"Healthcare" in the US

[Sasaferrato]

A relative is quoted as saying he was a good person. IMO that’s hard to justify or argue, even if you’re a family member.

Conversation goes, 'Off the record he was a cunt, on the record 'It is with deep sorrow... much missed... valued...''.

 

[tommers]

They don't seem that bothered.

 

[Orang Utan]

They don't seem that bothered.

View attachment 453651

Well it’s just another human resource that needs replacing to them isn’t it

 

[tommers]

Well it’s just another human resource that needs replacing to them isn’t it

Nothing is more important than the investors.

Like in Silicon Valley when the CEO is asking "what's our product?" and the guy names some products and he says "No! It's our share price!".

 

[Flavour]

The rich, especially those whose business actively fucks people over in the way that American "Healthcare" does, should live in fear of being shot dead every time they step out in public, so am also happy it'll put the shits up a few other worthy candidates for assassination

 

[zahir]

Not getting much sympathy apparently.

https://archive.ph/4aXeM

Thompson’s violent death outside a hotel where UnitedHealthcare was hosting an investor conference didn’t just prompt scathing jokes but heated criticism of the insurer he had helmed since 2021. One image that made the rounds online was a chart from the personal finance website ValuePenguin, which found that UnitedHealthcare denies 32 percent of all in-network claims relating to individual health insurance plans — twice the industry average. Some pointed to headlines describing how UnitedHealthcare has used an allegedly faulty AI algorithm to assess claims and deny care for seriously ill patients on private Medicare Advantage plans, as described in an ongoing class-action lawsuit brought by the estates of two deceased people who were denied coverage for their care at an extended-care facility.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

I was thinking it was probably a loved one who got fucked over.

Says it all when an industry is so transparently evil that the murder of a CEO in it gives me feelings of happiness and justice served.

It occurred to me that it might be a hit-job paid for by someone who figures they're in line for the job. The "fucked over family member" certainly sounds like the most likely explanation though.

It's difficult to feel sorry for a guy who was basically a serial killer in a custom-made suit.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

They don't seem that bothered.

View attachment 453651

Damn, that's cold, even for corporate America.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

The rich, especially those whose business actively fucks people over in the way that American "Healthcare" does, should live in fear of being shot dead every time they step out in public, so am also happy it'll put the shits up a few other worthy candidates for assassination

With any luck there'll be a few copycats...

 

[MickiQ]

This is clearly an out and out assassination, the guy waited patiently for his target to appear and then went straight up to him ignoring everyone else around. My money is deffo on someone who has lost a loved one to a decision by UnitedHealth. Here's hoping it puts the fear of God up a few more. Will be even better if the guy is caught and a jury refuses to convict.

 

[DotCommunist]

I hope they never catch the bloke, someone explain the engels bit about social murder cos its relevant here. Oh and it turns out the deceased was being sued by a firefighters pension fund for some insider trading fuckery. Like this chap wasn't even happy swimming in his vat of money made from denying sick people care, no no, had to keep his hand in with other financial crimes just for the love of the sport so it seems.

Seen some americans online having an argument/discussion: what was the hero firing? Some say a browning type pistol with a silencer, other madmen say a welrod.

 

[SpookyFrank]

I hope they never catch the bloke, someone explain the engels bit about social murder cos its relevant here. Oh and it turns out the deceased was being sued by a firefighters pension fund for some insider trading fuckery. Like this chap wasn't even happy swimming in his vat of money made from denying sick people care, no no, had to keep his hand in with other financial crimes just for the love of the sport so it seems.

Seen some americans online having an argument/discussion: what was the hero firing? Some say a browning type pistol with a silencer, other madmen say a welrod.

Endless lawsuits and criminal investigations against that shower. But they'll be the sort of outfit that factors in the cost of fines and compensation payouts and realises it's still far cheaper to continue denying people care and just eat those occasional losses.

 

[SpookyFrank]

The rich, especially those whose business actively fucks people over in the way that American "Healthcare" does, should live in fear of being shot dead every time they step out in public, so am also happy it'll put the shits up a few other worthy candidates for assassination

There's an argument that this would make them act with even more cruelty and callousness, but it's hard to see how that could be possible tbh.

 

[fucthest8]

It's just business guys. Sheesh.

Briefly saw some (UK) nutjob yesterday posting that picture of Trump et al eating McD's with some drivel about "businessmen" finally taking over from politicians. As a good thing that is.

It's all so fucked. I'm trying very hard not to be despondent, but it feels like we at the very opposite end of the pendulum swing from the mid-90s* and will now be ensuring peak neo-liberalism for a decade or more

*Not that I think it was perfect back then, but it just seemed more stable, hopeful. Mostly for "the West" though, of course.

 

[Orang Utan]

I had ‘hoped’ it was more of a ‘political’ or terrorist action than just a disgruntled customer. Had my fingers crossed for a campaign.

 

[DotCommunist]

Seeing lots of people saying their insurance doesn't cover thoughts and prayers

I had ‘hoped’ it was more of a ‘political’ or terrorist action than just a disgruntled customer. Had my fingers crossed for a campaign.

The man remains at large, perhaps there is a manifesto to come.

 

[DaveCinzano]

The man remains at large, perhaps there is a manifesto to come.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/04/us/brian-thompson-united-healthcare-death/index.html

The words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” were found on shell casings discovered at the scene

Does the job

 

[two sheds]

 

[Chz]

If you want particularly dark humour, the Nursing sub-reddit has quite the sarcastic, unforgiving take on it. The people who deal with the fallout being unsympathetic not terribly surprising.

 

[NoXion]

Saw a post on a general news sub-Reddit about this. I think that every single top-level comment that I saw was unsympathetic. Hardly surprising, from what I gather even people who are lucky enough to have never needed to make a health insurance claim are getting the piss ripped out of them by these scumbag companies.

Particularly noteworthy were the ones saying "thoughts and prayers" and the mocking repetition of the same pathetic excuses and attempts at justification that come following mass shootings.

 

[pesh]

We seem to have finally found an activity that the whole of Urban supports

 

[sleaterkinney]

Damn, that's cold, even for corporate America.

Speaking of which:

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Won’t Pay for the Complete Duration of Anesthesia for Patients’ Surgical Procedures

In an unprecedented move, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield plans representing Connecticut, New York and Missouri have unilaterally declared it will no longer pay for anesthesia care if the surgery or procedure goes beyond an arbitrary time limit, regardless of how long the surgical procedure takes...

www.asahq.org

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield plans representing Connecticut, New York and Missouri have unilaterally declared it will no longer pay for anesthesia care if the surgery or procedure goes beyond an arbitrary time limit, regardless of how long the surgical procedure takes

 

[Rompipalle]

Speaking of which:

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Won’t Pay for the Complete Duration of Anesthesia for Patients’ Surgical Procedures

In an unprecedented move, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield plans representing Connecticut, New York and Missouri have unilaterally declared it will no longer pay for anesthesia care if the surgery or procedure goes beyond an arbitrary time limit, regardless of how long the surgical procedure takes...

www.asahq.org

Oh well, maybe they should just waken the patients up before the end of surgery, if the surgeon turns out to be useless or too slow.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

We seem to have finally found an activity that the whole of Urban supports

He's not only united Urban, he's united the world. The comments I see on conservative pages are no different than those here.

 

[two sheds]

I wonder if he had life insurance and whether the payout will be blocked because he didn't let them know in advance that he was going to die.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

He's not only united Urban, he's united the world. The comments I see on conservative pages are no different than those here.

Yeah people like him are how the Republicans can cast themselves as 'anti-elite' aren't they.

Meanwhile:

Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, called the shooting “horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and healthcare community in Minnesota”.

“Minnesota is sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team,” Walz added.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

Speaking of which:

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Won’t Pay for the Complete Duration of Anesthesia for Patients’ Surgical Procedures

In an unprecedented move, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield plans representing Connecticut, New York and Missouri have unilaterally declared it will no longer pay for anesthesia care if the surgery or procedure goes beyond an arbitrary time limit, regardless of how long the surgical procedure takes...

www.asahq.org

The sad things is that BCBS is the better company by far. I've had both United and BCBS. BCBS actually pays some claims. I could only get United to pay a claim when I spent a few hours of my time appealing. Every claim I had to examine the rules written into the policy and then write a letter telling them why it should be covered. I had family that had cancer and one of the things it does is drain your energy. Many elderly and people with cancer wouldn't have the stamina to contest every bill. My brother had bills in envelopes, stacked rows, that spanned the width of his couch. He used up every bit of his retirement fund fighting cancer, and when his money ran out, so did his treatment options. Everyone I know has similar stories.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

According to the news I've seen this morning, the bullets were labeled "delay, deny, defend." That is the name of a book about how insurance companies screw people out of care. Here is the Goodreads review:

Delay, Deny, Defend:

An expose of insurance injustice and a plan for consumers and lawmakers to fight it

Over the last two decades, insurance has become less of a safety net and more of a spider's sticky and complicated, designed to ensnare as much as to aid. Insurance companies now often try to delay payment of justified claims, deny payment altogether, and defend these actions by forcing claimants to enter litigation.

Jay M. Feinman, a legal scholar and insurance expert, explains how these trends developed, how the government ought to fix the system, and what the rest of us can do to protect ourselves. He shows that the denial of valid claims is not occasional or accidental or the fault of a few bad employees. It's the result of an increasing and systematic focus on maximizing profits by major companies such as Allstate and State Farm.

Citing dozens of stories of victims who were unfairly denied payment, Feinman explains how people can be more cautious when shopping for policies and what to do when pursuing a disputed claim. He also lays out a plan for the legal reforms needed to prevent future abuses. This exposé will help drive the discussion of this increasingly hot- button issue.

Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don't Pay …

An expose of insurance injustice and a plan for consume…

www.goodreads.com

It looks like the possibility of someone doing this for political motives has gone up.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

Yeah people like him are how the Republicans can cast themselves as 'anti-elite' aren't they.

Meanwhile:

This is why Democrats lose.

 

[NoXion]

He's not only united Urban, he's united the world. The comments I see on conservative pages are no different than those here.

Sounds like any prosecution would have the Devil's own job finding jury that would convict.

This is why Democrats lose.

Have any Republicans commented on this?