July 31 (Reuters) - Cigna ( CI ) beat Wall Street

estimate for second-quarter profit on Thursday, helped by

strength in its pharmacy benefit management business.

It is one of the last health insurers to report quarterly

results for the sector, which has been bogged down by

persistently high medical costs in government-backed plans.

Cigna ( CI ), however, is insulated from such cost pressures as it

recently sold its Medicare business to Health Care Service Corp.

It banks more on its pharmacy benefit management and commercial

health insurance businesses.

Revenue from its Evernorth healthcare services unit, which

includes Cigna's ( CI ) pharmacy benefit management business, rose 17%

to $57.83 billion during the quarter.

Pharmacy benefit managers help negotiate drug prices and

coverage with manufacturers on behalf of employers and health

plan clients.

Cigna's ( CI ) adjusted profit of $7.20 per share topped analysts'

average estimate of $7.15 per share, according to data compiled

by LSEG.

The company maintained its annual adjusted profit forecast

of at least $29.60 per share, while analysts expect $29.68 per

share.