UnitedHealth's Dominance of Healthcare Market Exposed

In an in-depth investigation, four STAT News journalists spent over a year interviewing dozens of current and former UnitedHealth Group employees to uncover the company's business practices. The team's research revealed how UnitedHealth uses its leverage to acquire physician practices, specialty medical clinics, and other provider organizations, dominating multiple healthcare markets nationwide.

The journalists found that by controlling physicians, UnitedHealth can influence coding, which is used to identify patient conditions and support reimbursement from insurers. This practice was particularly evident in the Medicare Advantage market, where 55% of Medicare members are enrolled. The team discovered that health insurers, including UnitedHealth, were adjusting risk scores to boost revenue using health risk assessments (HRAs).

The investigation, titled 'Health Care's Colossus,' consisted of an eight-part series published from July 2024 to August 2025. The series won the George W. Polk Award in medical reporting and an Edward R. Murrow award. The journalists reviewed thousands of pages of documents, pored over reams of data, and convinced dozens of clinicians to speak with them, revealing the untold costs of UnitedHealth's dominance.