UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting opens up ‘volcanic’ anger toward health insurance agencies

December 7, 2024

Derek Crowe, a spokesman for the nonprofit People's Action Institute, speaks with ABC News. (ABC News)

(NEW YORK) -- Fury, anger and resentment toward the health care industry have exploded in the public rhetoric in the wake of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's killing and one activist said that "volcanic" eruption of emotion has been boiling up for years.

People have been flooding social media posts with statements chastising UHC for its policies, bringing up times they were personally denied coverage or hit with huge bills for services.

In some instances, some users have even praised Thompson's murder and the shooter, who is still on the lam and not been publicly identified as of Friday evening. UHC's Facebook post memorializing Thompson was filled with "laughing" emojis and comments chastising the insurer before comments were shut off.

Derrick Crowe, a spokesman for the nonprofit People's Action Institute, a social advocacy nonprofit that has protested UHC and other health care, told ABC News that he was horrified by Thompson's shooting and offered his condolences to his loved ones.

However, he noted the anger online has been a long time coming.

"I think the reason that anger was pent up and it came out in such a volcanic way is that corporations have too much power in this country and they're standing in the way of dealing with two big epidemics," he told ABC News. "One is the epidemic of gun violence, which we saw an example of in Manhattan, and one is an epidemic of care denials across the country."

Crowe said more than 250 million health claims are denied annually by health insurance companies. He claimed the UHC "by far leads the clear care denials of people's claims when they're seeking health care."

He cited examples such as patients claiming they were denied coverage for a congenital defect or infant care.

"Many of the folks that we've talked to have had personal stories of needing acute health care quickly and have found that this company has been standing in their way," he said.

When asked by ABC News about the increase in rhetoric against the healthcare industry following the shooting, a UHC spokesperson deferred to its latest statement about Thompson's killing.

"While our hearts are broken, we have been touched by the huge outpouring of kindness and support in the hours since this horrific crime took place. So many patients, consumers, health care professionals, associations, government officials and other caring people have taken time out of their day to reach out. We are thankful, even as we grieve," the statement said.

"Our priorities are, first and foremost, supporting Brian’s family; ensuring the safety of our employees; and working with law enforcement to bring the perpetrator to justice. We, at UnitedHealth Group, will continue to be there for those who depend upon us for their health care. We ask that everyone respect the family’s privacy as they mourn the loss of their husband, father, brother and friend," the statement continued.

In the past, protests have been held against UHC in Minneapolis, where its headquarters are based, including one back in July.

Crowe said that his organization has led many movements to call out the insurance companies for their practices.

"The purpose of that action was to draw attention to the epidemic of claims, denials and care denials across the country, and to bring people who have had their health care directly affected by a care denial by this corporation to the place where the denial is coming from, and to demand that they stop putting profits over people's lives," he said.

Crowe reiterated that his group only supports non-violent and peaceful means of protesting the industry and condemned Thompson's murder. However, he reiterated that the fight against greed in the health insurance industry needs to continue.

"We believe that in keeping with the principles behind the First Amendment, that there are democratic, powerful, nonviolent ways that we can take that private pain and turn it into public power when we bring people together. And we're going to continue to do that. And we think that's an essential part of making change in our democracy," he said.