As large companies grapple with fears about safety in the aftermath of the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson Wednesday morning in Manhattan, recent investigations have indicated that UnitedHealthcare may have made its coverage policies and procedures more stringent during Thompson’s tenure. Observers have speculated as to whether the insurer's policies may have been a motive in the tragic death of the Minnesota father of two boys.
UnitedHealthcare, which insures more than 29 million Americans, and its parent company UnitedHealth Group, are no strangers to scrutiny. A ProPublica investigation published last month found UnitedHealthcare effectively culled or limited some therapy expenses using an algorithm, jeopardizing mental health coverage for many Americans. California, Massachusetts, and New York deemed the practice illegal. A Senate majority staff report released in October revealed that numerous insurers failed to cover the cost of care for older people who fell or had strokes. UnitedHealthcare in particular denied coverage for post-acute care, or services and support needed after a hospitalization. In 2019, the insurance provider’s initial denial rate for post-acute care prior authorization requests was 8.7%; by 2022, it had increased to 22.7%.
