Healthcare DIVE December 16, 2025
A Medicare Advantage network spat between Optum and Humana in Washington state appears to be benefiting UnitedHealthcare at the expense of its biggest rival. Antitrust experts are alarmed.
A Medicare Advantage network dispute between Optum and Humana in Washington state is pushing seniors into rival Medicare plans — including those owned by Optum’s corporate parent UnitedHealth — in what antitrust experts say could be one of the first high-profile instances of a provider making a network determination to harm a competitor of its insurance parent company.
In November, Washington seniors in Humana MA plans began receiving notices that Optum would no longer be in-network effective Jan. 1. The impending split has thrown certain markets in the Evergreen State into disarray.
...Today's Sponsors
Today's Sponsor