United Healthcare faces $750K fine in Georgia

United Healthcare has been slapped with a $750,000 fine for delaying claims payment to doctors and consumers. The combined fine is also shared by sister companies United Healthcare of Georgia, American Medical Security Life Insurance and Golden Rule Insurance.

Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine has signed a consent order demanding that United Healthcare comply with state regulations, dating from August 1999, which demand that insurers make prompt claims payments. The state collects claims data every quarter to make sure that this happens.

United Healthcare says it processes 97 percent of its claims for the state within 15 days, and 99 percent within 30 days. But
the state apparently drew a different conclusion when it audited claims data covering the quarter ending March 31, 2009. The health plan faced similar charges in North Carolina last year--in addition to disputes over coordination of benefits, appeals, explanations of benefits and providers--and was forced to pay an $800,000 settlement.

To learn more about this settlement:
- read this press release

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