Killing of Insurance CEO Exposes Deep Anger Toward US Health System

The tragic killing of a prominent insurance CEO has highlighted growing frustration and resentment toward the US healthcare system, sparking debates on reform and accountability.

The “brazen and targeted” murder of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, outside a New York hotel this week left America in shock. This incident also revealed an underlying anger towards the trillion-dollar health insurance industry.

The phrase “Prior authorisation” doesn’t appear to evoke strong emotions.

However, on a scorching day this past July, over 100 individuals assembled outside UnitedHealthcare’s Minnesota headquarters to protest the insurer’s policies and its denial of patient claims.

“Pre-authorization” enables companies to evaluate proposed treatments before committing to cover the costs.

Eleven individuals were taken into custody for obstructing a road during the protest.

According to police records, individuals from across the country— including states such as Maine, New York, Texas, and West Virginia—attended the rally organized by the People’s Action Institute.

Unai Montes-Irueste, the media strategy director for a Chicago-based advocacy group, explained that the protesters had firsthand experience with denied claims and other healthcare system issues.

“They are refused care and subsequently must navigate an appeals process that is extremely challenging to succeed in,” he told the BBC.

The underlying frustration experienced by many Americans toward the healthcare system—a complex network of various providers, both for-profit and non-profit organizations, large insurance companies, and government programs—erupted into public view after what appeared to be the targeted killing of Thompson in New York City on Wednesday.

Thompson served as the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, which is the insurance division of health services provider UnitedHealth Group. This company holds the distinction of being the largest insurer in the U.S.

Authorities are continuing their search for the suspected killer, whose motive remains unclear. However, police have disclosed that messages were discovered on shell casings at the scene.

The terms “deny,” “defend,” and “depose” were found on the casings, which investigators suspect might allude to strategies that critics claim insurance companies employed to evade payouts and boost profits.

A review of Thompson’s LinkedIn history shows that numerous individuals expressed frustration over denied claims.

A woman replied to a post by the executive, who had bragged about his company’s efforts in reducing drug costs.

“I have stage 4 metastatic lung cancer,” she explained. “We recently switched from [UnitedHealthcare] due to the constant denials for my medications, with a new reason each month.”

Thompson’s wife informed US broadcaster NBC that he had previously received threatening messages.

“There were some threats,” Paulette Thompson mentioned. “Essentially, I’m unsure about a lack of medical coverage? The details are unclear to me.”

He mentioned that some people had been threatening him.

A security expert suggests that widespread frustration over rising prices in various industries inevitably leads to threats against corporate executives.

Philip Klein, the head of Texas-based Klein Investigations that provided security for Thompson during a speech in the early 2000s, expressed surprise that the executive did not have security for his trip to New York City.

“There is a great deal of anger in the United States at the moment,” Mr. Klein stated.

Companies must become aware that their executives can be targeted anywhere.

Mr. Klein reports receiving a flood of calls following Thompson’s death. Leading U.S. companies generally invest millions in personal security for their top executives.

BBC