Texas Attorney General launches probe into UnitedHealth over alleged care denials
Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened an investigation into UnitedHealth Group, seeking subpoenas to examine claims that the insurer denied Texans needed medical care.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is also a Republican Senate candidate, filed for pre-litigation subpoenas targeting UnitedHealth Group to assess alleged violations of the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The investigation is based on a report alleging the insurer compensated nursing homes to limit hospital admissions and on an incident where a patient’s approved Austin hospital procedure was withdrawn, resulting in a hefty bill.
UnitedHealth dismissed the 2025 Guardian article that highlighted a drop in hospitalizations as "verifiably false." Paxton’s office also recently opened a probe into Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas for comparable denial and delay of urgent care. The move comes amid heightened scrutiny of UnitedHealth following a 2024 shooting of its CEO, Brian Thompson, by Luigi Mangione. Paxton is running for Senate against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico while serving his final year as attorney general.
Why it matters
The probe could affect how major insurers handle coverage decisions for millions of Texas residents.
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