Accountable.US Statement on House Republicans Burying Trump AG Pick Matt Gaetz’ Ethics Report
President-elect Trump’s Nomination of Dr. Oz Means Health Care At Risk for Seniors and Vulnerable Americans
At Least 5 People Associated with Project 2025 Tapped to Serve in the Trump Administration
Senate Hearing Highlights Need to End Visa-Mastercard Duopoly to Bring Competition, Lower Fees for Consumers and Small Business Owners
Trump and Republicans in Congress Double Down on Failed Economic System that Works for the Wealthy and Stiffs the Working Class
Site Menu

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, a new report from government watchdog Accountable.US revealed that UnitedHealthcare disproportionately relied on a small number of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries for 46% of its $281 billion 2023 revenue. The report coincides with growing concerns detailed in The Guardian over Project 2025’s aims to further privatize Medicare Advantage.

“

UnitedHealth is Medicare Advantage’s top provider, but one look at their troubling history—from accusations of fraud, posting high profits while healthcare costs skyrocket for American families, overbilling taxpayers, allowing misdiagnoses, to illegal denial of care—and it’s clear UnitedHealth’s model of exploitation isn’t working for American seniors."

Accountable.US Executive Director Tony Carrk

UnitedHealthcare—which covers 29% of Medicare Advantage enrollees—joins nine out of ten major insurers accused of fraud or overbilling the program. In recent years, the company faced a class action lawsuit for illegally using an algorithm to deny ill seniors rehabilitation care, and at least three Justice Department lawsuits for illegally mischarging MA—including one complaint alleging the insurer took part in potentially billions of dollars in MA overcharges.

KEY FINDINGS

  • UnitedHealthcare—which covers 29% of MA enrollees—relied on its MA-dominated Medicare & Retirement segment for 46% of its $281 billion in total 2023 revenue, although MA enrollees comprised only 15% of its total enrollment that year. It has also stated that its $31 billion in 2023 revenue growth was “primarily driven” by MA and Medicaid enrollees.
  • UnitedHealthcare parent, UnitedHealth Group—which saw $91.5 billion in net income and spent $56.3 billion on shareholder handouts from 2019 through 2023—has complained that MA funding “continues to be pressured” and threatened benefits cuts and cost-cutting.
  • UnitedHealth Group—the fourth-largest U.S. company by revenue—has faced widespread criticism of its size, with former Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Don Berwick saying it has “‘grown too big for this country’s good.'”
  • UnitedHealthcare has faced a class action lawsuit for illegally using an algorithm to deny ill seniors rehabilitation care, and at least three Justice Department lawsuits for illegally mischarging MA—including one complaint alleging the insurer took part in potentially billions of dollars in MA overcharges.
  • UnitedHealth Group has spent $22.3 million while lobbying on Medicare Advantage since Q1 2021. UnitedHealth has also been behind “‘astroturf‘” MA industry group the Better Medicare Alliance, which itself has spent $4 million on federal lobbying since Q1 2021 and counts a longtime UnitedHealth executive and current Senior Advisor as a board member.
back to top