Cuba rejects US claims of involvement in Florida healthcare fraud

The Cuban government on Wednesday rejected United States allegations of involvement in large-scale health insurance fraud in Florida as tensions between Washington and Havana reach a new peak. The Cuban Foreign Ministry dismissed the claims as "slander", asserting that US officials have failed to provide any evidence to support the accusations of official state participation in criminal networks.

The row was sparked by US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, who claimed in an interview on Tuesday that Cuba’s communist government is linked to a network of fictitious medical equipment companies. According to Robert F Kennedy Jr, these entities exist solely "to steal" from the US government by charging Medicaid for durable medical equipment, such as wheelchairs and knee braces, that are never actually delivered.

Mehmet Oz, the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, further intensified the rhetoric on Saturday. Mehmet Oz stated that criminal networks have syphoned millions of dollars through counterfeit billing for medical supplies before fleeing to Cuba with the proceeds. Havana countered these statements by expressing a willingness to "jointly confront transnational crimes" through intelligence sharing, noting that it has already prosecuted individuals linked to US Medicare fraud.

The accusations from the US administration come during a period of mounting pressure on the Caribbean island. Following the military raid on Caracas in January 2026 and the subsequent ouster of Nicolas Maduro, President Donald Trump shut down Venezuelan oil supplies to Cuba. This blockade has deepened a severe energy crisis on the island, which has operated under a US trade embargo for more than six decades.

While President Trump recently eased the pressure slightly by allowing a Russian oil tanker to deliver fuel last week, the energy situation remains critical. The US administration has openly discussed plans for "taking" Cuba, though both nations are reportedly engaged in de-escalation talks. According to Cuba’s deputy foreign minister Josefina Vidal, these discussions are currently at a "very preliminary" stage.

The clash over healthcare fraud adds a new dimension to the geopolitical friction, with Havana maintaining that the allegations are a tactical move within a broader pressure campaign. As the energy crisis persists, the lack of diplomatic resolution suggests that the relationship between the two arch-foes remains volatile, despite the tentative opening of communication channels.