Texas Health Insurer Under Investigation for Hiring Private Detectives

The CEO of Superior Health Plan, a health insurance company with state contracts, faces scrutiny after admitting to hiring private investigators to gather information on customers, lawmakers, and journalists. This revelation came during a Texas House committee meeting where concerns were raised about the ethical implications of such actions. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has announced an investigation into these allegations, which he refers to as potential blackmail tactics used to secure contracts and avoid paying valid medical claims.

During the committee discussions, Representative Tony Tinderholt confronted Mark Sanders, the CEO, questioning the morality and legality of using taxpayer funds to employ private investigators. Sanders defended the actions by stating it was to understand the interests of individuals the company interacted with, leading to a heated exchange regarding the implications of these investigations.

The committee was particularly alarmed by the notion that an organization funded primarily by taxpayer dollars would engage in such invasive practices. The Attorney General's investigation aims to uncover any illegal activities surrounding these practices and assess the legality of the company's investigative measures against its customers and critics.