There will soon be one less member company of America's health insurance trade group, a sign of the industry's evolutionary turmoil.
In early June, thousands of healthcare and insurance professionals attending America's Health Insurance Plans Institute in Nashville were wearing ID cards on lanyards sponsored with the logo of Optum, UnitedHealth Group's highly profitable health services and technology subsidiary.
Now, UnitedHealth Group, whose health plans serve some 41 million Americans, is leaving AHIP within a month, as Politico first reported.
"UnitedHealth Group believes the interest of our company and the customers we serve are no longer best represented by AHIP and accordingly are ending our membership effective June 30," spokesman Matt Stearns told the Wall Street Journal. "AHIP has set forth a strategy and direction it feels best serves a membership profile and need that does not fit UnitedHealth Group and our diversified portfolio."
AHIP confirmed United's departure, though would not comment on specifics. "AHIP has a strong and demonstrated track record of successful advocacy on behalf of the health insurance industry," said AHIP interim CEO Dan Durham in a statement. "Our board has focused us on the critical issues facing health insurers and the customers we serve, including affordability, high cost drugs, and Medicare Advantage."
United has been AHIP's largest member organization, out of more than 200 diverse organizations across health insurance and healthcare services--among them Aetna, Aflac, Anthem, Inc., the nonprofit Blues, Chinese Health Plan, Group Health Cooperative, the Center for Elders' Independence and provider-sponsored plans including UPMC Health Plan and Partners HealthCare's Neighborhood Health Plan.