UnitedHealth says it will return ObamaCare profits to customers in 2026

UnitedHealth Group says it will return profits it earns in the Affordable Care Act marketplace to consumers in 2026, an item CEO Stephen Hemsley is expected to announce in testimony before a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee. The company reports about 1 million ACA marketplace enrollees and says details are still being worked out.

UnitedHealth Group says it will return profits it earns in the Affordable Care Act marketplace to consumers in 2026. CEO and Chairman Stephen Hemsley is expected to announce the plan in testimony before a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Thursday. The company says it intends to return the money to ACA members while Congress considers longer-term solutions. About 1 million of UnitedHealth's customers are enrolled through the ACA marketplace. Key facts: - Hemsley's prepared testimony states the company will voluntarily eliminate and rebate its profits for individual ACA marketplace coverages in 2026. - A UnitedHealth spokesperson said details are still being worked out and that the company intends to return the money to ACA members. - About 1 million UnitedHealth customers are enrolled in the ACA marketplace, making the company a relatively small participant in the individual market. - Hemsley is one of several health insurance executives summoned to testify at hearings focused on health care affordability; other invited executives include leaders from CVS Health, Cigna, Elevance Health and Blue Shield of California. - The hearings occur as enhanced ACA premium tax credits expired Dec. 31, which officials reported has led to higher out-of-pocket costs and lower enrollment; the House passed legislation to extend the subsidies but the Senate has not taken it up. Summary: UnitedHealth says it will rebate profits from its ACA marketplace plans and will outline the proposal in Stephen Hemsley's testimony before the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Thursday. The company says details remain under development and that it will engage with CMS and Congress as they consider policy options. The immediate next scheduled step is Hemsley's testimony.