Is US healthcare a disgrace? The man who allegedly shot a health insurance boss with bullets inscribed “delay, deny, depose” has been arrested. Many Americans say they sympathise with him.
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Delay, deny, depose killer is caught
Is US healthcare a disgrace? The man who allegedly shot a health insurance boss with bullets inscribed "delay, deny, depose" has been arrested. Many Americans say they sympathise with him.
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Where was America's most wanted man found? In a McDonald's, naturally.
US police have arrested Luigi Mangione. They say he is the man who shot UnitedHealthcareA US health insurance company. It is accused of using AI to deny claims, and is expected to have a revenue of 0bn in 2025. boss Brian Thompson last week.
Why might he have done it? There is a clue in his online presence.
It is an X-rayA type of radiation. X-ray imaging is used to create images inside the body. of a damaged spineThe backbone. in the cover photo of his XA social media network, formerly known as Twitter and owned by Elon Musk. profile. Friends confirm that Mangione had had surgery to correct a back problem.
Some think that personal experience of the US health insuranceWhen a customer pays a company a small fee, in return for the company agreeing to compensate them if they lose property or need to pay for something, such as healthcare. industryAn area of business. In this case, companies like restaurants or food factories are all part of the food industry., and a desire to send a message, might have been what led Mangione to kill Thompson.
Americans do not automatically get free healthcare. They have to pay for health insurance, and hope that if they need healthcare, the insurance company will pay the bill.
The poorest Americans can get MedicaidA US government programme that provides medical and health-related services to people on low incomes. , a governmentThe group of people who govern - or lead - the country. programme that provides health insurance for 20% of the population. However, 8% of the US population has no health coverage at all.
And even those who have insurance can struggle to get treatment.
A 2010 book called Delay, Deny, Defend argues that US health insurance companies use trickery to avoid paying for their customers' care. This means people have to pay for their own care.
This is hugely expensive. A three-day stay in a hospital costs around $30,000 (£23,478). Many simply have to go without care.
Is US healthcare a disgrace?
Yes! The USA is one of the richest countries in the world. And yet its own people die of treatable illnesses because they cannot pay for care.
No! The US healthcare system is not fair, but it suits the country's culture. It provides excellent care for the richest people, and many think this encourages people to work hard to get well-paid jobs.
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Keywords
UnitedHealthcare - A US health insurance company. It is accused of using AI to deny claims, and is expected to have a revenue of $450bn in 2025.
X-ray - A type of radiation. X-ray imaging is used to create images inside the body.
Spine - The backbone.
X - A social media network, formerly known as Twitter and owned by Elon Musk.
Insurance - When a customer pays a company a small fee, in return for the company agreeing to compensate them if they lose property or need to pay for something, such as healthcare.
Industry - An area of business. In this case, companies like restaurants or food factories are all part of the food industry.
Medicaid - A US government programme that provides medical and health-related services to people on low incomes.
Government - The group of people who govern - or lead - the country.
Delay, deny, depose killer is caught
Smiling no more: As Luigi Mangione, 26, was taken into a Pennsylvania court yesterday, he shouted out to reporters, decrying "an insult to the intelligence of the American people". Glossary
UnitedHealthcare - A US health insurance company. It is accused of using AI to deny claims, and is expected to have a revenue of $450bn in 2025.
X-ray - A type of radiation. X-ray imaging is used to create images inside the body.
Spine - The backbone.
X - A social media network, formerly known as Twitter and owned by Elon Musk.
Insurance - When a customer pays a company a small fee, in return for the company agreeing to compensate them if they lose property or need to pay for something, such as healthcare.
Industry - An area of business. In this case, companies like restaurants or food factories are all part of the food industry.
Medicaid - A US government programme that provides medical and health-related services to people on low incomes.
Government - The group of people who govern - or lead - the country.