Washington D.C. – The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced significant settlements totaling $145 million with Prudential and MediaAlpha, addressing allegations that the companies misled consumers regarding healthcare services and engaged in illegal telemarketing practices. These two settlements, finalized on August 7, 2025, represent a substantial recovery for consumers harmed by deceptive business conduct. The announcement highlights the FTC's ongoing efforts to enforce consumer protection laws and return funds to affected citizens.Another example of @FTC having one of the best ROIs in the federal government. These two settlements together represent 68% of the entire annual budget for the Bureau of Consumer Protection, now going directly back in the pockets of citizens harmed by deception." Meador's statement underscores the agency's effectiveness in generating returns that significantly outweigh operational costs for its consumer protection efforts. The combined $145 million in redress stems from lawsuits accusing Prudential and MediaAlpha of violating telemarketing rules and the FTC Act. According to reports, the companies allegedly used deceptive tactics to mislead consumers about healthcare coverage and subjected them to unwanted robocalls. FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson has reaffirmed the agency's commitment to consumer protection, indicating that such enforcement actions are a priority.
These settlements contribute to the FTC's broader mission of promoting competition and protecting consumers from unfair and deceptive practices. The agency's overall budget for Fiscal Year 2025 is $425.7 million, which supports its various bureaus, including the Bureau of Consumer Protection. The substantial funds recovered from these cases are earmarked for direct distribution to consumers who were financially impacted by the alleged misconduct.
The FTC's ability to secure such large settlements reinforces its role as a key federal agency safeguarding consumer interests. This outcome demonstrates the agency's strategic focus on combating deceptive lead generation and telemarketing practices, ensuring accountability for companies that violate consumer trust. The returned funds aim to provide direct relief to those who suffered losses due to the alleged schemes.