After UnitedHealthcare CEO’s Slaying, Empathy For Suspect Sparks Debate
Since Luigi Mangione was arrested Monday, people have taken to social media and the streets to vent frustration about the health insurance industry -- and in some corners to express support for him. Meanwhile, what to do if your insurance claims are denied.
The Baltimore Sun:
Luigi Mangione, The Hero? The Disturbing Reaction To Health Care CEO’s Killing
Support for Luigi Mangione, charged in connection with the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is part of the bitter messaging that's been bubbling up amid debate about health care in America since the CEO attack that captured the country's attention. (Mirabella and McDermid, 12/10)
CBS News:
As Anger At UnitedHealthcare Boils Over, Americans Pay More Than Ever For Health Insurance
Health insurance costs are far outpacing inflation, leaving more consumers on the hook each year for thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses. At the same time, some insurers are rejecting nearly 1 in 5 claims. That double whammy is leaving Americans paying more for coverage yet sometimes feeling like they're getting less in return, experts say. Frustration over denials and medical costs has fueled an outpouring of vitriol against health insurance companies in the wake of the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. (Picchi, 12/10)
The Hill:
Social Media Sympathy For Killing Of Health Insurance CEO Sparks Pushback
The battle lines over the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, and the ethics of the health care industry, are receiving additional scrutiny from Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), the most high-profile politician yet to weigh in on the matter. Shapiro, who had been under consideration to be Vice President Harris’s running mate in this year’s election, pushed back hard against those who have sought to minimize the killing of Thompson. ... Shapiro, speaking at a Monday evening news conference, said, “In some dark corners, this killer is being hailed as a hero. Hear me on this: He is no hero.” (Stanage, 12/10)
The New York Times:
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s Funeral Held Privately In Minnesota
Brian Thompson, the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare who was gunned down in a brazen killing in New York, was laid to rest this week at a private funeral service in his Minnesota hometown. On Monday ... family and friends of the slain executive gathered at a Lutheran church in Maple Grove, Minn., to mourn the loss of a husband and father who ascended from modest roots in Iowa to one of the most powerful roles in the health care industry. (Harris and Londoño, 12/10)
AP:
Suspect In The Killing Of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO Struggles, Shouts While Entering Courthouse
A law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press said that at the time of his arrest, Mangione was carrying a handwritten document expressing anger with what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed and power. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive health care system in the world and that profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin. (Sisak and Scolforo, 12/11)
Also —
Newsweek:
Chronic Back Pain: A Relentless Horror Plaguing Millions Of Americans
Chronic back pain is a common and sometimes debilitating health condition with many possible causes. ... Statistics differ on the number of people who suffer with back pain—but all sources consistently say that, in the U.S., the number is high. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated in 2021 that 20.9 percent of U.S. adults—that's 51.6 million people—had chronic pain, and in 2019 the National Health Interview Survey found that 39 percent of adults had experienced back pain in the previous three months. (Willmoth, 12/10)
CBS News:
Would You Know What To Do If Your Health Insurance Claim Is Denied?
CBS News Miami sat down with Russell Lazega, an insurance claims attorney based in South Florida and asked him, what do you do when your claim is denied? "You have to go through the insurance company's internal appeals process. What a lot of folks don't know is that when you do that, you're creating a record to any future case or challenge to that appeal decision," said Lazega. Lazega adds, that it's critical to meticulously document every step of the process because if you fail to do that, it won't be considered later. (McAllister, 12/10)
