Physicians Offer Little Sympathy for Slain Insurance CEO

Many physicians reacted with the opposite of sympathy to the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson this week, reflecting pent-up frustration and anger over they described as the health insurer’s routine denials of care for sick or dying patients.

The shocking killing in New York City sparked a wave of antipathy from doctors and patients for the nation’s largest health insurer, which Thompson had led since 2021. UnitedHealthcare, a division of the conglomerate UnitedHealth Group, insures about 50 million Americans and reported more than $281 billion in revenue in 2023. Thompson received compensation of more than $10 million in 2023.

“I’m waiting for a prior authorization before I shed any tears,” wrote Reddit user KR1735, listed as an internal medicine doctor, on the subreddit r/medicine.

One physician online recalled fighting with UnitedHealthcare over its denial of the low-cost drug metformin. Another recalled the insurer requiring a peer-to-peer review for prescribing levodopa, “a drug so old it could join the AARP. The ‘peer’ I spoke with had never heard of Sinemet, Parkinson’s, or the FDA,” a Reddit user describing himself as a neurologist wrote.

Particularly on Reddit, comments were so scathing that the moderators of the leading medical subreddit deleted one thread about Thompson’s slaying, the Daily Beast reported. But clinicians’ harsh criticism of the CEO and UnitedHealthcare’s practices continued throughout the week on Reddit and other social media platforms.

“If you’re the CEO of one of the most comically evil companies in the US, you should be prepared for consequences, and the only surprise should be that this doesn’t happen more often…the fact no one is sad speaks to the legacy left behind; hope the millions were worth it,” wrote Reddit user ThucydidesButthurt, listed as an anesthesiologist, on a separate thread on r/medicine.

A few physicians took a more measured approach.

“While the murder of the UnitedHealthcare CEO is tragic, let’s remember that thousands of Americans die every year when United denies coverage. Violence is never the answer, but we do need to find lawful ways to hold insurance executives accountable for their greed,” wrote Bluesky user “Lisa, MD,” on the social media platform.

‘Deny’ and ‘Defend’

The words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose” were seen on shell casings at the crime scene, police said, echoing words used to describe how health insurers “delay,” “deny,” and “defend” to avoid paying for care in hopes of increasing profits. It’s even the title of a 2010 book on the insurance industry.

UnitedHealthcare used algorithms to improperly deny mental health claims, a system three states deemed illegal, ProPublica reported. A STAT investigation found the insurer similarly used algorithms to deny rehabilitation care for its Medicare Advantage enrollees.

Earlier this year, an employee pension fund in Florida sued Thompson, UnitedHealth Group, and two other executives for alleged fraud and illegal insider trading, claiming that the executives did not disclose a federal antitrust investigation of the company, CNN reported.

While some physicians pointed to a chart showing that UnitedHealthcare denied nearly a third of all claims, more than other US insurers, comparing denial rates among insurers is challenging because insurers are largely not required to report them. Insurers offering Affordable Care Act plans on state exchanges are required to report claim denials for those plans to federal officials.

“What has bothered me the most is people that put fiduciary responsibility (eg, profits) above human lives, none more so than this company as run by him,” wrote one Reddit user who identified himself as an MD otolaryngology professor. “When other’s (sic) human lives are deemed worthless, it is not surprising to have others view your life of no value as well.”