United Healthcare CEO shot and killed

I'm frankly surprised something like this hasn't happened sooner. Did you know that the CEO of United Healthcare earned $23.5 million in 2023? Meanwhile they're denying coverage plus charging copays and hefty deductibles to those who can least afford it.

When I was a therapist, United denied coverage for a residential treatment center for a client of mine who had multiple suicide attempts and a short-term inpatient hospital stay. They said the client wasn't acute enough. It was outrageous. Insurance was one big part of why I decided to change course in my career.
 
Last edited:
tallheel95 said:
I'm frankly surprised something like this hasn't happened sooner. Did you know that the CEO of United Healthcare earned $23.5 million in 2023? Meanwhile they're denying coverage plus charging hefty deductibles and copays to those who can least afford it.

When I was a therapist, United denied coverage for a residential treatment center for a client of mine who had multiple suicide attempts and a short-term inpatient hospital stay. They said the client wasn't acute enough. It was outrageous. Insurance was one big part of why I decided to change course in my career.
Click to expand...
United is one of the worst, and that’s saying something.
 
tallheel95 said:
I'm frankly surprised something like this hasn't happened sooner. Did you know that the CEO of United Healthcare earned $23.5 million in 2023? Meanwhile they're denying coverage plus charging copays and hefty deductibles to those who can least afford it.

When I was a therapist, United denied coverage for a residential treatment center for a client of mine who had multiple suicide attempts and a short-term inpatient hospital stay. They said the client wasn't acute enough. It was outrageous. Insurance was one big part of why I decided to change course in my career.
Click to expand...
I know CEO pay is ridiculous but with the amount of money that is involved, that $23.5 million is a drop in the bucket. It probably wouldn't have any significant impact on our copays or whether our claims are denied.

Not dismissing your complaints but pointing out CEO salaries is usually just a symbolic complaint rather than pointing to something that makes a tangible difference.

Edit: Just a quick Google search shows that United Healthcare covers 52 million people worldwide. That means we pay less than $.50 each towards that CEO salary.
 
ChapelHillSooner said:
I know CEO pay is ridiculous but with the amount of money that is involved, that $23.5 million is a drop in the bucket. It probably wouldn't have any significant impact on our copays or whether our claims are denied.

Not dismissing your complaints but pointing out CEO salaries is usually just a symbolic complaint rather than pointing to something that makes a tangible difference.

Edit: Just a quick Google search shows that United Healthcare covers 52 million people worldwide. That means we pay $.50 each towards that CEO salary.
Click to expand...

The point is more that United Healthcare is a *for-profit* organization, where the head of the organization earns that much money. And that's only one of many for-profit insurance companies. And we're not talking about a luxury good here... this is health care, which is a necessity for every single person in this country.
 
tallheel95 said:
The point is more that United Healthcare is a *for-profit* organization, where the head of the organization earns that much money. And that's only one of many for-profit insurance companies. And we're not talking about a luxury good here... this is health care, which is a necessity for every single person in this country.
Click to expand...
It should be nonprofit.
 
I don't mean to make light of a tragic situation, but my first thought when I saw this was something better suited for the Customer Service thread.
 
tallheel95 said:
I'm frankly surprised something like this hasn't happened sooner. Did you know that the CEO of United Healthcare earned $23.5 million in 2023? Meanwhile they're denying coverage plus charging copays and hefty deductibles to those who can least afford it.

When I was a therapist, United denied coverage for a residential treatment center for a client of mine who had multiple suicide attempts and a short-term inpatient hospital stay. They said the client wasn't acute enough. It was outrageous. Insurance was one big part of why I decided to change course in my career.
Click to expand...
To clarify some things, the person shot today is the head of United Healthcare, which is a division of United Health Group. It is the CEO of United Health Group that earns $23.5 million, not the lower-level employee killed today.
 
Turd Ferguson said:
I wonder if it is something to do with someone being denied coverage for something.
Click to expand...
I can believe this. I had united Healthcare and they were horrible. It was a night and day difference when we switched to BCBS.

Several times united Healthcare went against doctor recommendations and denied coverage. Only to eventually cover it after a long appeals process.

They simple cared more about profits than patient health. They sucked.

But that's not a reason to kill the guy.
 
Calheel said:
To clarify some things, the person shot today is the head of United Healthcare, which is a division of United Health Group. It is the CEO of United Health Group that earns $23.5 million, not the lower-level employee killed today.
Click to expand...
Gotcha. Thanks for the clarification. I should also clarify that in no way shape or form am I advocating for violence here. What happened today is horrific and a senseless tragedy. We still don't know why this person was killed or the motives behind the shooting. Just more commenting on the idea that the current state of healthcare is not working for our country, and part of that is for-profit insurance companies and a lack of a single payer model. I can imagine someone out there being enraged about either themselves or a loved one being denied coverage for an important condition or being saddled with astronomical medical debt... then losing their sh*t and looking for someone to target.
 
ZZLPHeels said:
Regardless of the merits or demerits of private health insurance and this particular company, a person was shot and killed likely simply for coming to work. This is tragic and should be universally condemned.
Click to expand...
www.propublica.org

UnitedHealthcare tried to deny coverage to a chronically ill patient. He fought back, exposing the insurer’s inner workings.

After a college student finally found a treatment that worked, the insurance giant decided it wouldn’t pay for the costly drugs. His fight to get coverage exposed the insurer’s hidden procedures for rejecting claims.
www.propublica.org www.propublica.org

More than 200 million Americans are covered by private health insurance. But data from state and federal regulators shows that insurers reject about 1 in 7 claims for treatment. Many people, faced with fighting insurance companies, simply give up: One study found that Americans file formal appeals on only 0.1% of claims denied by insurers under the Affordable Care Act.

UnitedHealth Group annual gross profit for 2023 was $90.958B, a 14.24% increase. UnitedHealth Group annual gross profit for 2022 was $79.617B, a 14.31% increase from 2021. UnitedHealth Group annual gross profit for 2021 was $69.652B, a 3.96% increase from 2020.

Do you suspect this particular CEO had a vested interest in serving those patients with needed care or denying coverage in order to meet EPS targets and shareholder value?

Thoughts and prayers?
 
Has anyone seen Michael Moore recently? Sounds like something he would do if he completely lost his shit. He and CEOs have such mutual love.

this is a joke btw
 
ZZLPHeels said:
Regardless of the merits or demerits of private health insurance and this particular company, a person was shot and killed likely simply for coming to work. This is tragic and should be universally condemned.
Click to expand...
Don’t think this was simply for coming to work. He was targeted for assassination.
 
CallMeTyler said:
www.propublica.org

UnitedHealthcare tried to deny coverage to a chronically ill patient. He fought back, exposing the insurer’s inner workings.

After a college student finally found a treatment that worked, the insurance giant decided it wouldn’t pay for the costly drugs. His fight to get coverage exposed the insurer’s hidden procedures for rejecting claims.
www.propublica.org www.propublica.org

More than 200 million Americans are covered by private health insurance. But data from state and federal regulators shows that insurers reject about 1 in 7 claims for treatment. Many people, faced with fighting insurance companies, simply give up: One study found that Americans file formal appeals on only 0.1% of claims denied by insurers under the Affordable Care Act.

UnitedHealth Group annual gross profit for 2023 was $90.958B, a 14.24% increase. UnitedHealth Group annual gross profit for 2022 was $79.617B, a 14.31% increase from 2021. UnitedHealth Group annual gross profit for 2021 was $69.652B, a 3.96% increase from 2020.

Do you suspect this particular CEO had a vested interest in serving those patients with needed care or denying coverage in order to meet EPS targets and shareholder value?

Thoughts and prayers?
Click to expand...
Health insurance is a necessity in this country. Companies need CEOs. Someone has to be CEO. Murdering people because we don't like their company policies will never be justifiable.
 
ZZLPHeels said:
Health insurance is a necessity in this country. Companies need CEOs. Someone has to be CEO. Murdering people because we don't like their company policies will never be justifiable.
Click to expand...
I feel like there are two different conversations in this thread.

1) NO ONE should be murdered for going to work. Violence is not the answer. This act, if it was an act of revenge or outrage, should be condemned and the person should be punished. It is not justified no matter how bad the company policies are.

2) The healthcare system in the US is VERY problematic and many citizens are suffering from the way it is structured. There is great incentive to make an insurance company more profitable over time but less incentive to provide comprehensive, low-cost healthcare on the consumer end.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top