Business
UnitedHealth Group commits to improvements after independent audit, patient backlash
UnitedHealthcare sign is displayed at its office building in Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S., Dec. 11, 2025.
Tim Evans | Reuters
UnitedHealth Group on Friday released the first results from a sprawling independent audit of its business practices and committed to a wide range of steps to track and implement improvements in three specific areas.
The health-care giant said it has adopted 23 ongoing “action plans” to put in place and monitor recommended improvements, with oversight by its internal audit and advisory services team. Around 65% of those actions will be complete by the end of 2025, while 100% of those plans will be finished by the end of March next year.
The results come as private insurers try to rebuild trust with the American public after fierce, pent-up backlash over their practices and the broader U.S. health-care system. Critics say insurer business tactics have made it harder for some patients to access and pay for care. The company owns UnitedHealthcare, the nation’s largest and most powerful insurer.
While the announcement on Friday is a step toward improving the business, it’s unclear how much it will change the public’s view on the company and the broader industry.
UnitedHealth in July announced that two independent consultancies had launched a third-party review of its business policies and performance metrics. That same day, UnitedHealth also confirmed that it is facing Department of Justice investigations over its Medicare billing practices.
The independent audit marked one of Steve Hemsley’s earliest steps as CEO after he took the reins in May, following the abrupt departure of Andrew Witty.
“We hope that you see these assessments as a commitment to setting a new standard of transparency for the health care marketplace, as we believe that you and every person who engages with our health system deserves to understand how we go about our work,” Hemsley said in a letter Friday.
“We know that our actions and decisions have significant impacts on patients, care providers and the broader health system, and we are determined to hold ourselves to the highest standard,” he added.
FTI Consulting reviewed UnitedHealthcare’s approaches to risk assessment operations within its Medicare Advantage programs, which refers to how the company rates the health status of members in those privately run plans. The firm also examined the company’s care services management policies, procedures and processes.
Consulting firm the Analysis Group also assessed the policies and processes of Optum Rx – the company’s pharmacy benefit manager, or PBM – for ensuring prescription discounts from drug manufacturers are “accurately collected and distributed to clients.” PBMs are middlemen who negotiate rebates with drug manufacturers on behalf of insurers, create lists of medications covered by insurance and reimburse pharmacies for prescriptions.
Hemsley said the firms determined that the company’s policies and practices are “robust, rigorous and generally sound; and, in many respects, industry leading.” But he noted that they also provided recommendations for improvements.
For example, a review by the Analysis Group found that OptumRx has “implemented a comprehensive and well-structured framework that governs all stages of manufacturer discount administration.”
The assessment identified at least 25 distinct “controls” in place that collectively lower the risk of miscalculating or delaying the distribution of discounts owed to clients and collecting incomplete discounts from drugmakers, said Aaron Yeater, managing principal at the Boston office of Analysis Group, in a document Friday.
The review found “no deficiencies or need for corrective measures” but recommended ways to enhance Optum Rx’s practices. That includes strengthening Optum Rx’s escalation processes for resolving nonpayment and dispute cases through communication with manufacturers. Among UnitedHealth’s action plans is to develop a formal policy that supports procedures for addressing those cases.
Yeater noted that he examined the business processes and not the legal and regulatory issues the company is facing with its PBM.
Meanwhile, FTI Consulting found that UnitedHealth scored better than its peers by several measures when it came to Medicaid and Medicare. But the firm pointed to slow decision-making on authorizations, documentation issues and the need to better address the findings raised in regulatory audits.
Beyond these first results, UnitedHealth said it will share the findings from a review of medical records of diagnosis codes during the first quarter. The company will also report on its processes to craft what it calls “evidence-based medical policy” by the middle of the year.
Shares of UnitedHealth Group are down more than 35% for the year after it suspended its 2025 forecast amid skyrocketing medical costs, announced the surprise exit of Witty and grappled with the probes into its Medicare Advantage business. It followed a difficult 2024 marked by a historic cyberattack and public blowback after the murder of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, Brian Thompson.
Correction: UnitedHealth Group had a difficult 2024. An earlier version misstated the year.
Business
‘Side Hustle Generation’: Over 50% Of US Gen Z Opting For Extra Gigs Amid Economic Uncertainty
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At least 57% of Gen Z in the US now have side gigs, from retail to gig work, amid economic uncertainty and concerns over the impact of AI on jobs.
Gen-Z is the first generation for whom a 9-to-5 job isn’t essential for achieving financial success. (AI-Generated Image)
Amid widespread economic uncertainty, more than half of the Gen Z population in the United States is opting for side gigs to navigate the job market and for extra cash.
At least 57% of Gen Z in the US now have side gigs, compared to 21% of boomers and older, according to The Harris Poll, which dubbed them “America’s first true ‘side hustle’ generation.”
Most of them are picking up side hustles, from retail to gig work, for extra cash. Younger people “want to work [and] find success, but many of them just feel disillusioned with the opportunities to get there through the traditional career ladder,” Glassdoor chief economist Daniel Zhao told Axios.
Role Of AI
In an August report, Glassdoor researchers said that some of the youths are chasing creative or entrepreneurial goals. Moreover, AI and other technological advances have made it easier for professionals to monetise their skills and passions.
“We’re witnessing a true side hustle generation where work identity lives outside of traditional employment. Additional commentary and research also shows that there’s a growing number of Employee+ workers who diversify income streams without abandoning job security,” Glassdoor said.
“For Gen Z, the day job funds the passion project. Work pays the bills, but identity and fulfilment can come from entrepreneurial pursuits, creative endeavours, or social causes they care about,” it added.
Why Are Gen-Z Opting For Side Gigs?
One of the main reasons for this shift is job anxiety. Recent graduates are struggling to secure jobs, while those with them aren’t seeing the career growth they expect, according to Zhao.
Data shows that the financial optimism for college students has fallen to their lowest level since 2018, mostly due to concerns over unemployment and ‘AI-induced layoffs’. The advent of AI remains the most pressing concern among young workers.
As per The Harris Poll, Gen Z is the first generation for whom a 9-to-5 job isn’t essential for achieving financial success. Side hustles are not merely distractions or fallback options; they are central to Gen Z’s identity, offering creative, entrepreneurial, or activist outlets that main jobs cannot supply.
“It definitely makes me feel more financially secure,” Katie Arce, who works full-time in e-commerce and picks up shifts at a vintage clothing store in Austin, Texas, told Axios.
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United States of America (USA)
January 11, 2026, 17:08 IST
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PM Modi further emphasised that over the past 11 years, India has emerged as the largest data consumer and built the country’s largest real-time digital platform.
PM Modi speaking at the inauguration of Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference. (PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that India’s political stability and strong macroeconomic fundamentals are driving global investor confidence, with Gujarat emerging as a key anchor of the country’s growth story.
While addressing the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference in Gujarat, the Prime Minister highlighted India’s economic trajectory, saying that the country is the world’s fastest-growing major economy, with inflation under control and a strong foundation for long-term growth. He said that reform express is driving India’s journey to developed nation status.
He highlighted that India is the largest producer of milk and a leading manufacturer of generic medicines, reflecting the country’s growing strength in both agriculture and pharmaceuticals.
VIDEO | Rajkot: PM Modi (@narendramodi) says, “India is the world’s fastest-growing large economy and inflation is under control. Agricultural production in India is setting new records, and the country ranks number one in milk production. India is also the world’s largest… pic.twitter.com/R6f7tDhoZD— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 11, 2026
He noted that global institutions are increasingly bullish on India, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) describing the country as the engine of global growth.
“India is the world’s 3rd largest startup ecosystem, 3rd largest aviation market, we are in the top 3 metro networks of the world,” he said, asserting that the country is heading to become the world’s 3rd largest economy.
PM Modi further emphasised that over the past 11 years, India has emerged as the largest data consumer and built the country’s largest real-time digital platform. He highlighted that India is now the second-largest mobile manufacturer, whereas earlier the country imported nine out of ten phones.
The Prime Minister also underlined Gujarat’s contribution to India becoming the world’s third-largest economy, noting that the state has grown across sectors. He said regions like Saurashtra and Kutch, once seen as remote, have now become major drivers of Atmanirbhar Bharat and investment-led growth.
Highlighting Saurashtra’s manufacturing strength, with over 2.5 lakh MSMEs producing goods ranging from basic tools to high-precision aircraft components, PM Modi pointed to the region hosting the world’s largest ship-breaking yard and being a major hub for tile manufacturing.
He further said that India’s first semiconductor fabrication plant is coming up in Dholera, with the land ready and a predictable policy environment supporting long-term growth.
Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference
PM Modi on Sunday inaugurated the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference for the Kutch and Saurashtra regions.
The event saw the presence of Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, among other dignitaries.
He also inaugurated 13 New Smart Industrial Estates in 7 Districts (Amreli, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Kutch, Morbi, Rajkot and Surendranagar) spanning an area of over 3540 Acres by Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation before his address on Sunday.
The two-day conference summit will highlight Gujarat’s leadership in the clean energy sector and its alignment with India’s ‘Panchamrit’ commitments announced by the Prime Minister. These include achieving 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030, meeting 50 per cent of energy requirements from renewable sources, reducing projected carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes, lowering carbon intensity by 45 per cent by 2030, and attaining net-zero emissions by 2070.
Rajkot, India, India
January 11, 2026, 16:22 IST
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Business
‘You’ve Restored India’s Civilisational Self-Belief’: Mukesh Ambani Praises PM Modi At Vibrant Gujarat
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Reliance Industries chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani said PM Narendra Modi’s vision has reshaped India’s trajectory for the next 50 years
Reliance Industries chairman and managing director speaks at the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conferences on January 11, 2025. (Image: Vibrant Gujarat/YouTube)
Reliance Industries chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani had high praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who inaugurated the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference for the Kutch and Saurashtra regions on Sunday.
Ambani said Modi’s vision has reshaped India’s trajectory for the next 50 years, while also restoring the country’s “civilisational self-belief”.
“Most respected prime minister, you have restored to India its civilisational self-belief. Never in history of India have we seen so much hope, self confidence, and so much vibrancy as we do now,” Ambani said during his address at the conference.
Congratulating Modi for the “great honour for Saurashtra and Kutch” that he was personally present, he started his address by referring to the prime minister’s visit to Somnath temple for the ‘Somnath Swabhiman Parv’ earlier in the day.
“Let me start with ‘Jai Somnath’. The positive vibrations from our dear prime minister’s prayers from Somnath are resonating across Gujarat and India. I congratulate our PM for the great honour for Saurashtra and Kutch that he is personally present for the Vibrant Gujarat regional summit (conference). After 20 years in Gandhinagar, we are privileged to take part in the regional summit here in Rajkot,” he said.
Ambani said history will record the “Modi era” as when India moved from “potential to performance, aspiration to action, follower to becoming a global force”.
“Your (Modi’s) vision has reshaped India’s trajectory for the next 50 years and more. History will record that the Modi era is when India moved from potential to performance, from aspiration to action, from being a follower to becoming a global force,” he said.
Calling Modi the “invincible, protective wall” of India, he said the PM is the reason why global challenges cannot “touch or trouble” the country.
“All of us know that the world is changing very fast, the geopolitical situation is creating new challenges including some unexpected turbulence but what is reassuring for India is that these challenges can’t touch or trouble our people. This is because India has the invincible, protective wall called Narendrabhai Modi. Let the world know that this is India’s defining decade, under the PM’s leadership, India’s not just preparing for the future but India’s shaping it,” he added.
Modi inaugurated the event in the presence of Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi, among other dignitaries. The two-day conference will highlight Gujarat’s leadership in the clean energy sector and its alignment with India’s ‘Panchamrit’ commitments announced by the PM.
These include achieving 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030, meeting 50 per cent of energy requirements from renewable sources, reducing projected carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes, lowering carbon intensity by 45 per cent by 2030, and attaining net-zero emissions by 2070.
(With agency inputs)
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Rajkot, India, India
January 11, 2026, 15:43 IST
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