UnitedHealth faces lawsuit over prescription drug co-payments — 4 takeaways

Three customers are suing UnitedHealth for allegedly charging prescription drug co-payments that exceed their actual costs, according to Reuters.

Here are four takeaways:

1. The plaintiffs aim to represent a nationwide class that may comprise tens of thousands of UnitedHealth customers. In the suit, the three customers say UnitedHealth pocketed the difference between the co-payments and the drugs' actual cost.

2. In one case detailed in the suit, one member paid a $50 co-payment for Sprintec, claiming UnitedHealth only paid the pharmacy $11.65. The lawsuit claims the pharmacy provided UnitedHealth $38.85 as per the agreement with the payer.

3. In the suit, the customers are alleging UnitedHealth's actions violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

4. In an email, a UnitedHealth spokesperson said the payer has not yet received the complaint and that "pharmacy benefits are administered in line with the coverage described in the plan documents."

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