Maxicare said it anticipates a first-quarter loss.

The health maintenance organization said it expects the loss to be between 35 cents and 45 cents a share. The loss is a result primarily of increased interest and amortization expenses and an operating deficit from HMOs acquired from HealthAmerica, said Fred W. Wasserman, chairman and chief executive. Maxicare is scheduled to report first-quarter results on May 19. Maxicare, the nation’s largest publicly held health maintenance organization, serves more than 2.3 million members in 26 states.