1 in 10 US Doctors Affiliated With UnitedHealth Group

After major acquisitions, UnitedHealth Group has ambitions to further consolidate the health care market, raising antitrust issues.

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With acquisitions of hospital groups, home health care networks and tech companies driving relentless expansion, colossal health insurer UnitedHealth Group now employs a staggering 10 percent of all American physicians—that is 90,000 doctors across the country in its networks.

On track eclipse $400 billion in revenue next year as it serves 90 percent of the overall health insurance market in the U.S., 52 million patients call UnitedHealth’s behemoth operation their medical home. But while revenue and share prices climb ever higher, some experts are questioning: with fewer competitors, will costs and options suffer for patients?

Mega-Mergers Raise Mega Eyebrows

UnitedHealth Group, already the nation’s largest private health insurer and one of the world’s 10 largest companies overall, has spent over $41 billion in the past 18 years acquiring at least 25 companies across health care sectors. These mega-mergers have raised antitrust concerns from regulators and lawmakers about potential harms to market competition, though legal challenges have been mostly overcome with some concessions.