RJ and Makay

Principal Financial Group Inc. is exiting the health-insurance business in an early sign of expected consolidation, according to the Wall Street Journal.

United Health Group Inc., the country's largest health insurer by revenues, agreed Thursday to renew the policies of Principal's roughly 840,000 members as contracts expire.

The federal health overhaul passed in March has prompted worries among regulators and industry groups that smaller insurers might have difficulty competing under rules that require insurers pay out between 80% and 85% of premiums on medical care.