The deal is the second acquisition by MultiPlan since it went public in July through an $11 billion deal with Churchill Capital III, a special-purpose acquisition company.

Going forward, UnitedHealthcare expects to add 1.5 million members in 2021, with enrollment in government plans continuing to drive growth.

Healthcare groups criticized CMS for giving them just a few weeks to review and comment on the proposed rule and excluding Medicare Advantage plans from the requirements. The changes will phase in from 2023 through 2024.

Executives and analysts are still trying to determine how the COVID-19 pandemic will affect net costs, but they expect 2021 to be a solid year for health insurers.