Author | Lightnews

Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · 2d

It might sound wonky, but when corporate insurers game the Medical Loss Ratio, the result is higher costs for consumers and bigger profits for CEOs and shareholders.

By paying a subsidiary that the insurance company owns, they are able to hide their profits as money spent on providing care.

Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · 3d

“How Insurers That Own Providers Can Game The Medical Loss Ratio Rules“ ~Health Affairs

“The recently released Sunlight Report on UnitedHealth Group shows that it grew more than 10 times its size over the past decade.”

www.healthaffairs.org/content/fore...

How Insurers That Own Providers Can Game The Medical Loss Ratio Rules | Health Affairs Forefront

As states pursue policies to slow cost growth, they must apply greater scrutiny of vertical integration arrangements—especially around internal financial transactions between affiliated entities.

www.healthaffairs.org

Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · 3d

“How Insurers That Own Providers Can Game The Medical Loss Ratio Rules“ ~Health Affairs

“The recently released Sunlight Report on UnitedHealth Group shows that it grew more than 10 times its size over the past decade.”

www.healthaffairs.org/content/fore...

How Insurers That Own Providers Can Game The Medical Loss Ratio Rules | Health Affairs Forefront

As states pursue policies to slow cost growth, they must apply greater scrutiny of vertical integration arrangements—especially around internal financial transactions between affiliated entities.

www.healthaffairs.org

Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · 4d

By passing the NO UPCODE Act, Congress can cut overpayments to Big Insurance by $124 billion every year, and reinvest that in expanding benefits and lowering costs for consumers.

www.legalnewsline.com/legislation-...

No UPCODE Act could be part of shutdown solution … and more

Days into the federal government shutdown, health care funding is perhaps the key issue in talks to end the partisan stalemate.

www.legalnewsline.com

Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · 5d

Dr. Oz has loved the for-profit, privately-run corporate Medicare Advantage plans. But even he knows that Big Insurance is gaming the system and overbilling U.S. taxpayers by $140 billion every year.

www.healthcaredive.com/news/oz-medi...

Oz reiterates need to improve Medicare Advantage payment accuracy

The CMS administrator’s comments at an industry event in D.C. on Wednesday reflect the difficult tightrope regulators in the Trump administration walk as they pursue MA reform.

www.healthcaredive.com

Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · 6d

With enrollment season underway, hundreds of millions of Americans are about to see their premiums go up 📈

Tell us what you’re hearing at c4hd.org/ShareMyStory

Image that reads: “I’ve worked for the same company for 26 years. We’ve had the same health plan provider the entire time. We’ve already been notified we will be changing carriers due to the steep increases in premiums. While our company is switching to help, they’ve still indicated premiums will be going up. They’ve gone up every single one of my 26 years. I have chronic illness so my out of pocket costs are higher than my mortgage.”

Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · 11d

“Racial minority enrollees in MA suffer from worse clinical outcomes and face barriers accessing best quality care. These disparities stem from factors such as restrictive networks and misaligned financial incentives that fundamentally oppose public health priorities.”

Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · 11d

NEW from our allies @pnhp.bsky.social — “No Real Choices: How Medicare Advantage Fails Seniors of Color.”

This new report looks at how for-profit Medicare Advantage plans result in worse health outcomes for communities of color.

Read the report now ➡️ pnhp.org/EquityReport

No Real Choices

pnhp.org

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Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · 11d

NEW from our allies @pnhp.bsky.social — “No Real Choices: How Medicare Advantage Fails Seniors of Color.”

This new report looks at how for-profit Medicare Advantage plans result in worse health outcomes for communities of color.

Read the report now ➡️ pnhp.org/EquityReport

No Real Choices

pnhp.org

Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · 13d

Join @ctcag.bsky.social for an electrifying movie about a group of young people who take on the broken health care system, followed by a discussion with national and state leaders in health insurance advocacy, including @wendellpotter.bsky.social!

RSVP: actionnetwork.org/events/is-he...

Is Health Insurance Making Us Sick? MIDAS Screening and Discission with Wendell Potter

When: Wednesday, October 15, 6 pm What: Film screening and Panel Discussion Where: CT Legislative Office Building Room 2E Why: Every day, health insurance companies make billions of dollars for exe...

actionnetwork.org

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Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · Sep 17

At a moment when patients and consumers are facing 20% premium increases, more and more prior authorizations and denials, increasingly narrow networks, it's time for Congress to take action and clamp down on corporate greed in health care!

Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · Sep 17

If you are someone who has been directly impacted by our broken, for-profit health care system, share your story with our team at c4hd.org/ShareMyStory — our advocacy team will get in touch to talk with you about your experiences!

New/Mode | Make your voice impossible to ignore

c4hd.org

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Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · Sep 17

Now, it's time for grassroots voices across the country to encourage elected officials from both parties to sign on as cosponsors and support the bill.

Got to c4hd.org/CallCongress to use our easy-to-use call tool to call your representative and both of your senators today!

New/Mode | Make your voice impossible to ignore

c4hd.org

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Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · Sep 17

If your organization is interested in learning more and sponsoring the bill, please DM us!

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Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · Sep 17

CHD is proud to support this bill alongside @econliberties.bsky.social, @labor4singlepayer.bsky.social, @moveon.org, @pnhpnymetro.bsky.social, @publiccitizen.bsky.social, @socialsecurityworks.org, JustCare USA, Health Care for America NOW, and Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action.

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Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · Sep 17

In addition to Senators Merkley and Warren, and Representatives Hoyle, Ryan and Jayapal, the #PatientsOverProfits Act is cosponsored by @markey.senate.gov and @ocasio-cortez.house.gov

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Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · Sep 17

This bill will provide an urgently needed major fix to our for-profit health care system, and ensure providers can care for patients without the influence of greedy insurance corporations.

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Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · Sep 17

Now, it's time for Congress to take bipartisan action to protect patients from monopolization and profiteering in the health care system.

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Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · Sep 17

In our recent webinar, CHD's Director of Policy & Advocacy Dr. Rachel Madley walked through a patient's journey through the U.S. health care system, highlighting all of the ways in which corporations like UnitedHealth Group impact your health care from cradle to grave.

c4hd.org/SunlightWebinar

Sunlight Report on UnitedHealth Group Webinar

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

c4hd.org

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Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · Sep 17

Just today, John Hopkins Medicine announced that they would not stay in network with UnitedHealth. When United owns 90,000 doctor offices, they have more leverage against hospital systems and provider networks that are not under their control.

www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/ne...

Johns Hopkins says UnitedHealthcare negotiations are over without return to in-network coverage

Johns Hopkins Medicine and UnitedHealthcare have ended contract negotiations, leaving thousands of patients without in-network health insurance, according to a letter reviewed by our media partner, Th...

www.cbsnews.com

1

Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · Sep 17

Not only does this vertical integration result in more profits for United, but it means more control over the health care system.

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Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · Sep 17

As shown in our Sunlight Report, the first-of-its-kind analysis of UnitedHealth Group's ~2,700 subsidiaries, Optum now owns or has close contractual ties with 1 in 10 doctors across the country.

sunlightreportinsurance.com

The Sunlight Report on UnitedHealth Group

The Sunlight Report on UnitedHealth Group is a first-of-its-kind look at the nearly 2,700 mergers, acquisitions and subsidiaries that make up UnitedHealth Group, the largest health care conglomerate i...

sunlightreportinsurance.com

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Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · Sep 17

When UnitedHealth's subsidiary Optum purchased the Corvallis Clinic in Oregon, they fired dozens of physicians, leaving thousands of patients without the ability to see a doctor.

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Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · Sep 17

In recent years, insurance corporations like UnitedHealth and CVS have aggressively pursued acquisitions of local physician practices. This practice, known as vertical integration, has resulted in massive increases in profits for big corporations at the expense of patients and consumers.

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Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · Sep 17

The #PatientsOverProfits Act will prevent large insurance corporations like UnitedHealth Group from buying up doctor's offices and physician practices.

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Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · Sep 17

Today, @merkley.senate.gov, @warren.senate.gov, @repvalhoyle.bsky.social, @pkryan.bsky.social and @jayapal.house.gov introduced The #PatientsOverProfits Act

Here's what you need to know: 🧵

www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-warr...

Merkley, Warren, Hoyle, Ryan, Jayapal Introduce New Bill to Crack Down on Health Insurers Buying up Clinics Across the U.S. - Merkley

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Massachusetts’ U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren teamed up with U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle (OR-04), Pat Ryan (NY-18), and Pramila Jayapal (WA-...

www.merkley.senate.gov

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Center for Health & Democracy @cforhd.bsky.social · Sep 9

During the webinar we heard from Andrea, whose father was on a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan. Andrea's story was a heartbreaking and powerful example of the impact corporate greed has on us and our loved ones. Share your story with us at c4hd.org/ShareMyStory and we'll get in touch!

New/Mode | Make your voice impossible to ignore

c4hd.org