07:38 AM EDT, 05/15/2025 (MT Newswires) -- UnitedHealth Group ( UNH ) is facing a criminal investigation by the US Department of Justice over possible Medicare fraud tied to its Medicare Advantage operations, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

The probe, led by the DOJ's healthcare fraud unit in New York, has been active since at least mid-2024 and adds to ongoing civil and antitrust inquiries into the company, the news outlet reported.

The WSJ quoted UnitedHealth ( UNH ) as saying it has not been notified about the criminal investigation and stands by the integrity of its Medicare Advantage program.

A previous civil case against UnitedHealth ( UNH ), related to allegedly unsupported diagnoses, reportedly remains pending before a judge, though a court-appointed special master recommended dismissal.

UnitedHealth ( UNH ) and the DOJ did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' request for comment.

Shares of UnitedHealth ( UNH ) were down more than 6.4% in recent Thursday premarket activity.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)