NEW YORK, USA — The fatal shooting of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, outside a Manhattan hotel this week has sent shockwaves across the country, exposing deep frustrations with the U.S. healthcare system.
While police continue to investigate the apparent targeted attack, the crime has ignited debate over the practices of health insurance companies and the public’s simmering discontent.
A Targeted Crime
Thompson, 48, was gunned down Wednesday night, and shell casings found at the scene bore the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose.”
Authorities believe these inscriptions may reference tactics critics say insurers use to deny claims and boost profits.
Thompson’s wife, Paulette, revealed he had received threats in the past, possibly related to coverage disputes.
“There had been some threats,” she told NBC. “Basically, I don’t know, a lack of [medical] coverage? I don’t know details.”
The killing remains under investigation, and police have yet to identify a suspect or motive.
A Fractured Healthcare System
The tragedy has underscored widespread frustration with a healthcare system many Americans describe as complex, unaffordable, and inaccessible.
“People are denied care, then they have to go through an appeals process that’s incredibly difficult to win,” said Unai Montes-Irueste of the People’s Action Institute, an advocacy group that has protested against UnitedHealthcare’s practices.
Montes-Irueste’s organisation held a rally this summer outside UnitedHealthcare’s Minnesota headquarters, during which 11 people were arrested for blocking roads.
Protesters cited experiences of denied claims and financial hardship as a result of insurance policies.
The frustration is bipartisan, with anger expressed across the political spectrum.
Online, reactions to Thompson’s killing ranged from sympathy to acerbic critiques, such as a viral quip, “Thoughts and prior authorisations,” parodying the often-heard phrase “thoughts and prayers.”
Public Perception of Insurers
A recent survey by the health policy organisation KFF found that two-thirds of Americans blame insurance companies for high healthcare costs.
Though 81% of insured adults rated their health insurance as “excellent” or “good,” many expressed dissatisfaction with denied claims and the process of obtaining coverage.
“Just navigating and understanding how you get covered can be challenging for people,” said Sara Collins, a senior scholar at The Commonwealth Fund.
The system’s complexity often leads to confusion and financial strain.
Collins cited a recent study showing that 45% of insured adults were charged for services they believed should have been covered, and 17% had coverage denied for treatments recommended by their doctors.
Rising Costs and Corporate Practices
The costs of healthcare in the U.S. remain staggering.
Christine Eibner, a senior economist at RAND Corporation, noted that average annual premiums for a family total $25,000, with thousands more in potential out-of-pocket expenses.
Insurers like UnitedHealthcare have come under scrutiny for their practices.
Last year, the company settled a lawsuit brought by a student whose prescribed medication was denied, leaving him with $800,000 in medical debt.
It is also facing a class-action lawsuit alleging the use of artificial intelligence to end treatments prematurely.
“Insurers are increasingly relying on prior authorisation processes to deny claims,” Eibner said.
A Complicated Legacy
Thompson, remembered by colleagues as a “devoted father” and “refreshingly candid leader,” represented a trillion-dollar industry at the center of the nation’s healthcare debates.
In a statement, UnitedHealth Group expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from “patients, consumers, healthcare professionals, associations, government officials, and other caring people.”
But for many, Thompson’s death has reignited outrage over systemic issues.
“We have a balkanised and broken healthcare system,” Montes-Irueste said.
“That’s why there are such strong feelings being expressed right now.”
As the investigation continues, the killing of Brian Thompson serves as a grim reminder of the human cost behind America’s healthcare crisis, where lives, livelihoods, and trust in the system remain deeply affected.
