UnitedHealth Group

In 1970, Dr. Paul Ellwood founded the Minnesota-based health care think tank, Interstudy, which played a significant role in the development and promotion of the HMO model for organized health care.

In 1971, Dr. Paul Ellwood hired Richard Burke to help put the HMO model into practice, marking a significant step in the development of managed health care.

In 1974, Richard Burke founded United HealthCare as a Minnetonka, Minnesota-based for-profit company, marking the establishment of a company organized to manage the newly created Physicians Health Plan of Minnesota.

In January 1977, United HealthCare was officially incorporated as United HealthCare Corporation, marking a significant milestone in its corporate history.

In 1984, United HealthCare went public and began trading as an over-the-counter stock, signaling its plans for expansion and acquisition efforts.

In June 1985, United HealthCare made its first major acquisition since going public, acquiring Share Development Corporation, a significant move that increased its health plan membership and expanded its presence in multiple states.

In July 1990, United HealthCare expanded by adding three new divisions to its operations, indicating its continuous growth and diversification.

In January 1992, United HealthCare acquired Physicians Health Plan of Ohio, a Columbus-based HMO with 154,000 members. This acquisition further expanded United HealthCare's presence in the healthcare market.

In March 1992, United HealthCare staged another secondary public offering, generating $200 million. This move contributed to the company's financial growth and investment opportunities.

In July 1992, United HealthCare acquired the assets of HealthPro, Inc., a Massachusetts-based benefits management company, and agreed to acquire a 50 percent stake in Physicians Health Plan of North Carolina. These acquisitions further expanded United HealthCare's portfolio and market presence.

In May 1993, United HealthCare Corp. purchased the Chicago-based HMO America, expanding its operations and market presence.

In 1994, UnitedHealth Group sold its pharmacy benefit manager, Diversified Pharmaceutical Services, marking a strategic business move.

In 1995, UnitedHealth Group acquired The MetraHealth Companies Inc., expanding its presence and influence in the healthcare sector.

In 1998, the company was reorganized as the holding of independent companies UnitedHealthcare, Ovations, Uniprise, Specialized Care Services and Ingenix, and rebranded as 'UnitedHealth Group'.

In 1999, United Health Foundation (UHF) and the UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation (UHCCF) were established. UHF pledged $100 million over ten years to fund scholarships and workforce development programs focused on increasing ethnic and racial diversity within the health care industry. UHCCF administers grants to help pay for medical costs for families with coverage gaps.

In 2001, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group merged with LifeMark Health Plans, leading to a significant consolidation in the healthcare industry.

In 2002, UnitedHealth Group expanded its operations by acquiring GeoAccess and Medicaid insurance company AmeriChoice, further solidifying its position in the healthcare insurance market.

On July 21, 2003, Exante Bank started operating in Salt Lake City, Utah, marking a significant development in UnitedHealth Group's financial services division.

In April 2004, UnitedHealth Group acquired Touchpoint Health Plan, a Wisconsin health plan.

In July 2004, the company acquired Oxford Health Plans.

In December 2005, the company acquired PacifiCare Health Systems.

In October 2006, CEO William W. McGuire was forced to resign and relinquish hundreds of millions of dollars in stock options due to the backdating of stock options by UHC management.

On December 6, 2007, the SEC announced a settlement under which McGuire was to repay $468 million, including a $7 million civil penalty, as a partial settlement of the backdating prosecution. He was also barred from serving as an officer or director of a public company for ten years.

In February 2008, the company acquired Sierra Health Services for $2.6 billion.

On October 27, 2009, Cuomo announced the creation of FAIR Health, an independent, non-profit organization that will develop a nationwide database for consumer reimbursement and a website where consumers will be able to compare prices before they choose doctors.

In July 2010, Ingenix acquired Picis Clinical Solutions, Inc., a health information provider for the high-acuity areas of hospitals.

In 2011, a whistleblower lawsuit was filed, charging UnitedHealth Group's data analytics division with assisting in defrauding Medicare by boosting risk adjustment scores from Medicare Advantage companies.

In February 2012, the company acquired XLHealth, a sponsor of Medicare Advantage health plans with a primary focus on medicare recipients with special needs.

In October 2012, UnitedHealth Group and Amil Participações completed the first phase of their merger.

CMS fined UnitedHealthcare after discovering issues in Medicare Part D leading to delays or denials in a 2016 audit.

The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance fined UnitedHealthcare $2.5 million due to various compliance issues; this was the largest fine against a licensee in nine years.

Judge Robert N. Scola Jr., a cancer survivor, recused himself from a case against United Healthcare, citing the company's denial of treatment as 'immoral and barbaric'. He expressed that his opinions regarding the company would prevent him from deciding the case fairly and impartially.

On June 19, 2019, UnitedHealth acquired the online patient community platform PatientsLikeMe for an undisclosed amount and it will be incorporated into UnitedHealth Group's research division.

On January 6, 2021, UnitedHealth Group and Change Healthcare initially announced a $13 billion deal. The merger aimed to combine Change Healthcare with Optum's OptumInsight unit to provide software, data analytics, and other services to healthcare clients.

On March 24, 2021, the American Hospital Association expressed resistance to the UnitedHealth Group's acquisition of Change Healthcare and urged the Justice Department to investigate the move.

UnitedHealth Group publicly criticizes the Justice Department, stating that the lawsuit is based on unfounded theories.

UnitedHealth Group announces plans to sell Change Healthcare's claims-editing business if the deal is approved by regulators, and enters into a purchase agreement with private equity firm TPG Capital for the divestment of ClaimsXten for $2.2 billion.

Former UnitedHealth Group CEO David Wichmann testifies regarding the company's data policies and dismisses concerns about potential data abuses as 'entirely without merit.'

UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty testifies that UnitedHealth and OptumInsight, along with other companies under the Optum umbrella, are kept 'strictly at arms' length.'

U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols rules in favor of the merger, rejecting the Justice Department's lawsuit and directing UnitedHealth Group to divest ClaimsXten.

In February 2024, UnitedHealth Group completed the sale of its operations in Brazil.