United Healthcare CEO Shooting Highlights Deny and Defend Crisis

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Words on ammo in CEO shooting echo common phrase on insurer tactics: Delay, deny, defend

In the AP article titled “Words on ammo in CEO shooting echo common phrase on insurer tactics” reports on the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

At the crime scene, authorities discovered ammunition inscribed with the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose,” mirroring the phrase “delay, deny, defend,” commonly used to criticize insurance companies’ strategies to avoid paying claims.

This incident has intensified public scrutiny of insurer practices, highlighting widespread frustration with tactics perceived as prioritizing corporate interests over patient care.

Experiencing a “deny and defend” response from healthcare providers can be profoundly devastating, especially when medical errors occur. Patients often feel abandoned by the very system entrusted with their care, leading to a profound sense of betrayal and loss of trust.

  • This abandonment not only hampers immediate recovery but also complicates future healthcare interactions, as patients may become hesitant to seek care or disclose information, fearing further neglect or denial.
  • The psychological impact is significant, compounding the physical harm and leading to what is termed “double harm.” This term refers to the initial injury caused by the medical error and the subsequent emotional trauma inflicted by the institution’s defensive and dismissive response.

In my personal experience, detailed at Enemy Held Territory, I encountered such challenges within the VA Community Care system. After a surgical complication, I faced a bureaucratic maze where both the VA and community providers deflected responsibility, prioritizing institutional protection over patient care. This systemic failure transformed a potentially correctable issue into a permanent disability, underscoring the urgent need for accountability and patient-centered approaches in healthcare.

The “deny and defend” culture not only undermines individual patient outcomes but also erodes public trust in the healthcare system. Addressing this issue requires systemic changes that prioritize transparency, accountability, and, most importantly, the well-being of patients.

 
Sources
apnews.com article unitedhealthcare ceo shooting delay-deny-defend-depose
 
The three words echo a common phrase—“delay, deny, defend”—describing allegations leveled at insurers who avoid paying claims, the Associated Press reported Thursday. The phrase, adopted by critics of the healthcare industry, refers to the ways insurance companies “delay paying claims, deny valid claims in whole or part, and defend their actions by forcing claimants to enter litigation,” according to “Delay Deny Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It,” a book on the topic published in 2010. The book claims to be “an expose of insurance injustice and a plan for consumers and lawmakers to fight back.” It was written by Jay Feinman, an expert in insurance law and professor emeritus at Rutgers University who set out to show companies denying valid claims was “the result of an increasing and systematic focus on maximizing profits by major companies such as Allstate and State Farm.” Though police haven’t publicly said the motive for Thompson’s killing was related to his work, UnitedHealth Group—which oversees UnitedHealthcare—is one of the nation’s largest healthcare insurers, was ranked 19th on Forbes’ list of the world’s biggest companies this year and has a market capitalization of more than $560 billion. The New York Times reported last year that UnitedHealthcare had plans with denial rates ranging from 7% to 27% in 2019, and the AP reported UnitedHealthcare, along with other for-profit insurers, “have become frequent targets of criticism” for denying claims and making it harder to get care.