California is one of four states that levies a tax penalty on uninsured households. Many people paying the fines are eligible for heavily subsidized health insurance through Covered California.
Hospitals and health insurance companies in contract disputes often threaten to break off agreements, but typically settle. This year's unusually fierce standoffs in New York City are the latest cases in point.
The apparent change comes as hospitals, doctors, and lobbying groups have for weeks complained about low offers from the company, in some cases less than 1% of their typical weekly billing.
UnitedHealth Group said Monday it has advanced payments of more than $2 billion so far to provide assistance to healthcare providers, financially affected following a cybersecurity attack on Change Healthcare.