US health insurance company wants too much money – level 3
26-02-2025 07:00
According to the Wall Street Journal, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating UnitedHealth’s Medicare billing practices.
The probe focuses on how the company records diagnoses to receive extra payments for Medicare Advantage plans. UnitedHealth claims it is unaware of the investigation and denies wrongdoing. Following the news, UnitedHealth’s shares dropped 7.3%, affecting the broader stock market, while other insurers like Humana and CVS also saw declines.
The DOJ has an ongoing lawsuit against UnitedHealth over Medicare Advantage and recently attempted to block its 3.3 billion dollar purchase of Amedisys. Analysts say the investigation creates uncertainty for investors. Some believe the sharp drop in UnitedHealth’s stock price may be an overreaction, as only 15% of its insurance members are in Medicare Advantage. Meanwhile, the company is also offering buyouts to employees in its benefits unit. Lawmakers and regulators continue to scrutinize UnitedHealth’s business practices, particularly its role in rising healthcare costs.
Difficult words: probe (investigation), overreaction (reacting extremely), scrutinize (to examine closely).
You can watch the video news lower on this page.
What billing practice is under investigation, and which statistic challenges the magnitude of the resulting stock market reaction?
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