Blumenthal Statement On Federal Court Decision To Issue Preliminary Injunction Against UnitedHealth Group

(Hartford, CT) – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) issued the following statement after a federal court judge in Connecticut issued a preliminary injunction against UnitedHealth Group (UHG) – halting plans by the nation’s largest insurer to cut thousands of providers from its Medicare Advantage (MA)network. Seniors have until tomorrow,December 7, to switch their Medicare Advantage plans, and until February 14 to decide to change back to traditional Medicare.

“Yesterday's court decision is a victory, giving patients some assurance, if only temporary, that they will continue to receive vital care from the doctors they know and trust. UnitedHealth Group is threatening to deprive vulnerable elderly patients of health care from their doctors of choice who have served them over the years. The insurer should take the court's signal and end its shortsighted and improper efforts, which have caused unnecessary distress to seniors in Connecticut.”                                                                                                                     

In a letter to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) last month, the Connecticut Congressional Delegation urged the agency to review UHG’s plans to cut providers from its MA network. CMS hasn’t responded to the delegation’s letter.