Elevance Health filed a complaint Sept. 12 against a former senior underwriting executive who took another job at a competitor despite having signed a noncompete agreement.
According to the lawsuit, which was reviewed by Becker’s, Maria Gregory started a position at health benefits company Gravie upon leaving Elevance. The lawsuit claims the Comfort plan offered by Gravie directly competes with Anthem Balanced Funding, of which Elevance Health is a third-party administrator. Both products are level-funded health plans that focus on small- and medium-size employers, according to the lawsuit.
Gravie’s Comfort plan also partners with Cigna and Aetna, other competitors of Elevance Health.
Ms. Gregory accepted stock grants in exchange for abiding by her noncompete agreement, the lawsuit says.
“Gregory had extensive access to Elevance Health’s confidential pricing formulas, bidding and renewal strategies, business intelligence and other trade secrets which are crucial to Elevance Health’s competitive advantage in the level-funded insurance market and which would be of great economic value if known to a competitor,” the complaint says.
In an Aug. 8 letter to Elevance Health, which also was reviewed by Becker’s, Gravie’s attorney said the noncompete agreement is “overbroad and unenforceable.”
Elevance is seeking a 12-month injunction and damages.
