New York, Jan 9, 2026, 19:28 EST — After-hours
- UnitedHealth shares dropped roughly 0.8% on Friday, hovering around $344 in after-hours trading
- House committees have summoned CEO Stephen Hemsley and other executives to testify on affordability issues on Jan. 22
- Senate Democrats have set a January 28 deadline for responses in their nursing-home investigation connected to Optum
UnitedHealth Group shares fell roughly 0.8% on Friday, lingering around $344 in after-hours trading as U.S. lawmakers intensified scrutiny of major insurers ahead of hearings scheduled for later this month. 1
The hearings are significant as policy uncertainty is creeping back into managed care valuations. Investors have promptly pushed down the group whenever Washington discusses premiums, subsidies, or regulation.
UnitedHealth faces tricky timing. It’s gearing up to update guidance for 2026 just as lawmakers prepare to press the company on costs and coverage issues.
Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means committees invited the CEOs of UnitedHealth, CVS Health, The Cigna Group, Elevance Health, and Ascendian to testify on Jan. 22. The hearings will be divided between the two committees. 2
UnitedHealth spokesperson Robert Josephson confirmed Hemsley’s attendance, adding, “Keeping health care affordable should be everyone’s top priority, and we will continue to partner with policymakers on solutions.” 3
Separately, Senate Finance Committee ranking member Ron Wyden and Senator Elizabeth Warren pressed UnitedHealth on its nursing home operations linked to its Optum division. In a follow-up letter dated Jan. 7, they demanded responses by Jan. 28, pointing to claims that incentive programs were designed to reduce hospital transfers for residents enrolled in an “Institutional Special Needs Plan,” a Medicare Advantage plan for nursing home residents. 4
UnitedHealth’s shares fluctuated between $342.48 and $349.06 during Friday’s trading, according to market data. Over the last 52 weeks, the stock has swung from a low of $234.60 up to a high of $606.36. 5
The move unfolded while the S&P 500 gained 0.65% on Friday. Competitors didn’t fare as well: Cigna dropped roughly 1.8%, CVS dipped 0.4%, and Elevance declined about 0.5%. 6
Hearings often churn out headlines, with Washington inquiries spilling beyond a single day. Even a hint of rising medical costs—a spike in the medical loss ratio, the percentage of premiums spent on care—could pressure 2026 guidance.
Investors are turning their attention to the Jan. 22 hearings next, then UnitedHealth’s full-year earnings and 2026 outlook, scheduled for release before the market opens on Jan. 27, followed by an 8 a.m. ET call. 7
