The U.S. Department of Justice accused three of the nation's largest health insurers of paying hundreds of millions of dollars in kickbacks to brokers in exchange for steering patients into the insurers' Medicare Advantage plans.

The Justice Department has sued three of the largest Medicare Advantage insurers and three dominant insurance brokerages, alleging a kickbacks scheme.

The Justice Department accused large insurers of colluding with national brokers to steer older people and those with disabilities toward coverage that might not offer the best medical care.