By Chris Faddis

The U.S. government is cracking down on bad actors in the healthcare sector, with special attention to United Health. The healthcare giant – the largest company in the industry – is now undergoing a criminal probe by the Department of Justice for engaging in alleged Medicare fraud in addition to possible antitrust violations and a civil investigation.

These inquiries into United Health’s shady operations prove that American patients aren’t the only ones sounding the alarm over a severe lack of price transparency and price gouging in an industry that is costing them their health. With better oversight, transparency, and consequences for fraudulent billing practices, patients might soon experience an authentically patient-focused healthcare system.

Tragically, United Health is not alone. Other top industry players are facing similar scrutiny for similar activities. Last month, the DOJ filed a complaint against Aetna Inc. and affiliates, Elevance Health Inc., and Humana Inc. alleging that they paid hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal kickbacks to insurance brokers in exchange for enrollments into the insurers’ Medicare Advantage plans. Aetna and Humana are also alleged to have discriminated against patients with disabilities for financial gain.

To understand just how much sweeping control these players have over the cost and coverage of U.S. healthcare, it can help to look at the numbers. United Health alone is the biggest company in the insurance industry by market cap, worth nearly $275 billion. It controls an estimated 15 percent of the U.S. health insurance market and serves more than 29 million Americans, according to a 2024 report from the American Medical Association. Meanwhile, competitors Elevance Health and CVS Health control an estimated 12 percent of the market each.

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