Health Care CEO's Death Sparks Reflection on America's Broken System
Deny. Defend. Depose: My thoughts on the killing of the United Healthcare CEO
I was helping my mom decorate her Christmas tree when the news flash came across the screen: Health care CEO gunned down in NYC. I’m almost embarrassed to admit that my first response was, “He probably deserved it.”
That thought wasn’t born of hatred but of frustration—a frustration millions of Americans know all too well. Our health care system feels designed to exhaust and exploit, putting profits above people. I’d just spent months locked in a battle with United Healthcare over a claim denial that defied logic.
When I underwent a routine outpatient surgery, I assumed everything was covered—the doctors’ fees, facility fees, and all the essentials for the procedure. At first, it seemed United Healthcare agreed. But weeks later, a bill arrived for thousands of dollars. They had denied coverage for the surgical tools and operating table.
Yes, the tools and table. While they covered the doctors performing the surgery and the facility hosting it, they drew the line at the equipment necessary to make it happen.
The Exhausting Fight for Approval
The denial didn’t just feel absurd—it felt cruel. I spent weeks wading through red tape, caught in an endless cycle of phone calls and form letters. Each call meant re-explaining my case to yet another representative. Appeals were filed, documents sent, and the frustration mounted.
I eventually won my appeal, but not without a fight that left me drained. The experience made one thing painfully clear: this system isn’t built for people like me. It’s built for the insurance companies to win.
And that’s the problem. For every person like me who has the time and energy to push back, how many others are forced to pay for denials they shouldn’t have to? How many avoid getting care altogether because they fear the financial burden?
Why We Need Change
As I thought about the health care CEO who lost his life, my initial reaction—however harsh—reflected the anger of so many people trapped in this broken system. Our current model monetizes human health, turning essential care into a commodity. Decisions about coverage are made not by doctors but by corporations, often with profit as the primary motive.
This is why we need single-payer health care. Health care should be a right, not a privilege reserved for those who can afford to navigate its labyrinth. Under a single-payer system, decisions about coverage wouldn’t hinge on a company’s bottom line but on what patients actually need.
A System Built for People, Not Profit
My experience with United Healthcare was a stark reminder of how deeply flawed our system is. The fact that I had to fight so hard for something as basic as surgical tools underscores how badly we’ve strayed from prioritizing human well-being.
It’s time to take the profit motive out of health care. No one should ever have to choose between paying their bills and getting the care they need. And no one should spend months fighting for something as essential as an operating table.
If we want to fix this system, we need to start with a fundamental shift: health care is a human right, not a business opportunity. It’s time we demanded better—for ourselves, for our families, and for the millions who don’t have the luxury of fighting back.