UnitedHealth pay raises not to exceed 2% amid layoffs: Bloomberg

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UnitedHealth Group is limiting employee raises to between 0% and 2% this year and laying off an unspecified number of workers, Bloomberg reported Feb. 27.

Minnesota, the company’s home state, has not posted any relevant Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notices as of March 2, but an anonymous source confirmed the layoffs to Bloomberg. The source also said the raises would depend on performance.

According to the company’s 2025 earnings report, total net earnings were under $12.1 billion, down from $14.4 billion the prior year. UnitedHealth said it is expecting to lower its operating cost ratio in 2026, “supported by disciplined cost management and benefits from ongoing productivity initiatives.”

As UnitedHealth’s Medicare Advantage and Medicaid businesses face pressure, the insurer is also projecting a total membership decline of up to 2.8 million in 2026.

Becker’s has contacted UnitedHealth for comment and will update this story if more information becomes available.

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