Optum/UHC jobs exist less to create real value and more to sustain systems, hierarchies, and the appearance of productivity.
People often sense—quietly and uncomfortably—that their work doesn’t truly help customers or society, even while it consumes their time and energy. This disconnect creates fatigue, cynicism, and a low-grade moral injury, especially when work centers on compliance, internal processes, or managing perceptions rather than solving real problems. The deeper issue isn’t effort or competence, but being asked to spend a life maintaining structures instead of meaning—while the work that actually keeps society functioning is undervalued and strained.
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That's your conscience kicking in. Everything exists to prop up the HMO that Steve-o Built: UHC. That's it. Everything is in service. If we wanted Optum as a services and tech company to flourish (ex- PBM ex- Provider) it would be allowed far more independence including capital funding. We'd be product/commercial led by someone with Provider experience and something in another industry (read: not SD or PC the figurehead).
If we were smart, we'd either merge the PBM into UHC or spin it off - same with the Provider business.
At the end of the day, UHC is evil. For-profit payers shouldn't exist. VBC is a half baked joke that attempts to stop just short of the cliff. Capitation is what comes after the cliff in the future and UHC bleeding a slow death til then. We'll continue to acquire customers, now through vendor alliances rather than acquisitions, and shed jobs to boost non-UHC margin to feed the UHC beast.
SH just needs a hobby until he's clinically senile and doesn't care anymore. UHC only needs to struggle on until then.
I could not have said this better!
@b2 I was part of an acquired entity and the difference before and after Optum is STARK. I'm in the IT space so can only speak from that perspective, but our group went from focusing on product releases that directly delivered value to our enrolled members, our B2B clients, and our providers to running in circles after seemingly arbitrary goals and deadlines. Sure there was always maintenance, security and stability enhancements, support tickets - IT always comes with this kind of work. But since Optum gobbled us up, all we do is run in circles trying to close PADU gaps, address endless false positive scan results, and try to do the political maneuvering for even a scrap of capex to keep growing our platform. We had repeated RIFs and severe attrition, backfilled positions went to contractors who would take months to pick up their first story. The whole culture shifted from being excited about our product and the care delivered via our platform that genuinely help people, to now a disorganized group of silent ICs who don't even know or care what our product does. Honestly I've cried more than once mourning this passionate little startup and for the fact that we can't actually help people the way we used to. I'm trying to get out of this place but the market is a nightmare and I'm just emotionally wrung out.
Sorry for venting, I'm just sad and angry things worked out this way.
UHG buys up IP and then puts it into maintenance mode. We spend all of our time aiming at moving targets and security janitor work caused by ESRO. This is the most wasteful use of talent ever seen.
Because Optum seems to be a jobs program designed to bankrupt the care organizations it takes over. It loads them in debt and buries them in charge-backs. Why have one competent competent and valued employee when you can have a whole team of useless automatons and charge for all 10 of them to sit quietly on a meeting?
This is the best nutshell explanation of this situation I can think of. And yes, MANY of us were acquired by Optum. So this was NOT the culture I signed up for and worked well in for years. The fact that many of us remember better times makes it more excruciating.
No one who applied here could have seriously thought they were joining the Scouts.
People whose job was acquired by UHG, I feel extra bad for them.
For the rest of us we knew the score. But usually that means you make some money and get longer term incentives. With those all gone, there is no place to go but down.
To your broader point: I have worked at several of the top Fortune companies in MN and company and WLB are all that matters. None of the work is ever meaningful.
@OP Couldn’t have said this better myself.
I am absolutely feeling this today