# America’s Biggest Health Insurer Is Falling Hard  ## Metadata - Author: [[Molly Liebergall]] - Full Title: America’s Biggest Health Insurer Is Falling Hard - Category: #articles - Summary: In the latest setback for the UnitedHealth Group, the Justice Department is investigating it for potential criminal fraud in its Medicare Advantage business, the Wall Street Journal reported. - URL: https://www.morningbrew.com/stories/2025/05/16/us-biggest-health-insurer-falling-hard?utm_source=&utm_medium=syndication&utm_campaign=feed ## Highlights - In the latest setback for the UnitedHealth Group, the Justice Department is investigating it for potential criminal fraud in its Medicare Advantage business ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01jvfbswyv7hd7r1e0181ns2tc)) - The single-largest health insurance company in the US appears to be hitting every step on its tumble down the stairs. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01jvfbt4z4zr3dk0aqs3w6q580)) - The report comes as it’s already facing a civil fraud investigation into alleged overbilling, which may soon get [dismissed](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-04/unitedhealth-wins-favorable-finding-in-medicare-fraud-lawsuit), and an antitrust probe the DOJ opened in 2024. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01jvfbv16tkq4551k39jn0s9qf)) - UHG’s CEO of four years suddenly [stepped down](https://www.brewmarkets.com/stories/2025/05/13/unitedhealth-stocks-ceo-departure) earlier this week for “personal reasons,” and the company suspended its 2025 sales guidance. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01jvfbv8dwmqxsgayr5mps14nm)) - Investors sued UHG this month for allegedly downplaying the business impact of the December killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, which spotlighted widespread public frustrations with the insurance industry. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01jvfbvh9wz0kggx9x8ynm2kmr)) - All that came after the largest healthcare [cyberattack](https://www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2024/02/22/cyber-attack-shuts-down-pharmacies-across-the-us) in history, which may have affected 100 million customers of Change Healthcare (owned by UHG) in October. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01jvfbvz2s8766ey0x1mv90vgn)) - UnitedHealth Group dropped from No. 1 on the Dow in mid-April to 16th place at one point yesterday, according to Investopedia. Its share price fell more than 50% during the same period—its biggest one-month decline ever. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01jvfbwf56c9svcz7dmpdp5bpf)) - **Crackdown season:** Federal officials have also accused Aetna, Humana, and Elevance (formerly Anthem) of defrauding the government by pushing Medicare Advantage plans with the highest kickbacks in a civil [lawsuit](https://www.newsweek.com/doj-insurance-companies-brokers-medicare-advantage-kickbacks-2066991) filed this month. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01jvfbwx1823b6dkqjkkbck26v))