UnitedHealth Group, one of the nation's largest health insurers, reported $4.11 billion in third-quarter net profit this October—a staggering 75 percent increase from the $2.35 billion it earned during the same period last year, according to Breitbart. The company's earnings jumped 60 percent year-over-year.
That bombshell profit report comes as hardworking Americans are being squeezed by health insurance premiums that have reached historic highs. Employer-sponsored family plans now top $28,000 a year, with workers contributing an average of $7,471 toward those premiums—9 percent more than in 2025—while wages grew just 3.7 percent, according to KFF's 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey cited by AAF.
And the pain isn't over. Families are facing projected increases of 8 to 10 percent in employer-sponsored health insurance premiums for 2027, potentially the largest annual increase in more than two decades. Marsh projects that employers' health benefit costs per worker will increase 8.2 percent in 2027, even after planned cost-control measures.
Seniors aren't spared either. UnitedHealth's 2027 Medicare Advantage plan changes will mean higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs for some seniors, while the company cuts benefits and scales back its plan offerings—a gut punch for older Americans living on fixed incomes.
The profit surge comes even after UnitedHealth pulled in $12 billion in profits in 2025. Yet the company was in Washington with its hand out, begging lawmakers to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, Breitbart reported.
Meanwhile, millions of Americans who buy health insurance through the ACA marketplace are facing another sharp price increase. Premiums will increase an average of 13 percent next year for millions of Americans, on top of an earlier steep increase, according to The New York Times.
Insurance companies have perfected the art of explaining away higher premiums, pointing to rising medical expenses, increased demand for care, and other pressures in the health care system. And while those factors can affect costs, Americans deserve a fuller explanation for why their insurance bills keep climbing while insurer profits soar.
A recent Health Affairs study helps illustrate why shifting the payment for care isn't a solution to cost containment. Researchers examining Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts found that commercial health spending per member grew 11.8 percent in the fiscal year ending June 2025, per AAF. Inflation-adjusted prices for medical services increased just 1.3 percent, while utilization increased 4.8 percent. Retail prescription drug spending rose 21.7 percent in nominal terms, fueled partly by rapidly growing use of GLP-1 medications.
The numbers tell a clear story: while American families stretch household budgets and workers are forced to make difficult choices just to keep their health plan, the insurance behemoth is reporting billions in profits. Employers are struggling to afford coverage, and the squeeze on everyday Americans shows no sign of letting up.
Our Take
Let's be clear about what's happening here. While American families are being told to brace for the largest premium increase in two decades—with some footing bills that rival a new car—UnitedHealth is laughing all the way to the bank with a 75 percent profit surge. This isn't a glitch in the system; it's the system working exactly as designed for the corporate cronies who've captured our health care.
Patriots, ask yourselves: why is it that when medical costs rise, insurance companies post record profits, but when it's time to pay for care, they cry poor and demand taxpayer subsidies? UnitedHealth pulled in $12 billion in profits in 2025 and still went to Washington with its hand out. That's not a health care system—that's a racket.
The Trump administration must not let these giants continue to game the system. We need transparency, real competition, and an end to the cronyism that lets insurers profit while families suffer. The America First agenda should include putting Americans' health ahead of corporate bottom lines.
It's time to demand answers. Why are premiums skyrocketing while insurer profits explode? Contact your representatives and tell them: no more subsidies for billionaires at the expense of hardworking taxpayers.
