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The horrifying execution of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City this week has reignited a national conversation about private health insurance, reflecting a wide-reaching consensus among Americans of all political stripes that the industry is deeply broken.
Online, conservatives and liberals alike have expressed reactions ranging from indifference to schadenfreude over Thompson's murder, citing their gripe with the U.S. healthcare system and the companies, like UnitedHealth, that have denied their medical claims in the past.
Thompson was shot dead outside a Hilton hotel by a masked gunman in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning. More than 48 hours later, the suspect remains at large.
Multiple outlets have reported that three shell casings recovered from the scene were emblazoned with the words "deny," "defend" and "depose." Some observers have suggested to be a reference to Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don't Pay Claim and What You Can Do About It, a book fiercely critical of the insurance industry.
Reddit users took turns posting their own stories about being denied their insurance claims under a post about how UnitedHealthcare used artificial intelligence to deny benefits in the r/Conservative subreddit.
"Conservative or not, the healt[h]care system is beyond f---ed," one user wrote in a comment that's been upvoted more than 2,000 times. "The US spend more on healthcare pr capita than any other country and its still not free. That money goes straight into their pockets. Its time for a clear out. The current system is beyond f---ed."
"I can agree with the left on this one. That dude won't get a single tear from me," a third wrote.
In another conversation happening on the r/Republican subreddit, users said they "simply cannot bring [themselves] to care," writing that they suspect the shooter to be one of the millions of insurers who were denied by United Healthcare.
"If you're the CEO of a company doing that to people, there's 12 million people with a motive to come after you," one user said.
"I dunno, I see it the same way as I'd view a mob boss. It's sad that this happened and don't condone it but, I certainly won't cry about it or defend the guy," another said. "Certainly no commie sympathizer though but at the same time... to whack a boss?"
On the left, Reddit users posted about how Medicare funding could be cut under the incoming Trump administration, further straining healthcare bills. Under one post comparing President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet to insurance CEOs, users expressed excitement about having an "I told you so moment" over those who voted for the Republican for financial reasons.
"Can't wait to tell the tRumpcult voters that rely on Social Security, and Medicare I told you so, and so did tRump, and you still voted for him," one user wrote.
On the r/AskALiberal subreddit, users wrote about how some people who "were covered by his company insurance and lost a loved one because of denied medical claims are probably happy about what happened."
"Plus another part is the eat the rich crowd, celebrating what they feel is justice against another evil rich CEO profiteering by taking advantage and forcing misery upon his customers for money, just facing due consequences," one comment read.
A second user wrote, "There is a lot of anger out there that when the people running a corporation do something criminal, the worst that happens is the company pays a fine. But every corporate crime is a choice made by people. They should not be personally insulated from the consequences of those choices."
Thompson's murder comes at a time when the public's views about the quality and coverage of their healthcare have plummeted. According to a Gallup survey published Friday, just 28 percent of Americans rated their coverage as "excellent or good," well below the high point of 41 percent recorded in 2012 after the implementation of Obamacare.
Richard Laermer, a crisis communications expert and chief executive at RLM Public Relations, told Newsweek that while the ineffectiveness of the U.S. healthcare system is "one of the few things [Americans] agree upon," "nobody should be saying it's 'a good thing' this occurred."
"The fact is that most healthcare companies, particularly insurance, have gotten a terrible rap lately. This murder is unfortunately a symbol of the times. I'm not in any way saying every CEO is a target, but angry and helpless people can do a lot of harm," Laermer said.
"Insurance is hard to procure and it appears that companies now spend a lot of time and effort saying no to claims. It may have just come to a boil with this incident," he added.
"Nothing good will come of this. And a lot of folks are taking it too lightly. A man was killed in broad daylight on the streets of a populous city. That should alarm everyone. And we should show more empathy for his family. Nothing else."
