UnitedHealth Group
Largest U.S. health insurer by revenue and membership.
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is an American multinational corporation headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, that operates in health insurance and health care services. It sells insurance products under the UnitedHealthcare brand and health care services under the Optum brand. As of 2026, it ranks as the world’s fourth-largest company by revenue and the largest health care company by revenue, placing fourth on the 2026 Fortune Global 500. Its market capitalization exceeded $400 billion at the end of 2025, and it is the largest health insurer in the United States, covering over 50 million people, with global operations.
The company originated in late 1974 as Charter Med Incorporated, founded by Richard Taylor Burke in Minnesota to process claims for doctors at the Hennepin County Medical Society. In 1977, UnitedHealthcare Corporation was established to purchase Charter Med and create a network-based health plan for seniors. It went public in 1984 and changed its name to UnitedHealth Group in 1998. In 1988, it launched its first pharmacy benefit management subsidiary, Diversified Pharmaceutical Services, which was sold to SmithKline Beecham in 1994 for $2.3 billion. Throughout the 1990s, it expanded through acquisitions, including Ramsey-HMO (1994), The MetraHealth Companies Inc. (1995), and HealthWise of America (1996). In 1998, the company reorganized as a holding company for UnitedHealthcare, Ovations, Uniprise, Specialized Care Services, and Ingenix, and rebranded as UnitedHealth Group. That year, it also acquired HealthPartners of Arizona.
In the 2000s, UnitedHealth Group continued acquiring insurers and health services firms, including AmeriChoice, Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Oxford Health Plans, PacifiCare Health Systems (which brought Prescription Solutions, later rebranded OptumRx), and Sierra Health Services. It also faced significant legal scrutiny, including SEC enforcement for stock option backdating, Medicare over-billing, unfair claims practices, mental health treatment denials, and anticompetitive behavior. In 2006, chairman William W. McGuire resigned due to the options scandal, receiving $618 million after returning $420 million in stock options. In the 2010s, the company acquired XLHealth, Amil Participações in Brazil, and CatamaranRx, and in 2016 it withdrew from most Affordable Care Act exchanges, selling in only three states by
- headquarters
- Eden Prairie, Minnesota
- field
- Health insurance and health care services
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Largest health insurer in the United States; brands UnitedHealthcare and Optum
- founded
- 1974 (as Charter Med Incorporated)
- publicly_traded
- 1984
Verified Timeline
Quick Facts
- Traded As
- UNH · DJIA component · S&P 100 component · S&P 500 component
- Founder
- Richard T. Burke
- Key People
- Stephen J. Hemsley (chairman & CEO) · Wayne S. DeVeydt (CFO) · Tim Noel (CEO of UnitedHealthcare)
- Industry
- Healthcare · Managed care · Insurance
- Services
- Clinical healthcare / Pharmacy benefit management / Health informatics / Healthcare consulting and administration
- Products
- Health insurance plans / Medicare Advantage / Medicaid managed care / Healthcare software and payment systems
- Area Served
- Worldwide
- Revenue
- 447.6 billion · link=yes (2025)
- Operating Income
- 18.96 billion (2025)
- Net Income
- 12.81 billion (2025)
- Assets
- 309.6 billion (2025)
- Equity
- 100.09 billion (2025)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
UnitedHealth Group originated in late 1974 when Minnesota-based Charter Med Incorporated was founded by Richard Taylor Burke. It initially processed claims for doctors at the Hennepin County Medical Society. UnitedHealthcare Corporation was founded in 1977 to purchase Charter Med and create a network-based health plan for seniors. The company became publicly traded in 1984 and changed its name to UnitedHealth Group in 1998. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, it grew through numerous acquisitions, including The MetraHealth Companies Inc. in 1995, Oxford Health Plans in 2004, and PacifiCare Health Systems in 2005. In 1998, the company reorganized as a holding company for UnitedHealthcare, Ovations, Uniprise, Specialized Care Services, and Ingenix.
Reader's Guide
UnitedHealth Group has faced numerous investigations, lawsuits, and fines, including SEC enforcement for stock option backdating, Medicare over-billing, unfair claims practices, mental health treatment denials, and anticompetitive behavior. In 2006, chairman William W. McGuire stepped down due to his involvement in the employee stock options scandal. The company has also been involved in antitrust probes, including the 2022 Justice Department attempt to block its acquisition of Change Healthcare, which ultimately went through. In February 2024, the Change Healthcare subsidiary was brought down by a ransomware attack, leading to a new Justice Department antitrust and Medicare overcharging probe. CEO Andrew Witty testified before the US House and US Senate about the cyberattack. On December 4, 2024, Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was killed in a shooting in New York City. Police later arrested a suspect, Luigi Mangione, and charged him with murder. Tim Noel, who joined UnitedHealthcare in 2007, succeeded Thompson as CEO.
Did You Know?
- UnitedHealth Group originated in late 1974 as Charter Med Incorporated, founded by Richard Taylor Burke, and originally processed claims for doctors at the Hennepin County Medical Society.
- In 1998, the company reorganized as a holding company for UnitedHealthcare, Ovations, Uniprise, Specialized Care Services, and Ingenix, and rebranded as UnitedHealth Group.
- Chairman William W. McGuire stepped down in 2006 due to the employee stock options scandal; his exit compensation was anticipated to be $1.1 billion, but he only received $618 million after returning $420 million in stock options.
- In February 2024, the Change Healthcare subsidiary was brought completely down by a ransomware attack, and the Justice Department announced a new antitrust and Medicare overcharging probe.
- On December 4, 2024, Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was killed in a shooting in New York City; police arrested Luigi Mangione and charged him with murder.
More in Corporations & Conglomerates 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record