Was This Personal or Professional: (UHC CEO murder)

[sk9tingfan]

As this is a developing story, I didn't know where to put this. The CEO of UnitedHealth Group was fatally shot in midtown Manhattan this morning! United is having its annual investor day at the New York Hilton.

UnitedHealthcare CEO fatally shot in Midtown

Brian Thompson was fatally shot outside the New York Hilton Midtown on Wednesday.

www.crainsnewyork.com

 

[caseyedwards]

This is the environment Bragg has created.

 

[barbk]

As this is a developing story, I didn't know where to put this. The CEO of UnitedHealth Group was fatally shot in midtown Manhattan this morning! United is having its annual investor day at the New York Hilton.

UnitedHealthcare CEO fatally shot in Midtown

Brian Thompson was fatally shot outside the New York Hilton Midtown on Wednesday.

www.crainsnewyork.com

Current story is that it was a targeted hit.

 

[Coco]

This is the environment Bragg has created.

What specifically has Bragg done to encourage assassins?

 

[sk9tingfan]

Current story is that it was a targeted hit.

The ultimate question is what was the motive? This would make a great "Law and Order".

 

[barbk]

The ultimate question is what was the motive? This would make a great "Law and Order".

Given my many experiences with United Healthcare over the years, I can certainly imagine some. They were a PITA in so many dimensions, including requiring me to fill out lengthy questionnaires every couple of weeks in PT (broken arm and shoulder) to try and declare that I had either made enough progress and should quit or not made enough progress and should quit. They also had a drug formulary that prioritized a very expensive brand drug (like >$1K/month out-of-pocket) but wouldn't cover the generic (about $400/month out-of-pocket)--can you say kickbacks? They also required me to get a prescription for a drug that had already had terrible side effects for me as part of step therapy before they would approve the drug I actually needed. These are minor issues compared with many situations other folks have faced.

Still no excuse for killing someone, but the number of folks with a UHC grudge is likely exceeded only by the number of those who despise Comcast.

 

[Coco]

I'm trying to picture the Venn diagram of people with means to hire assassins and people who - but for the insurance company's denial of coverage - die or suffer horribly. I suppose hiring killers is a lot cheaper than some medical treatments

 

[sk9tingfan]

Given my many experiences with United Healthcare over the years, I can certainly imagine some. They were a PITA in so many dimensions, including requiring me to fill out lengthy questionnaires every couple of weeks in PT (broken arm and shoulder) to try and declare that I had either made enough progress and should quit or not made enough progress and should quit. They also had a drug formulary that prioritized a very expensive brand drug (like >$1K/month out-of-pocket) but wouldn't cover the generic (about $400/month out-of-pocket)--can you say kickbacks? They also required me to get a prescription for a drug that had already had terrible side effects for me as part of step therapy before they would approve the drug I actually needed. These are minor issues compared with many situations other folks have faced.

Still no excuse for killing someone, but the number of folks with a UHC grudge is likely exceeded only by the number of those who despise Comcast.

In no way did I infer that any excuse is a reason for murder.

If you think that UHC was a pain from a care and policy administration perspective, you should have worked with their claims and eligibility data. I've also worked with OPTUM, one of its subsidiaries. Then again, CIGNA was far worse. I'm just questioning if it was a radical group that was motivated by UHC'svprofit margin and Thompson's $23.5 million compensation package last year, making him the highest paid CEO of the top 6 healthcare insurers.

 

[sk9tingfan]

On NBC News at Noon, his wife indicated that he had recently received death threats over coverage decisions. What may be key is that the e-bike that the perpetrator rode off on has to have been previously reserved to have been used. I expect that a burner phone was used to have done so. Putting on my "FBI" hat...

 

[sk9tingfan]

The suspect was a Caucasian male and the NYPD has released photographs.

Police release photos of suspect in shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO

The New York Police Department (NYPD) has released photos of the suspect in the deadly shooting of Brian Thompson, the UnitedHealthcare CEO. In photos shared online by CBS News, the NYPD said it wo…

thehill.com

A cell phone was recovered at the scene. A silencer was used.

UnitedHealthcare CEO fatally shot outside NYC hotel in 'premeditated, preplanned targeted attack'

Brian Thompson, 50, was outside the hotel on Sixth Avenue when the suspect shot him in the chest and leg around 6:46 a.m.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Cachoo]

I'm trying to picture the Venn diagram of people with means to hire assassins and people who - but for the insurance company's denial of coverage - die or suffer horribly. I suppose hiring killers is a lot cheaper than some medical treatments

Yep there are three different groups involved in my state’s Medicaid and when people are seeking assistance it is always involving UH. I know there will be a vindictive “thoughts and prayers” group. They have treated so many badly.

 

[Rob]

His wife told NBC he’d been threatened by “some people” - she didn’t know the details, but “a lack of coverage?” She said she couldn’t give a thoughtful answer because she’d just heard and was trying to comfort her children. So horrible.

 

[once_upon]

UHC were the worst company to deal with. They were the first one to deny any procedure, any therapy, any cancer treatment. Anything. When doing pre- Authorization.

If you look at your pre auth letters, you will find a statement similar to "a pre authorization does not guarantee payment. Payment is determined with a claim is submitted". Yet the a-hole executives get paid millions of in salary - average in 2023: 22 million. That does not include other compensation. UHC has 22% of the market - the largest share.

There's a lot of anger out there about healthcare costs and denial of care costs

I'm not saying that's what happened. I'm just saying UHC is awful and the make billions of $$ a year.

 

[sk9tingfan]

I wonder what my former boss is currently thinking. I just remembered that he is the current CEO of their plan in Michigan

 

[caseyedwards]

What specifically has Bragg done to encourage assassins?

Lots of things. The constant demonization of rich whites is his thing. Be real: what would Bragg indict this man for- at most manslaughter maybe less

 

[barbk]

In no way did I infer that any excuse is a reason for murder.

I never thought that you did.

 

[sk9tingfan]

I never thought that you did.

Just checking.

 

[PRlady]

I moved off UHC to Cigna and now to Wellness. My opinion is they all suck, requiring you track their every payment or refusal to pay or get rooked. Why do I guess that the assassin lost a relative to denial of coverage?

 

[once_upon]

I moved off UHC to Cigna and now to Wellness. My opinion is they all suck, requiring you track their every payment or refusal to pay or get rooked. Why do I guess that the assassin lost a relative to denial of coverage?

And someone who has over $1,000,000 in medical debt

 

[sk9tingfan]

Probably not related, but Thompson was under investigation for insider trading by the DOJ.

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was facing DOJ probe for insider trading when he was killed in targeted NYC shooting

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was one of several senior executives at the company under investigation earlier this year for allegedly dumping over $100 million in company stock months before …

nypost.com

 

[Aceon6]

In my former job, I used to have to deal with UHG. They made many demands on us to accommodate their systems, frequently on very short notice. We did NOT like them. My first thought was an IT project manager, a caregiver, or a medical provider.

 

[barbk]

In my former job, I used to have to deal with UHG. They made many demands us to accommodate their systems, frequently on very short notice. We did NOT like them. My first thought was an IT project manager, a caregiver, or a medical provider.

The article in the WaPo said: "New York Police Department investigators were looking into whether anyone had a known grudge against the victim."
Strikes me that the list might be very, very long.

ETA: The victim was taken to Mt. Sinai's network, which was removed as a network hospital by UHC just last year. Good thing that medical staff are not vindictive.

 

[sk9tingfan]

There apparently a water bottle and a candy wrapper found where the suspect was setting up. A cell phone that was recovered with 3 9 mm shell casings. I'm guessing that they'll employ DNA swabs on that bottle as well as searching CODIS and possibly using Parabon technology along with fingerprints.

Starbucks and a Silencer: Inside UnitedHealth CEO’s Killing

Cops said Brian Thompson’s killing appeared to be a “premeditated, preplanned targeted attack.”

www.thedailybeast.com

BTW, the previous reporting of a $23.5 million pay package was incorrect. It was $10.2 MM

 

[Barbara Manatee]

Lovely to hear how hated UHC is as my new plan with them started Dec. 1.

I hope there is a public trial and the defense is allowed to detail the callous behavior of this company. I hope other insurance CEOs are rethinking their business practices tonight.

 

[MacMadame]

I'm trying to picture the Venn diagram of people with means to hire assassins and people who - but for the insurance company's denial of coverage - die or suffer horribly. I suppose hiring killers is a lot cheaper than some medical treatments

There was nothing in the coverage that would indicate this was a hired assassin though. (In fact, he sounds rather amateur what with leaving behind stuff that can identify him.)

I moved off UHC to Cigna and now to Wellness. My opinion is they all suck, requiring you track their every payment or refusal to pay or get rooked. Why do I guess that the assassin lost a relative to denial of coverage?

UHC has a reputation of being the worst. They are the healthcare company that self-funding companies often use and this apparently leads to a lot of denied coverage more than average.

I don't remember any particular issue when I was under UHC though. I did have another insurance company want to do Step therapy for one of my drugs but I had tried the one they wanted me to try earlier and it didn't work and this was all recorded in my chart so I was able to avoid it. I hate Step therapy.

 

[CantALoop]

• United Healthcare doubled the rate at which it denied care following hospital stays for its patients between 2020 and 2022.
• United Healthcare has the highest rate of denials of all major insurers at 32%. For comparison, the industry average is 16%.
• United Healthcare is being sued for using allegedly faulty AI to deny elderly patients medically necessary coverage.

Brian Thompson received over $7,000,000 in stock and option awards in 2023, in addition to his $1,000,000 base salary. How many X-rays, MRIs, medical procedures, and prescription refills were denied to add up to those profits?

 

[Prancer]

Lovely to hear how hated UHC is as my new plan with them started Dec. 1.

I had UHC at one time. They were, sadly, not worst insurance I've ever had. But they were the ones who said I had to leave the hospital in 24 hours or less after giving birth. My doctors conspired to keep me for a second day (they had actual reasons, but UHC would not budge until they escalated their reasons to borderline fiction). UHC dropped that policy because of bad publicity outcomes, but I've never forgotten that experience.

 

[Private Citizen]

I hope there is a public trial and the defense is allowed to detail the callous behavior of this company. I hope other insurance CEOs are rethinking their business practices tonight.

What a shocking and sick defense of presumed vigilante justice.

Replace healthcare exec with abortion doctor and see how it sounds. By all means let’s change business models of things we don’t like by making their CEOs fear for their lives

 

[Prancer]

What a shocking and sick defense of presumed vigilante justice.

Replace healthcare exec with abortion doctor and see how it sounds. By all means let’s change business models of things we don’t like by making their CEOs fear for their lives

I don't think anyone supports vigilante justice. On the other hand, your argument appears to be that no one deserves to die because of business decisions.

 

[Private Citizen]

I don't think anyone supports vigilante justice. On the other hand, your argument appears to be that no one deserves to die because of business decisions.

Yes, no one should be assassinated because of business decisions. (Or period, for that matter.) I don’t care what the guy did; there is no “defense” for what happened to him.