Image of building facade of UnitedHealthCare UnitedHealthcare says it might review a patient's records, even if the provider attests that a visit was justified under the prudent layperson standard. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Update: After receiving backlash for the policy decision, UnitedHealth announced on Thursday that it would be delaying implementation of the new policy until "at least the end of the national public health emergency period."

The health insurance arm of UnitedHealth Group Inc. says it will be more strict about covering hospital emergency room claims starting July 1.

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Allison Bell

Allison Bell, a senior reporter at ThinkAdvisor and BenefitsPRO, previously was an associate editor at National Underwriter Life & Health. She has a bachelor's degree in economics from Washington University in St. Louis and a master's degree in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She can be reached through X at @Think_Allison.

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