UnitedHealthcare and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce have agreed to settle a lawsuit that accused the insurer of using its role as the chamber’s health plan administrator to steer small businesses toward its own products.
U.S. District Judge Algenon Marbley signed the Oct. 29 order terminating the case after both sides told the court they had resolved their dispute.
According to the chamber’s complaint filed in September, UnitedHealthcare had told the group earlier this year that it intended to end the relationship at the end of 2026. The insurer 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.
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 alleged UnitedHealthcare 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, the insurer allegedly began contacting participating employers and brokers about its own products and planned to begin offering quotes for 2027 coverage before the chamber could offer competing quotes. The chamber had also alleged that United used employer information obtained as the program’s TPA to develop competing products.
UnitedHealthcare denied the allegations in an October court filing, arguing its agreement with the chamber contained no noncompete or nonsolicitation provisions and that its outreach to employers and brokers was lawful competition.
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