UnitedHealth Group 2025 10-K Annual Report
UNH · CIK 731766 · Form 10-K · Fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 · Filed March 2, 2026
24 sections, 431K characters. Original on sec.gov · Markdown · JSON
Risk FactorsBusinessMD&AFinancial StatementsWhat changed vs 2024
Cover and table of contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
______________________________________________________________________________________
Form 10-K
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| ☒ | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025
| or | |||||
| ☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | ||||
| For the transition period from _____ to _____ |
Commission file number: 1-10864
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UnitedHealth Group Incorporated
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 41-1321939 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 Health Drive | 55344 | 655 New York Avenue NW | 20001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eden Prairie, | Minnesota | Washington, | DC | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(800) 328-5979
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||||||||
| Common Stock, $.01 par value | UNH | New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
__________________________________________________________________________
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Smaller reporting company | ☐ | Emerging growth company | ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
The aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2025 was $281,907,836,350 (based on the last reported sale price of $311.97 per share on June 30, 2025 as reported on the New York Stock Exchange), excluding only shares of voting stock held beneficially by directors, executive officers and subsidiaries of the registrant.
As of February 20, 2026, there were 907,675,839 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, $.01 par value per share, issued and outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The information required by Part III of this report, to the extent not set forth herein, is incorporated by reference from the registrant’s definitive proxy statement relating to its 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Such proxy statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year to which this report relates.
UNITEDHEALTH GROUP
Table of Contents
PART I
Item 1. BUSINESS
OUR BUSINESSES
Overview
The terms “we,” “our,” “us,” “its,” “UnitedHealth Group,” or the “Company” used in this report refer to UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and its subsidiaries.
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is a health care and well-being company with a mission to help people live healthier lives and help make the health system work better for everyone. Our two distinct, yet complementary businesses — Optum and UnitedHealthcare — are working to help build a modern, high-performing health system through improved access, affordability, outcomes and experiences for the individuals and organizations we are privileged to serve.
The ability to analyze complex data and apply deep health care expertise and insights allows us to serve patients, consumers, care providers, businesses, communities and governments with more innovative products and complete, end-to-end offerings for many of the biggest challenges facing health care today.
Optum seeks to create a higher-performing, value-oriented and more connected approach to health care. Bringing together clinical expertise, technology and data to make care simpler, more effective and more affordable, we seek to advance whole-person health, creating a seamless consumer experience and supporting clinicians with insights to deliver personalized, evidence-based care. Optum serves the broad health care marketplace, including patients and consumers, payers, care providers, employers, governments and life sciences companies, through its Optum Health, Optum Insight and Optum Rx businesses. These businesses improve overall health system performance by optimizing health care quality and delivery, reducing costs and improving patient, consumer and provider experience, leveraging distinctive capabilities in data and analytics, pharmacy care services, health care operations, population health and health financial services.
UnitedHealthcare offers a full range of health benefits, designed to simplify the health care experience and make it more affordable for consumers to access high-quality care. UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual serves consumers and employers, ranging from individuals and sole proprietorships to large, multi-site and national employers and public sector employers. UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement delivers health and well-being benefits to seniors and other Medicare eligible consumers. UnitedHealthcare Community & State serves consumers who are economically disadvantaged, the medically underserved and those without the benefit of employer sponsored health benefits coverage.
We have four reportable segments:
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Optum Health;
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Optum Insight;
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Optum Rx; and
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UnitedHealthcare, which includes UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual, UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement and UnitedHealthcare Community & State.
2026 Business Realignment
On January 1, 2026, we realigned certain of our businesses to respond to changes in the markets we serve and the opportunities that are emerging as the health system evolves. Optum Financial, including Optum Bank, which was historically included in Optum Health, will now be included in Optum Insight. Our reportable segments will remain unchanged, with prior period segment financial information being recast to conform to the 2026 presentation, beginning with our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2026 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Optum
Optum is an information and technology-enabled health services business serving the broad health care marketplace, including:
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Those who need care: patients who need the right care, information, resources, products and engagement to improve their health, achieve their health goals and receive an improved patient experience that is personalized, comprehensive and delivered in all care settings, including in-home and virtually.
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Those who provide care: physicians, hospitals, pharmacies and others seeking to improve the health system and reduce the administrative burden, allowing for providers to focus time on patients leading to the best possible patient care and experiences while achieving better health outcomes at lower costs. Improved health outcomes are achieved by utilizing our clinical expertise, data and analytics to better understand, treat and prevent consumers’ health conditions and ensure they receive the best evidence-based care.
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Those who pay for care: consumers; employers; health plans; and state, federal and municipal agencies devoted to ensuring the people they sponsor receive high-quality care, administered and delivered efficiently and effectively, all while driving health equity so that every individual, family and community has access to the care they need.
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Those who innovate for care: global life sciences organizations dedicated to developing more effective approaches to care, enabling technologies and medicines to improve care delivery and health outcomes.
Optum operates three business segments which combine distinctive capabilities in value-based care, population health, health care operations, data and analytics and pharmacy care services:
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Optum Health delivers patient-centered care, care management, wellness and consumer engagement, and health financial services;
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Optum Insight offers data, analytics, research, consulting, technology and managed services solutions; and
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Optum Rx provides diversified pharmacy care services.
Optum Health
Optum Health provides comprehensive and patient-centered care, addressing the physical, mental, social, and financial well-being of 95 million consumers and serves more than 100 health payer partners. We engage people in the most appropriate care settings, including clinical sites, in-home and virtual. Optum Health delivers primary, specialty and surgical care; helps patients and providers navigate and address complex, chronic and behavioral health needs; offers post-acute care planning services; and serves consumers and care providers through advanced, on-demand digital health technologies, such as telehealth and remote patient monitoring, and innovative health care financial services. Optum Health works directly with patients, consumers, care delivery systems, providers, employers, payers, and public-sector entities to provide high quality, accessible and equitable care with improved health outcomes and reduced total cost of care. Optum Health enables care providers to transition from traditional fee-for-service payment models to performance-based delivery and payment models designed to improve patient health outcomes and experience through value-based care.
Optum Health offerings include fully accountable value-based arrangements, where Optum Health assumes responsibility for health care costs in exchange for a monthly premium. Offerings also include administrative fee arrangements, where Optum Health manages or administers products and services in exchange for a monthly fee, and fee-for-service arrangements, where Optum Health delivers health-related products and medical services for patients at a contracted fee.
Optum Financial, including Optum Bank, serves consumers through nearly 26 million consumer accounts with more than $27 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2025. Organizations across the health system rely on Optum Financial to manage and improve payment flows through its highly automated, scalable, end-to-end digital payment and financing systems and integrated card solutions. For financial services offerings, Optum Financial charges fees and earns investment and interest income on managed funds and loans.
Optum Health sells its products primarily through its direct sales force, strategic collaborations and external producers in three key areas: employers, including large, mid-sized and small employers; payers including health plans, third-party administrators (TPAs), underwriter/stop-loss carriers and individual product intermediaries; and public entities, including the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Veterans Affairs, Defense, and other federal, state and local health care agencies.
Optum Insight
Optum Insight connects the health care system with services, analytics and platforms that make clinical, administrative and financial processes simpler and more efficient for all participants in the health care system. Hospital systems, physicians, health plans, public entities, life sciences companies and other organizations comprising the health care industry depend on Optum Insight to help them improve performance and reduce costs through administrative efficiency and payment simplification, advance care quality through evidence-based standards built directly into clinical workflows, meet compliance mandates and modernize their core operating systems to meet the changing needs of the health system.
Health Systems. Serves hospitals, physicians and other care providers to improve operating performance, better coordinate care and reduce administrative costs through technology and services to improve population health management, patient engagement, revenue cycle management and strategic growth plans.
Health Plans. Serves health plans by improving financial performance and enhancing outcomes through proactive analytics, a comprehensive payment integrity portfolio and technology-enabled and staff-supported risk and quality services. Optum Insight helps health plans navigate a dynamic environment defined by shifts in employer vs. public-sector coverage, the demand for affordable benefit plans and the need to leverage new technology to reduce complexity.
State Governments. Provides advanced technology and analytics services to modernize the administration of critical safety net programs, such as Medicaid, while improving cost predictability.
Life Sciences Companies. Combines data and analytics expertise with comprehensive technologies and health care knowledge to help life sciences companies, including those in pharmaceuticals and medical technology, adopt a more comprehensive approach to advancing therapeutic discoveries and improving clinical outcomes.
Many of Optum Insight’s software and information products and professional services are delivered over extended periods, often several years. Optum Insight maintains an order backlog to track unearned revenues under these long-term arrangements. The backlog consists of estimated revenue from signed contracts, other legally binding agreements and anticipated contract renewals based on historical experience with Optum Insight’s customers. Optum Insight’s aggregate backlog as of December 31, 2025 was approximately $31.1 billion, of which $18.3 billion is expected to be realized within the next 12 months. The aggregate backlog includes $12.9 billion related to affiliated agreements. Optum Insight’s aggregate backlog as of December 31, 2024, was $32.8 billion, including $12.5 billion related to affiliated agreements.
Optum Insight’s products and services are sold primarily through a direct sales force. Optum Insight’s products are also supported and distributed through an array of alliances and business partnerships with other technology vendors, who integrate and interface Optum Insight’s products with their applications.
Optum Rx
Optum Rx provides a full spectrum of pharmacy care services through its network of approximately 64,000 retail pharmacies, through home delivery, specialty and community health pharmacies, the provision of in-home and community-based infusion services and through rare disease and gene therapy support services. It also offers direct-to-consumer solutions.
Optum Rx manages a broad range of prescription drug spend, including widely available retail drugs as well as limited and ultra-limited distribution drugs in oncology, human immunodeficiency virus, pain management and ophthalmology. Optum Rx serves the growing pharmacy needs of people with behavioral health and substance use disorders. In 2025, Optum Rx managed $188 billion in pharmaceutical spending, including nearly $87 billion in specialty pharmaceutical spending.
Optum Rx serves health benefits providers, large national employer plans, unions and trusts, purchasing coalitions and public-sector entities. Optum Rx sells its services through direct sales, health insurance brokers and other health care consultants.
Optum Rx offers multiple clinical programs, digital tools and services to help clients manage overall pharmacy and health care costs in a clinically appropriate manner which are designed to deliver improved consumer experiences, better health outcomes and a lower total cost of care. Optum Rx provides various utilization management, medication management, quality assurance, adherence and counseling programs to complement each client’s plan design and clinical strategies. Optum Rx is accelerating the integration of medical, pharmacy and behavioral care and treating the whole patient by embedding our pharmacists as key members of the patient care team.
UnitedHealthcare
Through its health benefits offerings, UnitedHealthcare is enabling better health, creating a better health care experience for its customers and helping to control rising health care costs. UnitedHealthcare’s market position is built on:
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strong local-market relationships;
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the breadth of product offerings, based upon extensive expertise in distinct market segments in health care;
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service and advanced technology, including digital consumer engagement;
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competitive medical and operating cost positions;
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effective clinical engagement; and
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innovation for customers and consumers.
UnitedHealthcare arranges for discounted access to care through its extensive networks and uses Optum’s capabilities to help coordinate and provide patient care, improve affordability of medical care, analyze cost trends, manage pharmacy care services, work with care providers more effectively and create a simpler and more satisfying consumer and physician experience.
UnitedHealthcare is subject to extensive government regulation. See further discussion of our regulatory environment below under “Government Regulation” and in Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual
Domestically, UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual offers a comprehensive array of consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for large national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals. As of December 31, 2025, UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual provides access to medical services for 29.7 million people.
UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual offers risk-based products under which it assumes responsibility for medical and administrative costs in exchange for a monthly premium, typically a fixed rate per individual served for a one-year period. For customers that elect to self-fund the health care costs and retain the financial risk of medical benefits for their employees and dependents, UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual provides administrative and management services. These services include coordination of medical and related services, transaction processing and access to a contracted network of physicians, hospitals and other health care providers, including providers of dental and vision services. The business focuses on delivering customized benefit solutions and clinical programs designed to help employers and individuals manage costs while maintaining quality coverage and supporting health and well-being, with the shared goal of improving outcomes for patients and the health system.
UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual distributes its products through a variety of channels, depending on the specific product. These channels include consultants or direct sales, brokers and agents, wholesale agents or agencies that contract with health insurance carriers to distribute individual or group benefits, professional employer organizations and associations, and both multi-carrier and proprietary private exchange marketplaces.
UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual provides employer-sponsored health benefits, as well as individual and family plans through portfolio of products which include consumer engagement products, such as high-deductible consumer driven benefit plans and a variety of innovative consumer centric products; traditional products; clinical and pharmacy products; and specialty benefits, such as vision, dental, accident protection, critical illness, disability and hospital indemnity offerings.
UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement
UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement provides health and well-being services to seniors and other Medicare eligible consumers, addressing their unique needs. UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement has distinct benefit designs, pricing, underwriting, clinical program management and marketing capabilities dedicated to health products and services in this market.
UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement offers a selection of products allowing people choice in obtaining the health coverage and services they need as their circumstances change. These offerings include care management and health system navigator services, clinical management programs, nurse health line services, 24-hour access to health care information, access to discounted health services from a network of care providers and administrative services.
UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement has extensive distribution capabilities and experience, including direct marketing to consumers on behalf of its key clients, a membership organization, and state and U.S. government agencies. Products are also offered through agents, employer groups and digital channels.
Major product categories include:
Medicare Advantage. Provides health care coverage for seniors and other eligible Medicare beneficiaries through the Medicare Advantage program administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), including Medicare Advantage HMO plans, Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans, Point-of-Service plans, Private-Fee-for-Service plans and Special Needs Plans (SNPs). Under the Medicare Advantage program, UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement provides health benefits coverage in exchange for a fixed monthly premium per member from CMS plus, in some cases, monthly consumer premiums. Premium amounts received from CMS vary based on the geographic areas in which individuals reside; demographic factors such as age, gender and institutionalized status; and the health status of the individual. UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement served 8.4 million people through its Medicare Advantage products as of December 31, 2025.
We have continued to enhance our offerings, focusing on more digital and physical care resources in the home, expanding our concierge navigation services and enabling the home as a safe and effective setting for care. For example, through our HouseCalls program, nurse practitioners performed 3.1 million clinical preventive home care visits in 2025 to address unmet care opportunities and close gaps in care.
Medicare Part D. Provides Medicare Part D benefits to beneficiaries through its Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Medicare Part D plans. The stand-alone Medicare Part D plans address a large spectrum of people’s needs and preferences for their prescription drug coverage, including low-cost prescription options. As of December 31, 2025, UnitedHealthcare enrolled 10.4 million people in the Medicare Part D programs, including 2.8 million individuals in stand-alone Medicare Part D plans, with the remainder in Medicare Advantage plans incorporating Medicare Part D coverage.
Medicare Supplement. Provides a full range of supplemental products at diverse price points. These products cover various levels of coinsurance and deductible gaps to which seniors are exposed in the traditional Medicare program. UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement served 4.3 million seniors nationwide through various Medicare Supplement products as of December 31, 2025.
Premium revenues from CMS represented 44% of UnitedHealth Group’s total consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2025, most of which were generated by UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement.
UnitedHealthcare Community & State
UnitedHealthcare Community & State is dedicated to serving state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, the medically underserved and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage, typically in exchange for a monthly premium per member from the state program. UnitedHealthcare Community & State’s primary customers oversee Medicaid plans, including Temporary Assistance to Needy Families; Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP); Dual SNPs (DSNPs); Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS); Aged, Blind and Disabled; and other federal, state and community health care programs. As of December 31, 2025, UnitedHealthcare Community & State participated in programs in 32 states and the District of Columbia, and served nearly 7.4 million people; including 1.2 million people through Medicaid expansion programs in 19 states under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).
States using managed care services for Medicaid beneficiaries select health plans by using a formal bid process or by awarding individual contracts. These health plans and care programs are designed to address the complex needs of the populations they serve, including the chronically ill, people with disabilities and people with a higher risk of medical, behavioral and social conditions. UnitedHealthcare Community & State administers benefits for the unique needs of children, pregnant women, adults, seniors and those who are institutionalized or are nursing home eligible. These individuals often live in medically underserved areas and are less likely to have a consistent relationship with the medical community or a care provider. They also often face significant social and economic challenges.
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
Our businesses are subject to comprehensive U.S. federal and state and international laws and regulations. We are regulated by government agencies, which generally have discretion to issue regulations and interpret and enforce laws and regulations. U.S. federal and state and international governments continue to consider and enact various legislative and regulatory proposals which could materially impact certain aspects of the health care system and our operations. New laws and regulations, or changes in the interpretation of existing laws and regulations, including as a result of changes in the political environment, could adversely affect our businesses.
See Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” for a discussion of the risks related to our compliance with U.S. federal and state and international laws and regulations.
U.S. Federal Laws and Regulation
When we contract with the federal government, we are subject to federal laws and regulations relating to the award, administration and performance of U.S. government contracts. CMS regulates our UnitedHealthcare businesses and certain aspects of our Optum businesses. Payments by CMS to our businesses are subject to regulations, including those governing fee-for-service and the submission of information relating to the health status of enrollees for purposes of determining the amounts of certain payments to us. CMS also has the right to audit our performance to determine our compliance with CMS contracts and regulations and the quality of care we provide to Medicare beneficiaries. Our commercial business is further subject to CMS audits related to medical loss ratios (MLRs) and risk adjustment data.
UnitedHealthcare Community & State has Medicaid and CHIP contracts, which are subject to federal regulations regarding services to be provided to Medicaid enrollees, payment for those services and other aspects of these programs. There are many regulations affecting Medicare and Medicaid compliance, and the regulatory environment with respect to these programs is complex.
Our businesses are also subject to laws and regulations relating to consumer protection, anti-fraud and abuse, anti-kickbacks, false claims, prohibited referrals, inappropriate reduction or limitation of health care services, anti-money laundering and securities and antitrust compliance.
Privacy, Security and Data Standards Regulation. Certain of our operations are subject to regulation under the administrative simplification provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended (HIPAA), which apply to both the group and individual health insurance markets, including self-funded employee benefit plans. Federal regulations related to HIPAA contain minimum standards for electronic transactions and code sets and for the privacy and security of protected health information.
Our businesses must comply with the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), which regulates matters relating to privacy, security and data standards. HITECH imposes requirements on uses and disclosures of health information; includes contracting requirements for HIPAA business associate agreements; extends parts of HIPAA privacy and security provisions to business associates; adds federal data breach notification requirements for covered entities and business associates and reporting requirements to HHS and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and, in some cases, to the local media; strengthens enforcement and imposes higher financial penalties for HIPAA violations and, in certain cases, imposes criminal penalties for individuals, including employees. In the conduct of our business, depending on the circumstances, we may act as either a covered entity or a business associate.
The use and disclosure of individually identifiable health data by our businesses are also regulated in some instances by other federal laws, including the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) or state statutes implementing GLBA. These federal laws and state statutes generally require insurers to provide customers with notice regarding how their non-public personal health and financial information is used and the opportunity to “opt out” of certain disclosures before the insurer shares such information with a third party, and generally prescribe safeguards for the protection of personal information. Neither the GLBA nor HIPAA privacy regulations preempt more stringent state laws and regulations, which may apply to us, as discussed below. Federal consumer protection laws may also apply in some instances to privacy and security practices related to personally identifiable information.
ERISA. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), regulates how our services are provided to or through certain types of employer-sponsored health benefit plans. ERISA is a set of laws and regulations subject to interpretation by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) as well as the federal courts. ERISA sets forth standards on how our business units may do business with employers who sponsor employee health benefit plans, particularly those that maintain self-funded plans. Regulations established by the DOL subject us to additional requirements for administration of benefits, claims payment and member appeals under health care plans governed by ERISA.
State Laws and Regulation
Health Care Regulation. Our insurance and HMO subsidiaries must be licensed by the jurisdictions in which they conduct business. All of the states in which our subsidiaries offer insurance and HMO products regulate those products and operations. The states require periodic financial reports and establish minimum capital or restricted cash reserve requirements. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has adopted model regulations which require expanded governance practices and risk and solvency assessment reporting. Most states have adopted these or similar measures to expand the scope of regulations relating to corporate governance and internal control activities of HMOs and insurance companies. We are required to maintain a risk management framework and file a confidential self-assessment report with state insurance regulators. We file reports annually with Connecticut, our lead regulator, and with New York, as required by the state’s regulation.
Our health plans and insurance companies are regulated under state insurance holding company regulations. Such regulations generally require registration with applicable state departments of insurance and the filing of reports describing capital structure, ownership, financial condition, certain affiliated transactions and general business operations. Most state insurance
holding company laws and regulations require prior regulatory approval of acquisitions and material affiliated transfers of assets, as well as transactions between the regulated companies and their parent holding companies or affiliates. These laws and regulations may restrict the ability of our regulated subsidiaries to pay dividends to our holding companies.
Some of our business activity is subject to other health care-related regulations and requirements, including PPO, Managed Care Organization (MCO), utilization review (UR), behavioral health, TPA, pharmacy care services, durable medical equipment or care provider-related regulations and licensure requirements. These regulations differ from state to state and may contain network, contracting, product and rate, licensing and financial and reporting requirements. Health care-related laws and regulations set specific standards for delivery of services, mental health parity, appeals, grievances and payment of claims, adequacy of health care professional networks, fraud prevention, protection of consumer health information, pricing and underwriting practices and covered benefits and services. State health care anti-fraud and abuse prohibitions encompass a wide range of activities, including kickbacks for referral of members, billing for unnecessary medical services and improper marketing. Certain of our businesses are subject to state general agent, broker and sales distribution laws and regulations. UnitedHealthcare Community & State and certain of our Optum businesses are subject to regulation by state Medicaid agencies which oversee the provision of benefits to our Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries and to our beneficiaries dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. We also contract with state governmental entities and are subject to state laws and regulations relating to the award, administration and performance of state government contracts.
State Privacy and Security Regulations. A number of states have adopted laws and regulations which may affect our privacy and security practices, such as state laws governing the use, disclosure and protection of social security numbers and protected health information or which are designed to implement GLBA or protect credit card account data. State and local authorities increasingly focus on the importance of protecting individuals from identity theft, with a significant number of states enacting laws requiring businesses to meet minimum cyber-security standards and notify individuals of security breaches involving personal information. State consumer protection laws may also apply to privacy and security practices related to personally identifiable information, including information related to consumers and care providers. Different approaches to state privacy and insurance regulation and varying enforcement philosophies may materially and adversely affect our ability to standardize our products and services across state lines. See Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” for a discussion of the risks related to compliance with state privacy and security regulations.
Corporate Practice of Medicine and Fee-Splitting Laws. Certain of our businesses function as direct medical service providers and, as such, are subject to additional laws and regulations. Some states have corporate practice of medicine laws prohibiting specific types of entities from practicing medicine or employing physicians to practice medicine. Moreover, some states prohibit certain entities from engaging in fee-splitting practices, which involve sharing in the fees or revenues of a professional practice. These prohibitions may be statutory or regulatory, or may be imposed through judicial or regulatory interpretation. The laws, regulations and interpretations in certain states have been subject to limited judicial and regulatory interpretation and are subject to change. In addition, some states have begun to consider new laws to expand or change the scope of corporate practice of medicine laws. Any such changes could adversely impact how we structure transactions and contract with and support physicians in those states.
Pharmacy and Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM) Regulations
Optum Rx’s businesses include home delivery, specialty and compounding pharmacies, as well as clinic-based pharmacies which must be licensed as pharmacies in the states in which they are located. Certain of our pharmacies must also register with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and individual state controlled substance authorities to dispense controlled substances. In addition to adhering to the laws and regulations in the states where our pharmacies are located, we also are required to comply with laws and regulations in some non-resident states where we deliver pharmaceuticals, including those requiring us to register with the board of pharmacy in the non-resident state. These non-resident states generally expect our pharmacies to follow the laws of the state in which the pharmacies are located, but some non-resident states also require us to comply with their laws if pharmaceuticals are delivered within those states. Additionally, certain of our pharmacies which participate in programs for Medicare and state Medicaid providers are required to comply with applicable Medicare and Medicaid provider rules and regulations. Other laws and regulations affecting our pharmacies include federal and state statutes and regulations governing the labeling, packaging, advertising and adulteration of prescription drugs and dispensing of controlled substances. See Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” for a discussion of the risks related to our pharmacy care services businesses.
Federal and state legislation regulating PBM activities affects both our ability to limit access to a pharmacy provider network or remove network providers. Many states limit our ability to manage and establish maximum allowable costs for generic prescription drugs and regulate various pharmacy reimbursement measures. With respect to formulary services, a number of government entities, including CMS, HHS and state departments of insurance, regulate the administration of prescription drug benefits offered through federal or state exchanges. Many states also regulate the scope of prescription drug coverage, as well as the delivery channels to receive such prescriptions, for insurers, MCOs and Medicaid managed care plans. These regulations
could limit or preclude (i) certain plan designs, (ii) limited networks, (iii) use of particular care providers or distribution channels, (iv) copayment differentials among providers and (v) formulary tiering practices.
Legislation seeking to regulate PBM activities introduced or enacted at the federal or state level could impact our business practices with others in the pharmacy supply chain, including pharmaceutical manufacturers and network providers. In addition, organizations like the NAIC periodically issue model regulations while credentialing organizations, like the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC), may establish standards impacting PBM pharmacy activities. Although these model regulations and standards do not have the force of law, they may influence states to adopt their recommendations and impact the services we deliver to our clients.
Consumer Protection Laws
Certain of our businesses participate in direct-to-consumer activities and are subject to regulations applicable to online communications and other general consumer protection laws and regulations such as the Federal Tort Claims Act, the Federal Postal Service Act and the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule. Most states also have similar consumer protection laws.
Certain laws, such as the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, give the FTC, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and state attorneys general the ability to regulate, and bring enforcement actions relating to, telemarketing practices and certain automated outbound contacts such as phone calls, texts or emails. Under certain circumstances, these laws may provide consumers with a private right of action to enforce those laws. Violations of these laws could result in substantial statutory penalties and other sanctions.
Banking Regulation
Optum Bank is subject to supervision and regulation by the Utah State Department of Financial Institutions, which carries out annual examinations to ensure the bank is operating in accordance with state safety and soundness requirements and performs periodic examinations of the bank’s compliance with applicable state banking statutes, regulations and agency guidelines. Optum Bank is also subject to regulation by federal banking regulators, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which performs annual examinations to ensure the bank is operating in accordance with federal safety and soundness requirements, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which may perform periodic examinations to ensure the bank is in compliance with applicable consumer protection statutes, regulations and agency guidelines. In the event of unfavorable examination results or an enforcement action from these state or federal agencies, the bank could become subject to civil litigation, increased operational expenses and capital requirements, enhanced governmental oversight, monetary penalties and other sanctions.
Non-U.S. Regulation
Certain of our businesses operate internationally and are subject to regulation in the jurisdictions in which they are organized or conduct business. These regulatory regimes vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In addition, our non-U.S. businesses and operations are subject to U.S. laws regulating the conduct and activities of U.S.-based businesses operating outside the United States, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which prohibits offering, promising, providing or authorizing others to give anything of value to a foreign government official to obtain or retain business or otherwise secure a business advantage.
COMPETITION
As a diversified health care company, we operate in highly competitive markets across the full expanse of health care benefits and services. Our competitors include organizations ranging from startups to highly sophisticated Fortune 50 global enterprises, for-profit and non-profit companies, and private and government-sponsored entities. New entrants to our markets and business combinations among our competitors and suppliers also contribute to a dynamic and competitive environment. We compete fundamentally on the quality and value we provide to those we serve, which can include elements such as product and service innovation; use of technology; consumer and provider engagement and satisfaction; and sales, marketing and pricing. See Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” for additional discussion of our risks related to competition.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
We have obtained trademark registration for the UnitedHealth Group, Optum and UnitedHealthcare names and logos. We own registrations for certain of our other trademarks in the United States and abroad. We hold a portfolio of patents and have patent applications pending from time to time. We are not substantially dependent on any single patent or group of related patents.
Unless otherwise noted, trademarks appearing in this report are trademarks owned by us. We disclaim any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.
HUMAN CAPITAL RESOURCES
As of December 31, 2025, we had more than 390,000 employees, of whom nearly 165,000 were clinical professionals.
Our employees are guided by our mission to help people live healthier lives and help make the health system work better for everyone. Our mission and cultural values of integrity, compassion, inclusion, relationships, innovation and performance align with our long-term business strategy to increase access to care, make care more affordable, enhance the care experience and improve health outcomes. Our mission and values attract individuals who are determined to make a difference – individuals whose talent, innovation, engagement and empowerment are critical in our ability to achieve our mission.
We seek to maintain an inclusive environment where people of diverse talents, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives make us better. We promote an inclusive culture and a sense of belonging throughout our organization and operations, including in our talent acquisition and talent management practices; leadership development; careers; learning and skills; and systems and processes. We prioritize equal pay by objectively and regularly evaluating and reviewing our compensation practices by performance, experience, and other relevant measures.
INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following sets forth certain information regarding our executive officers as of March 2, 2026, including the business experience of each executive officer during the past five years:
| Name | Age | Position | ||||||||||||
| Stephen Hemsley | 73 | Chair and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||||||
| Wayne DeVeydt | 56 | Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||||||
| Dr. Patrick Conway | 51 | Chief Executive Officer, Optum | ||||||||||||
| Erin McSweeney | 61 | Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer | ||||||||||||
| Timothy Noel | 54 | Chief Executive Officer, UnitedHealthcare | ||||||||||||
| Thomas Roos | 53 | Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer | ||||||||||||
| Christopher Zaetta | 54 | Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary |
Our Board of Directors elects executive officers annually. Our executive officers serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier death, resignation, removal or disqualification.
Stephen Hemsley has served as Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board of UnitedHealth Group since May 2025. Steve previously served as Non-Executive Chair of the Board from November 2019 to May 2025, Executive Chair of the Board from September 2017 to November 2019, Chief Executive Officer from November 2006 to August 2017, President from May 1999 to November 2014, and Chief Operating Officer from November 1998 to November 2006. He joined the Company in 1997 and has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2000.
Wayne DeVeydt has served as Chief Financial Officer of UnitedHealth Group since September 2025. Prior to joining UnitedHealth Group, Wayne was Managing Director of Bain Capital, a private investment firm, from March 2022 to August 2025. Wayne previously served as Chief Executive Officer, from January 2018 to January 2020, and Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, from January 2020 to August 2025, of Surgery Partners, an operator of surgical facilities and ancillary services, and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Elevance Health (formerly known as Anthem), a health benefits and insurance provider, from 2007 to June 2016.
Dr. Patrick Conway has served as Chief Executive Officer of Optum since May 2025. Previously, Patrick served as Optum Rx’s Chief Executive Officer and held numerous leadership roles since joining UnitedHealth Group in February 2020, including service as Chief Executive Officer of Optum Health Care Solutions. Prior to joining UnitedHealth Group, Patrick held prominent senior leadership positions in the private and public sector and clinical settings, including service as Chief Medical Officer and acting administrator at Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and as director of the CMS Innovation Center.
Erin McSweeney has served as Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer of UnitedHealth Group since March 2022. From February 2021 to March 2022, Erin served as chief of staff to UnitedHealth Group’s Office of the Chief Executive. From January 2017 to February 2021, she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Optum. Prior to joining UnitedHealth Group, Erin was Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for EMC Corporation, an international technology company.
Tim Noel has served as Chief Executive Officer of UnitedHealthcare since January 2025. Previously, Tim served as Chief Executive Officer of UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare & Retirement business and held numerous leadership roles since joining UnitedHealth Group from 2007 until January 2025, including serving as Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of federal products for Medicare & Retirement.
Tom Roos has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of UnitedHealth Group since August 2015. Prior to joining UnitedHealth Group, Tom was a Partner at Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm.
Chris Zaetta has served as Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of UnitedHealth Group since May 2024. Previously, Chris served as Chief Legal Officer of Optum from September 2020 until May 2024. Prior to joining Optum in 2020, Chris was Vice President at Johnson & Johnson, a pharmaceutical company. Chris also held several leadership roles at UnitedHealth Group from May 2011 to September 2019, including Head of Litigation and General Counsel of the organization’s government businesses.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Our executive offices are located at 1 Health Drive, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344 and 655 New York Avenue, Washington, DC 20001; our telephone number is (800) 328-5979. You can access our website at www.unitedhealthgroup.com to learn more about our company. We make periodic and current reports and amendments available, free of charge, on our website, as soon as reasonably practicable after we file or furnish these reports to the SEC. Information on or linked to our website is neither part of nor incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K or any other SEC filings.
Item 1A. RISK FACTORS
CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
The statements, estimates, projections or outlook contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA). When used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in future filings by us with the SEC, in our news releases, presentations to securities analysts or investors, and in oral statements made by or with the approval of one of our executive officers, the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “plan,” “project,” “should” or similar words or phrases are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are intended to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions of the PSLRA. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties which may cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement in this report speaks only as of the date of this report and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances, including unanticipated events, after the date of this report.
The following discussion contains cautionary statements regarding our business, which investors and others should consider. We do not undertake to address in future filings with the SEC or other communications regarding our business or results of operations how any of these factors may have caused our results to differ from discussions or information contained in our previous filings or communications. In addition, any of the matters discussed below may have affected past, as well as current, forward-looking statements about future results.
Any or all forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in any other SEC filings or public statements we make may turn out to be wrong. Our forward-looking statements can be affected by inaccurate assumptions we might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. By their nature, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict or quantify.
The risks and uncertainties discussed below are not the only risks we may face. There may be risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we may deem to be immaterial that could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial position, cash flows and prospects.
Risks Related to Our Business and Our Industry
If we fail to estimate, price for and manage our medical costs or design benefits in an effective manner, the profitability of our risk-based products and services could decline and could materially and adversely affect our results of operations, financial position and cash flows.
Through our risk-based benefit products, we assume the risk of both medical and administrative costs for our customers in return for monthly premiums. The profitability of our products depends in large part on our ability to predict and effectively price for and manage medical costs. Our Optum Health business also enters into fully accountable value-based arrangements with payers. Premium revenues from risk-based products constitute nearly 80% of our total consolidated revenues. Estimates of benefit expense payments involve extensive judgement and are subject to considerable inherent variability. Relatively small differences between predicted and actual medical costs, or utilization rates as a percentage of revenues, have resulted and in the future may result in significant changes in our financial results. If we fail to predict accurately, or effectively price for or manage, the costs of providing care under risk-based arrangements, our results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
We manage medical costs through underwriting criteria, product design, negotiation of competitive provider contracts and care management programs. Total medical costs are affected by the number of individual services rendered, the cost of each service and the type of service rendered. Although we base the premiums we charge on our estimates of future medical costs over the fixed contract period, many factors may cause, and have previously caused, actual costs to exceed those estimated and reflected in premiums or bids. These factors may include medical cost inflation, increased use of services, increased provider billing intensity, business mix, unexpected differences among new customer populations, increased cost of individual services, costs to deliver care, large-scale medical emergencies, the potential effects of climate change, pandemics, the introduction of new or costly drugs or increases in drug prices, treatments and technology, new treatment guidelines, newly mandated benefits or other regulatory changes and insured population characteristics. Cost increases in excess of our forecasts typically cannot be recovered in the fixed premium period through higher premiums. For Optum Health’s fully accountable value-based care, any inability to provide higher-quality outcomes and better experiences at lower costs or to integrate our care delivery models could impact our results of operations, financial positions and cash flows.
In addition, the financial results we report for any particular period include estimates of costs incurred for which claims are still outstanding. These estimates involve an extensive degree of judgment. If these estimates prove inaccurate, our results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
If we fail to maintain properly the integrity or availability of our data or successfully consolidate, integrate, upgrade or expand our existing information systems, or if our technology products do not operate as intended, our business could be materially and adversely affected.
Our business depends on the integrity and timeliness of the data we use to serve our members, customers and health care professionals and to operate our business. If the data we rely upon to run our businesses is found to be inaccurate, incomplete, outdated or unreliable or if we fail to effectively maintain or protect the integrity of our data and information systems, including systems powered by or incorporating artificial intelligence (AI), we could experience failures in our health, wellness and information technology products; lose existing customers; have difficulty attracting new customers; experience problems in determining medical cost estimates and establishing appropriate pricing; have difficulty preventing, detecting and controlling fraud; have disputes with customers, physicians and other health care professionals; become subject to regulatory sanctions, penalties, investigations or audits; incur increases in operating expenses; or suffer other adverse consequences.
The volume of health care data generated, and the uses of data, including electronic health records, are rapidly expanding. We depend on the integrity of the data in our information systems to implement new and innovative services, automate and deploy new technologies to simplify administrative processes and clinical decision making, price our products and services adequately, provide effective service to our customers and consumers in an efficient and uninterrupted fashion, provide timely payments to care providers, and accurately report our results of operations. In addition, increasing connectivity among technologies and recent trends toward greater consumer engagement in health care require new and enhanced technologies, including more sophisticated applications for mobile devices and new tools and products that leverage AI to improve the customer experience. We anticipate that fast-evolving AI technologies, including generative AI, will play an increasingly imp
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Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
Item 1C. CYBERSECURITY
Overview of Cybersecurity Program
UnitedHealth Group assesses its cybersecurity and data protection initiatives through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework. This framework provides guidelines for maintaining a mature and comprehensive cybersecurity program, outlining the essential components and responsibilities required to safeguard sensitive information.
Risk Assessment and Management Practices
The Company employs processes to assess, identify, and manage cybersecurity risks. These processes include conducting tabletop exercises to test and reinforce incident response controls, performing control gap analyses, executing penetration tests, and implementing data recovery testing. Internal and external security assessments, along with ongoing threat intelligence monitoring, are used to further strengthen the program. Employees participate in annual cybersecurity and data privacy training to enhance awareness and preparedness across the enterprise.
Incident Management and Response
The Company has established an incident management and response program that continuously monitors information systems for vulnerabilities, threats, and incidents. This program is designed to respond to and manage incidents as they arise, remediate vulnerabilities, and communicate significant threats or incidents to management, including the Chief Security Officer (CSO), the Chief Digital and Technology Officer (CDTO), and executive leadership. Under the incident response plan, incidents are reported to the Audit and Finance Committee and, when necessary, to appropriate government agencies, based on their impact, significance, and scope.
Third-Party Risk Management
We require third-party partners and contractors to handle data in accordance with the Company’s data privacy and cybersecurity requirements, as well as applicable laws. The Company maintains ongoing engagement with suppliers, partners, contractors, and service providers to identify and remediate vulnerabilities, and monitors system upgrades to mitigate future risks. Through our third-party risk management program, we evaluate whether third parties use effective controls and business continuity plans, and drive the remediation of any identified issues or risks.
Auditing, Certifications, and Continuous Improvement
We engage both internal and external advisors and auditors to review and audit our infrastructure and information systems to enhance the program’s design and operational effectiveness. The Company maintains various certifications from industry-recognized organizations. We conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration tests to improve system security and address emerging security threats. The internal audit team independently assesses cybersecurity controls against enterprise policies, using a combination of auditing and cybersecurity frameworks to evaluate the application of leading practices. Audit results and remediation progress are reported to, and monitored by, senior management and the Audit and Finance Committee. We also engage external cybersecurity and audit firms to provide an evaluation of the program’s maturity.
Enterprise Risk Assessment
As part of the overall enterprise cybersecurity risk management program, we complete regular enterprise information risk assessments. Overseen by the CSO, these assessments address unexpected or unforeseen changes in the risk environment by reviewing internal and external threats and evaluating changes to the cybersecurity risk landscape. The results of these assessments inform future investments and program enhancements and are communicated as part of the Company’s broader enterprise risk management program.
Engagement with Third-Party Experts
In addition to in-house cybersecurity capabilities, the Company engages assessors, consultants, and other third parties to assist with a range of cybersecurity matters, including red team testing, auditing, and strategic advisory services.
Leadership and Governance
Management of UnitedHealth Group’s cybersecurity risks is overseen by the CSO and CDTO. Our CSO brings more than 30 years of experience in security roles across private and public sectors, including law enforcement and leadership positions at major multinational corporations. Our CDTO has been with the Company for more than two decades, holding leadership roles in finance, operations and technology, and has previously served as chief information officer for UnitedHealthcare and several of our Optum businesses. Together, the CSO and CDTO co-chair UnitedHealth Group’s Enterprise Security Council, which oversees the security team’s work and includes the Chief Compliance Officer, the Chief Legal Officer, the Chief Audit Executive, the Chief Privacy Officer, and senior business executives.
Board Oversight
The Board of Directors has delegated to the Audit and Finance Committee primary responsibility for overseeing the Company’s risk management and compliance programs related to cybersecurity, data protection, and privacy. The Audit and Finance Committee receives regular updates from the CSO and CDTO on critical cybersecurity risks, strategy, supplier risk, and business continuity. The Audit and Finance Committee has also engaged a leading cybersecurity incident and response firm to advise on and strengthen oversight of these matters.
As of December 31, 2025, the Company has not identified any risks from cybersecurity threats that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company, including our business strategy, results of operations or financial condition, but there can be no assurance that any such risk will not materially affect the Company in the future. For further information about the cybersecurity risks we face, and potential impacts of such risks, see Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”
Item 2. PROPERTIES
We own and lease real properties to support our business operations in the United States and other countries. Our reportable segments use these facilities for their respective business purposes, and we believe the current facilities are suitable for their respective uses and are adequate for our anticipated future needs.
Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The information required by this Item 3 is incorporated herein by reference to the information set forth under the captions “Legal Matters” and “Government Investigations, Audits and Reviews” in Note 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”
Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not Applicable.
PART II
Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
MARKET AND HOLDERS
Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol UNH. On February 20, 2026, there were 8,734 holders of record of our common stock.
DIVIDEND POLICY
In June 2025, our Board of Directors increased the Company’s quarterly cash dividend to shareholders to an annual rate of $8.84 compared to $8.40 per share, which the Company had paid since June 2024. Declaration and payment of future quarterly dividends is at the discretion of the Board and may be adjusted as business needs or market conditions change.
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
In November 1997, our Board of Directors adopted a share repurchase program, which the Board of Directors evaluates periodically. In June 2024, the Board of Directors amended our share repurchase program as then in effect to authorize the repurchase of up to 35 million shares of our common stock in open market purchases or other types of transactions (including prepaid or structured repurchase programs), in addition to all remaining shares authorized to be repurchased under the Board’s 2018 renewal of the program. There is no established expiration date for the program. The Board of Directors from time to time may further amend the share repurchase program in order to increase the authorized number of shares which may be repurchased under the program.
There were no repurchases of the Company’s common stock during the three months ended December 31, 2025. As of December 31, 2025, the Company had 21 million shares remaining available under its share repurchase authorization.
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following performance graph compares the cumulative five-year total return to shareholders on our common stock relative to the cumulative total returns of the S&P 500 Health Care Index, the Dow Jones US Industrial Average Index and the S&P 500 Index for the five-year period ended December 31, 2025. The comparisons assume the investment of $100 on December 31, 2020 in our common stock and in each index, and the reinvestment of dividends when paid.

| 12/20 | 12/21 | 12/22 | 12/23 | 12/24 | 12/25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UnitedHealth Group | $ | 100.00 | $ | 145.21 | $ | 155.30 | $ | 156.54 | $ | 152.76 | $ | 102.18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| S&P 500 Health Care Index | 100.00 | 126.13 | 123.67 | 126.21 | 129.46 | 148.36 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dow Jones US Industrial Average | 100.00 | 120.95 | 112.65 | 130.87 | 150.49 | 172.95 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| S&P 500 Index | 100.00 | 128.71 | 105.40 | 133.10 | 166.40 | 196.16 |
The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance. The preceding stock performance graph shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Annual Report on Form 10-K into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates such information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.
Item 6. RESERVED
Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion should be read together with the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements thereto included in Part II Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.” Readers are cautioned the statements, estimates, projections or outlook contained in this report, including discussions regarding financial prospects, economic conditions, trends and uncertainties contained in this Item 7, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the PSLRA. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties which may cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. A description of some of the risks and uncertainties can be found further below in this Item 7 and in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”
Discussions of year-over-year comparisons between 2024 and 2023 are not included in this Form 10-K and can be found in Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.
EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW
General
UnitedHealth Group is a health care and well-being company with a mission to help people live healthier lives and help make the health system work better for everyone. Our two distinct, yet complementary businesses — Optum and UnitedHealthcare — are working to help build a modern, high-performing health system through improved access, affordability, outcomes and experiences for the individuals and organizations we are privileged to serve.
We have four reportable segments across our two businesses:
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Optum Health;
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Optum Insight;
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Optum Rx; and
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UnitedHealthcare, which includes UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual, UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement and UnitedHealthcare Community & State.
Further information on our business and reportable segments is presented in Part I, Item 1, “Business” and in Note 15 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
2026 Business Realignment
On January 1, 2026, we realigned certain of our businesses to respond to changes in the markets we serve and the opportunities that are emerging as the health system evolves. Optum Financial, including Optum Bank, which was historically included in Optum Health, will now be included in Optum Insight. Our reportable segments will remain unchanged, with prior period segment financial information being recast to conform to the 2026 presentation, beginning with our Quarterly Report of Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2026 filed with the SEC.
Net Portfolio Divestitures, Restructuring and Other Actions and Direct Response Costs - Cyberattack
Net Portfolio Divestitures
In the fourth quarter of 2025, the Company took various actions as a result of a strategic review of the Company’s assets and businesses to operationally advance and scale core businesses and initiatives, including the value-based care business at Optum Health. These actions primarily include losses on business exits and dispositions and other businesses held for sale and a gain on the deconsolidation of a business. As a result of the Company’s portfolio actions, the Company recorded a net gain of $568 million, which included a net gain of $1.5 billion at Optum Rx, partially offset by losses of $821 million and $68 million at Optum Health and Optum Insight, respectively. Gains and losses on portfolio actions were recorded within operating costs on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Restructuring and Other Actions
Additionally, in the fourth quarter of 2025 the Company took restructuring and other actions that resulted in a total impact of $2.5 billion, which included real estate rationalization and workforce reductions of $746 million, contractual reassessments of $573 million, the establishment a loss contract reserve related to anticipated future losses in 2026 for certain value-based care businesses of $623 million, net valuation losses on equity securities of $329 million and the advance funding of the United Health Foundation of $250 million. The $2.5 billion impact of the restructuring and other actions was a reduction to premium revenue of $122 million and investment and other income of $397 million, and increased medical costs $623 million and operating costs $1.4 billion on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The impacts by reportable segment were $153
million, $1.7 billion, $236 million and $389 million, for UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight and Optum Rx, respectively.
The net impact on 2026 cash flows as a result of the restructuring actions taken in 2025 is not expected to be material, with accruals recorded in 2025 resulting in operating cash outflows, offset by investing cash inflows related sales of businesses that are held for sale.
Direct Response Costs – Cyberattack
To support care providers impacted by the Change Healthcare cyberattack that occurred on February 21, 2024, the Company provided interest-free loans. In the fourth quarter of 2025, the Company increased its reserves for net collection expectations associated with provider loans and other customer balances of $799 million, which were recorded within operating costs on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and related to Optum Insight.
Business Trends
Our businesses participate primarily in the United States health markets. In the United States, health care spending has grown consistently for many years and accounted for 19% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2025. We expect overall spending on health care to continue to grow in the future, due to inflation, medical technology and pharmaceutical advancement, regulatory requirements, demographic trends in the population and national interest in health and well-being. The rate of market growth may be affected by a variety of factors, including macroeconomic conditions and regulatory changes, which could impact our results of operations, including our continued efforts to control health care costs.
Pricing Trends. To price our health care benefits, products and services, we start with our view of expected future costs, including medical care patterns, the mix and health status of people served, inflation and labor market dynamics. For 2025, our pricing trends and patient and member health status assumptions were well-short of the medical cost trends incurred, significantly impacting our earnings. We continually evaluate and adjust our approach in each of the local markets we serve, considering relevant factors, such as product positioning, price competitiveness and environmental, competitive, legislative and regulatory considerations, including minimum medical loss ratio (MLR) thresholds and similar revenue adjustments. We seek to balance growth and profitability across all these dimensions.
The commercial risk market remains highly competitive in the small group, large group and individual segments. We expect broad-based competition to continue as the industry adapts to individual and employer needs. Continued increased medical costs may impact both future pricing and benefit design, including for our individual exchange products in markets where we choose to remain, and may result in shifts between product categories for our employer benefits. These potential changes, along with certain regulatory impacts, may result in decreased membership in future periods.
Medicare Advantage funding continues to be pressured, as discussed below in “Regulatory Trends and Uncertainties” and we have observed increased care patterns as discussed bel
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Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Our primary market risks are exposures to changes in interest rates impacting our investment income and interest expense and the fair value of certain of our fixed-rate investments, including our loan receivables, and debt.
As of December 31, 2025, we had $34 billion of financial assets on which the interest rates received vary with market interest rates, which may significantly impact our investment income. Also as of December 31, 2025, $27 billion of our financial liabilities, which include debt and deposit liabilities, were at interest rates which vary with market rates, either directly or through the use of related interest rate swap contracts.
The fair value of our fixed-rate investments and debt also varies with market interest rates. As of December 31, 2025, $48 billion of our investments were fixed-rate debt securities and $51 billion of our debt was non-swapped fixed-rate term debt. An increase in market interest rates decreases the market value of fixed-rate investments and fixed-rate debt. Conversely, a decrease in market interest rates increases the market value of fixed-rate investments and fixed-rate debt.
We manage exposure to market interest rates by diversifying investments across different fixed-income market sectors and debt across maturities, as well as by matching a portion of our floating-rate assets and liabilities, either directly or through the use of interest rate swap contracts. Unrealized gains and losses on investments in available-for-sale debt securities are reported in comprehensive income.
The following tables summarize the impact of hypothetical changes in market interest rates across the entire yield curve by 1% point or 2% points as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 on our investment income and interest expense per annum and the fair value of our investments and debt (in millions, except percentages):
| December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Increase (Decrease) in Market Interest Rate | Investment Income Per Annum | Interest Expense Per Annum | Fair Value of Financial Assets | Fair Value of Financial Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 % | $ | 690 | $ | 547 | $ | (4,218) | $ | (9,325) | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 345 | 273 | (2,150) | (5,078) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | (345) | (258) | 2,172 | 6,127 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (2) | (690) | (514) | 4,334 | 13,588 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Increase (Decrease) in Market Interest Rate | Investment Income Per Annum | Interest Expense Per Annum | Fair Value of Financial Assets | Fair Value of Financial Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2% | $ | 666 | $ | 537 | $ | (4,151) | $ | (8,866) | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 333 | 268 | (2,182) | (4,828) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | (333) | (252) | 2,082 | 5,831 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (2) | (666) | (503) | 4,311 | 12,935 |
Note: The impact of hypothetical changes in interest rates may not reflect the full 100 or 200 basis point change on interest income and interest expense or on the fair value of financial assets and liabilities as the rates are assumed to not fall below zero.
As of December 31, 2025, we had $5.5 billion of investments in equity securities, primarily consisting of venture investments and employee savings plan related investments.
Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and Subsidiaries:
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and Subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2025, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2025, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 2, 2026, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the Audit and Finance Committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Medical Care Services Incurred but not Reported (IBNR) - Refer to Notes 2 and 7 to the financial statements.
Critical Audit Matter Description
Medical costs payable includes estimates of the Company’s obligations for medical care services rendered on behalf of insured consumers, for which claims have either not yet been received or processed. The Company develops estimates for medical care services incurred but not reported (IBNR) using an actuarial model that requires management to exercise certain judgments in developing its estimates. Judgments made by management include medical cost per member per month trend factors and completion factors, which include assumptions over the time from date of service to claim receipt, the impact of actual care activity, and processing cycles.
We identified medical care services IBNR as a critical audit matter because it requires significant management assumptions in estimating the liab
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Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act) designed to provide reasonable assurance the information required to be disclosed by us in reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms; and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
In connection with the filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, management evaluated, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2025. Based upon their evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of December 31, 2025.
CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2025 which have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting as of December 31, 2025
Management of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and Subsidiaries (the Company) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company’s internal control system is designed to provide reasonable assurance to our management and board of directors regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025. In making this assessment, we used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013). Based on our assessment and the COSO criteria, we believe that, as of December 31, 2025, the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting.
The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm has audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, as stated in the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, appearing under Item 9A.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and Subsidiaries:
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2025, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2025, of the Company and our report dated March 2, 2026, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting as of December 31, 2025. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
| /s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP | ||
| Minneapolis, Minnesota | ||
| March 2, 2026 |
Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Trading Arrangements
During the quarter ended December 31, 2025, none of the Company’s directors or officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Exchange Act) adopted or terminated any contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of Company securities intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Exchange Act or under any non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement.
Item 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
Not Applicable.
PART III
Item 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The following sets forth certain information regarding our directors as of March 2, 2026, including their name and principal occupation or employment:
| Charles Baker | Stephen Hemsley | |||||||
| President National Collegiate Athletic Association | Chair and Chief Executive Officer UnitedHealth Group | |||||||
| Timothy Flynn | Michele Hooper | |||||||
| Retired Chair KPMG International | President and Chief Executive Officer The Directors’ Council | |||||||
| Paul Garcia | F. William McNabb III | |||||||
| Retired Chair and Chief Executive Officer Global Payments Inc. | Lead Independent Director UnitedHealth Group Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer The Vanguard Group, Inc. | |||||||
| Kristen Gil | Valerie Montgomery Rice, M.D. | |||||||
| Former Vice President and Business Finance Officer Alphabet Inc. | President and Chief Executive Officer Morehouse School of Medicine | |||||||
| Scott Gottlieb, M.D. | John Noseworthy, M.D. | |||||||
| Former Commissioner U.S. Food and Drug Administration | Former Chief Executive Officer and President Mayo Clinic |
Pursuant to General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K and the Instruction to Item 401 of Regulation S-K, information regarding our executive officers is provided in Part I, Item 1 under the caption “Information About our Executive Officers.”
We have adopted a code of ethics applicable to our principal executive officer and other senior financial officers, who include our principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller and persons performing similar functions. The code of ethics, entitled Code of Conduct: Our Principles of Ethics and Integrity, is posted on our website at www.unitedhealthgroup.com. For information about how to obtain the Code of Conduct, see Part I, Item 1, “Business.” We intend to satisfy the SEC’s disclosure requirements regarding amendments to, or waivers of, the code of ethics for our senior financial officers by posting such information on our website indicated above.
The remaining information required by Items 401, 405, 406, 407(c)(3), (d)(4), (d)(5), and 408(b) of Regulation S-K will be included under the headings “Corporate Governance”, “Proposal 1-Election of Directors” and “Insider Trading Policy” in our definitive proxy statement for our 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and such required information is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by Items 402 and 407(e)(4) and (e)(5) of Regulation S-K will be included under the headings “Executive Compensation,” “Director Compensation,” “Corporate Governance - Risk Oversight” and “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” in our definitive proxy statement for our 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and such required information is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table sets forth certain information as of December 31, 2025, concerning shares of common stock authorized for issuance under all of our equity compensation plans:
| Plan category | (a) Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights | (b) Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights | (c) Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | (in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity compensation plans approved by shareholders (1) | 18 | $ | 395 | 54 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Equity compensation plans not approved by shareholders (2) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total (2) | 18 | $ | — | 54 |
(1)Consists of the UnitedHealth Group Incorporated 2020 Stock Incentive Plan (2020 Stock Incentive Plan”), as amended, and the UnitedHealth Group 1993 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (ESPP).
(2)Excludes 307,500 shares underlying stock options assumed by us in connection with acquisitions. These options have a weighted-average exercise price of $145 and an average remaining term of approximately 3.3 years. These options are administered pursuant to the terms of the plans under which the options originally were granted. No future awards will be granted under these acquired plans.
(3)Includes 15 million shares of common stock available for future issuance under the ESPP as of December 31, 2025, and 39 million shares available under the 2020 Stock Incentive Plan as of December 31, 2025. Shares available under the 2020 Stock Incentive Plan may become the subject of future awards in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance awards and other stock-based awards.
The information required by Item 403 of Regulation S-K will be included under the heading “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in our definitive proxy statement for our 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and such required information is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by Items 404 and 407(a) of Regulation S-K will be included under the headings “Certain Relationships and Transactions” and “Corporate Governance” in our definitive proxy statement for our 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and such required information is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by Item 9(e) of Schedule 14A will be included under the heading “Disclosure of Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in our definitive proxy statement for our 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and such required information is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV
Item 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) 1*. Financial Statements*
The financial statements are included under Item 8 of this report:
-
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2025 and 2024.
-
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023.
-
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023.
-
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023.
-
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023.
2*. Financial Statement Schedules*
The following financial statement schedule of the Company is included in Item 15(c):
All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the SEC are not required under the related instructions, are inapplicable, or the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements, and therefore have been omitted.
(b) The following exhibits are filed or incorporated by reference herein in response to Item 601 of Regulation S-K. The Company files Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 under Commission File No. 1‑10864.
EXHIBIT INDEX**
________________________________________________
| * | Denotes management contracts and compensation plans in which certain directors and named executive officers participate and which are being filed pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iii)(A) of Regulation S-K. | |||||||
| ** | Pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii) of Regulation S-K, copies of instruments defining the rights of certain holders of long-term debt are not filed. The Company will furnish copies thereof to the SEC upon request. |
(c) Financial Statement Schedule
Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Parent Company Only).
Schedule I
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and Subsidiaries:
Opinion on the Financial Statement Schedule
We have audited the consolidated financial statements of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2025, and the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, and have issued our reports thereon dated March 2, 2026; such reports are included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule of the Company listed in the Index at Item 15. This financial statement schedule is the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statement schedule based on our audits. In our opinion, the financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.
| /s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP | ||
| Minneapolis, Minnesota | ||
| March 2, 2026 |
Schedule I
Condensed Financial Information of Registrant
(Parent Company Only)
UnitedHealth Group
Condensed Balance Sheets
| (in millions, except per share data) | December 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 303 | $ | 234 | ||||||||||
| Other current assets | 1,533 | 411 | ||||||||||||
| Total current assets | 1,836 | 645 | ||||||||||||
| Equity in net assets of subsidiaries | 206,415 | 179,888 | ||||||||||||
| Long-term notes receivable from subsidiaries | 679 | 6,062 | ||||||||||||
| Other assets | 673 | 920 | ||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 209,603 | $ | 187,515 | ||||||||||
| Liabilities and shareholders’ equity | ||||||||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 2,812 | $ | 1,501 | ||||||||||
| Intercompany payable, net | 10,236 | 679 | ||||||||||||
| Short-term notes payable to subsidiaries | 2,503 | 2,016 | ||||||||||||
| Short-term borrowings and current maturities of long-term debt | 5,887 | 4,348 | ||||||||||||
| Total current liabilities | 21,438 | 8,544 | ||||||||||||
| Long-term debt, less current maturities | 71,794 | 71,831 | ||||||||||||
| Long-term notes payable to subsidiaries | 21,676 | 14,405 | ||||||||||||
| Other liabilities | 585 | 77 | ||||||||||||
| Total liabilities | 115,493 | 94,857 | ||||||||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (Note 4) | ||||||||||||||
| Shareholders’ equity: | ||||||||||||||
| Preferred stock, $0.001 par value -10 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Common stock, $0.01 par value - 3,000 shares authorized; 906 and 915 issued and outstanding | 9 | 9 | ||||||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 559 | — | ||||||||||||
| Retained earnings | 95,603 | 96,036 | ||||||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (2,061) | (3,387) | ||||||||||||
| Total UnitedHealth Group shareholders’ equity | 94,110 | 92,658 | ||||||||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 209,603 | $ | 187,515 |
See Notes to the Condensed Financial Statements of Registrant
Schedule I
Condensed Financial Information of Registrant
(Parent Company Only)
UnitedHealth Group
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income
| For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
| Revenues: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Investment and other income | $ | 154 | $ | 368 | $ | 312 | ||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | 154 | 368 | 312 | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating costs: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating costs | 10 | 108 | 35 | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 4,780 | 4,544 | 3,469 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total operating costs | 4,790 | 4,652 | 3,504 | |||||||||||||||||
| Loss before income taxes | (4,636) | (4,284) | (3,192) | |||||||||||||||||
| Benefit for income taxes | 974 | 1,032 | 654 | |||||||||||||||||
| Loss of parent company | (3,662) | (3,252) | (2,538) | |||||||||||||||||
| Equity in undistributed income of subsidiaries | 15,718 | 17,657 | 24,919 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net earnings | 12,056 | 14,405 | 22,381 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income | 1,326 | 3,640 | 1,366 | |||||||||||||||||
| Comprehensive income | $ | 13,382 | $ | 18,045 | $ | 23,747 |
See Notes to the Condensed Financial Statements of Registrant
Schedule I
Condensed Financial Information of Registrant
(Parent Company Only)
UnitedHealth Group
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
| For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating activities | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities | $ | 13,311 | $ | 4,852 | $ | 17,443 | ||||||||||||||
| Investing activities | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuances of notes to subsidiaries | (3,901) | (349) | (41) | |||||||||||||||||
| Repayments of notes to subsidiaries | 8,655 | 225 | 817 | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash paid for acquisitions and other transactions | (4,648) | (13,750) | (8,144) | |||||||||||||||||
| Return of capital to parent company | 901 | 21 | 639 | |||||||||||||||||
| Capital contributions to subsidiaries | (6,822) | — | (2,472) | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash received from dispositions, net | 458 | 2,444 | 624 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other, net | — | 30 | 286 | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash flows used for investing activities | (5,357) | (11,379) | (8,291) | |||||||||||||||||
| Financing activities | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Common stock repurchases | (5,545) | (9,000) | (8,000) | |||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from common stock issuances | 827 | 1,846 | 1,353 | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash dividends paid | (7,916) | (7,533) | (6,761) | |||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from (repayments of) short-term borrowings, net | 807 | (151) | 11 | |||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt | 2,969 | 17,811 | 6,394 | |||||||||||||||||
| Repayments of long-term debt | (3,050) | (3,000) | (2,125) | |||||||||||||||||
| (Repayments of) proceeds from short-term notes from subsidiaries, net | (677) | (7,966) | 1,188 | |||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from long-term notes from subsidiaries | 7,162 | 14,396 | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Repayments of long-term notes from subsidiaries | (2,120) | (28) | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Other, net | (342) | (390) | (702) | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash flows (used for) from financing activities | (7,885) | 5,985 | (8,642) | |||||||||||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 69 | (542) | 510 | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 234 | 776 | 266 | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 303 | $ | 234 | $ | 776 | ||||||||||||||
| Supplemental cash flow disclosures | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash paid for interest | $ | 4,817 | $ | 4,241 | $ | 3,257 | ||||||||||||||
| Cash paid for income taxes | 1,119 | 2,450 | 4,426 |
See Notes to the Condensed Financial Statements of Registrant
Schedule I
Condensed Financial Information of Registrant
(Parent Company Only)
UnitedHealth Group
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
1. Basis of Presentation
UnitedHealth Group’s parent company financial information has been derived from its consolidated financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K. The accounting policies for the registrant are the same as those described in Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
2. Subsidiary Transactions
Investment in Subsidiaries. UnitedHealth Group’s investment in subsidiaries is stated at cost plus equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries.
Dividends, Capital Distributions and Contributions. Cash dividends received from subsidiaries and included in Cash Flows from Operating Activities in the Condensed Statements of Cash Flows were $6.8 billion, $19.3 billion and $18.5 billion in 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The parent company received $901 million, $21 million and $639 million in cash as a return of capital during 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Cash contributions to the parent company’s subsidiaries were $6.8 billion and $2.5 billion in 2025 and 2023, respectively, with no cash contributions in 2024. Additionally, in 2025, the parent company made $5.1 billion of non-cash contributions in the form of intercompany receivables to its subsidiaries.
3. Short-Term Borrowings and Long-Term Debt
Discussion of short-term borrowings and long-term debt can be found in Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.” Long-term debt obligations of the parent company do not include other financing obligations at subsidiaries which totaled $708 million and $724 million at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Maturities of short-term borrowings and long-term debt for the years ending December 31 are as follows:
| (in millions) | ||||||||
| 2026 | $ | 5,900 | ||||||
| 2027 | 3,425 | |||||||
| 2028 | 3,500 | |||||||
| 2029 | 3,550 | |||||||
| 2030 | 3,750 | |||||||
| Thereafter | 58,552 |
UnitedHealth Group’s parent company had short-term notes payable to subsidiaries of $2.5 billion and $2.0 billion as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, which included on-demand features. UnitedHealth Group’s parent company had long-term notes payable to subsidiaries of $21.7 billion and $14.4 billion as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company converted $2.9 billion of short-term intercompany payables to long-term notes payables.
4. Commitments and Contingencies
Certain subsidiaries are guaranteed by UnitedHealth Group’s parent company in the event of insolvency. UnitedHealth Group’s parent company also provides guarantees related to its service level under certain contracts. None of the amounts accrued, paid or charged to income for service level guarantees were material as of December 31, 2025, 2024 or 2023.
For a summary of commitments and contingencies, see Note 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
Item 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: March 2, 2026
| UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INCORPORATED | |||||
| By | /s/ STEPHEN HEMSLEY | ||||
| Stephen Hemsley Chief Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||||||||||||
| /s/ STEPHEN HEMSLEY | Chair and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) | March 2, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Stephen Hemsley | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ WAYNE DEVEYDT | Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) | March 2, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Wayne DeVeydt | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ THOMAS ROOS | Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (principal accounting officer) | March 2, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Thomas Roos | ||||||||||||||
| * | Director | March 2, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Charles Baker | ||||||||||||||
| * | Director | March 2, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Timothy Flynn | ||||||||||||||
| * | Director | March 2, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Paul Garcia | ||||||||||||||
| * | Director | March 2, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Kristen Gil | ||||||||||||||
| * | Director | March 2, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Scott Gottlieb, M.D. | ||||||||||||||
| * | Director | March 2, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Michele Hooper | ||||||||||||||
| * | Director | March 2, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| F. William McNabb III | ||||||||||||||
| * | Director | March 2, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Valerie Montgomery Rice, M.D. | ||||||||||||||
| * | Director | March 2, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| John Noseworthy, M.D. |
| *By | /s/ CHRISTOPHER ZAETTA | ||||
| Christopher Zaetta As Attorney-in-Fact |