Three UnitedHealth-owned insurance companies must pay over $165 million for misleading thousands of customers in Massachusetts into paying for additional health insurance, a state judge has ruled.
According to Reuters, Suffolk County Superior Court Judge Hélène Kazanjian said that HealthMarkets, acquired by UnitedHealth in 2019, and two of its subsidiaries had marketed major medical and supplemental insurance in bundles from 2012 to 2016 in a way that deceived consumers into buying supplemental policies.
Why It Matters
In the wake of the shooting of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson, there has been an outpouring of anger towards the insurance industry for denying medical claims, with some going as far as cheering for Thompson’s death and arguing that the shooter was justified in his actions.
A photo of the office of UnitedHealthcare. Three UnitedHealth-owned companies will have to pay a collective total of more than $165 million following a judge ruling. A photo of the office of UnitedHealthcare. Three UnitedHealth-owned companies will have to pay a collective total of more than $165 million following a judge ruling. Patrick T. Fallon/GDA via AP
What To Know
The UnitedHealth-owned companies had already been found liable for violating the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act, according to Reuters. The judge’s ruling followed a non-jury trial to assess the damages.
Per the outlet, Judge Kazanjian said sales agents in the three companies were trained to hide the costs of individual policies so consumers were kept in the dark as to what they were buying.
The judge deemed the companies’ actions
UnitedHealth To Pay Out Millions for Misleading Consumers on Insurance
