US health insurance executives testify in Congress about rising healthcare costs.

Executives from five major US insurers testified before a House committee about rising healthcare costs, and the article mentions UnitedHealth Group will rebate profits from its ACA plans to customers in 2026.

Executives from five large US health insurers appeared before the House Energy and Commerce Committee to explain why healthcare costs have risen and to answer lawmakers' questions. The hearing focused on insurance market structure, prescription drug pricing, and affordability for consumers. The article mentions UnitedHealth Group said it will rebate profits earned from its Affordable Care Act plans to customers in 2026. Key details: - The article mentions leaders from UnitedHealth Group, CVS Health, Elevance Health, the Cigna Group, and Ascendium testified at the hearing convened by Rep. Brett Guthrie and Rep. Morgan Griffith. - The article mentions UnitedHealth Group will voluntarily eliminate and rebate profits from its ACA individual-market plans this year and described itself as a relatively small participant in that market. - Federal data and cited reports show rising costs: the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reported overall US health spending rose 7.2% in 2024 to more than $5.3 trillion, and a KFF survey found employer-family premiums increased about 6% in 2025 to nearly $27,000; ACA enrollment is reported as about 22.8 million so far this year, roughly 800,000 fewer than the same point last year. - Rep. Guthrie said the hearing will begin a broader series of sessions with industry leaders; earlier this month the House passed legislation to re-establish enhanced premium tax credits for ACA plans. Summary: Lawmakers questioned insurance executives about rising costs and market practices while industry leaders described steps they are taking, including the article's note of UnitedHealth's planned rebates. Congress remains divided over subsidy renewal and the committee chair said more hearings will follow as officials continue to examine affordability and market structure.