UnitedHealth protests loss of massive military contract

by Bill Catlin, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — UnitedHealth Group has formally protested the loss of a multi-billion dollar military contract to rival health insurer Humana.

UnitedHealth originally won the award, then lost it last month after Humana appealed to the federal government.

Now UnitedHealth is filing its own appeal. The $23.5 billion contract involves health benefits for 3 million active and retired military members and their families.

Most of the funding would be spent on care. UnitedHealth expected to collect about $1.5 billion in fees.