Key Takeaways:
- A recent poll indicates the public believes the insurance industry business practices contributed to the murder of Brian Thompson, UnitedHealthcare CEO.
- UnitedHealthcare has been under scrutiny for its claims denial practices and is facing a class-action lawsuit over its use of algorithms for care denials.
- A significant number of cancer patients do not receive necessary treatment due to prior authorization requirements or claim denials by insurance companies.
- A majority of the public acknowledged the insurance industry’s practices as damaging, but do not support the killing of Thompson.
Public Blames Insurance Industry for CEO’s Death
In early December, the murder of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO Brian Thompson shocked not just the healthcare industry but also the public. The response to Thompson’s death was mixed, with some resorting to a dark sense of humor and others expressing a sense of satisfaction. The root of these expressions leads back to disappointment with the for-profit health insurance industry.
A poll by NORC at the University of Chicago revealed that the public largely blamed the healthcare insurance industry’s actions for Thompson’s targeted killing. Almost 70% of respondents connected Thompson’s death to an extensive number of healthcare coverage denials by key insurance companies like UnitedHealthcare. An equal percentage also blamed the high profits accrued by these health insurers.
The Controversy Surrounding UnitedHealthcare
Last year, UnitedHealthcare, which announced $16 billion in profits, encountered fury for its claims denial protocols. Earlier this year, a Senate probe exposed the company as one of three intentionally rejecting claims from nursing home patients covered under Medicare Advantage plans who had suffered strokes and falls. This was purportedly done to boost profits.
Additionally, the company is facing legal action for using algorithms to deny patient care. A 2024 study by the Commonwealth Fund revealed that almost one in five Americans had experienced medical claim denial by their insurance provider. More than half of the respondents reported feeling powerless to challenge the insurer’s decision.
The Impact on Cancer Patients
A tough group bearing the brunt of these unjust practices are cancer patients. The hindrance on life-saving care due to claim denials and the need for prior authorizations causes delays in their treatment, which often worsens their conditions. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that 22% of cancer patients were denied the prescribed treatment because of prior authorization requirements or claim rejection.
Even when prior authorizations were granted, they were often delayed, causing severe adverse effects on patients. A 2022 survey of oncologists indicated that 42% of prior authorizations were delayed by more than one business day, 14% of these delays led to severe negative impacts, and there was even loss of life in 36% of these cases.
Media and Public Opinion
Despite the seriousness of the matter, journalist Ken Klippenstein pointed out the indifference in mainstream media towards the public’s feelings on this issue. While the media was quick to condemn the act of murder, Klippenstein notes that they failed to address the root cause – a profit-hungry industry that denies people the healthcare they need.
His assessment echoes the sentiments of the surveyed individuals where 78% held the person who shot Thompson as significantly or moderately responsible. However, alongside this, a sizeable portion recognized the role of the health insurance industry in creating such circumstances.
In the aftermath of Thompson’s murder, both the media and law enforcement were quick to brand people empathizing with the plight of insurance victims as ‘extremists’. However, the NORC poll demonstrates that those sentiments are not fringe but a shared sentiment among the public. This indicates a need for a deeper understanding and timely resolution of the prevailing issues within the healthcare insurance industry.