UnitedHealthcare has released a statement regarding allegations of denied insurance claims.
UnitedHealthcare said it approves and pays about 90% of medical claims upon submission, and that around 0.5% of the claims that required further review are due to medical or clinical reasons.
The statement comes amid multiple reports that the company allegedly uses algorithms to deny treatments and refuse coverage for many patients – an issue that was unravelled after the slaying of CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan a couple of weeks ago.
Thompson, 50, who held the position since April 2021, was shot outside the New York Hilton Midtown Hotel on Dec. 4, where he was supposed to attend an annual investors’ meeting for UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare.
Thompson’s shooting seemed to have uncovered a deep anger among Americans who feel that health insurers fail to make good of their promise to cover large medical bills, thus hindering their clients from getting the care they need during those times.
It also seemed to be the motivation of Thompson’s suspected killer, Luigi Mangione, in committing the crime.
Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate, was arrested at a McDonald’s restaurant in Altoona, Penn., last week.
An employee there reported to the authorities that a customer looked like the suspected killer from images released by the New York Police Department. Arresting officers found a 3D-printed gun and a 3D-printed suppressor in Mangione’s bag, which they claim are consistent with the weapon used in the killing.
The shell casings found at the crime scene contained the words “delay”, “deny” and “depose” – which seemed to allude to a well-known phrase in the insurance industry.
Mangione also seemed to have been experiencing a spinal condition called spondylolisthesis, according to his online posts. He posted X-rays of numerous screws inserted into his spine and shared the pain and difficulty of sustaining the injury.
However, police said there is no indication that Mangione has ever been insured by UnitedHealthcare.
In their statement, the company also reiterated that neither Mangione nor his family were their clients.
Mangione, who is currently being held at the State Correctional Institution at Huntingdon, is charged with second-degree murder in New York and weapons and forgery charges in Pennsylvania. He has hired Karen Friedman Agnifilo, a former Manhattan chief assistant district attorney, to be his defense counsel.
“We grieve the passing of our dear friend and colleague and continue to work closely with law enforcement and their investigation of this horrific crime,” UnitedHealthcare said.
