The Deadly Consequences of a Broken Healthcare System
The recent murder of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealth Group’s insurance unit, has sparked outrage across the US, highlighting the deep-seated frustrations with the country’s healthcare system. Two years prior, Thompson’s LinkedIn post about making healthcare more affordable was met with scathing criticism from users who felt that his company was more interested in lining its own pockets than providing adequate care to its members.
A System Designed to Profit, Not Protect
Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders has long argued that the US healthcare system is “totally broken,” designed to generate massive profits for insurance companies, drug manufacturers, and other industries rather than provide cost-effective care to all citizens. The numbers bear out this claim: 85 million Americans are either uninsured or underinsured, and those who do have insurance often find themselves shouldering a significant burden of the costs.
The High Cost of Healthcare
By 2022, health insurance had become the second-largest component of employee compensation, accounting for 7.9% of their pay packet. The cost of family health insurance plans offered through employers has only continued to rise, increasing by 7% this year to $25,572. Many patients feel that they are being overcharged for services that they believed should be covered by their insurance, leading to widespread resentment towards health insurers.
Denial Rates: A Major Grievance
One of the most contentious issues surrounding health insurers is their practice of denying claims. Although companies are not required to publish their denial rates, official studies suggest that this is a significant problem. A Senate committee investigation earlier this year accused the three largest health insurance companies – UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and CVS – of denying nursing care to people who had suffered from falls and strokes.
A Tragic Event, but No Sympathy for Insurers
While the murder of Brian Thompson is a tragic event, many people are struggling to muster sympathy for him given the widespread perception that his company was more interested in profits than people. As one nurse on TikTok put it, “I just can’t feel sympathy for him because of all of those patients and their families.”
A Call to Action
The outrage sparked by Thompson’s murder must be channeled into meaningful change. It is time for policymakers and industry leaders to acknowledge the deep-seated problems plaguing the US healthcare system and work towards creating a more equitable, patient-centered model that prioritizes care over profits.
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