Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is investigating military healthcare contractor TriWest Healthcare Alliance over allegations of wrongfully denying medical claims. The probe focuses on systemic "Other Health Insurance" errors that arose after TriWest took over a TRICARE contract in 2025. Affected veterans, including cancer patient Guy Shoemaker, experienced severe coverage lapses and financial strain. While TriWest CEO David McIntyre Jr. has apologized, Texas authorities are using civil investigative demands to determine if the company violated state consumer protection laws.
Texas AG investigation into TriWest
- ▪Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton opened an investigation into military healthcare contractor TriWest Healthcare Alliance over wrongfully denied medical claims.
- ▪The Texas Attorney General's investigation will examine whether TriWest Healthcare Alliance's handling of claims violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
TriWest OHI claim denial errors
- ▪TriWest Healthcare Alliance acknowledged that the Other Health Insurance claim denials are a problem.
- ▪Complaints surged against TriWest Healthcare Alliance because the company denied claims due to errors that incorrectly listed some beneficiaries as having Other Health Insurance.
TRICARE contractor transition problems
- ▪TriWest Healthcare Alliance is one of the contractors that administers TRICARE, the military's healthcare program for active-duty service members, retirees, and their families.
- ▪TRICARE beneficiaries faced persistent coverage problems after the military's healthcare program transitioned its contract from Health Net Federal Services to TriWest Healthcare Alliance in 2025.
Guy Shoemaker cancer case
- ▪Guy Shoemaker, who was diagnosed with Stage 2 throat cancer in 2021, suffered a serious deterioration of his condition due to a lull in his TRICARE coverage.
- ▪Retired Army Sergeant First Class Guy Shoemaker of Fort Worth, Texas, had tens of thousands of dollars in previously approved TRICARE claims overturned due to an Other Health Insurance error.
TriWest CEO apology letter
- ▪TriWest Healthcare Alliance stated in September 2026 that the company is reviewing the Texas Attorney General's investigative demand.
- ▪TriWest Healthcare Alliance President and CEO David McIntyre Jr. issued a letter in May apologizing to beneficiaries who experienced challenges with Other Health Insurance errors.
Civil investigative demands issued
- ▪The Texas Attorney General's office plans to interview consumers and employees as part of its investigation into TriWest Healthcare Alliance.
- ▪The Texas Attorney General's office issued civil investigative demands to TriWest Healthcare Alliance seeking information from the company.
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