Wellpoint 3Q Profit Rises

INDIANAPOLIS - Wellpoint Inc., the nation's largest health insurer, said Wednesday third-quarter profit rose about 7 percent as membership grew.

Net income rose to $868 million, or $1.45 per share, in the three months ended Sept. 30 from $810.8 million, or $1.29 per share, during the same period last year.

Wellpoint's 2006 net income included 4 cents per share in tax benefits and investment gains of 1 cent per share.

Revenue rose 5.4 percent to $15.23 billion from $14.45 billion last …