The recent murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan has brought America’s healthcare crisis back into focus.
While the act of violence is unequivocally condemnable, the public response has revealed a deep-seated frustration with a system many feel prioritizes profits over patients.
With skyrocketing costs, systemic inequities, and widespread dissatisfaction, American’s are now showing their distrust and perhaps
Why does healthcare cost so much?
Americans pay more for healthcare than any other country in the world, yet outcomes often fall short of those in nations with universal healthcare systems.
In 2024, family health insurance premiums averaged $25,572 annually—a 6% increase from the previous year—while single workers paid an average of $8,951.
These increases have consistently outpaced inflation and wage growth, leaving many households financially squeezed.
According to the Commonwealth Fund, 45% of insured working-age adults reported being charged for services they believed should have been covered, and 17% experienced denial of doctor-recommended care.
The cost burden extends beyond premiums. Prescription drugs, hospital visits, and specialist consultations often come with exorbitant price tags.
According to a recent testimony, one patient had to choose between paying for her cancer treatment and keeping her house.
Citizens are now feeling outraged that they have to make such vital sacrifices for their healthcare.
A system designed to frustrate
Complexity is a defining feature of American healthcare. Insurance companies deploy labyrinthine approval processes that even healthcare professionals struggle to understand.
More and more insurers rely on artificial intelligence to automate claim reviews, a practice critics say is more focused on maximizing denials than ensuring patient care.
A recent lawsuit against United Healthcare, which was filed a few months before the murder of its CEO, alleged that its AI algorithms were deliberately programmed to reject claims for elderly patients requiring extended care.
Doctors and patients alike find themselves fighting these bureaucratic hurdles. Some of them claim that they spend more time arguing with insurers than treating patients.
The lack of transparency compounds the issue.
Federal regulations require insurers to disclose claim denial rates, but the data is rarely audited and often incomplete.
Patients suspect they are being denied care at higher rates, but they lack the information to hold insurers accountable.
Inequities that can’t be ignored
The American healthcare system disproportionately affects vulnerable populations. Low-income families, rural communities, and minorities face greater barriers to care.
Research from the KFF shows that Black and Hispanic adults are more likely to delay or forgo care due to cost, while rural areas increasingly suffer from “medical deserts,” where access to healthcare is severely limited.
Structural racism might make things worse.
For instance, maternal mortality rates for Black women are significantly higher than for white women, even when controlling for income and education.
Similarly, food insecurity and environmental factors disproportionately affect marginalized groups, leading to worse health outcomes.
A profit-driven system
At its core, the US healthcare system is built on a for-profit model that creates misaligned incentives.
UnitedHealth, the fourth-largest company in the US by revenue, embodies this dynamic.
The company controls not only health insurance but also pharmacy benefit management and medical services, giving it significant control over patient access and costs.
Critics argue that such vertical integration prioritizes shareholder returns over patient care.
The numbers speak for themselves.
UnitedHealth Group reported a net income of $22.3 billion in 2023, that’s almost double its net income before the pandemic which was $13.8 billion.
The insurance industry’s record profits stand in stark contrast to the struggles of everyday Americans.
Executive compensation packages in healthcare companies regularly reach tens of millions of dollars, further fueling public anger.
This profit-centric approach has created a system where medical breakthroughs, while plentiful, remain inaccessible to all but the wealthiest.
Is reform possible?
Public frustration with healthcare is reminischent of the populist anger during the Occupy Wall Street movement in 2011.
The difference today is that healthcare affects everyone, making it a uniquely personal issue.
Recent polling shows that 62% of Americans believe healthcare coverage should be a government responsibility, but political gridlock and industry lobbying have stalled meaningful reform.
Source: Gallup
Legislation proposed by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Josh Hawley to break up healthcare conglomerates represents a rare bipartisan effort to address these systemic problems.
However, history suggests that powerful special interests will resist change. The Affordable Care Act, while a step forward, left many fundamental issues—such as affordability and access—unresolved.
Where do we go from here?
Fixing the American healthcare system requires more than incremental tweaks. Policymakers must address the underlying incentives that prioritize profits over patient outcomes.
Transparency in insurance claim processes, regulation of AI-driven denials, and expanded access to care through universal healthcare or value-based care models should be top priority.
Direct-care practices that bypass insurers can be seen as viable alternatives.
These models could provide affordable, patient-centered care and eliminate the administrative burdens of traditional insurance.
Scaling such approaches could reduce costs and improve outcomes.
International comparisons also provide valuable lessons.
Countries like Canada and Germany demonstrate that universal healthcare can deliver better outcomes at lower costs.
While the US faces unique challenges, these systems prove that profit must not dictate care quality.
Final words
The murder of Brian Thompson is a tragic event, but it has reminded Americans about the fundamental flaws in their healthcare system.
Rising costs, opaque processes, inequities and profit-driven priorities, are few of the issues that are failing millions of Americans.
The public’s anger is not misplaced—it is a symptom of a system that has lost sight of its purpose.
The question now is whether this moment will catalyze meaningful reform or fade into history as another missed opportunity.
Rather than politicizing the incident and increasing internal conflict, Americans need to address the bigger fundamental issue here.
Without change, the financial and human costs of healthcare will continue to mount, deepening the crisis and eroding public trust.
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