Summary
Three UnitedHealth-owned companies—HealthMarkets and its subsidiaries—were ordered to pay over $165 million for deceptive practices in Massachusetts between 2012 and 2016.
A Suffolk County judge ruled they violated the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act by misleading consumers into buying unnecessary supplemental insurance, with agents trained to obscure costs.
The penalties include $50.1 million in restitution and $115.1 million in civil penalties, the largest ever under the state’s consumer protection law.
UnitedHealthcare plans to appeal.
Oh great, they have to pay a fine that’s a fraction of the profit they make per day. That’ll teach ‘em!
Worst yet, it’s probably tax deductible.