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The early-morning killing of a top health insurance executive in Manhattan sparked outrage and frustration among social media users over the denial of his medical claims, a public display of Americans' anger at the nation's complex health insurance industry. .
In one glaring example, a Facebook post by UnitedHealth Group expressed grief about the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. Brian ThompsonThe death received 62,000 reactions – 57,000 of which were laughing emojis. UnitedHealth Group, the unit Thompson held, is the parent company of UnitedHealthcare.
New York police have not yet investigated. The shooter's identity and motivationBut in an interview with NBC, Thompson's widow, Paulette, told the network that there had been some threats against her husband, including a “lack of coverage … I don't know the details.”
They were, our source told . Regarding threats At UnitedHealth Group, although Thompson was not named.
The shell casings from the two bullets in the shooting had the words “SAVE” and “STOP” written on them, law enforcement sources said. Police are investigating whether the words indicated a motive because they resembled the title of a book critical to the wider insurance industry.
Most uninsured US adults He had at least one issue According to a June 2023 study by KFF, a nonprofit health policy research group, including claims denials, with health insurance in a year.
“Limitations on access to care due to claim denials have long been a source of frustration,” said Kay Pestana, director of KFF's Patient and Consumer Protection Program.
A major industry group for health insurers criticized some of the social media responses.
“People in our industry are mission-driven professionals to provide coverage and care at the most affordable prices possible, and to help people navigate the complex medical system,” Mike Tuffin, the trade association's CEO, said in a statement. “We condemn any threat against our colleagues – or anyone in our country -.”
In a statement to , UnitedHealthcare said its top priorities are supporting Thompson's family, ensuring the safety of its employees and working with law enforcement to bring the gunman to justice.
“We, the UnitedHealth Group, will continue to be there for the people who rely on us,” the statement said. Other insurers did not return requests for comment.
Immediately after news of Thompson's death broke, social media users began posting their grievances against UnitedHealthcare and other insurance companies.
United Healthcare “cancelled my surgery two days before my appointment. I was in tears in the hospital finance office (doing prep work when I was supposed to be in the hospital),” one user wrote on X's post, which has received more than 70,000 likes. “My mother was flying to see me. The surgeon spent a day and a half pleading my case to United when she should have been tending to her other patients.
“My breast cancer surgery was denied” by another X user posted by another insurance company. “Breast cancer. 'Well, is it an emergency?' I don't know – (f***ing) what do you think?
Their stories could not be independently verified by .
Tic Toker and anesthesiologist Brian Schmutler said in a video that the shooting was tragic for him, tragic for his family, but it led to some bigger issues.
“In my view, we have a big issue with insurance companies in general, they're primarily about making money, not paying for health care,” he said.
as if Blog post Taylor Lorenz, a journalist who covers social media, analyzed the online responses in a Thursday headline titled “Why We Want Insurance Executives Dead,” saying: “No, that doesn't mean people should kill them.” But if you've watched a loved one suffer and die under insurance, it's natural to wish that the people responsible would suffer the same fate.
Lorenz's post sparked a wave of backlash online.
Although 81% of insured adults in the KFF 2023 survey described their health insurance as “very good,” it's not uncommon for Americans and their doctors to spend more time with their doctors trying to get the care they need or fighting denials from providers. “or” good.
Sarah Collins, a senior fellow at the Commonwealth Fund, a health policy foundation, cited cancer screening as an example. “Any kind of denial or delay in knowing whether or not your insurance will cover it is scary for people. Making sudden decisions based on financial support can be devastating to a family.
Nearly one in five insured adults experienced a claim denial in a 12-month period, according to KFF 2023 survey. Those with employment-based insurance or an Affordable Care Act policy were twice as likely to have this problem as those covered by Medicare or Medicaid, with a denial rate of one in 10.
Limiting health care through tools like claim waivers and prior authorization, which require insurers to pre-approve care, are among the ways health insurers try to avoid care that isn't medically necessary or unsupported by scientific evidence — but can also increase their profit margins. The practices that rely on technology, including artificial intelligence, can frustrate patients and providers alike.
A class-action lawsuit filed last year in US District Court in Minnesota argued that UnitedHealthcare used AI to “wrongfully deny care to elderly patients in lieu of real medical professionals.” complaint. More than 90% of the denials were reversed through internal appeals or proceedings before federal administrative law judges, the suit said.
UnitedHealthcare asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit, saying the plaintiffs must first complete the administrative appeals process set forth in the Medicare Act, among other reasons.
Claim rejection can cause significant problems for patients, their care and finances.
Last year, UnitedHealthcare settled a lawsuit filed by a seriously ill college student in Pennsylvania that claimed the company denied coverage for essential medications and cost more than $800,000 in medical bills. Charges reported by PropublicaThe insurer has revealed the lengths to which it will go to deny claims, including burying medical reports and rubber stamping by company-paid doctors.
About a quarter of consumers whose claims were denied by insurance companies experienced significant delays in receiving medical care or treatment, and a similar share failed to receive care at all, the KFF study found. A quarter of them said their health had declined.
Postponement of care due to denial of coverage can also harm patients' mental health. A 2023 Commonwealth Fund survey of adults aged 19 to 64 found that 80% of adults said they or a family member were concerned or worried about delays in care.
Relatively few people try to fight back when the insurer denies their claim. In a Commonwealth Fund survey, only 43% of adults said they or their doctor had challenged an insurer's claim denial. 45% of respondents said they were unsure of their right to appeal a rejection, while 40% said they were unsure who to contact. About a quarter said they don't have time.
But defying the odds can pay off. Half of those who appeal have their care eventually approved, Commonwealth Fund research has found.
Unreasonable failures of services and payments Medicare Advantage insurers — including UnitedHealthcare, the biggest player in the fast-growing market — have faced opposition in recent years, particularly from the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the program, and some lawmakers.
Insurers paid by the federal government to provide Medicare services to enrollees have sometimes delayed or denied medical care to consumers — even if the requests met Medicare coverage rules. 2022 report From HHS Office of the Inspector General. The office said an annual federal audit found a “pervasive and ongoing problem of improper service denial and payment.”
A major concern is the potential incentive for Medicare Advantage plans to withhold services and payments to providers in order to increase profits, the office said. Insurers pay a certain amount per patient regardless of the amount of care received.
UnitedHealthcare has come under public scrutiny for dramatically increasing denials of care, particularly for Medicare enrollees.
In the year Between 2020 and 2022, the insurer has more than doubled the rate of denial of care following a hospital stay, implementing machine-assisted technology to automate the process. Senate Standing Subcommittee on Investigation Report It was released in October. During the same period, their care declines grew 54%, much higher than competitors, including Humana.
Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, chairman of the subcommittee, said in an October statement that “despite criticism of abuses and excesses in recent years, insurers continue to deny coverage to vulnerable seniors — simply to make more money.”
's Jamie Gumbrecht, Majli de Puy Camp and Daniel Medina contributed to this report.