UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is an American multinational health insurance and services company based in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Selling insurance products under UnitedHealthcare, and health care services under the Optum brand, it is the world’s eleventh-largest company by revenue and the largest health care company by revenue.

It was founded in 1977, UnitedHealth Group has grown significantly through strategic acquisitions and organic growth. Its focus on innovation, data-driven insights, and integrated care delivery models has positioned it as a major player in the healthcare industry.

In 1988, United HealthCare started its first pharmacy benefit management, through its Diversified Pharmaceutical Services subsidiary. It managed pharmacy benefits delivered both through retail pharmacies and mail. The subsidiary was sold to SmithKline Beecham in 1994 for $2.3 billion.[

In 1994, United HealthCare acquired Ramsey-HMO, a Florida insurer. In 1995, the company acquired The MetraHealth Companies Inc. for $1.65 billion. MetraHealth was a privately held company formed by combining the group healthcare operations of The Travelers Companies and MetLife. In 1996, United HealthCare acquired HealthWise of America, which operated HMOs in Arkansas, Maryland, Kentucky and Tennessee.

In 1998, the company was reorganized as the holding of independent companies UnitedHealthcare, Ovations, Uniprise, Specialized Care Services and Ingenix, and rebranded as “UnitedHealth Group”. Also in 1998, United Health Group acquired HealthPartners of Arizona, operator of Arizona’s largest AHCCCS provider

Over the following 25 years UnitedHealth continued these aggressive acquisition and merger strategies. More recently, in February 2022, UnitedHealth announced the acquisition of Change Healthcare, the largest health payments platform in the US, which the US Justice Department tried to block on antitrust grounds; the sale went through by September. But inn February 2024, the subsidiary was brought completely down by the 2024 Change Healthcare ransomware attack, and the Justice Department announced that it was opening a new antitrust and Medicare overcharging probe.

The company is ranked 8th on the 2024 Fortune Global 500.and had a market capitalization of $474.3 billion as of July 15, 2024. The company has a substantial impact on the U.S. healthcare system. Its scale and influence allow it to negotiate favorable contracts with healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, and medical device manufacturers. The company has also been at the forefront of initiatives to improve healthcare quality, reduce costs, and enhance patient outcomes.

In recent years, UnitedHealth Group has been actively expanding its global footprint and investing in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and telemedicine. And it has recently proposed a $3.3 billion acquisition of Amedisys, a leading home health and hospice care provider. This deal aims to expand UnitedHealth’s presence in the home care market and integrate it with its existing healthcare services.

Founded in 1982, Amedisys has grown steadily over the years through organic growth and acquisitions. The company has a significant presence in the U.S., with operations in 37 states and the District of Columbia. Amedisys employs over 21,000 individuals and serves millions of patients annually.

However, Amedisys has been involved in legal disputes and regulatory scrutiny, including allegations of fraud and improper billing practices. The company has also faced challenges related to reimbursement rates and staffing shortages.

In 2023, Amedisys agreed to be acquired by Optum, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, in a deal valued at $3.3 billion. And the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and several states have filed a lawsuit this month in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland to block the deal, arguing that it would reduce competition and harm consumers. O

“We are challenging this merger because home health and hospice patients and their families experiencing some of the most difficult moments of their lives deserve affordable, high quality care options,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland in a statement following the complaint’s filing in Maryland federal court.

To address some of the overlaps between UnitedHealth and Amedisys, UnitedHealth has proposed to divest certain facilities to VitalCaring Group (VitalCaring). But as the complaint alleges, the proposed divestiture does not alleviate harm in over 100 home health, hospice, and labor markets, which generate at least a billion dollars in revenue annually, serve at least 200,000 patients, and employ at least 4,000 nurses.