 per share. The first quarter dividend is payable on March 25, 2022, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 10, 2022.
Investment Portfolio & Capital Position: During the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company recorded net gains of $211 million. During the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company recorded net gains of $5 million. These amounts are excluded from adjusted earnings per share.
As of December 31, 2021, the Company’s net unrealized gain position in the investment portfolio was $648 million, consisting primarily of fixed maturity securities. As of December 31, 2021 cash and investments at the parent company totaled approximately $1.2 billion.
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