With recent news concerning the death of Brian Thompson, the CEO of health benefits company UnitedHealthcare, the media and society alike have not only been taken over by opinions large and small but have also caused a public uproar about the current state of the American Healthcare system.
Though this commotion was originally maintained in the medical community, it has spread to the public, with many viewing it as a symbol of change. This tragedy has also raised questions about leadership, morality, corporation strategy, and public trust. Although this death was of someone in only one section of public services, it has created controversy between classes, leaving many to speculate the impacts of Thompson’s death on the future of the medical community.
Before December 4th, 2024, the direction of American healthcare was heavily debated, be it over costs, effectiveness, efficiency, and quality altogether. Though these conversations were relatively quiet and fluctuated depending on the situation, social media has taken this opportunity to question the validity of the routes that those in power have taken to “upgrade” and “improve” the quality of care.
On social media, many of those in the younger generations–particularly those on TikTok–appear to lack empathy towards the situation, using the words “class war” to describe the wage gap and the alleged blatant abuse of power CEOs, like Thompson, have utilized in their favor. In the media, they call out “Delay, Deny, Depose”–the words found etched onto the ammo used to shoot Thompson. This is a play on the phrase “delay, deny, defend,” which references the underhanded tactics often used by insurance companies to increase profits.
Some on social media have even sided with the alleged killer, Luigi Mangione, with some extremes even calling him a modern-day hero as the killing of the Ceo has rekindled the fight for better healthcare. While killing does not make anyone a hero, “fans” of Mangione have proudly taken his side in his dramatic actions and attack.
Not everyone has expressed sympathy toward the alleged killer. Politicians, such as President-elect Donald Trump, have condemned the media’s sympathy towards the shooter. In a press conference in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said, “And how people can like this person, that is a sickness.”
Brian Thompson’s overall morality has been questioned as well by the public. As Ceo of UnitedHealthcare, his company has been under fire for having the largest denial rates. According to the Boston Globe, they have a denial rate of 32% compared to the Industry average of 16%. Forbes goes a step further with reports that an estimated ⅓ of claims submitted have been denied according to their article, “UnitedHealthcare Denies More Claims Than Other Insurers.” Millions of Americans depend on their insurance for life-saving care. They can be denied based on the United Healthcare’s algorithm, which has been heavily scrutinized, and there is even a class action lawsuit against said algorithm. Considering that United Healthcare also makes the most profit of 16 billion according to the New York Times, many Americans have expressed their discontent with having an industry based on helping people also making a profit.
Other healthcare providers have also been at the center of the controversy. Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS), a popular healthcare insurance company, was derided online for their attempt to limit anesthesia during surgeries to reduce costs and “boost effectiveness” for doctors and resources. Netizens saw this as nothing less than outrageous. After the death of Thompson, large companies such as BCBS have backed down from their claims, seemingly frightened by this massive change in tide.
Those who have spoken out have made their main concern about stability beyond leadership. Some wonder if this activity which can be deemed an abuse of power will continue once they elect a new CEO. Whether this decision for leadership will be left up to the public is unknown, many believe that the public will have a massive impact on the future of healthcare insurance.
