Texas Investigates UnitedHealthcare for Alleged Deceptive Practices

The Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, has launched an investigation into UnitedHealthcare’s business practices, focusing on potential violations of state law. Paxton’s office is examining whether the insurer is denying patients necessary coverage and engaging in deceptive practices, citing multiple media reports.

One of the key allegations involves UnitedHealthcare allegedly bribing nursing homes to delay hospitalizing patients who needed medical care, a claim first reported by The Guardian. Another case highlighted by Paxton involves a Texas patient who received prior authorization for a procedure at RedBud Surgery Center in Austin but was left with a large medical bill after UnitedHealthcare allegedly retracted the approval and refused reimbursement.

Paxton stated that his office would gather evidence and stand up to UnitedHealthcare, ensuring Texans receive the coverage they pay for. He emphasized that no Texan should be denied necessary care or stuck with unexpected bills. UnitedHealthcare has previously denied many of these allegations, even suing The Guardian for defamation, though the lawsuit was dismissed on First Amendment grounds.