Our parents and grandparents should never be denied the care they need because a corporation wants to boost its profits.

But according to a Guardian investigation, UnitedHealth—the largest health insurer in the U.S.—has quietly paid nursing homes secret bonuses to avoid hospitalizing elderly residents. These decisions weren’t always about medical necessity—they were about protecting the bottom line.

Whistleblowers say patients were left to suffer strokes, brain damage, and other serious harm because staff were pressured to delay care and deny hospital transfers.

This is all part of UnitedHealth’s push to maximize profits from Medicare Advantage, a program funded with taxpayer dollars and intended to provide quality care—not to be used for backdoor cost-cutting.

We call on the U.S. Congress and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to launch a full investigation into UnitedHealth’s practices and to establish strict federal oversight of how Medicare Advantage plans operate inside nursing homes.

Every senior deserves care based on their needs—not corporate greed.

Photo: Getty Images via theguardian.com