Yesterday, two extremely distressing events took place in the United States. UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot outside his hotel in Midtown Manhattan by an unidentified assailant. In response, a post on X expressing the hope that the murderer would never be caught received an astonishing 95,000 likes. Social media was flooded with jokes about Thompson's potential hospital bills and his failure to return to his "mcmansion." This tragic situation was summed up by journalist Ken Klippenstein, who presented a chart on X showing that UnitedHealthcare refuses to cover a higher percentage of users' healthcare bills compared to other major insurers. "Today we remember the legacy of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson," he wrote.

There's No Excuse for Cheering on Murder

This incident clearly demonstrates the coarsening of public discourse and the deep-seated rage that Americans feel towards the deficiencies of the U.S. healthcare system. Gallup polling reveals that only 31 percent of Americans hold a positive view of the healthcare industry. Among the 25 industries surveyed by Gallup, only oil and gas, the federal government, and drug companies are more negatively regarded.The entire American healthcare system is structured in a way that inevitably leads to a certain level of fury. While most wealthy industrialized countries provide their citizens with some form of insurance, the majority of Americans are entirely dependent on the whims of private health insurers. The system's focus on keeping costs down to generate profits often leads insurance companies to deny care to patients. Americans' anger towards Thompson and other healthcare CEOs is a manifestation of their frustration with a system that causes real and preventable harm. Those who cheered Thompson's death believe that denying sick Americans necessary medical treatment is immoral and should be punished by death.

The Impact of Healthcare Costs on Americans

Roughly half of Americans report difficulties in paying for their healthcare costs. A single denied insurance claim can plunge a patient into financial ruin. Health insurers have become more ingenious in finding ways to deny claims. Before Congress intervened in 2020, patients often faced unexpected medical bills for hospital visits simply because the doctor on duty was not within their insurance network. Even seemingly minor tactics like step therapy, which requires patients to try cheaper medications before insurers will cover more expensive treatments, can delay necessary treatment and cause suffering.

UnitedHealthcare's Aggressive Tactics

UnitedHealthcare is widely known for its aggressive use of such tactics. Reporters at the health publication Stat, where the author worked until September, have spent the past year documenting the various ways in which UnitedHealthcare has extracted profits at the expense of patients' lives. For instance, the company has used AI algorithms to justify kicking elderly patients out of nursing homes, even though there is evidence that some of those patients still require round-the-clock care. Doctors who worked for United (which has also been acquiring doctors' offices) have stated that the company pressured them to see more patients and diagnose them with additional conditions, presumably to increase profits. United has also faced lawsuits from patients and the federal government regarding its aggressive business practices. (United has refuted the claim that it solely relied on AI to deny care and has stated in response to Stat's reporting that it trusts its doctors to make independent clinical decisions.)

The Need for Government Intervention

Compassion and capitalism can coexist, and the government's role is to mediate between companies' profit-making and citizens' essential needs. Insuring people with high-cost conditions requires a broader perspective than just profit. This is why the Affordable Care Act was necessary to require companies like UnitedHealthcare to insure people with preexisting conditions. Unsatisfied Americans should have the option to switch insurers or elect politicians who will reform the current system. The ugly reaction to Thompson's death shows that many people feel that neither of these options is addressing the country's true needs.The identity and motivation of Thompson's killer remain unknown. His death may or may not be related to the U.S. healthcare system. (Although shell casings found at the scene, inscribed with the words "deny," "defend," and "depose," seem to suggest otherwise.) Regardless, this act has exposed the extent of Americans' anger over healthcare and the fact that they would publicly celebrate a man's death. While cheering on a vigilante may provide temporary catharsis for those frustrated with the current healthcare system, it will not solve the underlying problems.