WASHINGTON — Most Americans believe health insurance benefits and coverage denials are partly to blame for the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO — but not as much as the person who pulled the trigger, a new poll shows.
In the survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago, about 8 in 10 American adults said the person who committed the murder had “a great deal” or “a moderate amount” of responsibility for the shooting of Brian Thompson on December 4.
Despite this, some portrayed Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old suspect charged with Thompson’s murder, as a heroic figure in the wake of his arrest, leading to a wave of grievances against insurance companies. Police say the words “delay,” “deny” and “drop” were scrawled on ammunition investigators found at the scene, echoing a phrase commonly used to describe insurers’ tactics to avoid paying claims .
UnitedHealthcare said Mangione was not a customer.
About 7 in 10 adults say insurance companies’ denials of health care coverage, or profits made by health insurance companies, also bear at least “a moderate amount” of responsibility for Thompson’s death . Younger Americans are especially likely to view murder as the result of a confluence of forces rather than the action of a single person.
Americans see wide range of factors contributing to murder of UHC CEO
The poll reveals that the murder story is widely followed. About 7 in 10 people said they had heard or read “a lot” or “a little” about Thompson’s death.
Several factors have been considered responsible. About half of those surveyed believe that at least “a moderate amount” of blame is related to wealth or income inequality, although they do not believe that other factors, such as political divisions in the United States, have the same level of responsibility.
Patients and doctors often complain about coverage denials and other complications that interfere with care, especially for serious illnesses like cancer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. Critics of the insurance industry often highlight company profits to question whether patients’ interests are their priority.
UnitedHealthcare made more than $16 billion in profits last year, before interest and taxes, on revenue of $281 billion. Insurers often note that most of the revenue they generate is reinvested in financing care. UnitedHealthcare said this month that it pays about 90% of medical claims when they are submitted. The insurer did not provide details on the number of claims this involves.
For young people, the fault is equally shared between insurers and the killer
Americans under 30 are especially likely to think a mix of factors caused Thompson’s death. They say insurance company denials and profiteering are about as responsible as Thompson’s killer for his death. In the United States, about seven in ten American adults aged 18 to 29 say that a “large” or “moderate amount” of responsibility stems from profits made by health insurance companies, denial of health care coverage health insurance companies or the person who committed the murder.
Young people are also the age group least likely to say “great” responsibility lies with the person who committed the murder. Only about 4 in 10 people say this, compared to about 6 in 10 aged 30 to 59. About 8 in 10 adults over 60 say this person deserves “a lot” of responsibility.
About two-thirds of young people attribute at least a moderate level of responsibility for wealth or income inequality in general.
People under 30 are more likely to blame the media, with 54% saying so, compared to around a third of older people.
About 3 in 10 people have had trouble getting health insurance coverage in the past year.
Frustrations about health insurers, coverage and the complex U.S. healthcare system have been simmering among patients for years.
About 3 in 10 Americans report having difficulty obtaining coverage from their health insurer in the past year, from difficulty finding a suitable provider within the network to having a claim denied or difficulty obtaining prior authorization or insurer approval before care is provided. These struggles are more prevalent among Americans under 60.
UnitedHealthcare says pre-authorizations help eliminate waste in the system and let people know if care will be covered before it is provided. It indicates that less than 2% of the insurer’s customers are refused care each year following prior authorizations.
About 3 in 10 respondents say their immediate family or close friends have had difficulty obtaining coverage from their health insurer in the past year. Americans under 30 are among the most likely to report not having health insurance.
Most Americans receive health coverage through their jobs or through individual policies. Separate government-funded programs provide coverage for low-income people or those age 65 and older or with serious illnesses or disabilities.
The survey was conducted among 1,001 adults December 12-16, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all adults is plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.
