RI Fines United Healthcare $1 Million and Two Others for Lesser Amounts for Violations

RI Fines United Healthcare $1 Million and Two Others for Lesser Amounts for Violations

The Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner (OHIC) today announced that three health insurers have been directed to pay fines and have taken corrective actions for violating Rhode Island laws that required the waiver of cost-sharing for COVID-19-related services during the recent public health emergency.

 

The fines total $1,030,000, and the amount by insurer is as follows:

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UnitedHealthcare: $1,000,000

Blue Cross Blue Shield Rhode Island: $20,000

Aetna: $10,000

The fine may be a record. UnitedHealthcare paid a $350,000 fine to the general fund in 2020 for mental health parity violations.

OHIC states, "On July 3, 2021, insurers offering fully insured health benefit plans were required to waive cost sharing, including copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles, for COVID-19 related services. COVID-19-related services included, but were not limited to: emergency services, inpatient services, provider office visits, and inpatient hospital stays. The cost-sharing waiver was effective for the duration of the public health state of emergency, which ended on May 11, 2023. Rhode Islanders whose health benefit plans are financed by their employers on a self-insured basis were not subject to these protections."

 

This is just the latest controversy for UnitedHealthcare in Rhode Island - READ MORE HERE.

UPDATED: 3:21 PM