Shareholders of UnitedHealth Group have requested a report on the public health and financial impact of the company’s practices that may delay or limit access to care. If accepted, the proposal will be voted on at UnitedHealth’s 2025 annual meeting, expected in June.
The resolution, filed by religious groups led by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary of Quebec and Trillium Asset Management, calls for an analysis of how prior authorization requirements and service denials affect patients’ ability to receive timely medical care.
Criticism of insurers, including UnitedHealth, intensified after the December killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Luigi Mangione, 26, pleaded not guilty to the murder, which fueled public frustration with insurance delays and denials.
UnitedHealth, which operates the largest U.S. health insurer and pharmacy benefits manager Optum, said it approves 90% of submitted claims and dismissed allegations of misleading practices. CEO Andrew Witty defended Thompson as “one of the good guys” in a message to employees, vowing to continue serving vulnerable populations.
Wendell Potter, president of the Center for Health & Democracy, supported the resolution, emphasizing the broader harm caused by delayed or denied care.
UnitedHealth said it will respond to shareholder proposals in its 2025 proxy statement, expected in April.
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