UnitedHealthcare disables social media comments as disgruntled patients flood sites after CEO Brian Thompson’s death
UnitedHealthcare has disabled social media comments on its profiles after disgruntled patients began flooding the company with complaints following the CEO’s murder.
The health insurer is being flooded with responses, with many people saying their claims or those of their loved ones have been denied. In the most recent Instagram posts announcing Thompson’s death, users can like or share the post, but cannot comment on it.
The company is in the spotlight after the murder of 50-year-old CEO Bryan Thompson, who was shot on Wednesday on his way to an appearance at an investor conference in New York.
Thompson was expected to announce the company’s hugely profitable 2025 financial outlook, including projected revenues of more than $450 billion.
A motive for the killing has not yet been released, but police discovered bullets at the scene with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose.”
The inscriptions bear a resemblance to Jay M Feinman’s book Delay, Deny, Defend, about the cruelty of the health insurance industry.
UnitedHealthcare posted a statement on social media expressing their sadness after the killing, but was quickly flooded with angry comments. Currently, the most recent Instagram post where users can comment is from November 21st.
‘I was just told by a colleague that she has cancer in her small intestine, but she was refused a PET scan. She is a registered nurse. Insurance is a scam and a money grab for the greedy. What a shame,” someone wrote on Instagram.
Comments were disabled after some insensitive people started cheering the death of the CEO, while others started criticizing the insurer for allegedly failing to pay out on claims
UnitedHealthcare has disabled social media comments on its profiles after disgruntled patients began flooding the company with complaints following the shooting of CEO Brian Thompson
‘UHC has been denying my husband asthma medicine for five years. It turned him from a very severe asthmatic to someone who barely has asthma,” another wrote on Facebook.
‘They used a retired orthopedic surgeon as an ‘expert’ in asthma to deny him access to this drug. I’m very afraid I’ll lose him if he can’t get this medicine and becomes dangerously asthmatic again.’
Others began making snarky comments as they reposted the company’s statement on Thompson’s death, drawing 3,600 “laughing” comments on Facebook.
“Maybe you should stop denying health care,” one said. “This man had more blood on his hands.”
“Thoughts and prayers pending pre-approval and referral from a specialist,” another added.
“Sending pre-clearance, pre-existing conditions, denied claims and collections (oh, and ‘prayers’) to his family,” said one, while another called it an “episode of karma.”
The UHC statement said the company was “saddened and shocked” by Thompson’s death.
“Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” it said.
Thompson, 50, who was shot Wednesday on his way to an appearance at an investor conference in New York. The NYPD released this photo of a ‘person of interest in the case’
Thompson’s family left a note for media and well-wishers saying they were “shattered” by his death.
At Thompson’s $1.1 million mansion in Minnesota — less than a mile away from his wife’s $1.5 million mansion after their divorce — a note was posted on the front door Thursday asking for privacy.
“Brian was an incredibly loving, generous, talented man who truly lived life to the fullest and touched so many lives,” the note said.
“Most importantly, Brian was an incredibly loving father to our two sons and will be deeply missed. We appreciate your well wishes and ask for complete privacy as our family navigates this difficult time.”
The CEO’s killer is still at large and was last seen on surveillance footage fleeing the scene of the crime on what police believe was an e-bike.
Investigators released new images of the suspect as the manhunt entered its second day.
Police sources told the New York Post that they discovered the attacker used ID when he checked into the HI New York City Hostel on the Upper West Side.
Law enforcement sources revealed that investigators had obtained a fingerprint from a water bottle left at the scene by the suspected shooter.
Thompson was expected to announce the company’s hugely profitable 2025 financial outlook, including projected revenues of more than $450 billion. Evidence at the scene had led to suggestions that the killer was angry with his company
A motive for the killing has not yet been released, but police discovered bullets at the scene with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose.”
Angry social media users flooded UHC’s social media posts with accusations about how their claims were denied. In the photo: the suspected shooter at a Starbucks just before the shooting
That’s what insiders said CNN that the fingerprint was smudged and therefore less convincing than a full print.
Officials added that they are still trying to crack a phone left behind in Thompson’s killing.
Investigators believe the firearm used to kill Thompson was a modern version of a rare World War II weapon.