Humana reported $1.2 billion in first quarter net income as the company gets better control of medical cost trends in its Medicare Advantage plans.

Key Takeaways Humana beat first-quarter profit and sales estimates as it reduced costs and exited some Medicare Advantage plans.The insurer posted a membership decline, which is said was mostly because it pulled out of what it called "unprofitable" Medicare Advantage plans and counties.

Humana was immune to the first-quarter Medicare Advantage woes that soured investors on the health insurance sector two weeks ago when market leader UnitedHealth Group announced disappointing results.