American's Express Concern Over Health Care Following Mass Shooting |

UnitedHealthcare headquarters on December 4, 2024 in Minnetonka, Minnesota can be seen here on December 4th 2024 in Minnetonka Minnesota. Following UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s shooting earlier this week in New York City, an outrage over health care system issues began erupting online this week via social media outlets like Twitter.
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Yolonda Wilson shared her harrowing health insurance experience this week via social media, including UnitedHealthcare denying coverage two days before surgery was scheduled at Saint Louis University, Missouri, back in January – with added stress and tears along the way until finally she got approval shortly before going in for it anyway on Thursday morning – NPR reports she only learned whether surgery could occur “Wednesday afternoon if not Thursday morning”, she notes – saying only she spoke on behalf of herself not the university at large when telling this tale on her personal account rather than speaking on behalf of anyone at Saint Louis University or speaking on its behalf when sharing this account of what happened rather than speaking officially on behalf of anyone involved at Saint Louis University or Missouri State.
On Wednesday’s killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson triggered widespread outrage on social media and an explosion of negative experiences with our health care system in general – many people shared stories of denied care by insurers or providers alike. One individual reported his mom was denied coverage to check on stage IV lung cancer recently, while in another post shared by UHC they denied them wheelchair for their son with cerebral palsy. “Many are suffering and don’t know where else they can turn,” Wilson adds. Wilson does not celebrate that someone was killed, although some on social media certainly seemed to. She calls that an “illusion of control,” stemming from people’s unresolved feelings of hurt and helplessness. Health care, she points out, “is deeply personal.” “Oftentimes we lack ways of discussing our frustrations; so this was an excellent moment in which to do just that – something clicked in this momentary encounter!” UnitedHealthcare is the nation’s largest private health insurer with an outsized presence both commercial insurance and Medicare Advantage markets. UnitedHealth Group reported $371.6 billion in sales last year while facing an antitrust suit to block their $3.3 billion acquisition of rival home health and hospice service provider Home Instead Senior Care (HSC).
There is one other factor: I used to love going out at nighttime because the scenery changed to bewitch me with its changing lights, the music playing softly………. But since my parents moved, and especially since we started having children of our own, that no longer happens as easily………………
According to research conducted by health policy research organization KFF, Americans generally are satisfied with their health coverage — except when sick. People in fair or poor health are almost twice as likely to be dissatisfied with their insurance, when compared with those with “good” health. Health policy research conducted over decades demonstrates how American healthcare system can be particularly cumbersome to navigate. Pam Herd, an Associate Professor in Social Policy at the University of Michigan who studies administrative burdens associated with accessing government services, describes barriers to health care access as especially painful. “It can be discouraging when visiting the DMV because you need to fill out piles of paperwork or spend an hour waiting in line, she notes, but facing those hurdles as life-or-death obstacles is much harder.”
However, in reality the issue lies elsewhere – as with anything, having too much willpower can only bring misery. So now the question becomes how do I go about increasing it?!
Herd’s research illustrates how barriers in the health care system can negatively impact people’s actual health – whether that means calling multiple times to secure an appointment, searching for in-network specialists or fighting insurance providers to cover procedures. “It is more than time,” Herd states. “People encounter many psychological costs related to these interactions: stress, fear, frustration and anxiety.” She notes how the complexity of America’s health system and its sky-high costs overwhelm people; health insurance just one part. American visitors and residents who visit other countries find relief when their health system differs drastically, says Carney. Although Americans focus heavily on costs of healthcare in America and its generic availability issues – all which are extremely crucial – she notes how what often gets lost under the radar is just how hard, time consuming, and frustrating our system can be for people trying to navigate it themselves.
Carmel Wroth edited and contributed significantly to this report.