UnitedHealth wins $21B U.S. military contract

UnitedHealth (UNH) Group Inc. wrested a military health contract valued at as much as $20.5 billion from TriWest Healthcare Alliance Corp. (1893Q), a closely held company that has had the work since 2003. UnitedHealth, the nation's biggest health insurer by revenue, in April persuaded the Pentagon to reconsider a 2009 decision to award the five-year contract for the western region to TriWest. The U.S. Defense Department announced the decision in favor of UnitedHealth after markets closed, sending the company's shares higher in after-market trading.