Posted on 12/08/2024 10:03:40 PM PST by Morgana
The CEO of the parent company that oversees UnitedHealthcare brazenly defended the insurer as a 'critical' part of the healthcare industry amid online support for the gunman who opened fire on the insurance company's CEO.
UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty addressed staff members in a two-minute forty six-second long video three days after the unidentified killer fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, outside of a Manhattan hotel.
In the aftermath of the shooting, many expressed online outrage over the company's history of rejecting necessary treatment - especially under Thompson - as they praised the gunman for his actions.
But Witty touted Thompson as dedicated to the role of the company and shared how proud he was of 'what this company does on behalf of people in need across the country.'
He even claimed few people 'in the history of the US healthcare industry [have] had a biggest effect on American healthcare than Brian.'
Witty reassured staff members in his video, which was leaked to independent journalist Ken Klippenstein, that the insurer would continue to do as it has always done.
He said UnitedHealthcare - the largest health insurance company in the US - would keep putting 'patients, consumers and members' first in the company's 'journey to help everyone who needs it within the health environment.'
Witty argued that the insurance company's 'mission... is truly to make sure that we help the system improve by helping the experiences of individuals get better and better.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Yah sure
“He even claimed few people ‘in the history of the US healthcare industry [have] had a biggest effect on American healthcare than Brian.’”
I doubt most of those celebrating his death would disagree with the above.
These huge private health insurance companies are the product of government regulation, collusion and kickbacks to politians. Worst form of crony capitalism that impoverishes and hurts working people. Its the sort of rot that disheartens people and worsens their lot by leading them to socialism in frustration. Its how Democrats get elected.
This proves God allows judgement to befall evil doers on this Earth and in the afterlife... I am sure this CEO was judged a 2nd time and has wound up in Hades for the harm he did to many.
I wonder if he realizes he’s next.
State Farm.
Just sayin.
“I wonder if he realizes he’s next.”
I was thinking that but didn’t want to say it.
Their real mission is to charge more for less - and to screw over Doctors AND Patients.
I can’t believe that so many people in this country are justifying the cold blooded execution of a man, in public, because of his job. Who’s next? Maybe Elon Musk or Vivek Ramaswamy for putting thousands on the unemployment lines. All of you who are championing this murder should be ashamed of yourself. There is no justification, especially biblical, for this act of barbarism.
Oh please put 12 jury members from the medical field on that trial. That guy will never be found guilty. Just stop looking for him now.
Suspect will be tried in NYC. No worries about being found guilty.
(Or later, “exonerated” by some NY governor).
Agreed. Also, the shooter is perceived by too many as heroic rather than psychotic; madmen everywhere are now engraving their cartridges while dreaming of becoming the next assassin.
I agree entirely.
That said, the system is broken in large measure precisely because we've allowed way too many people who don't directly provide care make fortunes off of healthcare as an industry. This is entirely unsustainable.
“...private health insurance companies are the product of government regulation, collusion and kickbacks to politians. Worst form of crony capitalism that impoverishes and hurts working people. “
That’s true. That’s how our pols enter DC with a net worth of $200,000, and 10 years later it has increased to $19,000,000. (Joni Ernst’s finances were similarly magical.)
What was the “bombshell” claim? I must have missed it.
Doctors and hospitals charge pretty much what they want to charge. Their rates and prices rise for no justifiable reason...sort of like college educations do.
I am guessing because they are subsidized and so “regulated” [wink wink nudge nudge].
Public utilities run the same deals...rates go up and never retreat.
Medicare Advantage groups are paid by the government $100,000 a year PER SENIOR for medical care. It's the rip off of the century AND where Elon and Viveck need to start their search for fraud and abuse.
The base problem is that we have near miraculous health care that almost no one can afford, but everyone feels entitled to it.
Yes, gov’t and insurers’ bureaucracy is a considerable slice of the costs, but that’s not the whole story.
In any event, for one thing, this business about “justifiable vengeance” by individuals, as opposed to rule of law, will eventually evolve us right to a society not too dissimilar from the Middle East. Worse, maybe.
On the exterior of the problem, would anyone who feels Thompson deserved what he got, and so does anyone who benefitted from those profits, please post what United’s PERCENTAGE profit margins have been the last ten years?
Pretty fair bet a lot of people’s retirement plans have investments in UHC stock.
What is a “fair” profit? (No profit usually / eventually results in no company.)
Competent (to run big companies) execs are a limited commodity. Supply and demand — if guys who command $200k salaries to run such a company were around, why would a board of directors pay more?
But, let’s just say Thompson had from the goodness of his heart offered to put all but $200k of his salary into a fund to go toward more claims payouts. How much would that affect claims payouts? 0.01%?
Yet a lot of hospitals, particularly in rural areas, fail to make a profit and go out of business. :-(
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.