Summary

The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a civil fraud investigation into UnitedHealthcare over alleged Medicare Advantage billing fraud.

Authorities are examining whether the company improperly used patient diagnoses to inflate payments.

Medicare Advantage, a private insurance alternative to traditional Medicare, has faced criticism for high taxpayer costs and restricted patient access.

UnitedHealthcare denies wrongdoing, calling fraud claims “outrageous.”

The probe follows broader scrutiny of the company, including a major data breach and the recent murder of its CEO.