Insurer accused of making patients appear sicker to inflate payments.
filing a complaint in Suffolk Superior Court accusing health insurer United Healthcare of submitting more than $100 million in fraudulent claims to MassHealth.
The allegations, if proven, represent a huge breach of public trust by the insurer — and highlight one reason why many people are skeptical of both our country’s health care system and its social safety net.
As Campbell told reporters in a press call, when a company commits Medicaid fraud, “that erodes public trust in the institutions designed to help those in need.” And when people lose trust in health care, they’re less likely to…
Investment fraud targets the human desire for financial growth by promising high returns with “low to no risk.”
- Ponzi Schemes: Named after Charles Ponzi, these schemes pay “returns” to earlier investors using the capital brought in by newer investors. There is no actual underlying business; the system collapses when new recruitment slows down.
- Pyramid Schemes: Similar to Ponzi schemes, but participants are usually required to sell a product or service. The primary “profit” comes from the recruitment fees of new members rather than actual product sales.
- Pump and Dump: Fraudsters spread false, positive rumors about a cheap stock (the “pump”) to drive up the price. Once the price peaks, they sell their shares (the “dump”), leaving other investors with worthless stock.