Yesterday, two uniquely ugly American stories occurred: A health care executive was shot and killed. And because he’s a health care executive. The people then cheered.
Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Murdered yesterday in front of his hotel in Midtown Manhattan by an unknown assailant, in response, a post on The media was full of jokes about Thompson’s pending medical bills. And the tragedy is that he never returned to his “mcmansion.” This sentiment was summed up by journalist Ken Klippenstein, who posted the message. Chart on X shows that UnitedHealthcare It refuses to pay a larger percentage of users’ medical bills than any other major insurance company. “Today we remember the legacy of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson,” he wrote.
There is no excuse for cheering on murder. But American enthusiasm over the death of an insurance executive It shows both rough public discourse and and the level of anger Americans feel about the shortcomings of the U.S. health care system. A Gallup survey shows that only 31 percent of Americans have a positive view of the health care industry, out of 25 industries Gallup included in its survey. explore Only oil and gas, the federal government, and pharmaceutical companies are slandered more.
America’s entire health care system is designed in a way that inevitably causes some level of anger. This is despite the fact that the governments of most wealthy industrialized countries provide some level of insurance to all their citizens. But the vast majority of Americans rely entirely on private health insurance companies. The system should reduce costs enough to make a profit. The insurance industry’s eagerness to save money by denying people care is a feature. It’s not a defect. of the system of this country Americans are angry at Thompson and other health care CEOs. It is expressing dissatisfaction with a system that is causing real and preventable harm. Those cheering Thompson’s death are arguing that taking sick Americans’ medicine away or denying they need surgery is immoral and should be punishable by death.
Such logic is untenable. But people have reason to be angry: About half of Americans report having trouble paying their medical bills. A single denied insurance claim can force a patient into financial ruin. And health insurance companies are getting smarter about how they deny claims. Until Congress intervenes in 2020, patients often bear the burden of unexpected medical costs for hospital visits. Because of the circulating specialized doctors which they do not know Not in their insurance network and even less serious maneuvers such as step therapy. This requires patients to try cheaper drugs before insurance companies pay for more expensive treatments. It can delay the treatment needed to end suffering.
UnitedHealthcare It is famous for using these tactics aggressively. Reporter at health publishing house statistics (where I worked until September) spent the past year documenting the many different approaches at UnitedHealthcare. extracting profits in exchange for the living expenses of their patients meetFor example, the company has used AI algorithms to justify evicting elderly patients from nursing homes. This is despite evidence that some patients still require round-the-clock care. Doctors working for United (which used to be buy doctor’s office) tell statistics that the company is pressuring to have more patients and judge them With additional conditions likely to increase the company’s profits. United also faces lawsuits from patients and from the federal government over its aggressive business tactics. (United has refuted claims that it relies solely on AI to deny care and said in response statisticsreported trusting doctors “Independent clinical decision making”)
But the problem is the health insurance system, not the CEO, as long as the majority of health insurance in America is operated as a private entity. It will work according to this logic. the aggressiveness of UnitedHealthcare It’s the reason its parent company is the largest health insurance company in America today. There is no denying that it has succeeded in its primary business goal of generating profits for shareholders.
Compassion and capitalism can coexist. And this country has operated on the premise that the government’s job is to mediate between the profitability of corporations. with the unassailable needs of citizens Insuring people with high-cost conditions is inconsistent with thinking only in terms of profits. Which is why it took the Affordable Care Act to require companies like UnitedHealthcare to Provide insurance to people with pre-existing medical conditions. The recourse that disgruntled Americans should have is to change insurance companies or elect politicians who will reform the current system. The ugly reaction to Thompson’s death shows that there are many people who clearly feel that no alternative can meet the country’s real needs.
The identity and motive of Thompson’s killer remain unknown. His death was not related to the US healthcare system. (Although it was reported that shell casings were found at the scene and there was an inscription refuse– protectand depositseems to suggest otherwise), even though the killer targeted Thompson for reasons unrelated to his job. But the action revealed just how angry Americans are about their health care. They also often publicly celebrate a man’s death. Cheering for vigilantes can be cathartic for those fed up with the decay of America’s current health care system. But couldn’t fix anything.
