The Ohio Chamber of Commerce is suing UnitedHealthcare over allegations the insurer withheld data and used confidential information obtained as the administrator of the chamber’s health benefits program to steer small businesses into its own plans.
Hours after the lawsuit was filed Sept. 1 in an Ohio federal court, U.S. District Judge Algenon Marbley temporarily blocked UnitedHealthcare from marketing or selling its plans to businesses participating in the chamber program, ruling that the group would “suffer from interference in their business relationships and loss of goodwill, while United will gain an unfair competitive advantage in the marketplace.”
UnitedHealthcare has administered the chamber’s self-funded plan since 2019, with around 1,700 small businesses participating in the program, or about 20% of the chamber’s overall membership.
According to the complaint, United notified the chamber in May that it intended to end the relationship at the end of this year. The chamber found a replacement administrator and in June requested claims, enrollment, underwriting and other data needed to develop plans and premium rates for 2027. The lawsuit alleges the insurer then provided the requested data in batches over six weeks, delaying the chamber’s ability to finalize rates and obtain approvals from state regulators.
At the same time, United allegedly began contacting participating employers and brokers about its own health plans and planned to begin offering quotes for 2027 coverage before the chamber could offer competing quotes.
The chamber also alleges United used employer claims, enrollment, broker, plan design and profitability information obtained as the program’s TPA to develop competing products. The complaint said United used the chamber program’s name and branding in emails and on a website promoting United-only plans, creating the impression that the program itself was ending or that the chamber supported the transition.
The lawsuit includes claims of breach of contract and fiduciary duty, misappropriation of trade secrets, false advertising, trademark infringement and interference with prospective business relationships.
The temporary restraining order will remain in effect for two weeks or until the conclusion of a preliminary injunction hearing, which is scheduled to begin Sept. 8.
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