Chicagoans vent anger over health insurance after slaying of UnitedHealthcare exec
For Jacqueline Priego, a writer and director living in River North, the targeted killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York last week made her think about the times her parents' insurance claims have been denied.
Priego acknowledged the tragic nature of the assassination, but the Chicagoan — like countless others around the country — took to TikTok to vent her frustrations with the industry following the shooting. Her video garnered more than 110,000 views, with hundreds sharing their own experiences in the comments.
"A lot of people are commenting on social media because they have been directly impacted by the negligence of these insurance companies," she says in the video. "It's just wild to me that it's always profit before people."
Hers was just one of a flurry of similar posts that filled social media feeds in the wake of the slaying, ranging from muted disapproval of the shooting mixed with frustration at insurers to outright cheering for the assassin.
“So many of us have seen our parents contribute their entire lives into insurance, Medicare and Social Security, thousands of dollars, and we’re already seeing their claims being denied when they’re not even at an age where they’re incapacitated yet," Priego, 40, told the Sun-Times.
Police are still searching for the shooter who gunned Thompson down Wednesday as he walked alone to a New York hotel, officials said. The shooter appeared to have been “lying in wait for several minutes” before approaching Thompson from behind and opening fire, authorities have said.
The words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” were written on bullet shell casings found at the scene, echoing “delay, deny, defend” — a phrase used by insurance industry critics to describe how providers avoid paying claims. The shooter's identity and motive are still unknown.
“We are deeply saddened and shocked at the passing of our dear friend and colleague Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him," UnitedHealth Group, UnitedHealthcare's parent company, wrote in a post on Facebook. "We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him.”
Many Facebook users responded with laughing emojis.
“I think most Americans don’t know how to express their feelings about inequity," Priego said. "We aren’t as divided as we think we are. The true division is between the haves and have-nots.”
About two-thirds of Americans said health insurance companies deserve “a lot of blame” for high health care costs, according to a KFF poll conducted in February, though issues extend beyond cost. A Senate panel is currently investigating UnitedHealthcare and two other insurers over denying coverage for Medicare Advantage patients.
University of Pennsylvania researcher Michael Anne Kyle told the Associated Press she’s not surprised by the growth of conversation around insurers.
“People are often struggling with this by themselves, and when you see someone else talk about it, that may prompt you to join the conversation,” she said.
Kyle studies how patients access care and said she’s seen frustration with the system for years. Costs are rising, and insurers are using more controls such as prior authorizations and doctor networks to manage them. Patients are often stuck in the middle of disputes between doctors and insurers.
“Patients are already spending a lot of money on health care, and then they’re still facing problems with the service,” she said.
Priego recalled being charged $500 for a strep-throat diagnosis a few years ago. She said it was a "wake-up call."
“For anyone living paycheck to paycheck, a $500 medical bill will make or break them,” she said. “But I'm giving a little bit of my paycheck every month to my insurance?”
Priego said the assassination felt like it sparked change after Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield reversed a change in policy Thursday — in which it was set to not pay for anesthesia if a patient’s surgery went over what the American Society of Anesthesiologists called an “arbitrary time limit" — due to widespread outcry from doctors and patients.
Anthem could not be reached for comment.
Kai Stenstrum, a 36-year-old Ravenswood resident, agreed. He said his first reaction to the assassination was shock, but then he wondered how such attacks don't happened more often.
“We’re in this society where people don’t seem to have much of an option to make change through the official and legal methods, eventually people are going to be doing things outside of it,” Stenstrum said.
UnitedHealthcare didn’t respond to a request for comment.
"They need to focus on providing service and care to people instead of just making money," Stenstrum said.
Contributing: Associated Press