The assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson cast a harsh spotlight on the controversial practices of the health insurance giant, which has long been accused of prioritizing profits over patients. Thompson, who was gunned down in what was reported to be a calculated attack outside a New York City hotel on December 4, led a company notorious for its high claim-denial rate—double the industry average.
His killing spurred a flood of personal stories from patients and families who say they suffered due to UnitedHealthcare’s algorithms and policies, which critics claimed often deny necessary care to the most vulnerable.
As the investigation into Thompson’s death unfolds, patients and advocates alike in the US are calling attention to what they see as a broken system, with private insurers like UnitedHealthcare profiting at the expense of human lives.
